Step Back to the ’60s with the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally, England
A bit of nostalgia and oodles of seaside charm
Do you remember the mods and rockers fighting on the beaches? How about groups of mods scootering along the roads, pumping out horrible fumes from their two-stroke engines?
If you liked the excitement of the 1960s, you might enjoy the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally which takes place in August each year. Just to show there are no hard feelings, the odd rocker joins the parade on their motorbike too!
Every year, the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally shows off a fantastic parade of vintage scooters. A few years ago, we found ourselves in the midst of it all, completely by chance. Enthusiasts of all ages were showing off their custom machines and if we’d known in advance, we might have joined in!
We approached the Isle of Wight on a car ferry, anticipating a quiet seaside holiday. After disembarking, we stopped in Ryde High Street for a bite to eat and the first thing we noticed was the sheer number of scooters on the roads.
“We should have bought our scooter!” I said to Vic, thinking they were just a popular form of transport on the island. But we quickly realised that there was more to it… this was a rally.
It was like stepping back into a scene from the 1960s, with hundreds of Vespas and Lambrettas to see, many sporting dozens of mirrors. The promenade was lined with scooters of every conceivable colour and paint design. It was an amazing visual spectacle and everywhere we went, there were scooters and the pungent smell of two-stroke engines.
We walked along the promenade, taking in the breathtaking scenery — the glorious beaches, fantastic sunshine, and rows upon rows of colourful scooters. Then we came across the hovercraft landing site, just as the hovercraft came into shore.
We noticed signs for music concerts. Music from The Who was being performed at local venues.
It turned out that the rally ride was the following day so we made sure we were suitably located to enjoy the show. We were playing mini golf at Sandown opposite the beach and as expected, our game was interrupted by the roar of scooters. We stopped play for 45 minutes to watch them pass.
Armed with our cameras and a keen eye, we hoped the weather would hold for the fantastical procession. All sorts of colourful machines and unusual designs drove past. One was painted like a military aircraft in khaki paint with an evil grinning mouth and sharp teeth! A dalek from Doctor Who rode by, alongside other amazing custom designs.
We watched in glee — and stood back to avoid choking on the fumes! In the days after the event had passed, the roads were still crowded with scooters. Many revellers stayed to explore the island and enjoy a summer break.
The rally brought a completely different element to our holiday — a welcome bit of fun and excitement.
Essential information
The Isle of Wight Scooter Rally is a popular annual event, running every August Bank Holiday Weekend with a mass ride-out of around 5000 scooters, taking place on Sunday each year.
Many of those taking part in the rally, camp nearby (at Sandown Airport in 2021). With around two thousand people camping in tents, it’s a hive of activity, day and night. For those people who like a more comfortable lifestyle, local hotels also offer accommodation to enthusiastic scooterists!
There is a market for scooter enthusiasts, selling everything from scooters to T-shirts, to memorabilia. Whatever the weather, over rally weekend you’ll get a visual feast, a face full of fumes, and you’ll hear the noise of scooters everywhere you go. Paradise!
There are rallies around the UK if you fancy visiting one! Find out more
© Susie Kearley 2023. All Rights Reserved.