Thursday, November 30, 2006

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS!

So, December is going to be quite busy, in terms of scooter events. Check out all the info, below:

CURRENT EVENTS/RALLY INFORMATION:
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MONTHLY SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB REGULAR RIDE – THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2006

Torrance, CA

Come join in on the longest running regular scooter ride in Southern California, the South Bay Scooter Club's monthly ride!!

We are not into dues, duty, or officers, we just like to ride, ride, ride, so come along and do the same!

**Another local ride this time: we will go the reverse route around Palos Verdes, then up to Shellback Tavern in Manhattan Beach for some late lunch and refreshments!

meet at Claim Jumper’s restaurant (corner of Crenshaw & Lomita Blvd.’s) at 12:30pm; ride leaves promptly at 1pm!

If you have any questions, e-mail: info@southbayscooterclub.com

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VESPA EVENT IN SANTA MONICA – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2006

Santa Monica, CA

“GOOD FOR THE SOUL”

“Join Vespa of California as Vespa proudly presents its 60th anniversary. Come see the new 2007 LX150, meet and greet Vespa experts, or simply scoot on over and show off YOUR Vespa ride. It’s all going down Tuesday, December 5th, 2006, from 8pm to 12am.

21 and over, please. Drink specials, and a special guest DJ.

Holly’s West: 2460 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 - (310) 828-3304”

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SCOOTER RIDE TO THE LONG BEACH MOTORCYCLE SHOW – DECEMBER 9, 2006

Los Angeles, CA

Scooterists interested in going to the Long Beach Motorcycle Show can join in on a group scooter ride to the show on Saturday, December 9th, where you can meet up at three different spots along the way.

Here are the details:

For north LA county riders, meet at 10am at the Starbucks at the intersection of Culver & Washington, in downtown Culver City.
Ride leaves at 10:30am.

For mid LA/south bay riders, meet at 10:30am at Claim Jumpers restaurant at the intersection of Crenshaw & Lomita Blvds, in Torrance.
Ride leaves at 11:00am, or when the north LA riders show up.

For south LA county riders, meet at 11am at "Blue Cafe" - 210 Promenade N, Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 983-7111 (http://www.thebluecafe.com/longbeachhomepage.htm). We will stop for a short break, here.
Ride leaves at 11:45am-ish directly to the Long Beach Convention Center and the Cycle World Motorcycle Show.

FREE scooter / motorcycle parking at the show; Admission at the show is $13. You can buy tickets online at this link: http://buytickets.motorcycleshows.com/tickets.aspx?sh=505
Or, you can buy tickets at the LB Convention Center booth. Be prepared: the only accept cash, and there may not be an ATM available.

For more info about the show, go here: http://motorcycleshows.com/motorcycleshows/static/staticHtml.jsp?id=358892

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CLUB SOULSIDE – DECEMBER 9, 2006

Santa Monica, CA
Sponsored by the Westside Scooter Club

SOULSIDE DJS PLAYING THE BEST OF NORTHERN SOUL, SKINHEAD REGGAE AND SKA **LIVE BANDS TBA **
WHERE: 2101 LINCOLN BLVD SANTA MONICA CA 90405 310. 396.9010
Hosted by : Jimbo & Marv Mack
DJS: Sean Needham, Arthur AllBlack, KIERON, DJ ROGUUR, & AL G
Special host: Jerry Miller (Untouchables)

Admission: $7 - LADIES GET IN FREE BEFORE 10:30 EVERY TIME!!!!

SCOOTER PARKING ALLNIGHT ***21 & OVER***

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SOUTH BAY SCOOTER CLUB’S 5th ANNUAL “NAUGHTY BUTT NICE” X-MAS LIGHTS RIDE & PARTY – DECEMBER 10, 2006

SBSC X-Mas Lights Ride & Party
Torrance, CA
Sponsored by the South Bay Scooter Club

Come join our Holiday tradition of riding to and through the famous South Bay X-Mas Lights Neighborhood (a tract of houses that go absolutely bonkers decorating their houses with X-mas lights, moving Christmas figures and holiday lawn displays). This is always followed by our club’s annual Holiday Party at South Bay Scooter Mom, Karen’s house. All are welcome!!

