Rider’s Profile – Amerivespa series: Ben J. Armstrong

The next featured rider/blogger is a visual artists who is currently building his own airburshing and illustration portfolio. In fact, he says he loves ink whether it’s printed, crowquilled, rapidographed, or subdermally injected.

Having said that, let me first show you this Art Vespa below – an unassuming skin art which I first saw in a blog post of our featured rider.

That’s not our featured rider’s tat, but something he would’ve considered if it hasn’t been done already. I myself would want to get me one of that the moment I saw it. For the uninitiated, it may seem like a petty hand-doodle of some childish arithmetic. But for any vintage or classic Vespa rider, that would make perfect sense. It’s subtle and witty with just the right touch of sense-of-humor. And the placement of the design on the left hand couldn’t have been more appropriate.

Now let’s meet the guy who features interesting art, motorcycle & scooter related stuff such as that in his own blog.

rider’s name: Ben J. Armstrong
also known as: Honky-Tonk Dragon; Punkelf
ride: currently riding his girlfriend’s Sprint Veloce 150cc 1976 (see picture) while he finishes up the custom paint on his P200e 1980
homebase: Olympia, Washington
dayjob: currently in between jobs. Building an airburshing and illustration portfolio
blog: Honky-Tonk Dragon

more about the rider:

The P200e is my fourth bike and third scooter. Before this I’ve had a 1981 Honda CMT400, a 1994 Yamaha Riva 125, and a TN’G Venice 50. I’ve been riding for 15 years and scootering for 12. As a kid, I always wanted a motorcycle, so my first was a Honda. It had some mechanical problems that were beyond my skills, so I saved up to get something smaller but new.

Started shopping around the dealerships, and noticed the Rivas and Elites. I don’t know… something clicked in my head, that 80′s Honda scooter ad with Lou Reed saying “Don’t settle for walking.” I lived in Little Rock, AR at the time, which is hilly and a prime example of urban sprawl with inadequate public transport. A scooter just seemed to fit my budget and needs. Once I got it I was hooked.

Around this time, I had a neighbor who was restoring a Vespa. The metal body and mechanical simplicity were intriguing, as well as the fact that there were models as large as 200cc that didn’t look like easy-chairs. That being said, I still have an affection for the 80′s space age-look of the Rivas and Elites… Someday I hope to add a Riva 180 to my stable.

Though mechanical problems have often prevented it, I like to think of myself as a four-season rider. I got my motorcycle license at 21, but didn’t get my automobile license until I was a month away from 35. For most of my transportation needs, a car just seems excessive, and not nearly as much fun.

more about the blogger:

I began blogging almost four years ago, as a means of promoting a radical bookstore collective I was a member of at the time: Last Word Books. I started Honky-Tonk Dragon a little over a year ago, with the original intention of using it to collect research and promote a graphic novel I was working on at the time. Somehow the comic project got put on the back-burner, but the blog took on a life of it’s own.

I’m not sure exactly how to describe my current motivations and goals for the blog. I guess I think of it like a lifestyle magazine… for weirdos! It’s not just about scooters, or art, or music, though it touches on all those things.

I’m nervous because, well, I’m trying to find a way to merge my interest in scooters with some of my artistic skills, and self-promotion doesn’t come easily for me. Heck, even on the blog I hide behind the persona of a redneck dragon!

thoughts about the upcoming Amerivespa?

I’ve always been a solitary scooterist. Amerivespa will be my first rally. So I’m excited, and a little nervous. The chance to meet folks I’ve come to know through the world of scooter blogs and forums has got me really stoked. And of course the opportunity to see a lot of sweet scoots!

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I was amused to read that Ben referred to his blog as like a “lifestyle magazine for weirdos.” It did come off as that when I stumbled upon it the first time. I was actually half expecting that I’ll get weird and goofy answers from him for this feature. But he seems pretty down-to-earth and straightforward with his responses. Well, I guess Ben and the Dragon (his blog persona) are two different creatures.

Dragon up!

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J0HNRANA

john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com