TheScooterScoop

[More photo journalism from Lawrence Hsu. Enjoy! Oh, you can click on the slide show to access the photo album and larger images.]

WOW! Can you believe it’s over? Amerivespa 2007 has come to a close? I’m sure our on-the-scene reporter, Lawrence, isn’t alone when he says “I wished it would never end.” Well don’t worry Lawrence and fans of Amerivespa, because it’ll all happen again in 2008… except THIS time… It’ll be in Chattanooga, TN! MmmmmMMM! BBQ, the Aquarium, the choo-choos, the Caverns (did you know I was a caver?); it’ll be a sweeeet scooter shindig! I’ll be sure to make that one since I’ll have an excuse (my relatives are just a few hours away in Huntsville, AL) AND it’s only 970 miles away from Austin, where as Seattle is 2,383 miles away.

Enough with the spoilers, let’s go to Lawrence for the lowdown on the last two days at Amerivespa. Take it away Lawrence!

(Saturday, 7/14)

SQREAM SC & Modern Vespa put together yet another delicious breakfast for the appreciative crowd. Test rides, given by Vespa, Kymco and Genuine, went on all day long. Local scooter clubs again led scooterists on city rides all throughout the day. Of course, the highlights of the day, the gymkhana, slow race and the Concours d’Elegance attracted the most crowds as the scooterists show off both their hot rides and awesome skills.

Gymkhana came down to the final “limbo” as John Golden of North Plains, Oregon squeezed under it to become the limbo-king. Mr. Golden demonstrated superior riding techniques as he wowed the audience again and again in all the rounds which he competed. (This reporter is currently working on an exclusive video, so please stayed tuned!) The Slow Race was won by the often entertaining “Monterrey Pete” of Santa Cruz, a member of the Vespa Club Los Gatos. The afternoon spectators were entertained by MC Joe Drake of Stamford, England (currently of Vancouver.) And who could forget the comedy act of the first-ever tandem Canadian scooterists (in hooded lycra speed-skating outfits) in Gymkhana [what? No pictures? -steve]

Concours d’Elegance was hotly contested as well and the winners were announced at the evening’s VCOS Gala Awards Banquet which took place in the Armory Bldg Drill Hall in S. Lake Union Park.

In the Wide Body Vespa category, Henrik Harms of Hamburg, Germany won the prize with his Hoffman Koenigin. (He and his riding partner Chris of America-by-Vespa.com also won the Farthest Ridden.) The club with the largest contingent was Vespa Club of Canada. As the award was announced, the hall suddenly erupted into a huge chorus singing “O Canada!” in unison. Lee Afferton’s ’63 GS Series 1 won the Best Sport Vespa over 2 extremely nice 180′s. Nicky
Swanson of Vespa Club Los Gatos captured the Best 60′s & 70′s Original with her orange Vespa Sprint (which also has unofficially the Loudest Pipe of the Rally). In the Small Frame Original category, Ian Carcosa’s Blue Badge ’66 125 Primavera won the prize. David Lawson’s ’79 P200 was the winner in the Modern Manual Vespa Restoration/Original category. From San Antonio, Texas, the artfully painted “La Lone Sirena Vaquera”, a ’79 P125, of Dawn “Diva” Brocks, was
hands-down the winner in the Modern Manual Custom category. A special bike indeed, considering it was bought for $600 and had only another $200 thrown in afterward. Go Texas!

Even though this was a Vespa event, the Lambrettas and other makes were honored as well. Rudy’s TV175 Series 2 from Portland, OR (Lucky Bastards SC) won in Lambretta–Origial or Restoration category; while the white/orange-glittered ’57 Li 150 Series 1 of Marty Chavez (Los Gatos Gordos/VCOS’ current president) captured the Lambretta Custom’s award. Vintage Other European category was won by a one-of-a-kind ’57 Peugeot S57B of Beall Korry (VCOS).

