Tony O'Brien Vespa 90 SS : Vespa Tuning: Vespa Racing

Date 1990… venue: Pembrey Park… deepest Wales..

Expectations are high. My ‘works’ Group 1 90ss from Kegra racing in Southend has been developed to a point now where if anywhere I can make it shine..its here.. Pembrey.. my favourite track of the time.

This little 100cc motor was very clever. Using a 43mm stroke with an Et3 barrel and Japanese piston it was so quick it set a faster lap time around the large Pembrey circuit than many of the Group 4 200cc Lambrettas.

On the grid is the legend and my hero Norrie Kerr, the very fast Tim Wilson from Taffspeed with a similar spec motor to mine, Dunky Baker, Trevor Sharpe both from MSC/LLRT. The Group 2 90ss’s are there too.. Terry Frankland, Giles Oxenham, Warren Berwick and of course ‘Fast’ Eddie Dickinson on a bright yellow 90ss from Mikeck Racing. A solitary cloud blots the sun for just 5 minutes.. rain drops… then just plain blue sky.. the place is roasting and so am I in my Crowtree leathers. “don’t ever look behind”.. the words of Keith Terry from Kegra ring in my ears..”just put your head down and go..” This is ok for them.. I’m only 21 years old. He’s been doing it for years..I’m racing against Norrie Kerr and Tim so I don’t think I’ll need to look behind somehow.

Its that nerves thing again.. running to the wc before the race several times and maybe , just maybe I’ll be ready. Practise goes well.. the Dunlop TT60’s are awesome… Forest Curve (now called Honda Curve) is flat out in top. I’ve been told this is what I must do. It takes a bit of bottle at first.. I’m not sure if I can do it.. I bite the bullet…its one of those corners that you do it and think ” oh, there is actually more grip than I thought”. (this was proved to me in 1999 when Mark Green took it flat out in front of me in the WET!)

The flag drops.. the grid is a mix of Group 1,2 and Group 5 machines. I just nail it.. ‘don’t look behind, don’t look behind’….the words ring in my ears..I’m thinking of the telling off I’ll get from Keith if I dare do so… Suddenly the track is clear.. I can see ‘Fast’ Eddie Dickinson ahead, strange, but thats ok, he’s on a Group2 125cc 90ss .. he must be in trouble.. the gap remains the same.. yes he’s in trouble for sure…’how many laps have we done?..suddenly the last lap flag is waved..hold on, I think, whats going on. Where did the others go? Are they ahead? I really wasn’t sure… flat through Forest Curve onto the straight with one lap to go..   I do it.. I look behind.. nothing.. where are they all? They must be ahead? As I enter the section near the paddock I hear the shouts and screams..surely I’m not winning here? Approaching the Old Hairpin, second gear accelerating onto the straight , 3rd 4th, head down..the chequered flag is waving.. this can’t be real… I’ve never felt so much elation in my life..I’ll never feel it again I know.

 My thanks still go out to Kegra for that motor.. I still have the barrel!

ps. If any one who reads this has any old pictures of this race I would be very grateful if they contact me.