KKev’’sCChhroniclcles -episodode8 8
Thrashing up and down the avenue on afriend’s
old moped was the perfect introduction to the
world of scooter ownership and beyond!
B
atey Avenue wasaquiet
cul-de-sac situated in Rainhill,
Merseyside, with number 14
being where theWalsh family
lived. It was situated at the
very end and the ideal location for peace
and tranquillity.Itwas also the start point
for their teenage son's race track. Kev was
too young to legally ownavehicle on the
road and regardless, didn't have the funds
to do so either.Itjust so happened that
his friend who livedacouple of houses up
had in his possession an NSU ‘Quickly’
moped. Why NSU named it the ‘Quickly’
was abit of amystery as it was easier to
walk faster.
To themit wasn'timportant, and the
fact thatitp ropelled itselfwas all that
mattered.With themudguards and
luggagerack binned to makeitl ighter,
the topspeedwas slightlyincreased.
Finished off with the bicycle handlebars
turnedupwardsto make themlook like
racingdrops,their thoroughbredracing
machine wascomplete. Kev's driveway
now becamethestart line of their race
trackandbythe time theygottothe
other endof the avenue, theycould get
thepuny NSUupto25mph.Turning
around and going backthe othe rway,
they wereoftengreeted byangry
neighbours as theycame toascreeching
halt outside number14. It wa sworth the
hasslethough, to feel thefreedom ofthe
openroad, albeitabout 100 yards.Kev
was stillafew years away from being able
to legally own anything two-wheeled, but
he knew where his destiny lay.
Freeze frame
As soon as he was old enough Kev
pressured his mother to allow him to buy
amoped. Having set his sights on a
Honda 50, it was with great
disappointment that he eventually had to
settle foraRaleigh Roma instead. This
was his mother's decision as she was
financing it all, with Kev paying back in
instalments. It had two wheels, looked a
bitlikeascooter so would do for now.Kev
would often moan about the lack of
power,which got considerably worse after
mistaking antifreeze for two-stroke oil.
Theresulting piston failure required his
mother to makeatrip by bus into
Liverpool to getareplacement.
Unfortunately,there wasn't one available
and after incessant nagging, Kev
persuaded his mother that he should have
what he calledaproper scooter instead.
Though still against the idea, in the end
she gave in, probably to haveaquiet life.
White City Motorcycles in St Helens
provided the perfect solution in the shape
of aVespa Sportique. With apart-
exchange on the Roma, what they could
actually get for it and an H.P.agreement
signed by his father,having dragged him
into the saga, the deal was done. While
signing the forms, Kev disappeared along
with his new scooter.With noLplates,
insurance or helmet, he shot off down the
road, followed byafriend onamotorcycle.
Struggling to catch up until they got
home, Kev explained that he didn't know
where the brakes were so he found it hard
to stop. Looking back, he wasadanger to
the roads, but there was no stopping him
now.After all, he had got what he had
been dreaming about for years... freedom
on ascooter.
Kev asapillion passenger with other members of the Unity SC, circa 1966.
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