Amerivespa Club House
Not only did Amerivespa ‘98 have scooterists from almost half the states, it enjoyed representation from several local, regional, and national clubs. Some of the clubs represented at this year’s nationals were, in alphabetical order:
Riding the Trails Together
To All Our Friends in the Vespa Club of America
With much sadness I write to tell you that my husband Michael died unexpectedly of a heart attack on March 11, 1998, at the age of fifty-one. He had just returned the night before from his first time ever attending Daytona Bike Week with friends. I will always be grateful he made it back safely and we had that last night together. He was extremely happy and excited about all the bikes and activity in Daytona and was looking forward to warm weather arriving in Wisconsin, getting out on his motorcycles and motorscooters, attending rallies, restoring the Manet that was in pieces in our basement. He was always full of plans.
Many of you will remember Michael from the National Scooter Rallies we attended in Springfield and Knoxville. He especially loved collecting and restoring vintage motorscooters, such as the ‘59 Jawa Cezeta or the TWN Tessy. But we were also as apt to be scooting about town in the Silver Vespa Rally 200 with sidecar or the white Piaggio. He believed in riding, not just collecting.
Michael felt he had a lot of friends in the Vespa Club, and always looked forward to being together with you, sharing a common interest, having fun, riding the trails together. One of the last things we did the morning he died was to write the date of the Knoxville Rally on the calendar. I hope you’ll think of him when you gather in June and keep us in your prayers. Happy scooting, Michael!
Fondly,
Just Like New
I thought you might like this photo. I have built two Vespa 180 SSs this year, one for San Francisco, one for Los Angeles. I have one more looking for a new home. It is the round headlamp transition model. I hope all is well.
He Met the Challenge
Last week American Scooterist arrived with the request for workshop photos. The enclosed photos feature my spouse Francis R. Geraci engaged in restoring a 1974 Vespa Rally 200. One of the photos shows a workshop can be on your knees in the gutter!
Francis and I became enamored of Vespa while traveling in Italy. A friend offered us a basket case—literally laundry baskets of part. Francis accepted the challenge. Notice in the second photo what had been a woodworking shop became a Vespa garage. Note: on the left side of the garage the blue, metal cabinet—the table saw now relegated to parts stand. Consulting with Francis (left) are Mark Jurus (VCOA # 76) in the center and Alex Tasi, owner of Maritime Plastics and creator of custom high-performance Vespas.
The magazine is fun. We will be looking forward to the next issue and the ice-cream certificate.
Bye and thanks.
What is This Lambretta Club of America Business?
Dear Michael,
Just received the Winter '97 Issue July 15, 1998. Huh?
First of all why is it so late? Maybe it should be the Fall '98 Issue so that it promotes what's going on in the Fall.
Secondly, what is this Lambretta Club of America Magazine business? Yes, I understand that the VCOA encompasses all European scooters and welcomes members who own such scooters. But why change the name to Lambretta Club of America Magazine? If you wanted to feature a whole issue on the Lammy why not say that on the cover instead of "changing the club name". When I started to subscribe to the VCOA, I did so to receive the magazine and support the club as I did with the VCB in England. As a Canadian, and a proud one at that, I overlooked the name change of the magazine to American Scooterist. But now you're changing it again shows inconsistency. I think you'll find that you may lose members or subscribers to the club by continually changing. What's next, the Cushman Club of America with a bit of European magazine?
As you can see I am not overly excited about this change. As I said before, if you want to feature a scooter in your magazine, do so like you did for the 50th Anniversary for the Vespa and dedicate that issue. You could have done that for the 50th Anniversary for the Lammy.
And last but not least, what's with the articles by John Gerber? I have nothing against him and I shouldn't slag him off becuase I've never met him. But seven articles out of eleven! Couldn't you find others who could write about the Lambretta as well? I'm sure Mr. Gerber is well educated on the history of the Lambretta from the beginning until its' demise. But surely there are others who have opinions or thoughts or memories about the Lambretta you could have approached.
This magazine could have been called The John Gerber Lambretta Club of America Magazine. Anyone looking at the cover would think this was a Lambretta Club of America members’ mag and not know it encompassed all riders of varying scooters.
These are my opnions only, to be submitted to Letters to the Editor.
Hi Ian,
The name change was only in jest. We are still the VCOA. I thought that was clear in my President's message...but maybe not clear enough. We intended to release the issue in sync with the Lammy 50th, but we ran into problems.
As has been very evident, we're playing a serious game of catch-up with the magazine. Yes, this should have been released months ago, but there were problems. Luckily, our Spring '98 issue is in the mail and Summer'98 is nearly in the printing stages. My goal for this year is to get all issue out by 12/31/98. I think it is very do-able.
From issue to issue, you'll find articles from various individuals. And occasionally, you'll find lots from a single source. Before I became deeply involved in the VCOA, I was annoyed by the articles by Richard Weiderman. It wasn't that I disliked them, or him for that matter. In my opinion there too many by him. Once I became involved I realized that he was one of the only contributors. Thus my opinions about Richard’s articles quickly went away.
John volunteered to do the Lambretta issue. We requested articles from a number of individuals, including Gene at Scooters Originali, and got nothing. So, once again, we printed what we received. True John wrote alot of it, but we’re lucky to have a contributor of his experience, knowledge and background.
I knew the magazine would generate heavy emotional response. Yours, I believe, is the first negative one. I actually expected to receive more negative letters, but to date, they haven't come in. I have received probably 4-5 "thanks for the Lambretta stuff." I will definitely submit your letter to Richard for print in Summer '98.
