When scooter news breaks, we put it under a tarp in the garage.
From the smallwoodracing.com “contact” page:
Scott is available for all kinds of public appearances, contact Scott directly to book him for your event.
Oh, how I laughed when I read that (thanks M5), but the more I think about it, is there really a better motivational speaker than Scott Smallwood? Give ’em hell this season, Scott!
Yamaha has been supplying the FIM Grand Prix paddock with BW scooters (a.k.a. old-style zumas to us in the USA) for several years now. This year they’ll be the official paddock scooter for MotoGP. The scooter model has changed to the Yamaha Jog RR (a.k.a. a cool scooter that will never grace our shores to us in the USA). Yamaha will also offer an exclusive special edition replica model at dealers across Europe with MotoGP logos and track maps of each of the Grand Prix stops in the 2007 season. The Season kicks off in one week at Losail for the Grand Prix of Qatar.
Scooter Dave saw legendary scooter racer Scott Smallwood (and his van) the other day… Good luck in USGPRU this season, brother!
The Mid-America Scooter Racing Association (MASRA) is looking to revive scooter racing in the Midwest. They are scheduling open track days starting in the spring, and hoping to share some race dates with the ESRA in Circleville, OH. MASRA is looking to make it easy for anyone with a 250cc-or-below scooter (manual or auto, kitted or stock) to get out on the track and learn about racing
MASRA organizer Matt Devries also recommends US Mini Road Race as a good starting point for racers: “Don’t worry about their classifications, they would consider lap speed as opposed to displacement knowing full well that a cr50 is going to be faster than any P200.” USMRR is open to all small-displacement bikes including scooters, with a full season of racing scheduled.
If you’re reading this site, you’re probably the type of person that happily gives up a day of your European vacation to hunt down the local scooter shops. Chicago scooterist Kyle Hart is too, but he was lucky enough to visit Augsburg, Germany, where the “local shop” is S.I.P.. Instead of the usual modern Piaggio dealer who hasn’t seen a GS in twenty years, or repairman’s shed full of rotting scooter corpses, S.I.P. is a huge, modern shop catering to an international crowd of vintage and modern scooter racers and customizers, and judging by Kyle’s great photos, it’s an exciting place to visit.
POC Phil: “Like it or not…we’re turning the Lake Erie Loop into a rally. The campsite is too good for it to be anything but a rally. Run what you brung and be ready for a 680 mile ride-out.”
Wired‘s report on the Indian Autorickshaw Challenge. If anyone’d like to sponsor a 2strokebuzz team next year, you know where to find us. (Thanks again, Dave.)
This weekend, Macau (a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China) plays host to the 53rd annual Macau Grand Prix.  The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, run on the Guia Circuit made up of the streets of Macau, is part of a dieing breed of Real Road Racing. The notoriously dangerous race is favored by racers who normally take part in the celebrated Isle of Mann TT. Also being held is the 4th annual MGPC Scooter cup. The race is open to Macau residents and follows the 40th annual Motorcycle Grand Prix on Saturday November 18th. The race includes 50cc or 70cc two stroke scooters and 125cc 4 stroke scooters, each with their own class. PGO entered a G-Max 125 (aka Genuine Blur) in 2004 and won the 125cc class by placing 14th overall. This years entry list does not show a PGO taking part but there are plenty of Yamahas and a smattering of SYM scooters making up the race grid. 2005 podium residents Kin Fei Lai, Mou Heng Tou and Kin Fai Chan (finishing in that order) return for this years challenge. The Scooter Cup, run on the same circuit, has got to be the coolest scooter race on earth. The Macau Grand Prix Committee website offers live audio of the race.
Ryan’s photos from the Valencia MotoGP race. I have a feeling I’ll be fortunate enough to see the Vespa g-string in person someday.
I’m not a huge MotoGP fan, nor am I a huge Nicky Hayden fan, but it was cool to see Valentino Rossi dethroned by an American. Rye was actually in Valencia for the final race, hopefully he’ll let me repost his story when he gets back.
The Washington Post, who’s had more scooter coverage lately than 2strokebuzz, sums up the Cannonball and makes Rob Downs sound like a total loser. Nice work!
The Washington Post has a good story about the Cannonball Run, which starts Sunday.
How many things are wrong (read: freaking sweet) in this picture? It’s from the Oldtimer-Grand Prix, held at the Vrsac airport in Serbia.
In their continuing quest to get involved in anything with wheels, Kymco’s Super9 has been named the official scooter of the Champ Car Montreal Grand Prix.
Dirt-track scooter trials in Bissendorf Germany at the Scooter Scoop. Maybe POC Phil was onto something that time he broke his leg?