2009 PoliniUSA Cup – 2 stroke racing just stepped its game up…. from Harold Smith on Vimeo.

I got an email this past week from Graham, talking about how he and a friend were streaming moped and scooter racing on the on the internet. Anything with a tech bent always catches my eye so I started to look into what they were doing. They were using Mogulus a very reliable video streaming and archiving service that adds chat to the stream. It is one of the streaming platforms, like Stickam that seems to always get good reviews. But when I saw the high qualify moped racing video that Graham and Harold had put up on Vimeo, I was convinced. I needed to talk with these guys.

There are a few die-hard moped riders here in Richmond and even though I have a 50cc bike myself, I have always thought of them as under powered. The PoliniUSA Cup races feature mopeds and other bikes including scooters that have been modified, mostly with Polini aftermarket parts. These things scream! Listen to the podcast with Harold, then look for the streaming video at mopedracing or poliniusa the first weekend of each month starting in May. Don’t miss the kitted pocket bike races featuring little spitfires packing 4bhp. They do the knee-sliding like the superbikes do.

Moped links to explore

• Moped Army website
• Creatures of the Loin – San Francisco
  
• 1977 Mopeds – everything moped
• Hell’s Satans – Richmond
• The Latebirds -  Los Angeles

Music for this show is by Olio and The Redline

The 7hills scooter club rally is coming up in a few weeks. That is usually a ride out into the country, with camping and bonfires in an area where club members can stay out of trouble and avoid doing too much damage to themselves. The 2009 Dogwood Classic scooter rally will be held at Heavenly Acres Campground in Stanardsville, VA Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17.

Another big spring rally here on the east coast is the New York City  Scooter Club block party, which is scheduled for the end of May. Their club motto is: “If you have a Scooter, you’re in the Club!” The block party, held in Brooklyn and attracts scoot fans from all over the northeast. I am jealous of our New York friends. They have a vibrant scooter scene and at least a dozen legitimate scooter shops to choose from in the New York city area.

Here is taste of what they have:

• Brooklynbretta
• McCarren Motors
• Scooter Bottega
• Scooter City Inc.
• Scooters Originali
• Vespa Brooklyn
• Vespa City
• Vespa Jersey City
• Vespa Queens
• Vespa Soho
• Zoom Scooter

In my world, scooters are connected to many of my other interests and activities. One of those interests is a life long fascination with pinball machines. Nick Bennett happens to be one of those fellows who’s life is dominated by pinball. I came across Nick’s website a  few months ago, while referencing the Las Vegas Pinball Museum and later heard from him in an email about this summer’s European tournament. Although a bit of a digression from scooting, I think you will find this conversation interesting and most likely will see some similarities in Nick’s passion for pinball and our passion for scooters. Listen to the podcast for all the details

Music for this show is by Telling on Trixie a New York based band that has gathered a big web. I first heard about Telling on Trixie two years ago at podcamp New York. Checkout their website.

It is a regular occurance in my life. I easily become fascinated with a new idea. A few months ago it was retrofitting a vintage Vespa with an electric motor. I have no useful experience or knowledge related to this interest, but that never stops me. I found that one resource for pursuing such a project is Sound Speed Scooters in Seattle. They offer an impressive conversion package at a hefty price, just over $1500, not including batteries.
Luckily the electric vehicle community is alive and well on the internet. I turned to the V is for Voltage Forum. Much of the forum is devoted to motorcycle and scooter conversions. It has sections on all the basics and not so basics of electrifying your favorite ride without electrocuting yourself. I searched the forum for Vespa and found Jake Stept’s blog with pictures detailing the build of his small frame conversion he has named the Rezistor
Jake spoke with me on the SCTRCST podcast from his home in Portland Oregon. I was impressed. He tackled his project having no experience with electric motors or conversions. Now I can’t stop hearing the whining sounds an electric Vespa in my head. You can see a Sound Speed video here or check out Jake’s Rezistor here.

Pod safe Music for this show is from the Podsafe Music Network and features the Redline a Chicago based band.

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