Antonio Banderas on Scooter

What's up with the Daily Mail? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the catty nature of the b*tchy British press, but they are clearly being jerks by badmouthing Antonio Banderas for riding a scooter at a MotoGP event in Spain.

AP image

He's actually riding a MotoGP licensed scooter made by Yamaha. There are pit bikes in car racing and motorcycle racing for when racers or crew want to get around the pits quickly but at low speeds. It's quite typical, all the big racers do it and it doesn't diminish their manliness in the least. What is also typical is the British press' interest in disparaging people when it is unwarranted.  

Ride on, Antonio!

News: Polini Cup Race Series Cancelled

This news from Louie at SPI Parts:

Hello Polini Cup Racers
It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to cancel the Polini Cup events for the rest of the year.  We are not  a race promoter but began last year planning  the Polini Cup event because of the demand from our customers.  Last year the attendance was great but began to taper off at the end of the year. We have also seen online in different social sites that many of the people don't have the resources to allow them to continue to race or have posted negative statements that have inhibited  the growth of the event.  It has been a great event for us and we have enjoyed meeting all of you.  Thank you to everyone that has been so kind to all of us here at Polini USA.  Best of luck to everyone with their future racing endeavors.  We look forward to continuing to support racing.  As the interest improves we will remain involved.
Sincerely,
Louie Peverini
SPI Parts

Bummer! Racing in the USA is hard to sustain because those who are interested in racing don't often live near each other. The cost of creating & maintaining a scooter, traveling, and finding the time to race can be too much. I hope that the other race series can attract and retain plenty of racers in order to keep it going.

Land-Speed Record Competition for Scooters

For those of you that are interested in fast scooters, scooter racing, or speed tuning scooters, the Motor-Scooter International Land-Speed Federation may be of interest. A group of scooterists has come together to test their scooters with a simple race against the clock at El Mirage Dry Lake near Barstow, CA.  

Since most land-speed racing events are closed to scooters (MSILSF cites the 5-inch wheel requirement of The Southern California Timing Association as an example) the scooterists formed their own association just for scooters. Their first annual event is November 21st, 2010. They are also trying to get a scooter class in the 2011 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

If you are interested in testing your scooter, the fees are small, the safety requirements are basic and the scooter classes are plenty. Check it out!

Scoot! Magazine is a sponsor of this event.

Scooter Racing in New Jersey

I just heard about this new venue for scooter racing. From what I have heard New Jersey Mini Gran Prix has been around for a while, but the organizers are looking to increase scooters in their ranks. Races are held at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ. The following race days will accommodate scooters:

• May 30   Oakland Valley Race Park, Cuddebackville, NY
• June 6     NJ Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
• June 28   NJ Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
• July 25    Oakland Valley Race Park, Cuddebackville, NY
• Aug 9      NJ Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
• Aug 22    Oakland Valley Race Park, Cuddebackville, NY
• Oct 10     NJ Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
• Oct 24     NJ Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

 For more info, check out the website.

Twist & Gone this weekend: Nashville, IN

Did I ever mention that I find slow races boring? Tolerable if it is done in one winner-take-all heat, but repeated heats of people riding slow, especially on modern scooters, is boring. I've been to rallies where everyone sat around and cheered or an hour while people rode in a slow line over, and over, and over. Yawn! I was plugging for mini drag races for Amerivespa 2009, but no one was buying it. Sure, drags can be dangerous, but they should only be attempted by people who are properly attired, have scooter skills (real skills) and do it in a controlled environment.

So I was thrilled to hear that some Indianapolis-area scooterists were arranging their own drag races called Twist & Gone. These races take place this weekend on May 1st at the Brown County Dragway in Nashvlle, Indiana. 

Scoot! is a sponsor of the rally. Unfortunately, we can't attend. Josh is currently in Korea for a wedding and I am trying to close out the current issue. I am eager to hear how it goes.

Read an article on it in the Brown County Democrat.


Here are the categories:

Class 1
4 Stroke Scooters
1a. 72cc Pro. Displacement must not be more than 72cc, no power adders.
1b. 100cc Unlimited. Displacement must not be more than 100cc.
1c. 170cc Pro. Displacement must not be more than 170cc, no power adders.
1d. 235 Unlimited. Displacement must not be more than 235cc.
1e. 250cc + Unlimited Maxiscooter.
Class 2
2 Stroke Scooters
2a. 99cc Pro. Displacement must not be more than 99cc, no power adders.
2b. 100cc + Pro. Displacement of 100cc or more, no power adders.
2c. 2 Stroke Unlimited, scooters only.
Class 3
Sprinter
3a. Unlimited Sprinter. 2 or 4 stroke scooter engines only please.
Class 4
Exhibition (Free with paid registration)
4a. King of the Hill. Any scooter that can pass tech can enter. All race entries get free admission to this class. If you plan on running Class 4 only the registration fee still applies.
The winner of this class gets the BIG trophy!

