Abhinav P K from Kannur had never really fancied setting out on a “noisy, old-fashioned” scooter in this age of sleek, high-powered motorbikes. But call it kismet . The 34-year-old chanced upon a relative who wouldn’t let go of his prized two-stroke. “For some inexplicable reason, I noticed the two-seater vehicle’s features and started developing a fascination for scooters,” says Abhinav. One day, the relative sounded Abhinav out on a Lamby 150 on sale. “That became my first ride,” says Abhinav, an oil-mill owner.
He soon found out he was not the only one with a thing for these yesteryear darlings. Two years ago, he joined hands with his friend, Ashique Vazhakkad, another scooter enthusiast from Malappuram, who marshalled a group of scooter buffs. The duo then kick-started the Vintage and Classic Scooters Club (VCSC), an exclusive circle for lovers of the two-strokes, once ubiquitous on the roads. Thanks social media, the group has since expanded across Kerala to currently include over 900 diverse members.
The riders now often meet up for district-wise road shows, mostly on occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day, while also taking out rallies and parades meant to generate awareness on safe riding and environmental causes. Then there are those who simply love to take “their babies” out for a spin “just for kicks”.
“Initially, our main objective was to help each other out in sourcing hard-to-find spare parts and connecting with experienced scooter mechanics. But the sheer growth of the club later helped rev up meet-ups and organise rallies,” explains Abhinav, also the Secretary of VCSC. The club is divided into district units and maintains a presence in all 14 districts of the State, with designated admins coordinating activities via WhatsApp and Facebook groups. Lambretta, Lamby, Vijay Super, Allwyn Pushpak, Bajaj Chetak, Vespa, Bajaj Priya, Bajaj 150 and even Enfield’s rare Fantabulous, find pride of place among the wheeled collectibles. “Probably the oldest scooter we have is a 1960 model Lambretta and the latest, a 2006 Chetak. That would be the cut-off period,” points out Abhinav.
For membership, first up, one should be an owner of and not just an aficionado of classic scooters. Valid ownership, registration and pollution documents are requisites. “The papers are formally verified by us. However, it’s not at all mandatory that the registration should be in Kerala,” says Ashique, a proud owner of a 1975 model Bajaj 150. He’s the president of the club and heads the Malappuram unit.
“Most of the scooters are previously owned and used by the respective member’s father. I’m still riding my dad’s Vespa,” says Ajith Sudhakaran, in-charge of the Thiruvananthapuram unit. Ajith, who loves to buy and restore vintage and classic scooters, says he owns about 15 scooters, an enviable roster that includes a Vespa 150 (1966), Bajaj 150 (1977), Bajaj Priya (1985), Vespa PL 170 (1986), Bajaj Chetak (1988).
It is not just the urban youth who are tailing such vintage two-wheelers. Seventy-six-year-old U V Gangadharan from Guruvayoor, perhaps the oldest member of VCSC, still rides his Rajasthan-registered 1979 model Bajaj Super he bought during his ‘heydey’, while working in Ajmer. “He’s (the scooter) been a constant companion for decades and is still a sturdy beast. Perhaps, the only shortcoming wrought by time is a downtick in the mileage,” says Gangadharan with a laugh.
Having otherwise become passé and taken out of production, one would assume a bargain-basement deal for old scooters. “Some owners quote quite high prices to collectors though the scooter may hardly be roadworthy. It’s a case of old is gold here,” says Ajith.
However, it’s no royal road even after the buy, as maintenance costs can be high. With sparse availability of spare parts and a paucity of experienced mechanics, many vintage scooter enthusiasts learn the tricks of the trade themselves. “This is where this community turns most helpful, as some of the mechanics in the club themselves come to the rescue,” says Abhinav, who has by now learnt to fix minor mechanical glitches.
Pistons of such old engines are oil-lubricated and that means an extra 10 or 12 bucks in effect for each litre of petrol. “It’s a double whammy, as, with years, mileage drops and the price of fuel goes up,” quips Ashique. None of these ‘practical bumps’ seem to stop or slow down these scooter lovers. Come rain or shine, there’s always room for some vroom.
