by Jeremy Wilker
Issue #65--April 2004
MINNESCOOTA:
THE DOCUMENTARY
Scooters have been around Minnesota since they were first
available and avid locals no doubt have heard numerous
stories about the days of yore. As a state, we're even home
to one of scootering's most recognizable authors, Eric
Dregni. The two previous scooter clubs, The Pacesetters and
The Vesparados, surely have all kinds of stories. Wouldn't
it be a gas to hear all the details?
We're about to
embark on an expedition to ferret out the history of
scooters in Minnesota and we're going to need your help.
That's right, you, dear reader, will be recruited in our
journey and your histories, photos and adventures will be
featured within the finished film (I use the term "film"
loosely as we'll actually be using Digital Video and will
finish the movie on DVD).
If you are
interested in volunteering by providing oral histories,
stories, photos (the more photos, the better) or even old
home movies, please contact me at 952-935-6252 or email me
at movie@minnescoota.com.
Keep in mind that
this will be a lengthy process. It could take many months to
assemble the content and edit the final movie. Rest assured,
you will be informed the minute the movie is completed!
SKOOTER DU
5
Planning on our fifth local scooter rally, Skooter Du 5, has
already begun. Will this be the best one yet? Get involved
and volunteer to find sponsors, advertisers, plan
activities, be a ride blocker or a support person. Also,
mark your calendars for August 13-15, 2004. One big ride or
two simultaneous rides?!?
VESPA
GRANTURISMO
The Vespa Minnesota boutique is now selling the brand new
Vespa Granturismo 200. There is limited stock right now with
dealers around the country getting small quantities as they
become available. Get your name on the list with a down
payment to ensure your new GT. These are pretty sweet
scooters, folks. I saw them in person when I went to the
Vespa factory in Italy last fall and they are very nice
looking. I have yet to ride one, but it is on my list.
The Granturismo is
a steel-bodied (just like all Vespas), 200-cc liquid-cooled
four-stroke four-valve engine capable of 20-hp output. I
believe this is the same engine as the Beverly 200, which
was reviewed favorably here back in July of 2003. The new GT
also has 12" tires, dual rear shocks and dual disc brakes.
Two open-face helmets can fit under the seat. Steel gray,
black and vintage green are your color choices. The MSRP is
$4899. Don't forget your freight, tax and license charges.
In related news,
there is a sale on the Piaggio LT right now, so if you've
been eyeing it up for a while, now might be a good time to
take action. And, later this summer look for two other new
models to hit the U.S. and Minnesota: The Piaggio Typhoon
50-cc and the big boy Piaggio X9 500-cc scooter.
SCOOT QUARTERLY
NEW OWNERS
Our national scooter scene magazine, Scoot! Quarterly, is
now under new ownership. Barry Synoground and Casey Earls
started and ran the scootering magazine for seven years and
have recently vacated the driver's seat to a new team of
left-coast scooterists: Josh Rogers, April Whitney and Mike
Zorn. They plan on more color, better photography, more
product reviews, more technical information and more racing
coverage. Here's wishing them success!
NEW SCOOTER
MAG
A group of folks in Denver, Colorado recently launched a
brand new scooter magazine, er, newspaper. Whatever it
technically is, they aim to cover the entire scooter
spectrum and they publish six times a year. The publishing
team is Bev Brinson, Geoff Allen and Hoy Thompson. I bet
they'd love to hear from you if you have ideas or
contributions for content. You can pick it up at your local
dealer or get a subscription. Their e-mail address is
http://www.scooterworldmagazine.com.
VESPA BACK IN
CANADA, EH?
You've been able to buy a new Vespa 'round these parts for a
few years now so it seems somewhat surprising that the Vespa
is just now scooting back into Canada after 18 years of
absence. According to press releases, "approximately 20
authorized Vespa dealers across Canada will soon sell and
service Vespa ET2 and ET4 scooters." The newest Vespa, the
200-cc four-stroke and fully modernized Granturismo, will
arrive in Canada later in 2004. The Canadian Scooter
Corporation, based out of Toronto, is the exclusive importer
and distributor of new Vespa motor scooters in Canada. For
more information you can visit them online at
http://www.cdnscoot.com.
VEPSA NAMES NMA
AS ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY
Yeah, we all like looking at the sleek, stylish lines of a
well-designed scooter, and it appears we're going to be
looking at a lot more now that Vespa has named NMA
Entertainment & Marketing as their "entertainment
agency." Apparently you can run an entire business to sneak
products into movies, commercials and other advertisements.
NMA "pairs corporate brands with the entertainment industry
and offers a complete range of product integration, branded
entertainment and marketing services." Like we aren't
inundated enough with regular ads and marketing... I mean,
really, the other day I was forced to sit through 10+
minutes of ads before a movie! I paid money to see a show,
not commercials. Let's all start standing up, turning away
from the screen, and booing loudly to protest, ok?
SCOOTERING
COPS
The New York Post reports that 300 NYPD cops will be darting
around the city on racy new scooters during this summer's
Republican National Convention. "Those scooters will give us
a lot of mobility during the convention," Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
The scooters are
the Piaggio BV200 modified to NYPD specifications and will
be able to go up to 75 mph and are "sturdier, more powerful
and have wider tires than those currently in use."
Wait a second,
they have scooters currently in use? That seems pretty cool.
Really, why a scooter? Much as I love scooters, an authority
figure on a scooter just doesn't inspire as much, well,
authority as a tricked out uniformed person on a large
snorting beast (i.e., horse, not Harley) or in a speeding
Crown Victoria. Unless, of course, the "NYPD specifications"
include a headset flame-thrower and a 150-decibel air horn.
Because, let's face it, a cop astride a scooter beeping at
you with a stock scooter horn in New York isn't going to be
heard amongst all the taxis. And, if it is audible, will
only produce fits of laughter.
The Twin Cities'
Vintage Scooter Club, The Regulars, meets on the first and
third Sundays of each month at Pizza Luce in Uptown
Minneapolis (32nd and Lyndale Ave) at 2:00 pm for
socializing and riding--as long as weather permits. Join us!
The website is located at http://www.minnescoota.com
M.M.M.
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