Scooterboy

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Members of the Cincinnati, OH & Miami, FL chapters of the Vulcan Scooter Secte.

Scooter rally patches from British scooter runs.

A4 Prowlers Scooter Club, IoW 1981

A scooterboy is a member of a specific subculture based around riding motor scooters.

The subculture originated in the United Kingdom in the 1980s among Vespa and Lambretta riders. It developed out of the mod, punk and skinhead cultures, becoming a separate and distinct group. Unlike the mods, who often customize their scooters with 1960s-style paint jobs and accessories (such as extra mirrors), scooterboys generally use a more modern style of paint work, sometimes adding murals depicting events or music, or in some cases turning them into cutdowns.

In the UK, scooterboys typically attended scooter rallies in seaside towns, with attendance numbers sometimes in the thousands. Rallies usually involve camping, watching bands, dancing to DJs and participating in various scooter-related activities. In the 1980s, scooterboys listened to various styles of music, including ska, 2 Tone, psychobilly, punk rock, Oi!, and northern soul. Favourite songs included "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen and "Tony Blackburn" by Binky Baker.

The huge number of scooter clubs that sprung up around this movement best identified the scooterboy movement. Gangs of scooterists who travelled in packs around Britain to indulge in alcohol- and drug-fuelled mayhem. The scooterboy movement came at a time when huge chunks of Britain’s youth where alienated by the establishment and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s policies. New police powers meant to combat striking miners where sometimes used against scooterboys.

[edit] Fashion

There are no rigid fashion rules among scooterboys, although many have resembled punk-influenced-skinheads. However, many have had either normal hairstyles, psychobilly-style quiffs, flattops, or long hair. Scooterboys rejected the more formal clothing styles of the mods and traditionalist skinheads (such as suits). Scooterboys sometimes wear MA-1 bomber jackets, military surplus parkas, leather or denim jackets (or vests). It is common for scooterboys to sew patches commemorating the rallies they have attended onto their jackets. Some have sewed bar towels onto the seat of their jeans or combat trousers. Many scooterboys have worn Dr. Martens boots, Ben Sherman or Fred Perry shirts.

[edit] External links

• Scootering Magazine
• Scooterboy-World
• Scooter Rallies in 1980s Britain
• Glasgow Globetrotters scooter club
• Scooter Boy Songs, powered By Glasgow Mods