Scooter buff lives to race and repair

culture@dailylobo.com

Sean Campbell, co-founder and co-owner of Blue Smoke Garage, learned how to service his scooter by trial and error. He bought his first scooter after college and bought his first vintage scooter, a model from 1962, off eBay.

“It was kind of going along with the scene I was in, the ska and punk scene; they were very much vintage-geared,” he said. “Vintage clothing, vintage music even, so it went along with vintage bikes.”

Campbell, an Albuquerque native, used to race other vintage bikers in Denver, revving up to speeds as fast as 90 mph. He said he wears a full leather outfit, helmet, boots and gloves, so racing injuries are minimal.

“You’re not protected by walls, and I have been down many times. I just slide out or skid out or overcompensate on a turn, no serious damage,” he said. “The worst injury I had was a minor bit of road rash and a sprained pinkie. My clutch lever broke when I was coming off a stoplight, and I popped into a wheelie and fell over and slid onto the ground.”

Campbell said scooters have come in and out of fashion since the ‘80s. He said he thinks politics plays a major role in their popularity.

“The political climate affects gas prices, but it also affects the way people think about how they’re getting around,” he said. “The main scooter movement was in the ‘80s in the punk and ska scene, and resurged in the ‘90s. You look at the presidents who were in at the times; you have Reagan, you have Bush Sr., and the most recent one really started about six years ago with Bush Jr. I think that’s very relevant.”

Not only does Campbell repair, ride and race scooters, he also started the Albuquerque chapter of the Pharaohs Scooter Club, an international vintage scooter club. People who want to ride with the club must earn a patch by performing menial tasks for established members.

“It doesn’t matter what you ride. With us it’s more about personality than what you ride,” he said. “It’s only a little bit of hazing; it’s like a fraternity or sorority.”