And then quickly,

Best Oddity–PGO Vespa of Allison (VCOC).
Best Automatic–’07 Piaggio X9 of Lee Kinnaman.
Best More Than Two Wheels–Karen Nelson’s pink “Hello Kitty” Stella with a matching sidecar.
Best “Krylon King”–’74 Rally 200 of Justin Bengtson (Top Dead Center SC from Eugene, OR). He said he only uses PPG, not Krylon!
Best “Rat” Bike–Monkey Jessie of the Flying Monkeys SC and his duct-taped “Lexus”, perpeptually 40mph, missing-many-parts P200.
Best Radical Custom–(Wussy SC) Thom Sullivan’s black ’63 TV175 (w/a TSI 225 motor).

Finally the Best of Show was won by Vince Rowley’s ’79 “Naval Air Corps “(a.k.a. Blue Angels P200)–a definite crowd-pleaser. The People’s Choice award went to Ronso of Daggers SMC and his beautiful small-frame ’76 Vespa Primavera Custom.

Then, the attention focused on one bike alone–the beautifully-restored ’64 GL to be raffled off by VCOS. And the winner is…(looks like the bike is staying home)…VCOS member and event volunteer Mr. Chuck Pefley of Seattle. Lucky man! [I can just imagine all the "rigged" shouts afterward. Congratulations Chuck! RIGGED! ;) -steve]

One piece of information to pass around:
Chattanooga, TN was named the site for Amerivespa 2008!

The evening did not end without a little fireworks either. After the winner of Modern Vespa category was announced and the award went to Quang Nguyen’s ’06 GTS250–a sleek Wi-Fi-ready machine, one of the six runners-up and a small crowd gathered around Mr. Dave
McCabe (formerly an officer of VCOA), who instantly became the recipient of relentless complaints–mainly on the issues of fairness in judging, possible miscategorization of certain bike in question, and workmanship. Heated exchanges quickly spilled over to the outside of the main hall and lasted for quite a while into the night. It was unclear to the reporter as the crowd finally scattered if all parties involved were satisfied at the end of their lengthy discussion; yet one thing was certain that wherever passion comes into play, controversy follows. [Someone was yelling at McCabe? Don't they know he drives an anti-tank scooter? -steve]

(Sunday, 7/15) Amerivespa 2007 Wrap-Up

9am. 400+ riders set off for a ferry ride to the scenic Vashon Island after coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts. It was one of the largest rides of this rally or anywhere-else for that matter. After landing on Vashon, the large group of riders took a nice and long ride over the winding roads around the island, soaking up some spectacular views and ending up finally at the Vashon Eagles Club where they were served a mouth-watering BBQ lunch. At the raffle, “Sugar Bear”–the MC, kept the rally attendees entertained while tons of scooter goodies found their winners. But we all had one thing in mind–the remaining 3 raffle bikes. Unfortunately for the rest of us, these guys had the winning tickets in their hands:

Marla and Paul Oleniacz of Spokane, WA won the Stella Fireball.
Jon Freedman won the Kymco People 250.
Some lucky guy walked off with a QLINK 50cc. [and with a name like THAT, how could he loose? hehe -steve]

How quickly the crowd disappeared and went on their separate ways at the conclusion of the rally. Back to their families, their regular lives, and their regular jobs. Our existence forever enriched by this weekend’s experience, this Amerivespa, what an extraordinary gathering of minds, passion and machines.

I like to take this final opportunity to thank the following:

Richard Zemke–for gathering all the vendors and raffle goodies for the rally and for giving me the ride to and back from Vashon Island. VCOS and VCOA for organizing this great rally.
Kymco USA for being the biggest unsung hero of the rally (Good luck on breaking the landspeed record later this year. Hope to attend the Kymco Rally in the future.) Piaggio Group Americas and Genuine for letting me ride the MP3 and The Rattler 110 prototype. Kelly, Meredith, Orin, Denise, Scott, “The Captain” and “Sugar Bear”. Victor, Sean and Rolf for giving the Vespa tech sessions. All of the cool, groovy, and passionae scooterists I’ve met at Amerivespa 2007. KAGOME for the delicious juices. Steve Guzman for allowing an amateur to report for TheScooterScoop.com [puhlease! you did a fantastic job Lawrence. We really appreciate you taking the time to both enjoy the rally AND report on it -steve] My club–SCGT for their support. My dad for putting me on his Vespa 180 long ago. My brother’s family for putting up with me this week. Love your home-cooking, Mom.

See y’all at the next scooter rally! See y’all at Amerivespa 2008!

Scoot Happy!!—Lawrence