2sb pals Alex and Dawson’s Hell’s Fairies scooter club was featured in this week’s Time Out Chicago. The Fairies’ May Cicada Ride is Saturday at Noon.
Category: Clubs
Amerivespa, not Vespa American Days
If Gianluca is to be believed, the Italians as surprised/upset/suspicious/confused about FIV/VWC/Piaggio/”World Vespa Days” as we are.
It’s official: VCOA in Vespa World Club
Vespa World Club was announced about a year ago, but not much happened since then. Today Vespa Club of America president J.D. Merryweather received confirmation that on Feburary 28, at the VWC Directive Council meeting, VCOA’s membership was officially approved. This announcement signifies a commitment from Piaggio in Italy that thankfully ends a year of confusion about the future of the VCOA. The affiliation should enhance the VCOA’s already-great credibility, stability, and member benefits.
“The Wasp and the Beetle”
John Rana explores the shared traits of the Volkswagen and the Vespa, and their unholy union on the streets of Indonesia. He’s also designed the logo for the new Vespa Club of the Philippines, making me wonder if he’s not intent on becoming the Filipino version of me. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
VCOA announces Seattle Amerivespa date
The date has been set for Amerivespa 2007. The VCOA’s annual national rally will be held in Seattle, Washington on July 12–15, 2007.
Denver Post: 600+ scooterists at Amerivespa?
A column in the Denver Post is projecting Amerivespa/LammyJammy/Stellabration will “more than double” the size of Denver’s recent 300+ Mile High Mayhem rallies. If you’re planning on coming, PRE-REGISTER NOW to make sure you’ve reserved your place at all the events, especially the banquet at Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, which is limited to the first 500 registrants.
Clubs are for baby seals
From Craigslist (via Professor Matthew):
“Northside women needed for ‘chick scooter gang.'”
Houston Scooter Battalion postcards
ADR of the Houston Scooter Battalion is targeting all the new scooters on the streets of Houston with his HSB postcards. A great idea, we used to do that back in the day, and met a few good friends that way, but back then it was rare to see an unfamiliar scooter on the streets of Chicago. Maybe it’s time to print up some new 2sb cards and spread the gospel.
Amerivespa opens pre-registration
Pre-registration is open for Amerivespa 2006, July 27-30 in Denver. 2sb will be there, will you? (UPDATE 4pm: We just booked our room, they only have single (king) smoking rooms left, even if you don’t register now, book your room ASAP)
Kymco giving away Amerivespa trips
Amerivespa 2006 is, happily, shaping up to be quite the pan-scooter event. Starting life as the national Vespa rally combined with Denver’s legendary Mile High Mayhem rally, it also now encompasses this year’s Lambretta Jamboree and Stellabration. Main sponsor Kymco is giving away vacation packages to the Rally to ten lucky winners.
Hell’z Moppet scooter gang terrorizes Ottawa suburbs
A group of 20-30 scooter riding teenagers are on a rampage in Gatineau, Quebec. Police (this is Canada, remember) ask “are they just misunderstood?” (note: hellzmoppet.com is available)
Vespa World Club Website
Lo and behold, the VWC has a website already. The logo is revealed (a ho-hum rehash of the 50th annivesary logo, and where’s the “cog!?”) as is the organizational chart and a “Statute” outlining club rules– in Italian, though the rest of the site is available in “Italiano (Italia)” and “English (United States)”, aka the correctly-but-oddly-translated “Piaggio English” we love so. It’s happily been taken for granted that current national clubs (indluding the Vespa Club of America) have been listed as VWC affiliates. The “Activities” section, where one would expect to find an international rally calendar, instead lists competition events, perhaps they’re standardizing the gymkhana for international competition? A login promises a photo gallery, forum, and, er, blogs, as if there aren’t enough scooter blogs. (The one you’re reading is one too many).
Leardi named head of “Vespa World Club”
“The key to the Vespa is that it has a soul,
It is not just a piece of machinery.�
You may remember reading those words last week during Piaggio’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Vespa. It’s a quote from Roberto Leardi who (we’ve confirmed) was named head of the new “Vespa World Club” at the 57th National Congress of the Vespa Club d’Italia. Leardi’s comment struck us as very insightful, and we hope that as he leaves Rome for his new office in Pontedera he keeps the soul of the Vespa independent from the balance sheet of the company that created it. Piaggio’s choice of Leardi is a good start, and we look forward to hearing more about the goals and organization of the new World Club soon.
FIV replacement announcement soon?
It appears that Piaggio may soon announce a new international Vespa Club sanctioning body to replace the FIV (Federazione Internazionale dei Vespa Clubs), which they mysteriously dissolved in December. The new body is rumored to be called “Vespa World Club” and is likely to be directed by popular Vespa Club Italy president Roberto Leardi. Unfortunately, comments from Piaggio CEO Rocco Sabelli, published in the November/December issue of the company magazine “Piaggiornale,” indicate that this new organization might be under even tighter control of Vespa’s marketing department:
“To this end [adding extra value to our brands], we will be launching merchandising programs based on each brand’s history and traditions for professional and market-oriented use of the Vespa Club, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi communities.”
Hopefully Sabelli’s comment describes an increased investment to support the independent rallies and clubs that keep the scooter scene alive, rather than a plan to co-opt the historic and colorful national Vespa Clubs and re-tool them into Piaggio marketing squads. In any case, EUROVESPA 2006 is still scheduled for Turin this summer, and proudly displaying the FIV logo on their site.
Incriminators Scooter Club: Sean’s Tech Section
This might be old news, but the Incriminators SC of North Caroline have redesigned their site, and Sean Steven’s always-handy Tech Section, with his comprehensive (anal) plug-chop instructions, is working again.