Haunted Chicago Scooter Run II

Review and Photos by Ryan Bastianelli

Our favorite scooter appraiser, Ryan Bastianelli hung out with the Jedis for a whole day and all I got was this dumb t-shirt.

Note: Ryan’s opinions are not neccesarily shared by 2strokeBuzz. Or anyone, really. God knows what's going on in that boy's head.

What’s scarier
than Chicago Jedis?

Nothing.

Sunday, October 29 was the second annual Jedi Knights (Chicago) SC Haunted Chicago Ride. It was a sunny but cool day. Perfect weather for a fall scooter run.


Jinx Cafe

We met at the start of everything scootering in Chicago, The Jinx Cafe on Division.

I decided to wear my race leathers and try to pass it off as a Halloween costume. Every time somebody asked me what I was suppose to be I would say something different.:

-"Im Rob Halford from Judas Priest"
-"Im Elvis from the comeback concert"
-"Im Sting from Dune"
-"Im German"
-"Im gay"

Mike (left) from So1o SC wore the same thing. I should have called him the night before.

I talked a bit with Matt and Trish from the Regulars SC in Minnesota who were in town for a convention or something. [actually I believe it was to go to IKEA and to see Screeching Weasel-ed.] They meant to bring scoots but they had problems with their truck. After a bit of talking and repair at Jinx we were all off to the first stop, The Hull House on Halsted. This was the home of the "Devil Baby", the inspiration for the movie Rosemary's Baby. This was also the first sign that Rob Hodge might DNF the ride for a mechanical. Scary.


Hull House

The next stop was the site of the Eastland Disaster at the Clark and LaSalle St. bridge. This was the boarding place of a boat that capsized, killing 800 people (22 whole families). We pulled the scooter right up on the sidewalk to get some good pictures. Lots of people were out walking around the bikes and asking questions. Moe (22LSC) and I thought we better get off the sideway before the fuzz came around and started writing tickets.


A mysterious spirit hovers over the riders at the site of the Eastland Disaster.

Between the Hull House and the Eastland Disaster, Hodge's custom SIP gear shift lever came apart and he managed to fix it at a stoplight and kept up with the ride. People started betting money on if Hodge would actually finish the ride.

Next episode: The Water Tower. People (crazy people, I bet) have reported seeing figures in the windows—some of them hanging. Maybe they were hanging themself to escape the Great Chicago Fire's smoke because the Water Tower was the only thing to survive the fire. Maybe not. There were lots of tourists around the Water Tower. A couple guys were talking in Italian by my scoot. I started talking to them and they were curious about how we get gas for the scooters. In Italy they sell gas right out of the pump that has the 2-stroke oil in it. I told them that we have to mix it, like nature intended.

Moe talked to a lady that had a Vespa she bought new in 1974. How long have you been into scootering? We thought we found a great parking spot at the Water Tower but it turned out to be a bus tour stop, so we got the boot.

En route to the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, one of the scooters broke a cable, bringing the ride to a halt on an island under a stoplight near Lake Shore Drive. We packed everybody on the island and it would have made for a good photo op if the sun wasn't behind the scoots.


There it is again! I think Ryan doctored these pictures

The next site was the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, a big slaughter by some mobsters in 1929. People started getting hungry and thirsty so Chris Barr, the only Jedi with any brains in my opinion, [Oof!-Ed] decided to skip some stops and make a mad dash to the bar. We went up to the Graceland Cemetery and without even stopping (big U-turn) headed right back down Clark to the Red Lion Pub. On the way to Graceland Cemetery, Hodge ran out of gas. Yes! I just won $20! At the pub we ate some of the great food that the English are known for. They had Fish and Chips (with too much vinegar, ask So1o Mike), Cornish Pasties, and Shepherd's pie.


Loading up on "vinegar" at the Red Lion Pub on Lincoln Avenue.

I'm not sure the number of scoots or people. It looked like about 15 bikes. The ride was a great time and was very well-planned by Chris Barr and the rest of the Jedis. I hope they keep doing it.


©2000 2strokeBuzz and contributors. What is 2strokeBuzz?
Submissions, comments and questions: Contact illnoise@2strokeBuzz