Meet at Claim Jumper’s restaurant (corner of Crenshaw & Lomita Blvd.’s) in Torrance at 4pm; ride leaves promptly at 5pm! Don’t forget to DRESS WARM!!

If you have any questions, e-mail: info@southbayscooterclub.com

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VCLA “TOYS FOR TOTS / CHLA” RIDE – DECEMBER 16, 2006

Culver City, CA
Sponsored by the Vespa Club of Los Angeles

Meet at 12noon at the Starbucks at the intersection of Culver & Washington, in downtown Culver City.
Ride leaves at 12:30pm.

Bring a toy designated for either a boy or girl. Please don't bring any stuffed animals, as some of the kids are allergic to them. This from the CHLA: GIFT CARDS ARE STRONGLY SUGGESTED. Some to be considered: gift cards from restaurant/fast food places, electronic stores (Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc.), music stores or iTunes, etc... You can usually find a great selection of Gift Cards at any CVS, Sav-On store, or grocery store.

We will go on a local ride, through the Hollywood Hills, ending up at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (located just east of the intersection of Sunset Blvd & Vermont Ave) between 3 and 3:30pm, where we will directly donate the toys for their needy kids. Once there, we will be given a short tour of the famous lobby and sanctuary gardens (created by Walt Disney Imagineering), where afterwards the VCLA will present the Hospital with an official Charity Certificate.

Spread some Holiday cheer and make a difference to some needy children, while having some fun riding on your scoot with friends!

http://www.vespaclublosangeles.org

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ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S BEACH RIDE – JANUARY 7, 2007

Torrance, CA
Sponsored by the South Bay Scooter Club

Come out and make your relatives, who are stuck in the snow, really jealous, as we ride to north Manhattan Beach in the South Bay!

As is tradition on our first monthly ride of the new year, we'll hit the beaches for photo opps of you and your scoot next to everyone frolicking on our sunny beaches.

meet at Claim Jumper’s restaurant (corner of Crenshaw & Lomita Blvd.’s) at 12:30pm; ride leaves promptly at 1pm!

If you have any questions, e-mail: info@southbayscooterclub.com

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

New Vespa "S" Model - sneak pics

Here are some pics of the new Vespa "S" model, that they are unveiling in Milan this week. It will come in a 49cc and 125cc version. I don't really like the square headlight, myself (I think it looks cheaply made), and the lack of a glove box is a pet peeve of mine, but this looks like a sporty, modern version of a cutdown small frame, to me...

Click on the thumbs to open a larger pic:

Image hosted by Webshots.com
by gojirasan

Image hosted by Webshots.com
by gojirasan

Image hosted by Webshots.com
by gojirasan

Image hosted by Webshots.com
by gojirasan

New Piaggio 3-Wheelers

A few months ago, there were pics posted of the Piaggio branded MP3 400. Here are a couple of reminder pics:

piaggiomp3400-8436-001-f.jpg

piaggiomp3400-8436-002-f.jpg

Well, here are some pics of the new Piaggio 3-wheeler, branded as the Gilera 500 Fuoco (which, in Italian means "Fire" or "Light", I believe...). It is based on the MP3 platform and all the cool technology that comes with it:

gilerafuoco500ie-8437-010-f.jpg

gilerafuoco500ie-8437-015-f.jpg

Most Powerful Scooter EVER...!

This story just in: Piaggio has unveiled the most powerful scooter ever made, at a show in Milan!



Supposedly able to go up to 120mph! I don't know about you, but I would probably want some bigger tires for that --- but, what the heck, if I can go 90mph on a 40 year old, ten inch-wheeled Lambretta, I could do 120 on a modern scoot...

Here's another glance at the GILERA 800, that has a 90 degree V-Twin engine that will get up to 75bhp. Yikes! It'd be nice to see one in the States, but I doubt we ever will...

Link to the story here from the Scooter Scoop blog...