When you think of scooters and seaside towns you can’t help but think of films such as Quadrophenia and the clashes between Mods and Rockers in the 1960s and later decades.

Massed scooter gatherings were banned in Scarborough for a number of years but by the time I was there they were allowed to return and, to be honest, the event was very good natured and a marked contrast to the earlier clashes.

The highlight of the weekend was a massed ride out along the seafront from which these shots were taken.

There was another event in Scarborough a few years later and it turned out that the woman who used to cut my hair was an enthusiast and had her own customised scooter with an impressive paint job.

SCOOTERISTS from all over the country and Europe flocked to Scarborough this weekend for a national rally.

An estimated 2,000 were expected to attend the British Scooter Riders Association rally with several events organised at the Spa Complex.

The main event was yesterday’s ride from the Spa to the Newlands pub.

Ian Grainger, one of the organisers from Value For Money Promotions, said Scarborough was chosen because it had always been a big national rally town.

He said: “We’ve not had one here for three years, we just move round from town to town. It’s just a good town, there are plenty of B&Bs, a nice seaside and decent pubs.

“They have come from all over the country and Europe as well. We’ve quite a few Belgians, Irish and a few French who usually come along.”

Steve Kemp, a Yorkshire Scooter Alliance spokesman, said it was good to be back in Scarborough after being banned in the 1980s due to previous trouble.

He said being a Scooterist was a lifestyle choice. “We organise days out on Sundays to different parts of Yorkshire. Easter is always a big start for national rallies.”

Stephen Salvin, who had travelled from his Richmond home, said he first came to Scarborough in 1978.

He said: “I didn’t have a scooter then, I had to hitch here. I was young and daft then and now I’m old and daft.”

I thought I would add this portrait of yours truly, which was taken by my colleague Dave Barry who was taking pics for the paper, who I bumped into when I was getting my own shots featured here. Bizarrely I bumped into Dave at The Gathering festival in Inverness a couple of weeks back.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Monday, April 9, 2007.