Scooters make Bank Holiday pilgrimage to Brighton

  • Thousands of Mods from across the country descended on Brighton seafront on their Lambrettas and Vespas
  • East Sussex seafront took a step back to the 1960s as the Mods relived their heyday for annual pilgrimage 
  • Clash between Mods and Rockers in 1964 saw more than 1,000 teenagers fight on the beach and promenade

A seaside resort was transformed into a haze of smoke and roaring engines as thousands of Mods flocked to the coast to relive their heyday.

Brighton took a step back to the 1960s as Lambrettas and Vespas sped along the seafront for the annual Mod weekender pilgrimage.

The sounds of The Who boomed out as the convoy donned their Tonik suits, Fred Perry t-shirts, Harrington and Parka jackets and tassel loafers and filled the East Sussex town on Sunday. 

Brighton was notoriously the location for violent clashes between rival gangs of Mods and rockers, which came to a head when more than 1,000 teenagers became embroiled in a violent fight on the beach and promenade in 1964.

The famous clash was dramatised in the cult 1979 British film Quadrophenia, which told the story of a group of young Mods in the 1960s. 

Thousands of scooters roared along the seafront for the annual ‘Mod Weekender’, which takes place on August bank holiday

Brighton became the meeting place for Mods on their scooters in the 1960's and has continued to attract groups reliving their heyday 

Brighton became the meeting place for Mods on their scooters in the 1960’s and has continued to attract groups reliving their heyday 

A scooter and side car make their way past The Royal Pavilion, with riders kitted out in their Harrington jackets 

A scooter and side car make their way past The Royal Pavilion, with riders kitted out in their Harrington jackets 

The Lambrettas and Vespas on display were polished for the occasion and complete with mirrors, flags and fox tails 

The Lambrettas and Vespas on display were polished for the occasion and complete with mirrors, flags and fox tails 

As the sounds of The Who blasted out from pubs and bars, people donned their shifts dresses to get into the swing of the action

As the sounds of The Who blasted out from pubs and bars, people donned their shifts dresses to get into the swing of the action

Brighton was notoriously the location for violent clashes between rival gangs of Mods and rockers, which came to a head when more than 1,000 teenagers became embroiled in a violent fight on the beach and promenade in 1964

Brighton was notoriously the location for violent clashes between rival gangs of Mods and rockers, which came to a head when more than 1,000 teenagers became embroiled in a violent fight on the beach and promenade in 1964

We are the Mods! This chant was immortalised in the cult British movie, Quadrophenia, which followed a group of youths and their infamous clash in Brighton 

We are the Mods! This chant was immortalised in the cult British movie, Quadrophenia, which followed a group of youths and their infamous clash in Brighton 

Scootering clubs from across the country came prepared with cut outs and pictures from their 1960s heyday

Scootering clubs from across the country came prepared with cut outs and pictures from their 1960s heyday

Riders lined the seafront as they revved into the East Sussex seafront town for their annual get together 

Riders lined the seafront as they revved into the East Sussex seafront town for their annual get together 

Fred Perry shirts and tassel loafers were proudly worn by the thousands of Mods as they rode into Brighton 

Fred Perry shirts and tassel loafers were proudly worn by the thousands of Mods as they rode into Brighton 

The event attracts groups and parties from across the UK on the August Bank Holiday every year

The event attracts groups and parties from across the UK on the August Bank Holiday every year

The celebration of Modernist culture sees sharp-suited men and women jump on their scooters for the annual ride

The celebration of Modernist culture sees sharp-suited men and women jump on their scooters for the annual ride

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