The newest Vespa model called the Vespa S is a retro-inspired scooter with square-ish headlamp and side mirrors is based on the classic look of the famous 50 Special model of 1969. These vintage models are still highly sought after and the scoot’s cult status was confirmed a few years ago when teen band Lunapop sang its praises in their smash hit “50 Special.”
In a press release, Piaggio formally announced the debut of the 2008 Vespa S, a retro-forward 150cc for the North American market. To create a buzz for the new model, the Toronto-based Vespa Canada launched the Vespa-head campaign — life-sized humanoid cutouts with the Vespa S handlebar for its head. These ‘dudes’ sports a retro-cool getups like Chuck Taylor and other ‘in-again’ brands to play on the notion that it’s hip to be square.
The company plans to display the odd humal-like images on buildings around Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. There are four different Vespa-heads in total; they’ll appear either as singles like this one:
The last time I was into bicycles was back in the 80s during my pre-teen days on a BMX. Twenty five years hence, I got into biking again; only this time, it’s not on street bikes with my next door neighbors but on mountain bikes with some of my Vespa buddies. Gone biking with Bimbo and his family on a dirt track in Alabang one weekend and twice around UP Diliman Academic Oval with Yey.
To transport the bike for these biking sessions, I load it behind our SUV on a bike rack. If I’m ready to leave home, can’t just hop in to drive & go with all the strapping, fastening, and tying I have to do to make sure the bike is securely mounted. If only it was possible to mount the bike on a Vespa…
A quick search n the web and I found out it’s possible as done in these Stella scoots.
(photo courtesy of Shane Kullman)
(photo courtesy of Shane Kullman)
FEEDBACK: When I asked Shene’s permission if I could borrow his pics, he said: “Knowing that the rack works and hasn’t caused me to crash, makes me feel better showing it off.” That’s great!
UPDATE: (11/09/07) Rex won the GO GREEN Vespa Video Challenge! Read more about this great news here. Congrats Rex!
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Though I’ve committed in today’s Blog Action Day focusing on the topic of environment, I’ve decided not to take the serious and preachy route, but instead veer towards a more fun and and free-spirited mode.
But how can one reconcile in taking care of the environment and the leisures of riding a Vespa? Well this short music video will give you an idea as it entertains.
The guy who wrote and sang that catchy “Vespa Vespa” song is a Filipino and he’s our featured Rider for today. He’s the same guy who won $50,000 in last year’s Yahoo! Talent Show by submitting this home-made video which was even reported in ANC.
So what’s up with that date? I checked wikipedia and it’s not Earth Day(that on April 22); I also check the wikipage about October 15 and there’s not one occasion listed there even related to taking care about our environment.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m no environmentalist. But ever since I’ve seen Al Gore’s Oscar-winning documentary called “An Inconvenient Truth,” which tackled the issue of global warming (notice how those two words have now become bywords in our society), I started to be concerned with what’s happening around us. Suddenly, the unusual and extended summer heats, super typhoons, and all the other natural calamities suddenly have a explanation.
Which leads me to the question: How come there are two events happening that day which are both related to being green? Beats me! But since these are worthy causes, I’d still blog about them. Amazingly, one is even related to riding a scooter! But I’ll talk about that later. I’ll start with the other event first:
The first one is called “Blog Action Day” (www.blogactionday.org). Here’s what the site says about that day:
What would happen if every blog published posts discussing the same issue, on the same day?
One issue. One day. Thousands of voices.
On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. The aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.
Here’s a short video clip about this year’s Blog Action Day:
The other event is the “Go Green Vespa Video Challenge” which is a contest by Piaggio Group USA inviting scooter owners, enthusiasts and consumers alike (sorry guys, it’s for U.S. residents only) to create their very own 15-second to 2-minute video promoting the fun factor and environmental benefits of riding a motorized scooter. The top 3 winners get to win their very own Vespa scooter! The contest ends on — you guessed it right — October 15, 2007! Read the rest of this entry ?
Since Amerivespa is coming up next week (July 12 to 15), I thought that featuring American Vespa/scooter bloggers for another round of the Rider’s Profile series would be a great idea.
Amerivespa is sort of like the Vespa Attack held annually here in Manila every December. The difference is that the U.S. counterpart is hosted by a different city each year under the umbrella of the Vespa Club of America. For 2007, the host city is Seattle, Washington.
And what better way to open this series and start the ball rolling by featuring a rider based right where all these scootering action will be! Let’s get to know him and more about his participation in this year’s event.
The date was February 2003. It was all systems go for the Vespa and Trojan condoms tie-up. Slated was a Vespa-giveaway sweepstakes at Trojan beach tents during the spring break which expected to reach a million young adults ages 18 to 24. They also planned to promote the “Ride Safely” campaign in campuses through brochures, posters and online banner ads. But at the last minute, the campaign was called off. What gives?!
