Archiv für die Kategorie: Modern Vespa

Castrol Classic Merchandise

We offer a high quality range of classic items, from oil cans / oil jugs to magnets and wall signs, all with the iconic 1946 Castrol Classic branding. Whether in the workshop or at home, our nostalgic range combines both retro style and functionality. Including workshop accessories, clothing and more, there’s something for every classic car owner or enthusiast.

Whether as a gift for an enthusiastic scooterist or as a present for yourself, you will find the perfect something in our range!

Buy Classic Castrol Collection here

The idea of castor oil

Castrol was founded by Charles „Cheers“ Wakefield under the name „CC Wakefield & Company“. In 1899, Wakefield left his job at Vacuum Oil to start his own business selling lubricants for railways and heavy machinery. In the early 20th century, Charles developed an interest in two new motorised vehicles: the automobile and the aeroplane. His company began developing oils for the new engines. These oils had to be thin enough for cold starting and at the same time thick enough to function at high temperatures. The company’s researchers found that the problem could be solved by adding castor oil, a vegetable oil made from castor seeds. They called the new product „Castrol„. In 1919, John Alcock and Arthur Brown used Castrol oil on the first non-stop transatlantic flight in history.

Heiko’s idea with Castrol sponsorship & fast to slow

CC Wakefield not only invented a new type of motor oil, but also a new way to attract potential customers to his product: sponsorship. The Castrol name appeared on banners and flags at air races, car races and speed record attempts. Over time, the brand name of the motor oil became far better known than that of the company’s founder/company. This circumstance led to the renaming of „CC Wakefield & Company“ in 1960 to Castrol Ltd.

I have been riding Vespa and Lambretta for over 32 years. It all started with a red Vespa PK50S, which, bought second-hand, was already waiting in my parents‘ garage for my driving licence. But it quickly became too slow for me. The first tuning measure was to fit an expensive 50km/h exhaust. But it didn’t do much good, the moped boys were still flying past me left and right. So I sold it and became interested in a black PX 80 Lusso, which was very expensive in insurance at the time. During the test drive, the gears always flew out. But I was happy to have my mother so far as to be allowed to buy me this scooter…. besides, my father was on a business trip and didn’t know anything about the new „80“. So: now or never! So the scooter was bought with this „little hidden flaw“.

ROLLERSHOP, Scootering & Mods, Scooterboys and Scooter Scene

We all know what was wrong with the engine: the reason for the uncontrolled gear changes, was the worn „round“ gear shift cross. The nearest Vespa dealer wanted DM 700 for the change, but that was out of the budget for my skilful scooter update. I got in touch with other scooter riders. One of them had been skateboarding for the last week and was now suddenly motoring on a brand new Vespa PX 80 Lusso. A month later I met him again, sitting in a suit and polished leather shoes on his Vespa, now plastered with mirrors and chrome parts. The next time I met him, half of his scooter was missing and on his head too. Instead of fine leather shoes and a suit, he was now wearing red boots up to his knees, camouflage trousers and a bomber jacket. On his head, all that was left of his „popper mane“ was a little horn of hair that fluttered listlessly in his face after he had taken off his helmet. Somewhat irritated, I asked him if he had had an accident with his scooter and why he looked so funny. He said he was now Scooterboy and the scooter was a CutDown! He had probably discovered it before, for me it was new at the time: the MOTORETTA, the Scootermag and still in black and white. And so the evil took its course. Now the 80s also became too slow for me somehow, schoolmates with DT, RD, MBX & Co and even some mopeds were faster than me. So if I change the gearshift anyway and take the engine out and disassemble it, I might as well make the bike a bit faster… In the meantime I had also discovered the ROLLERSHOP catalogue and SCOOTERING. I was so fascinated by the custom paint jobs in the glossy magazines that I sat down in my 80s „children’s room“ and dreamed of great paint jobs and scribbled a few of them on paper. Yes, laugh, these are my collected works:

Castrol sponsoring with the „Castrol Vespa Racer

So somehow my dreams regarding the custom paint job didn’t really come true, so I later took the initiative and asked Castrol for a sponsorship. To be honest, I’m a bit uncomfortable about this right now: I was quite sure I had done this at the age of 16. But according to the date of the letter to Castrol, which I found in my „Scooter Scene box“, I was already a bit older and at that time already doing my community service.

Unfortunately I don’t have the drawings of my„Castrol Racer“ with 20 hp and targeted 130-140km/h anymore. I must have enclosed the drawings with the letter to Castrol, Motorsport Department. I found this test printout with corrections from the letter. But I certainly didn’t write to UHU and NUTELLA, MÜHLEN KÖLSCH? Maybe! I don’t know any more… But the gentleman from Castrol was very nice, invited me to the IFMA in Cologne and, after a short conversation in the Castrol truck, pressed a few Castrol stickers into my hand. If anyone from Castrol is reading along here: my offer still stands! This is my Augsburg Vespa T4, for example:

Classic Castrol Shop

You don’t need to write sponsorship requests for our Classic Castrol merchandise, you can now get the cool retro Castrol Racing products at a great price in our Classic Castrol Shop:

Buy Classic Castrol Collection here