Wirral Transport Museum to celebrate scooter heritage

The proposed display honouring Elizabeth Smolen will feature at Wirral Transport Museum as part of its operators' expansion plans.

Big Heritage is looking to expand its exhibitions at the venue to 'encompass a broader social history of transport on Merseyside, including the iconic local scooter scene'.

Residents across Wirral and Merseyside are invited to contribute their stories, photographs, and artefacts to help shape the new exhibition, which is dedicated to the rich heritage of scooters in the region.

A key focus of the new exhibition will be the life and career of Smolen, a three-time World Champion motor scooter rider who moved to Wirral from war-torn Poland in the 1950s.

Picture from Danny Doyle's collection showing Elizabeth Smolen with her mother outside the shop in Bebington (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest) Another central feature of the exhibition will be the story of Cloud9 Scooter Club, which was founded in 1972 and has been at the heart of the local scooter scene for over five decades.

The museum is eager to hear from those who were part of the club or have memories to share for a permanent display photographs, memorabilia, or recollections of club meetings.

A temporary exhibition will be showcased at Williamson Art Gallery in February 2025, before becoming a permanent feature at the newly redeveloped Transport Museum when it reopens in Spring 2026.

The exhibit will feature Smolen’s personal 1962 Vespa scooter, generously loaned by Danny Doyle, who lives in Parkgate and has spent years researching her life and legacy.

Lynn Mifflin from Birkenhead Cloud9 scooter club sitting on Elizabeth Smolen's Scooter that will form part of the exhibit at Wirral Transport Museum (Image: Big Heritage CIC) The scooter will be displayed alongside a replica of her iconic black racing scooter on which she won many of her racing trophies.

Bryony Fisher, executive director at Big Heritage, said: "The birth of the British scooter scene has long been recognized as a defining counter-culture movement.

"It developed its own distinctive music, fashion, and cultural legacies that continue to influence today's society.

"We are very excited to be working with members of Birkenhead Cloud 9 Scooter club to explore these local stories connected with such an important national movement, alongside celebrating the life of the truly unique Elizabeth Smolen."

Born in Poland, Smolen escaped war-torn Poland with her mother in the early 1950s and eventually settled in Birkenhead, before moving to Rock Ferry.

She opened a scooter shop in Bebington in 1964. It became very successful and she became the Vespa dealer for a wide area.

She began racing the scooters, including three wins in the Isle of Man, and went on to be the World Champion in her class. Her victories earned her the nickname 'Scooter Queen' in the Isle of Man.

Mr Doyle, former marketing manager for Birkenhead Market, got to know Smolen when he bought his first scooter from her.

In an interview with the Globe last year, Danny said: "There is nothing, anywhere, to commemorate and honour this amazing lady and her remarkable story.

"Elizabeth was Jewish and escaped Poland with her mother in the clothes she stood up in. She came to the UK and settled in Birkenhead.

Danny Doyle with memorabilia on Elizabeth Smolen and an original 1964 scooter at his home in Parkgate last year (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)

"She opened a scooter shop in Bebington, of all places, and began racing them to aid promotion of the business.

"The shop became very successful and she became the Vespa dealer for a wide area.

"Her racing was also successful and she won her class in the Isle Of Man - the most difficult course in the world, for three years on the run.

"She went on to be the World Champion in her class."

Explaining how he came to know Smolen, Danny explained: "I bought my first scooter off her in 1965, at the age of 16, and another in '66.

"I got to know her well. English was her second language and she had a great sense of humour.

"She ran all kinds of fundraising for children back in war-torn Poland - because it was decimated by the Germans and then by the Russians - and raised many thousands of pounds.

"She would hire a van and drive to Poland with clothing, toys, food and anything she could collect, all this whilst running her successful business."

Big Heritage is inviting anyone who can contribute stories, photographs, or memorabilia relating to Elizabeth Smolen or Birkenhead Cloud9 Scooter Club to get in touch by emailing research@bigheritage.co.uk