The event is sponsored by NASRA the North American Scooter Racing Association. If you are in the Midwest & want to race, check them out.

Blog entry soundtrack: "I Never Came" by Queens of the Stone Age

Scoot! Issue #55 April 2010 En Route

Dealers should be receiving their copies of Scoot! this week, with bookstores and subscribers not far behind. The new issues features:

• Project Ruckus: Part 2
• How to lift a scooter safely
• Scoot! City: New Orleans
• Reviews: KYMCO Like 50 & Yamaha Vino Classic 50
• NASRA Preview
• Rally Reviews, Reader's Rides, Scooter Collector and more!

If you are a subscriber who does not receive your issue by April 16th, let us know.

Twist & Gone, sponsored by Scoot! Magazine

Scoot! is proud to sponsor a unique scootering event: Twist & Gone a scooter drag & swap meet.

Twist & Gone 2010
Scooter Drags and Swap Meet 
When: May 1st (Reg starts 8am)
Where: Brown County Drag Strip
Why: To compete for pride and glory

Entry fee $45 first class, $20 each additional.  Swap meet booths are available for $25 for a 10X10 booth. You must bring your own tent, table, and chairs.

LINKS
Facebook event page
North American Scooter Racing Association

CLASSES

Class 1: 4 Stroke Scooter
1a: 72cc Pro: Displacement must not be larger than 72cc, no power adders.
1b: 100cc Unlimited: Displacement must not be larger than 100cc.
1c: 170cc Pro: Displacement must not be larger than 170cc, no power adders.
1e: 235cc Unlimited: Displacement must not be greater than 235cc.
1f: 250cc + Maxiscooter Unlimited: Displacement of 250cc or larger.

Class 2: 2 Stroke Scooter

2a: 99cc Pro: Displacement must not be larger than 99cc, no power adders.
2b: 100cc + Pro: Displacement of 100cc or larger, no power adders.
2c: 2 Stroke Unlimited

Class 3: Sprinter

3a. Unlimited Sprinter

EXHIBITION:

King of the hill. Anyone can enter, first across the line wins.

SAFETY

Scooter:

• Must be equipped with a dead man switch.
• A oil / fuel catch can is required. We dont want any oil or gas on the track.
• Must be structurally sound. Scooter frames may be lightened but must not be done in such a way that it makes the frame unsafe.
• Front and rear brakes are mandatory and in good working condition
• Must be in good working condition with no unsafe mechanical defects. Such as a sticking throttle, loose steering, excessive slop in the front end.
• Nitrous tanks must be securely fastened to in a manner with a proper mount. No zip ties... lol
• CVT must be covered in such a way that if a belt were to snap no injury could occur to the rider or anyone else.

Gear:

• A DOT approved full face helmet in good condition with eye protection.
• Full length jeans at a minimum
• Shoes must cover the ankle and be leather. Hi-Tops are ok!
• Riding gloves and a suitable riding jacket is highly recommended.
• Drunk or otherwise impaired drivers will be asked to leave the event.

Sneak Peek: Issue #52 ships next week!

Here is a sneak peek at the next issue of Scoot! which should be shipping out from the printers on Monday. In this issue we have:

• Scooter reviews: SYM Symba, Yamaha TMAX, Honda Elite 110
• Scootin' in Maui
• On the Road with punk rock scooterists: Rise Against
• Polini Cup Scooter Racing
• Reader's Rides
• Product Reviews
• Amerivespa 2009 report
• Rally in Puerto Rico

Subscribers should have their issues by the 3rd week of October. Shops and bookstores should have their issues by the first week of October.

I'm already working on the December issue! If you have any suggestions on topics we should cover, let me know.

Polini Cup this Weekend

I am pleased to say that scooter racing in the USA is not dead, it just took a nap and is now awakening. This weekend is the second weekend of the PoliniUSA Cup!

In addition to scooters, the races feature mopeds, gopeds, pocket bikes and carts.
Scoot! is sponsoring a rider in the scooter class, who took to top spot in last month's races. Go, Scott!

Our good friend Tony Simoni (who is known for his Chicken Wing exhausts and scooter tuning) has tuned and is racing a moped.

Find out more and watch past races and live action at PoliniTalkUSA