Branch Number 191 of the Vespa Club of Britain           

Welcome to Les & Dallas who have recently joined us.

August 08

The August monthly meet was cancelled simply because everybody bar one had  either a family event, was away on holiday or were attending a rally. Six of us went along to the Ostende VC rally. Pre rally we visited Brugge, then went to the rally at Ostende yacht club. We realised when we got there why the event was limited to 120 entrants as the site although good was rather small. Hants and Berks have put up some great photos on the VCB Forum so do take a vist and see what we were up to. We had a great rideout on the Saturday with packed lunch provided and a coffee and crepe in the afternoon at a nice chateau. Barbecue and disco in the evening at the yacht club. Another rideout on the Sunday with Sunday lunch thrown in.

 Link for Ostende 2008 Photos

Then to the IOW where there were reputedly 9 club members. 7 of us managed to get together for a rideout and meet up in Ryde. Good weekend as usual on the island.

July 08

As some were away on holiday it was a small meet, due to the weather the ride out did not take place.  5 of the club attended the Veteran Vespa club rally at Dorking on the weekend of 11th - 13th July. See VVC web site for details of the rally. www.veteranvespaclub.com news page.

Four of us got along to the 'Harpenden do on the Common' Dare I say it? Two of us on our Vespas and two on their Lambrettas. Due to the fine weather, must have been the best turn out for cars and bikes for a few years. Great atmosphere.

Roger & Ingrid,   Peter & Carole went along to the VMSC  meeting at Amberley  Museum on Sunday 3rd August. This was an open meeting for Scooters and Bubble/Micro cars. On the Monday  the four of them went down to Brighton for the day on their bikes. The 'boys' bought some hats for the Goodwood Revival in September.

March 2008

All week the weather seemed to be saying that a ride to the Ace café may not come off.  Come Sunday morning the sun came up and the day forecast seemed more or less OK.

I picked up Ben at the pre arranged car park and we rode up to pick up Peter (Lambretta) , we all rode over to Rogers, where he was waiting along with his son Barry.  We set of to the Costco layby to pick up the rest of the group.  Only one guy was there, Keith with his Lambretta.  Another couple could not make it as one of their bikes had broken a flywheel.  As it happened Keith was having some tyre issues and went home to fix it, hoping to catch up later.  Our little band set off; Roger (Vespa GS160), Ben (Vespa T5), Barry (Lambretta SX200), Peter (Lambretta TV175), and me (Vespa PX200).  The plan was to ride to Carnaby street and then onto the Ace Café.  Now I had never before ridden through London, Boy was it Scary!!! I know the cars could see me, it was obvious we were a group, did they care, not a bit of it!!  Despite a Mercedes drivers best efforts to kill me we all arrived safely at Carnaby Street.  No sooner did we arrive than we heard the distinctive sound of Vespas, and another half a dozen turned up.  This certainly caused a crowd to gather with many people recalling their own time on scooters in the 60’s.  The next minute Keith appeared pushing his Lambretta, no surprise there then!  Shortly after we arrived so did the police, we thought they had come to arrest the Lambretta riders, but it was some hood from across the street. 

After about 20 mins we all departed for the Ace café, another battle with London traffic with the groups getting separated and after finally reuniting, we arrived.  It was quieter than last year but old friends were reunited with the usual friendly banter.  Pete Guppy pointed out his recently acquired Piaggio Hexagon, a £400 buy from E Bay, it looked pretty good.  Chuck was also there looking the picture of health.

We left at about 2:00pm for yet another battle through London traffic; at last we hit the open road, throttles open, this is what it’s all about.  This certainly showed that my Simonini pipe and 120 jet seems pretty much spot on, loved it.  Would I ride through central London again, not sure a bit too scary for me. 

We now Meet at the Cross Keys, Gustard Wood, Wheathamstead.