Racing has a simple recipe for success: make it cheap, make it simple and make it fun. Every racing class where people rock up on whatever they have and bang around a circuit for the joy of it will succeed, regardless of lap times or, mostly, how much silverware is won.
This recipe was epitomised during the mid-2000s by a group called Scooter101. These were the days when South African showrooms sported joys like the Yamaha BWS100, the PGO Naked 125, Gilera Roadrunner 150 and a host of scooters designed more to be fun and sporty than dreariness like fuel economy and safety. They were two-stroke rockets that cost less than a month’s salary and were easily fettled with expansion chamber exhausts made in a garage, air-filters from a pit bike and even bored-out cylinders. The entire package cost less than an old, secondhand Golf and it was glorious.
Scooter101 was organised by scooter and sticker kit enthusiast Brannigan Achadinha and started as simple night rides where a bunch of people would meet somewhere on their scooters and ride to various underground parking lots where benevolent havoc pursued until a security van chased everyone away.
It was some of the most fun anyone could have.
The parking lot mayhem later evolved into casual races that eventually evolved into organised races.
A suitable parking lot where centre management looked the other way was found, banting tape marked out the circuit and that night, racing commenced.
It was a casual affair – no classes, no technical rules and wrung whatever scooter you brung. There weren’t even clothing regulations, with individuals lining up in the shorts and t-shirt they worked in that day. The unsaid agreement was that if you fell and hurt yourself, there was no one to blame but yourself.
The turnout was fantastic, both in terms of competitors and spectators. Riders brought whatever scooter they had in their garage, and the parking lot was ten minutes from most people’s homes. It was a jolly good night out.
Heats were raced, riders were whittled down to a final and the winner got a pat on the back.
Support grew, and eventually, motorcycle dealers were enquiring about hosting races in their parking lots. Sound systems were brought in for commentary, generators hummed as lights illuminated tracks and prizes became more and more lavish.
The original recipe didn’t change – race whatever scooter you wanted and have a good time. It was cheap, simple and fun, and it was booming. Until it wasn’t.
Eventually, the powers that be pressured Scooter101 to move to real race tracks and adopt traditional safety protocols. Naturally, it then died a quick death. Suddenly, people could no longer race whatever they wanted and were forced to adopt a plethora of technical rules, they had to buy leathers, trailer their scooters to a track an hour from home and pay a hefty entrance fee to take part.
More so, manufacturers stopped focusing on fun, sporty scooters and put all their efforts into fuel economy and safety, making pricey, emphysemic monstrosities that were, by comparison, as much fun as drowning.
The racing became expensive, complicated and a hassle, the death of any racing class.
We probably couldn’t do something like that again. The world is too wet and snobbish.
Still, the memories of those good days when people in shorts and takkies buzzed around parking lots on the bike they commuted on every day bring warm joy and happiness to those that were there and are no doubt ever grateful for them.
Scooter101 racing image gallery – click to enlarge:
The men from Suzuk joined the fun: Jean-Francois, Stuart, Sinny, Phil (Loxton’s) and Harold (Motana) Damien Hall the famous scooter wheelie man. 
The organisers and hosts of this fine event: Alex De Rapper (Holeshot), Brannigan Achadinha (Scooter 101), Matt Smith (Scooter 101) and Garrith De Rapper (Holeshot). 
All the race winners and organisers, complete with nicknames: Brannigan, BMX Brad, Shorty Davidson, Hershibar (overall winner), Matt Smith, Garrett Mcdougal, Stewie McCloed, Dean Wheeler, Grant Frerichs and Jeremy Pincus. 
Famous stuntman Dave Eager parked the Buell for an evening to try his hand at scootering. He would wheelie his scooter to the point of flipping, put his foot out at the last minute and did a 180 U-turn. 
Road racer Marco “Poodle” Puigi with famous motard racer Riaan Neveling. Marco sadly passed away in an accident at Kyalami. Riaan has a thriving career at KTM in Austria. 
Scooter racing, like all other forms of motorcyling, attracts all sorts of nice ladies. The famous Vespa Limousine was present, here doing a parade lap for the crowds. 
The biking family of Jacques, Yolandi, Nikita and Ruan Van Wygaardt. They are the group behind building Redstar Raceway. Lady motard racer Bianca Nortje tries her hand at scooter racing. She had never ridden a scooter before this evening and, despite crashing twice, managed to finish third in one of the heats. 
Jeremy Pincus, the mad scientist of the scooter world, also races scooters, and can be seen here leading one of the heats. Jeremy owns PRD, the famous exhaust builder and tuning house. Most of the scooters present on the evening were touched by Jeremy in some way. 
Jeremy Pincus, the mad scientist of the scooter world, also races scooters. Jeremy owns PRD, the famous exhaust builder and tuning house. Most of the scooters present on the evening were touched by Jeremy in some way. Louw du Toit leads on his Vespa, while the crowds, who get to stand right next to the track, look on in amazement. 
Scooter 101 tppk place in parking lots, and sometimes there were some strange variations. On the Holeshot track the chaps had to jump their scooters off this pavement. 
The ladies and gents from Italmoto entered a Eagle-Wing City 150, and came very close to taking the overall win. Robbie from Primrose stands on the far left next to Italmoto boss Marco Liberatore and his Mrs. Next to them is Italmoto’s madcapped rider Dean Wheeler who stands arm-in-arm with his Mrs, and on the far right is Max from Italmoto. 
Ryk Croukamp and his daughter Bianca – Ryk was a Breakfast Run Cup racer, and a track school instructor. He was renowned for being calm and patient with his students, while Bianca was famous for being mad on her 150cc race bike. 
Robert Portman from Moto Rider World enjoying the scooter racing in his usual enthusiastic manner. 
From the lady racer department, Janine Mitchell with Nicole Van Aswegan. They were big rivals on the track, but good friends off of it. 
Former SA superbike champ Stewart McLeod with Vin Vin Vin now from Guts & Gas. 
Ryan Ottens with his Mrs, Chanti. They were BMW salesmen by day, and scooter racers by night.
