Millstreet 1998
 
My second big journey. I call our Lambretta Club President Cesare Battaglini at the last minute (if this name doesn't tell you anything he is the man who did a world tour with a Lambretta D in the 50s) and say that I want to take part in column of insane who are pretending to reach Ireland by scooter; as usual he has organised everything: trip plan, ferry tickets, Jamboree tickets and so on. You just have to set up your Lambretta and ride. The trip there is very fine, everything right and no mechanical troubles...for us, but the car that follows break down with a burnt clutch in the middle of France. We reach Cherbourg Normandy in time for the ferry; the Channel is very quiet that allow us also to sleep a bit crossing it. In France the World football Championship is taking place and we can fell the atmosphere af a such important event. Once arrived in Rosslare we ride the 300 or so kms. to reach Millstreet in a very cold day but my thoughts wave to Mr. Tolkien novels' and I'm filled with mystical pathos. We probably bring a bit of sun with us; the locals tell us it's one and half month it rains no way. We enjoy the Jamboree very much, and enter in lots of events. In the 5 a side I miss a penalty and we loose 2 - 1 with the Irish who in the end will win the event.     
The trip back is marked by the rain; from Millstreet to Rosslare, Wales, as we have planned to come back through England and pay a visit to the really impressive museum of Nigel Cox, is also passed through in the very wet weather; it's not better in France. After crossing the Alps and down to Torino it changes in less than 50 km. from 22° to 35° and we have to undress all heavy jumpers and rainy jackets, for not choking. The heat is so terrible I think my Lambretta is going to explode eventually but everything goes right and I finally reach home really tired after 4.500 km. on a Lambretta. They following day I would be ready to leave again! 
 Click on image to enlarge
A stop in the middle of France
 
 
 
 
 
 
We stop at a station in France for refuelling. Normal?
 
 
 
 
 
 
A bus full of Brazilian supporters going to a football match in Nantes stops too; one of them notice an Italian flag on a Lambretta, them come and say: "Italians and Brazilians are friends!" Samba then! 
Finally we reach Cherbourg where we take the ferry for Ireland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Once waiting we meet with other people going to Millstreet: from Switzerland, Germany and Austria
 
 
 
We are the first to reach the campsite so we choose the best place to put our tents.
 
 
 
A myth for scootering: Cesare Battaglini. Of course even if he is not a baby he rode his Lambretta all the way.
 
 
Italians, always around a table, but sometimes a foreigner came for a tastefully glass of wine or a decent cup of coffe.
 
 
Giancarlo did the trip with this fine D 150, settled with a supplementary fuel tank he fabricates by himself and a trailed usually used by the post service in Eastern Europe.
The day of the market we used it for putting gadgets on
 
 
 
 
Now some nice Lambrettas. This is an Sx restored in Italy for a British lad.
 
 
 
This is the one I liked best: old racing replica with fog lights, Smith speedo of course reverse pull disk brake. Don't know about the engine.
 
For every taste: a nice custom
 
 
 
Mod version, also this very good.
"Italian Stallion" is une of the customs that did the history of the '80ies in England.
 
Another aged custom: "Billy Wizz"
 
 
 
Typically Irish
 
 
 
Giancarlo, Isa, me and Dean. The Sx in mine
 
 
Me, Isa and Dean. On the back the green of Ireland
Dean, Giancarlo and Isa
 
 
 
 A.F. Racer
 
 
 
 
Custom GP
 
 
 
 
Another Modded SX
 
 
 
 
 
 Waiting for ferry in Southampton
 
 
 
 
 
Evening stop in a French camping
 
Dean on Monginevro pass Italy/France