Vespa Vamanos
When reliability and form trumps speed, you see the world a little differently. Come visit us often for scooter culture, random "retro" and contemporary pop phenomena and a few other things as they pop into our little brains.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Jewelry is not usually my thing...
Mint green enamel. The wheels spin, and tiny crystals make up the head and tail lights.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
SCOOTERS: SIZE DOESN'T ALWAYS MATTER - Opening June 18, 2011 at the Peterson Automotive Museum
Scooter lovers, mark your calendars. The Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, already one of our favorites, is opening a long overdue installation of one of our favorite modes of transportation.
"Scooters: Size Doesn’t Always Matter will take museum visitors through a fascinating chronological tour of motor scooter development beginning with the simple Autoped of the mid-1910s to the alternative power vehicles of today.
Join Petersen Museum Curator Leslie Kendall as he guides you through Scooters to explore the unique two-wheeled vehicles that have spawned cult-like followings in some countries and mobilized others. Reservations recommended for all programs. Call 323-964-6347, email cdrescher@petersen.org for more information or to RSVP.
1962 Fuji Rabbit
Thursday, April 28, 2011
1979-84 Haunts I Miss
When I was able to stay up late: Plimsouls, Great Buildings, The Last, The Quick, Salvation Army and 20/20 at the Starwood, Hong Kong Cafe and Madam Wongs; Jim Lauderdale, Rosie Flores and other Barn Dancers at the Pal; Oki Dogs, Perogi's at Gorkie's or a Chinese Chicken Salad at Canters. What fun!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Some (Vespa) Scoot History
With the end of WWII, Italy's crippled economy, and the disastrous state of it's roads, auto production was an especially difficult challenge. Enrico Piaggio, the son of Piaggio's founder Rinaldo Piaggio, saw an opportunity to address Italy's urgent need to kick-start it's economy and produce a modern and affordable vehicle.
Enrico brought in aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio, famous for designing the first airworthy helicopter. He was now tasked with nearly as formidable a job by being asked to create a sturdy, simple and affordable vehicle that was easy for both men and women to drive, was passenger capable; and could keep it's operators clothes clean.
Inspired by a small motorcycle made for parachutists, the first prototype was known as the MP5 and nicknamed “Paperino” (the Italian name for Donald Duck). Historians say Enrico was unhappy with this design however, so Corradino was sent back to the drawing board and soon came up with the second prototype.
He soon came up with the MP6, at which Enrico happily exclaimed, "It looks like a wasp!".
In 1946 the Vespa (Wasp) was launched. Within ten years, over a million units would be produced.
My scoot, like the one in this ad circa 1980, is a 1979 Vespa P200e. Garaged for more than 15 years, it was overhauled several years ago by Mike at NoHo Scooters in North Hollywood. At more the 70 miles to the gallon of regular gas, my little wasp can take me a long way on it's small 1.48 gallon tank... and with gasoline in Culver city at $4.29 a gallon and rising, it will likely find itself on the road again soon.