Author: illnoise

Set your Tivos again, the DIY Network’s show Classic Rides has a multi-episode Vespa project coming up. (thx, akyana and Lu$)

From Lu$: Down in the S’th where people are WAY more morally sound, and where Hooters advertises on TV, you can win a Vespa. One time I went to Hooters for lunch with six cute co-worker girls and a gay guy, and I got wings and everyone else got sandwiches. Every single one of them but me threw up that afteroon. So the moral is, stick to the wings and don’t try to compete with the staff for the customers’ attention.

The High Rollers Weekend Vegas rally site is up, three months earlier than usual, and with a pretty damn solid itinerary. Wow. See what happens when the Brits start to outnumber the Yanks?

Newsweek has some tips on reliving Roman Holiday on your next vacation. I think I’d prefer the “Y Tu Mama Tambien” or “Lost In Translation” plan, though my budget might limit me to something more like this, or maybe driving around Galewood looking for Kim Novak’s old house.

Hard Pack SC is hosting the Monster Nation video on their site, if you haven’t seen it yet. In other Cable TV news, we hope to have Trish’s footage from HGTV up soon, and I keep forgetting to check out Ewan McGregor’s “Long Way Round” on Bravo, it’s on Thursdays at 8/7c.

vespa.0000@tamw.com says “Show Us Your Vespa.”

Runnin’ Riot Mail Order has some cool scooter t-shirts. And a schload of Skinhead shirts. (Did you know we sell shirts, too?)

From Redi2Scoot.com:
“It can be hard to find a card that honors the scooter, it’s rider and the USA. This is our first design.” Vina:They’ve pegged the patriotic hillbilly skank scooterist market! It looks like they silhouetted Madonna from the Music album.” To be fair, proceeds go to charity, while 2sb t-shirt profits generally get spent on liquor. If you’ve been looking for an upbeat conservative version of 2sb, you’ve found it!

In a world… where scooters are all starting to look the same… one scooter has the matte black paint and sportbike decals to rise above the rest. Mitchell Gant is the American pilot recruited by NATO for a daring mission into the heart of Italy to steal the world’s first neurologically-controlled scooter… “Zhou must zheeenk een EETALIAN!” Aprilia’s copywriters sure seem proud of their new 50cc moped. I’m sure it’s great. Thanks, Mykrrr.

Cute ad for Goodfellas frozen pizza featuring an early ’60s Vespa and an Ape.

Not much to report on the midwest racing front lately (criiiiiiiick-et) but Team 2SB has been secretly training for a 2005 season, if there is one.

The Discovery Channel show “Monster Nation” Episode 6 features a segment on the Orange Crush rally. Looks like we missed it but keep an eye out for the rerun. Thanks for the tip, Lalo!

Bryan M writes:

it’s a themed rollercoaster – like you’re riding a mini sportbike. not
quite a scooter but still, pretty cool…

It’s the
Motorcycle coaster at Attractiepark Toverland in Holland. No doubt, Bryan, that looks way fun. Maybe Six Flags will get one? Fingers crossed.

The Boston Globe delves deep into the ladies’ scooter scene. A decent story, but there’s a chug or two in there, and we all know there are far more than two stereotypes of female scooterists.

The Seattle Times, who apparently have several reporters covering vintage Italian vehicles full-time, reports that two Italian Senators are fighting to prevent a ban on cars like the Fiat 500 (aka the “cinquecento”) that they feel are part of Italy’s heritage. Such uncatalyzed, seat-belt-less cars are banned in most cities.