The twice-annual ScooterNova/EMSA Mammoth Parts Fairs are a firm fixture on the scootering calendar. With a pre-season March event and one at the end of the season in October, they’re a great place to buy and sell.
After a cold start yesterday, glorious sunshine helped thaw out the early morning traders, making it the perfect day for a ride out and a wander round.
Social occasion
Arriving after a quick blast across to Melton Mowbray, I was greeted by a very busy car park, with lots of scooters parked up and owners milling around. Like many people, I wasn’t really there to do any shopping. I’d simply gone for a ride out and a look around.
Luckily, for the many traders who virtually filled the excellent Stock Yard venue, lots of people had also gone to buy. With everything from a Lambretta Model B, to a stunning Vespa GS 160 for sale, scooter buyers weren’t going to be disappointed.
Projects
I saw people loading up smallframe Vespas, Lambretta frames and complete scooters. One of the Irish endurance racing teams was seen wheeling off a PK, which will no doubt grace a race track next year. I also saw lots of other scooters (and parts) being snapped up for winter projects – no doubt to be sold at another parts fair, unfinished, in the future!
Refreshing
I mentioned it being a bit of a social event for us, we literally couldn’t walk more than a couple of steps before me and the missus bumped into somebody and had to stop for a chat. We had to get back home after a couple of hours so were on a short time limit and didn’t get chance to see all the stalls – or talk to everybody I wanted to. We did manage to get to the craft brewery though for a quick pint (one of three bars on site).
Big spender
Our 2024 SLUK Rookie racer, George Fielder and his dad Rob were there on the Team George stall and they managed to sell me the one part I’d been looking for. Something exotic, or a go-faster goodie? Nope, a second-hand Vespa PX panel rubber for the princely sum of £2 (it’s for a winter PX 125 I’m doing up).
Our flying visit was like a supermarket sweep through treacle, we spent more time chatting than looking at rusty old scooter parts. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable couple of hours and it makes a change seeing scooter friends from all over the country on a sober day, rather than a drunken night out or weekend away.
Get well soon
On a sad note, as we left a young lad was just being taken to hospital by one of the EMSA helpers, with a dislocated shoulder. He’d tried to bump start his scooter and managed to hit a GTS and damage himself in the process. If he’s reading this, don’t let it put you off. Scootering is an all-encompassing pastime, you’ll make more friends than you can imagine, have more experiences than any ‘normal’ person and in a few years, you’ll be struggling to walk round a parts fair without stopping every two steps. Get well soon.
Words and photos: Iggy
Save the date
The next Mammoth Parts Fair is on March 2nd 2025.
SLUK Shop
Winter is fast approaching, the SLUK Shop sells lots of our own products, as well as leading brands of clothing and accessories and other useful scooter bits and bobs. Have a look inside!
Hay it me the lad who crashed my scooter thanks for the concern I’m ok apart from my shoulder I’m off the road for about 5 weeks and it hasn’t put me off riding no matter how bad a crash is I will always get back up unfortunately it properly going to be until new year now but I do appreciate people who was there that day I do apologise to the person who bike I crashed in to
Glad to hear you’re ok and haven’t been put off 🙂