Oh, almost forgot, the subject of my Googlestalking yesterday was the organizer of a scooter tour of the Michigan wine country on September 13-14, 2008. As I suspected from the handsome site and the Brookfield meet-up location, it’s Alana, an old friend I haven’t seen around in a while. The ride sounds great, hopefully 2sb will be there, at least for the drinking and ferrying part.
Category: Rallies and Rides
Righteous Rotenburg Rally
This is the kind of race/rally weekend I can get behind: a DSSC meet in Rotenburg, Germany. Ryan, who sent the video, points out that all scooter rally raffles should be immediately replaced with “throwing shit.” Oh, and DEBASER. (Keep an eye out for some exciting sorta-Pixies/2strokebuzz related news coming Monday.)
Happy birthday, Motorsport
Motorsport Scooters in San Diego is celebrating their 16th birthday this weekend with a big sale/party on Saturday and a ride and BBQ on Sunday. Alex has been a top-tier shop owner and a very supportive presence on the American scooter scene since well before most of us were riding, it seemed like he’d already been around forever when I became a customer 12 years ago. Congratualations!
Chicago Hard Mod and Milwaukee Rockerbox
Chicago’s Hard Mod Weekender kicks off tonight (well, actually last night with the Circuits reunion at the Globe, sorry for posting this so late!). Tonight’s the Stone Lightning Band and the Irving Parkas with DJs at Phyllis’, tomorrow is a Moto Show and Jumble sale at the new Bottom Lounge (can’t wait to check that place out, it sounds great), and more bands and dancing later at the Volcano Room, and Sunday morning there’s a soul breakfast at Holiday.
Tomorrow is also Rockerbox in Milwaukee, one of the best vintage motorcycle shows around. That’s a tough choice to make.
Bulgogi and P.E.A.C.E.
Alix Bryan of P.E.A.C.E Scooter fame passed through Chicago while I was at Amerivespa. I’d hoped to meet her for dinner at a Korean restaurant Sunday night with some Modern Buddy folks, but I got back kind of late and some wires got crossed so I ended up eating with Ryan instead. Sorry Alix. We made this peace sign out of the banchan dishes, in your honor.
Alix got some news coverage in Cleveland the other day, and her months-long journey will end Friday (August 8, 2008) with a victory lap around the White House (a group ride leaves from Vespa Arlington at noon), then Scoot Richmond is hosting a party for her at 5pm on Saturday, featuring the final raffle drawing. Congratulations Alix!
Synchronized Scootering?
OK, motorcycles, not scooters, but let’s see if we can pull this off at Amerivespa! Judging by the trouble we had keeping six or eight people together through Chicago Columbus Day parades, I doubt it. Awesome.
Chicago city stickers enforcement
Just a reminder, Chicago usually starts heavy-duty enforcement of “road use” stickers and medallions right about now. Be aware that they’re not parking-related, and you CAN be cited while parked in a private garage or even pulled over if it’s not displayed.
Hell’s Fairies Botanic Bepop
Visit the Chicago Botanical Gardens with the Hell’s Fairies
this Saturday (July 19, 2008) from 2-7pm.
Scootin’ For A Cure
Linda and Karen are riding 6000 miles across America to catch a Cure concert at the Meadowlands. No, wait, I read it wrong, it’s for cancer awareness! They have a blog too. You can donate here.
Chicago city stickers expire today
It’s Chicago “Vehicle Sticker” day! If you live in the city, your old car stickers and motorcycle medallions expire on June 30, and must be updated today. All motorcycles and scooters are required to display the tag. Despite commonly being called “parking medallions,” they’re required whether or not you park on the street. Remember that motorcycle tags do allow you to park in any “neighborhood” parking zone. Generally, hardcore enforcement starts at the end of July, so if you haven’t yet, send Miguel Del Valle your $45. This year, the medallion has been redesigned, it’s smaller and looks more like a dog tag, tastefully anodized in orange to match Blurs, Buddys, and Stellas. Good call, Miguel.
El Coucho, el video!
With PVSC’s “Band Camp” rally days away, it’s the perfect time to share this must-see time-lapse video of Alex Tasi constructing the famous “El Coucho” scooter:
(Thanks for the link, Mike Maddox!)
Mods vs Rockers 2008 Photos
Mods vs. Rockers 2008
Update: Scooterists are meeting at the Globe at 10:45am Saturday, to ride down to Delilah’s as a group.
I would tell you that Chicago scooter rally season kicks off this weekend with Mods vs. Rockers 2007 but the truth is, it’s been going on for a while already. I’m woefully behind on events posts and you already missed a Comic Book Release Party and the ModChicago’s Weekender (Sorry, mods!) But don’t miss the Motorcycle/Scooter/Hot Rod show at Delilahs from Noon-4pm on Saturday, and the Fish & Chips Dinner and Chicago Premiere of Brittown at the new Bottom Lounge on Saturday night.
P.E.A.C.E update
Alix is in New Orleans and blogging strong. Definitely worth checking daily (update:RSS is working now, hooray!). Be sure to check out her weekly raffles.
Amerivespa 2008 registration open
Amerivespa 2008 in Chattanooga, TN, is now open for registration. Amerivespa is the Vespa Club of America’s national rally, I’ve been the last three years (Cleveland, Denver, and Seattle) and it’s been fantastic. Events include several rides (including the legendary Deal’s Gap “Dragon,”), a river cruise, a concours and gymkhana, a pub crawl, a vendor area/swap meet, raffles, and an awards banquet, plus much more. If you’re going, be sure to preregister, it seems expensive, but it’s worth it. (The cruise and banquet, for instance, fill up quickly, and generally aren’t included in the [higher] day-of-event registration fee). Of course, it’s cheaper if you’re a VCOA member, and you’ll get four issues of VCOA’s fantastic American Scooterist. The rally (and the VCOA) welcomes all scooterists, new and old, modern and vintage, and it’s a really friendly atmosphere* to make new friends.
*Aside from that one guy.