Today Jo Wood is known to many for her range of organic products, as former wife of a Rolling Stone and to some, a contestant on BBC TV’s Strictly Come Dancing. Before all that however, she was a model and was also photographed many a time with a Lambretta scooter or two.
A well-known name in the British scooter scene was that of Mike Karslake, an enthusiast at first who competed on his Lambrettas on the Isle of Man, organised scooter tours to Europe and then went on to work for Lambretta Concessionaires who imported the scooters into the UK. After the factory in Italy closed in 1971, a new company in the UK was formed to import Lambretta scooters from India, Two Four Accessories, and the images accompanying this post are from a mid-1970s promotional leaflet for said SIL Lambretta scooters.
This page of the 1970s Lambretta leaflet (enthusiasts noting the lack of traditional GP panel stripes on these early Indian models!) features Mike fishing at the end of the pier, his son Paul Karslake and daughter Jo Karslake, aka Jo Wood as she’s known today following 30 years of marriage to (and now divorced from) Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood.
The next image shows Paul and Jo with friends and is also taken from the same Lambretta leaflet.
For the Lambrettisti out there, Jo apparently still has an old 1950s Lambretta, and Paul still owns and rides a number of Lambrettas himself, as well as applying his artistic talent with an airbrush to the panels of many a custom scooter too.
Great post! I’ve teased it, and linked to it from my blog. I’ve used one of your pics to whet the appetite, hope that’s ok!
thank you very much. Seems a lot of people like this so I’ve just dug another photo out and blogged that too.
Thanks again
Thank you for the great site! We are the folks Mike refers to in his book that he, Rachael and Jamie stayed with in Shell Beach, California in mid-70’s. Than, I visited them at Ronnie Wood’s place in Mandeville Canyon, Los Angeles and attended the New Barbarians concert at the LA Colisium with them. Mike introduced me to Tony Curtis and other celebrities. Great fun!
Next day Mike saw a classified and we chased down an old 50’s Lambretta in pieces in scarry East LA. Still have great photos of our visits, including bathtub shots of babies Jamie and my daughter, Mike riding my Lamb/sidecar rig and the memorable time we enjoyed together. Larry/Claire
What a great story, thanks for sharing it. It’s not everyday a Lambretta enthusiast introduces someone to Tony Curtis!!
As a follow-up, I still have the ’61 Lambretta (I bought new) and sidecar which Mike flew while I took photos. Am presently putting 187cc piston in and with original 125cc gearbox should do wheelees! Also ride my R100/7 BMW/sidecar with local Monterey Bay, Calif. Club, and restoring two other older BMW’s now. Am newly retired from teaching. Love your website! Larry/Claire Steffen
Thank you Larry & Claire. Be sure to share some photos of the Lambretta when it’s finished – and even the older Bee Emms!
Howdy friends,
As an update, I came across my photo alblum of the great days my wife and I spent with Mike and Rachael while they were here in California. Would these pictures and a brief description of each photo be of interest? And where would they be best posted to? Thank you.
Larry/Claire Steffen
Larry@stratofex.com
Thank you Larry, you can email them to info@scooternova.com