Welcome to 'The Long Scoot Down'. On Sat 18th June 2011, a band of brave, mad fools will be riding classic scooters-thats Vespa's and Lambrettas-1664 miles across GB to raise money for the charity, Find A Voice!! It will take around 11-12 days. Have a nosy at the pages in this website and see what a great thing this is!! Keen to make the Long Scoot Down a national event involving as many scooterists as is humanly possible.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
The day after Yesterday.
We have had time to get a bit of rest now, have a bath and clean up, see our families, eat some decent food and reflect on the breathtaking adventure behind us. We had hoped to update the website with photos and text along the way, telling the story as we went but we didn't bank on the foulness of the weather for late June, the lack of easy access to the internet in the remote places we visited, and the amount of time we would have to spend in the saddle. The other problem was the sheer volume of material and photos on a daily basis with often more than one group experiencing interesting stuff in different places at the same time. We met a larger number of people and scooterists than we expected and many acts of kindness but all helped us, supported us, or just cheered us on. So we will start to update the website soon adding photos to the gallery, writing the July article for the Scootering magazine, and updating the acknowledgments. There will also be an LSD movie coming soon once we've had a chance to collate all the clips and photos.
The final destination at Beachy Head was an emotional affair with the 12 riders who started all finishing and being photographed by the local news media along with the many scooterists who had gathered from Kent, Sussex and even further afield to enjoy the homecoming ride. Jan Francis the actress joined us for this celebration and the Patron of the Charity, Alastair, gave us a congratulatory speech. One scooter was taken out with terminal engine failure but was towed the last two miles into Lands End so the rider could finish, one was put out of action for a day during the ride, several ended up on the bench at Dumfries Scooters, Scootopia and other places, and others all ended rattling and with many defects. The final mileage reading was 1964 after the furthest away got home.
We take our hats off to everyone who played a part, riders, scooterists, ride-support, back-office, media, those that put on do's, donated a little cash, or long suffering families of the Riders. Beccy will shortly be providing an update on the total to the Charity, but you can rest-assured it will be a worthy total.
This is not the end of LSD, watch this space for more exciting events in the field of extreme Scooter Touring.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
We would like as many scooterists and scooters there with us as possible!!
If you would like to ride some of the way with us, have a photo with us etc we`d love to see as many of you there. Even a couple of actors from Quadrophenia have been invited too.... Photo will be included in the write up we have been asked to do by Scootering Magazine!
Meet at the Beachy Head Pub! @Beachy Head!!!!!
See you at Beachy Head!!! Ride safe xxx
Today is the day!! The Longscoot Down riders finally scoot back to their loved ones.......Well done to them all they have acheived an amazing task... Raised thousands of pounds for Find A Voice and had a blast doing it!! Ride Safe today Guys ........xx Steve`Marmite`,Karl, Gary,Mark,Becky,Kai,Jon n Sue,Al, Mick, Steve,Shaun,Kelvin......CONGRATULATIONS XX
Monday, 27 June 2011
The Long Scoot Down and the Scheming Bitches SC Charity do.
After counting the money collected and rechecking numerous times I can confirm that a Fantastic total of £675.81p was raised on the night giving each charity £340.00p each (raided my daughters piggy bank for the other 0.19p).
I would like to thank all the DJ's Gary (OLAS), Pip, Jack and Darren, Bernie Edwards and Colette Chambers for the loan of the DJ equipment and Marcus and Aneta for running the door AND THE LOVELY Nicola Baldegger for helping me organise and doing the fantastic posters!!!! All gave their time free of charge
KTF.
Ross
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Well done to the Longscoot Down Riders that have just arrived at Lands End... Beautifull sunshine to go with it.at last!!.. Thanks to them all for their hard work and determination. Its been a very long week for most of them but loads of money raised for the charity Find A Voice im sure has made it all worth while..! :) Suze xx
Andrew Hall Congratulations everyone! :-)
- Ana Titch Hughes congrats !!
Kim Greenwell done each and every one of you . x
Kevin Irvinecongratulations guys somthing to be very proud of
Chel ParkerWell done gang! Love n hugs to you all Xx
Jacqueline Hydewell done to you all x x x
Nicola Harrisyay!! well done xxx
Lea CaraccioThats brilliant. Well done everyone..you all did good - Just a few of the comments for the Riders so far.......
We did the end to end - the hard way
Friday, 24 June 2011
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Our trusty van driver
Thanks to the Woolybacks.!
Blackie, Dave, Simon, & Ron. Blackie sorted us out with an emergency exhaust for one of our P ranges as well as presenting a donation for find a voice. Ron told us about his JoG to LE experience in 1960 in 25 hours on his GS150 - what a feat. Then we were treated to what can only be described as a surreal ride over Tan Hill pass to our quarters for the night at Tan Hill pub on the mqoor. This place puts Royston Vasey to shame. Its not the pub from american werewolf in london but it might as well be. We were also treated to a blinding set from dj marmite playing george formby and glenn miller back to back while the punters all had a skank. Classic scooterist sounds from the 40's
Gary made friends with some four legged individuals and Shaun and Karl sawe a dog walk through a wall. Debate still rages about the lambretta v vespa breakdown score with supposedly 14 vespa breakdowns to one lammy, but we also have to add autos now as they have started to fail as well. All good fun!
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Alls well in John o Groats
All arrived in jog. Tents up and settled in. Seen mp john thurso. Lovely fella. Met the buchan coasters, thanks for joining us guys. Only three bits fell off steves scooter. Garys the only skinhead in orkney lol and played tambo with an inverness folk band. Jaeger bombs in the only pub. Marks scooter very loud.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Riders on way to Inverness
Friday, 17 June 2011
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Raffle Prizes 4x lambretta tshirts
2x bottles of 2 stroke oil
2x £10 gift vouchers
all our tips from customers have gone into your lsd charity box .
Sponsorship
Gary - A deal on new 2 tyres and rims, as well as a free scooter service and rectifying faults found .
Steve - Free waterproof suit and various small parts for his scoot.
Mark - donation to his charity fund £40.00
Call for scooter servicing and accessories on 01843 292440.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Scooter Pick Up in Progress
Monday, 13 June 2011
First Major Breakdown
Wellwishers - A Thank You
Sunday, 5 June 2011
LSD2 - The South Coastal Ride
The Scootering season is powering ahead now with fantastic rallys at 1066 Scooter Skirmish, and Sid James already behind us and next up the White Cliffs Weekender, then off we go up to Inverness. Before we know it the travel weary will be back at the seasons premier rally at Camber Sands.