Remember the episode of Top Gear where the guys have to cross Vietnam on motorbikes? Well, two of the bikes from that episode (the Viet-bodge Vespa and the USA minibike) have been bought at auction and now are installed at the National Motor Museum's "World of Top Gear" exhibit. Read more about it here.
The 'net is abuzz about a teaser that has been released about an upcoming British show called, Scooter Revival UK which is said to debut in early 2010 in the UK with possible late 2010 showing in the US. You can watch the teaser here:
It looks like it adheres to the basic build-off formulas made popular (or tiresome, however you may look at it) by shows like Orange County Choppers. Although, I like scooters much more and I think it is harder (and more interesting) to recreate impeccable custom vintage scooters than just fabricate new choppers like the Tuttle family does.
A nice nod by having Phil Daniels narrate (he'll always be Jimmy whether he likes it or not) and for using Taffspeed, a well-known shop. Although, you have to chuckle when Colin the millionaire mod says, "You don't build a show-winning bike by just chucking money at it..." which it seems that he may well be doing by having the Taffspeed team doing it (!). But ah well, that's what those shows are about, and I am sure it will inspire the "everymen" scooterists in their garages to take up the cause.
A new film is looking for 200 scooterists to act as extras with bikes predating 1965, according to the BBC. The film is a remake of the original Brighton Rock from 1947 with a young Richard Attenborough. While us US scooterists can't be in the film, keep an eye out for it when it appears in 2010.
Just when you finished the dozens of hours needed to print, cut-out and assemble the Paper-Replika Vespa 150, now they release a girl rider for the scoot! Prepare for more nights or whittling away in your dark workroom. Send photos of your handiwork when you're done (if your fingers can work a camera after all that detail work!)
Another older submission that wasn't high enough res to make the magazine:
"My name is Jeff Cleaveley and I am the editor of the quarterly newsletter of the Zundapp Bella Enthusiasts Club here in the UK. We have 85 members, mainly in the UK, but also from around the world, including the USA. Our website is www.bellascooters.co.uk"
UK's the Telegraph ran an article about how Piaggio will now only make automatic scooters. It is also covered by Sportique's Cassandra Schoon here.
Oh PX, we'll miss you dearly!
When I first got a chance to ride an automatic scooter, I felt like a cat riding a boat; out of my element. It was a ET2 and I hated it. I would never own an automatic car, so why would I consider an automatic scooter? But now, after riding dozens of them I have come to appreciate them (especially on a steep San Francisco hill...), but never will my love for a shifting scooter wane. They have taken away my pleasant two-stroke exhaust and now my shifting?
I'll stop shifting when they pry my P200 and VBB out of my cold dead hands...
Now, here's a shirt that I wish came in my size! This camo shirt for kids has a big, busy scooter graphic on it of a sassy lady on a Vespa. The shirt has shoulder snaps for easier on/off for the little ones. It is a product of ArmyKid a London children's boutique clothing company. ArmyKid's site has it in sizes from 0-11 years, but I doubt that the snaps come on the larger sizes. :) You can also order it in a long- and short-sleeve version. The ArmyKid website but I also found a les expensive, yet likely more limited variety version at Not on the High Street website. Either way, they are both in the UK and shipping charges may be cost-prohibitive. But, check it out for yourself. You can also get the shirt in another style, although the photo doesn't make it look comfortable.
