Spagthorpe Motorcycles

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My Cushman was idling at the stop light and here comes an all-black Spagthorpe Dauntless. It was so named because, with that high-powered supercharged 2-stroke motor and the nimble handling provided by 8” tires, both the scooter and the rider could not let a trace of fear into their hearts.

Well, that was the line, anyway. I certainly wasn't afraid -- the Cushman was short on power, but my foe was wearing aviator goggles and a leather baseball cap, so I knew him to be a new rider incapable of judging the lights.

When the light turned green, I let off the brake (the motor was wide open, but the Cushman brake was able to restrain all 5hp) and took the holes hot. For the next block I watched the Spagthorpe rider kick his scooter back into life, he having dumped the clutch and not bothered with getting the motor anywhere above 1500rpm. I was set for a perfect victory, and visions of champagne and scantily-clad women filled my eyes. I should have watched the mirrors instead.

Suddenly I was passed by this black streak, and the Cushman sputtered to a stop. As I sat, wondering what the matter might be, I was passed by several fire trucks, apparently all headed towards that inferno three blocks distant. Only later was I able to piece together what had happened.

The Spagthorpe passing me had created such a vacuum that it literally sucked the air out of the carburator on my Cushman. This is what caused it to die.

Spagthorpe was never known for incredible braking, however, and post-accident investigations show that the belt-drive on the supercharger broke. Thus, the rider closed the throttle, the supercharger spun free, and at least 30psi of boost opened the carburator butterfly. This was a known trait on the supercharged models, but one most riders could live with. The poor rider of that particular model swerved around obstructions for three blocks before his wide-open motor dropped a rod and the hot oil ignited the gasoline tank, which explains the inferno. The rider, however, merely side-stepped through the EZ-Ryder frame and was unscathed.

There are few surviving examples of this Scooter From Hell, and perhaps this is as it should be. Had I been able to acquire one, not only would I have won the race, I wouldn't be here today telling my tale of losing, and liking it, to a Spagthorpe Dauntless.