Well, Piaggio USA changed management. Constantino Sambuy became the president-CEO of the company that year. His predecessor, Giancarlo Fantapple, said his successor “doesn’t like these kinds of associations” so the plan was axed.
At first glance, it’s quite hard to see the connection between a scooter and a condom. But the DePlano Group, who produced the proposed ads, managed to link of the ‘rubber’ with– not with the scooter — but with the Vespa helmet. The result are these two posters with double-meaning messages. See them here. Read the rest of this entry ?
Eric Caruncho, an Inquirer music writer and also a Vespa rider, wrote about the Pinoy-style scooter-culture taking over our streets in this article which appeared in today’s sundayINQUIRERmagazine (pages 4-5). The feature includes an interview with Nani Juarez (aka Dr. Scoot) and a couple of low-res pictures of Vespas line-up in Mall of Asia taken during the Vespa Attack II held last December.
Here’s are excerpts from the article which specifically touched on the Vespa:
In 1997, a local distributor (that would be Veloci ~J.R.) reintroduced the venerable Vespa PX150 , a nearly 30-year-old design, to encouraging sales. “The real boom came when gas prices rose in 2000,” he says. “Scooters became an alternative mode of transport, Honda built a factory, and everyone got into the picture.”
“You know the Pinoy, his scooter has to look good,” says Juarez. “Maborloloy (decked out). Not to flaunt it, but the scooter has to look trendy. People will spend more on [customizing] the motorcycle than they spent for the motorcycle itself.” Read the rest of this entry ?
If you stumbled upon this blog, chances are you spend more time in front of the computer than watching TV. But that doesn’t mean we have miss out on the good things the boobtube has to offer. That’s the reason why torrents and YouTube are so popular nowadays.
As a rider, there was an episode that I have long been wanting to catch which was part of a series shown in the Discovery Channel. I wanted to see it way before I started blogging. In fact, a clip from that show was what I featured in my very first post here. The series is called “Greatest Ever” which ranks the Top 10 machines through thorough research and interviews from experts. They had episodes which featured Sports Cars, Tanks, Fighter Planes, Helicopters, Weapons and Construction Machines. I’d never seen any of those (they never interest me anyway). But the episode on Motorbikes is what I wanted to catch. I’ve only seen the segment for Vespa (which ranked no. 8!) and was curious what the panel said about the other bikes in the Top 10; who wouldn’t be?
The other day, I finally found the complete set of links to the other nine segments from that show and I want to share them here. The bike declared the Greatest Ever was a surprise. I thought it will be won by the Ducati but as it turned out, it wasn’t just about speed. The no. 1 barely does 40 kph, but it still was voted by the experts. Interesting, isn’t it?
I’ll be posting the video clips here and place the specs/stats of each bike featured as provided here.
Harley Davidson Knucklehead
Year: 1936
Power: 36 HP
Engine capacity: 1,340 ccm
Weight: no info
Top speed: 145 km/h
Rank: 10th
So are you really up to spending the next hour or so watching the remaining clips here? If so, let’s proceed with the countdown from no. 9 to numero uno!Read the rest of this entry ?
Some say that admirers of a vintage Vespa and the old Volkwagen Type 1 have got the same taste. Both are indeed a classic. Just take a look at this nice photograph where you see both vehicles in one frame.
Both has that distinct classic lines (notice the similarity of the Vespa’s cowls to VW’s fenders) and each have long been known by the name of the insects/bugs they take after. Both are also known for their sturdy steel frame and considered icons of European designs.
When we were kids, I remember my brother Randy pointing to one car he called ‘Benz Wagen’ whenever it passes in our old neighborhood. When I finally got to see this car, it was a converted Beetle with the hood/front compartment made to look like a Benz complete with the classic grills and insignia/emblem that Benz’ are know for. All this time, I thought ‘Benz Wagen’ are common hybrids until I googled the word and didn’t find any relavant link or picture to back up this story of mine.
Now, imagine a Wasp coverted to look like a Beetle (or vice versa if the conversion is 50-50%). That wouldn’t be a freak of nature, but an object of interest worthy of display in a motor show. Well, imagine no more. Ta-dah!Read the rest of this entry ?
The Vespinoy Community is abuzz with the arrival of brand new Vespa PX 150 (the most popular Vespa model of all time) at 2211 Works in Leon Guinto, Manila. As far as I know, it’s been over a year since a batch of brand new Vespa PX’s arrived in the country. There wasn’t any when I was looking for one in early 2006.
The exact model of the new arrival is 2007 Vespa PX150 Catalyzed. I haven’t been to 2211 to see the unit for myself but I have been hearing good feedback so far. Read the rest of this entry ?
The date was February 2003. It was all systems go for the Vespa and Trojan condoms tie-up. Slated was a Vespa-giveaway sweepstakes at Trojan beach tents during the spring break which expected to reach a million young adults ages 18 to 24. They also planned to promote the “Ride Safely” campaign in campuses through brochures, posters and online banner ads. But at the last minute, the campaign was called off. What gives?!
