The Lambretta Club Milano (LCM) is extremely active and in the years preceding Covid, they had organised several mono-model rallies for Lambretta Lunas, D & LDs, Series 1s and Models As.
This time, it was the turn of Innocenti’s final, and some would say finest 2-wheeled creations: the Lambretta GP/DL models. Obviously, as with anything where the requirements for entering such an event are so exclusive, the number of expected participants was never going to hit triple figures. But nonetheless the LCM always ensure the quality of their intended programme is going to be no expense spared, to guarantee a truly unique experience for those lucky enough to attend.
Milan has a reputation for being eternally engulfed in fog, so it was somewhat of a surprise to be greeted with a warm sunny day when we rolled up at the Casa Lambretta HQ in Rodano, situated on the eastern outskirts of the city.
There were already a lot of scooters parked up, with the bods from the LCM busy signing people in and allocating their respective goody bags. Exclusive events require exclusive goody bags, and we weren’t to be let down, with the contents including a numbered copy of Vittorio’s new book about Lambretta GP/DL models and an exclusive, high-quality plinthed model.
An area had been set up with a large rally banner as a backdrop, where everyone attending was asked to be individually photographed with their scooter. The atmos was relaxed with everyone mingling and chatting, admiring the machines parked up, with the majority being Innocenti produced examples and a fair smattering of curry burners thrown in for good measure.
It always amazes me just how many Indian DLs there are in Italy, despite the fact that there were loads sold in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s by the importers ‘Lambretta SpA’.
I was riding one of the BGM Demonstrators, which has a moving front mudguard, the likes of which raised a few eyebrows as this variant was never sold in Italy.
Most machines were original spec, either restored, or in their original paintwork. Top of the ‘not so shiny but still quite nice’ hit parade was an ochre DL200 Electronic; a recently acquired addition to the ‘Lambretta & Scooter Museum’ that had been owned and used by noted Italian motorcycle journo Roberto Patrigani for a flat-out, timed test ride between Milano and Taranto, as the basis of an article published in ‘Motociclismo’ magazine in June 1970.
For those that have never been to Casa Lambretta in Milan, the building also incorporates the aforementioned museum on the first floor. As the name implies, the machines on show represent the complete Lambretta story, from start to finish, including racers, prototypes and a lot of non-Italian manufactured variants also on show in the main, central hall. Surrounding this are several smaller rooms, packed solid with weird and wonderful machines that represent the story of the motorscooter from the 19th century up until the 1970s, including some extremely rare and unique small-wheeled wonders.
Included within the rally’s attractions was a guided, narrated tour of the Museum by Vittorio himself. Now, I’ve known him for longer than I haven’t, but I’ve never been shown around by him and this just added to the attraction. With detailed, no-holds-barred explanations for several of the scooters present, including how they came to be discovered and why they were on show, just added immensely to the tour. The most surprising thing was perhaps his proclaimed love for British-made scooters, with gushing compliments for his Triumph Tigress 250 and the oddball Oscar and sidecar outfit, amongst others.
With military precision, the LCM then called for everyone to fire up their scooters as it was time to visit the Alfa Romeo museum, situated about an hour away in northern Milan.
The outriders ensured that the column moved freely across the city, with minium congestion-related fuss and maximum visual impact. The pre-given instructions on what, and what not to do in case anyone broke down meant that we all arrived in an orderly fashion outside the main building, with us then subsequently being divided into two separate groups for guided tours once inside.
Despite anything with 4 wheels usually not interesting me more than watching wet paint drying, this actually turned out to be a master move, as the whole set up, start to finish, was nothing short of fascinating. The culmination of the visit was us all being led into their internal cinema for a 3D experience, complete with special glasses, moving seats and vapour sprays…I kid you not.
All too soon it was time to return to Rodano, with just one scooter having to be loaded into the sweeper van, which probably pleased the Milanese locals no end, as the machine in question was fitted with a nice, shiny, ear-shattering NOS under-kickstart Fresco exhaust.
The return ride back to Rodano was once again easy enough thanks to the out-riders guiding us along, with only two things to watch out for en-route: one, the deadly metallic tram lines which were slippier than a Napolitan tax dodger, and two, the smiling, waving locals who were more obsessed with clocking the squadrons of multicoloured scooters than looking at where they were going.
After a quick freshen up, we were off once again to a local country house restaurant for the evening’s gala dinner, where the food was as amazing as the chosen location.
We were entertained with a projected film show and the presentation of various awards during the evening. A special prize was dished out to living legend Stephen Salvin, better known within scootering circles as Sal, who had taken it upon himself to ride over alone on his GP200 for the event, from his home in Yorkshire. I’m happy to relate that by the time he finally returned to base several days after the rally, he had covered over 4000kms, which is certainly not to be sniffed at. Rightly, the organisers were extremely made up with his presence and it’s fair to say that he made a lot of new friends that weekend.
Sunday was certainly going to be funday, with a planned trip over to the Monza F1 race track. That news alone was enough to ensure the amount of people that greeted us upon our arrival at Casa Lambretta was literally double that of the previous day.
A couple of riders had also arrived from Austria. Before we all got the chance of playing at scooter racers, the convoy of Lambrettas took in a pitstop right in the centre of Monza itself, for a pre-arranged aperitif. The town was heaving with a noisy, pre-election show in the main Piazza and our display of glistening scooters just added to the carnival atmosphere for the well-heeled local denizens of the Milanese suburb.
Upon arriving at the race track, we were all directed into a secure parking area, right next to the track itself. It wasn’t long before we were all summoned to start up our motors and follow a lairy track pace-car onto the hallowed asphalt.
With an allocated track time of 45 minutes, this would prove enough to complete just a few laps – but that was all that was needed to appreciate the experience to the full, before a racing heartbeat, adrenaline and over-enthusiasm could overcome common sense and in most cases, rider ability. Yes, I did give my (borrowed) scooter a good thrashing after initially dropping back enough to then give me ample distance from other riders, but before optimism could triumph over realism, we were once again being escorted off the track and safely back into the parking area.
Nobody managed to bin their scooter, or go rubber side up – which is always a bonus – albeit one person did manage to seize up his GP200 right in front of Sal, who was also at full chat right behind him, luckily without dire consequences.
The final cherry on the proverbial rally cake was a very posh, refined buffet laid on under the gazebos, next to the track grandstands. With local delicasies and wines served by professional waitors, this was no end of rally bunfight; it really was first class, which basically summed up the whole show.
Well done to the LCM directive for putting on such an amazing event and all their hard work certainly paid off as all those who attended will certainly have some amazing, lasting memories.
Words: Dean Orton / Speedball Publishing
Photos: Mihaela Dicianu & Lambretta Club Milano