Take care and please send other contributions (rally reviews, member profiles, etc.) to my email address. We'll gladly use the material for upcoming American Scooterist.
Coolest Cat Chaser
Hello, VCOA!
Here’s a check for my renewal and a photo of our dog in the world’s coolest cat-chasing machine. Keep up the great work on the magazine. Even I enjoyed the Lambretta issue. Hope to see a Heinkel issue next year! And hey—whatever happened to the idea of getting metal VCOA badges?
Vespa Fever
My name is John Leva. I have owned and operated Vespas for many years. I started riding scooters in 1984. My story seemed unique so I felt others in the club would enjoy hearing it.
I was raised on a steady diet of motorcycles. I got my first one at age thirteen, a Rupp Roadster mini-cycle, and then graduated to a Yamaha 100. This went on for ten years and thirty-one motorcycles. I usually owned three or more at one time, one for off-road, one for street, one for ‘round town. My last big motorcycle was a Suzuki GS 1000.
I had done just about everything a person can do on a motorcycle. I raced them, repaired them, rode street and trail, and even did enduro and motocross. It was about that time I met my wife-to-be. She didn’t like motorcycles. And after thirty-one of them, I was getting a bit tired myself. However, a funny thing happened. My new bride and I were honeymooning in Jamaica and wanted to tour the island by motorcycle. We went into a shop that rented motorcycles, scooters and mopeds and asked for the biggest motorcycle, explaining I drove a 1000cc motorcycle in the States. David, the man behind the counter, handed me the keys to a Vespa PX 150. He smiled and said this was the largest machine he had left. I had heard of Vespas. I had even seen one or two, but I didn’t trust them. I insisted on a motorcycle while David sang the praises of the Vespa. "Look at its all-steel frame and quiet engine," he said. While this argument was taking place, my wife was admiring the Vespa. She climbed right on the back. That ended the argument. We were off on an island adventure. Between the handshift and driving on the left side of the road, I was panic stricken. But I couldn’t let my new bride see this, after all I rode a 1000cc motorcycle. As I began to feel more convertible, I realized how nicely the scooter handled. Vibration was minimal and it was very quiet. As we headed for the interior of the island, the scooter climbed Fern Grove, a twisting mountain road, with power to spare. My wife was sitting behind me smiling. She was really having fun. We climbed the mountains and rode through the jungle to the other side of the island. On our way to the capitol, Kingston, we hit fifty-five miles per hour on the island’s only highway. I was impressed. We drove through marketplaces and even crossed a stream or two. We sat out a rain storm under a bamboo tree and enjoyed conversing with locals. For six days we cruised all over Jamaica until it was time to go home. Because of our trusty Vespa we had gone places and seen things few other tourists had. It was hard to give the scooter back to David. He had been right. It was everything he said it was and more.
I forgot scooters for the next few years and enjoyed being newly married. My Suzuki GS 1000 collected dust in the garage until the day I sold it. One afternoon I noticed an advertisement for a Vespa on the bulletin board at work After looking at the ad for several days, I called. It was a 1971 Vespa 180 Rally and had been sitting in this man’s garage for several years. He didn’t know if it still ran. I didn’t know if parts or service was available or where to get them. But after looking at the scooter I had to have it. It was insane. All common sense went out the window. It was my very first bout of Vespa fever, an uncontrollable passion to ride and restore scooters occurring around February and lasting until the first snow of the following year or when the temperature hits zero. I got the Rally 180 running in only a few days and rode it for the rest of the summer. My wife nicknamed it the "Hot Tomato" because of its orange-red color. Once again she and I were on the road wi!
th a Vespa. Two children and fourteen years later I still enjoy riding the Rally 180 as well as my other two Vespas, a 1979 P200E and a Rally 200 that is awaiting restoration. Best of all my wife likes them too.
Rally to Mexico information
Could you be so kind as to publish this information regarding an upcoming scooter rally in American Scooterist?
Run for the border "Rally to Rosarito Beach".
September 11, 12, 13. (Friday Saturday and Sunday).
Join us for our Third Annual Scooter Rally to Rosarito Beach, Baja Mexico.
Scooterist meet at the California USA / Mexico border 12:00 noon on Friday, September 11, 1998. Riders meet in the secured parking lot, located off of the last possible exit on the United States side, off of interstate (5) Freeway, or meet at the border crossing at 12:30. Group departs at 1:00 pm sharp.
From there, drive through Tiajuna and follow the road signs that point you in the direction towards Rosarito Beach. Look for lodging at the following hotels; Hotel Los Rocas, Rosarito Beach Hotel, Hotel Cafe Americana or any of the other hotels along the main strip.
8:00 Friday Night, meet in Puerto Nuevo (Lobster Village) for Coronas, Margaritas and fish tacos, followed by more beers at the famous Pappas and Beer night club in Rosarito beach. Later (naked Jacuzzi) back at the hotels!!!
12:00 noon Saturday , meet in front of the Rosarito Beach hotel for a day ride to Ensenada for drinks at the world famous HUSSONG'S CANTINA, THE OLDEST BAR IN THE CALIFORNIA.
8:00 Saturday night, meet in Puerto Nuevo (Lobster Village) for lobster and beers and then back to Rosarito Beach and hit the bars to party til ya puke.
12:00 noon Sunday Day trip through Tiajuna, visit transsexual strip bars, Mexico Vespa Shop and then we head for home. For more info email MUlves@aol.com or your local scooter shop.