SCTRCST Scooter Internet Radio

DOWNLOAD the Show by Clicking HERE

SHOW NOTES: I have been getting emails from all over, telling me about your local scooter events. Sorry I don’t have time to cover all of them, but I have plans later this summer or early in the fall to recap with links to some of the better videos. Speaking of rallies, for those of you who have asked, I will not be at Amerivespa this year. I had hoped to make it, but another commitment to attend a friend’s wedding in Denver has changed that plan. (that is were I am posting from today) Although I can’t make it, it sounds like a number of other bloggers and regular scooterist are going to be there. Send me your pictures and videos and I will see about posting them on the website or give me a call (206-888-6174) and I will try to get you on the show.

Some of you have written asking about why I talk so much about Italian scooters. Well, I am Italian, but mostly, it’s like a lot of things, you talk about what you know. Then the other day I noticed that someone had linked to the scootercast website from The Burgman Riders Forum. It a was pleasant surprised to find an active scooter community talking about Suzuki Burgmans. These big machines are made for the open road and I understand that they are very comfortable for touring. The forum has a lot of threads going into modifications and accessories and there are  numerous links to spare parts, technical references and people who can mentor you.

I got an email from Alix last week. You know, PEACE scooter ride. She is planning to be in Washington, DC on August 8th and then will head back to Richmond on the August 9th where we hope to have a big scoot-in at ScootRichmond to welcome her back. If you haven’t checked her blog lately it’s worth a few minutes of your time. If you want a reminder that the whole world doesn’t think alike, and there are some pretty incogitant people out there, it’s post you must read to believe.

To digress from scootering for a minute, while I was about reading this I was keenly aware that in Virginia, a moment in history was being created. On Monday, a Statue and Civil Rights Memorial was unveiled on the state Capital grounds honoring Barbara Johns and other African-Americans who were part of the fight to end segregation of schools in Virginia. It seems a  wry irony that the monument sits on the same ground were the politicians of Virginia actively resisted desegregation into the 1970s. I think Alix would have been proud to see this, it was one kind of PEACE and along some reconciliation, yet acknowledged that we do not have equality, but things are more equal, and somethings are worth fighting for.

Podsafe music for this show came from Ariel Publicity out of New York and the Stilentreatment. Their music can be found at the Podsafe music network or their website.

P.S. Here is a link to the webpage on sidecars.

Weather here in Richmond has been uncomfortably hot. This means getting out early to take care of all those chores. Since selling our 2002  Mini Cooper, I have been meaning to organize my tinkering space, the garage, and this weekend I finally got to it. The problem with cleaning up is that I always run into more projects and in this case I was reminded when I ran across the neatly organized parts from my Ducati Falcon. I am pleased to say that I am back on track with the project and the frame is at the powder coater. Next comes chrome and paint. It has only been a year since I started, not bad for amateur restorer.

 

 SCTRCST Podcast Episode 64 [18:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I have been waiting for an accessory order from Motorsports Scooters to arrive and last week was like Christmas. This past weekend I spend time in the garage mounting crash bars and a smoke colored mini windscreen to my Vespa GTS and I like the results. I was pretty set on getting the crash bars, but it took me a while to settle on the windscreen. The feedback on ModernVespa forum, like most scooter forums, was a great help in deciding what to buy. There are pros and cons to full sized vs. mini windscreens, but I settled on something that would primarily divert the wind. I always wear my full face helmet and a mesh jacket so I don’t feel I need full coverage. Now I am left with only one other concern. Bella, the name I have given my GTS, in memory of our little Wheaton Terrier dog, has developed the dreaded roller weights rattle. I plan on visiting the Vespa dealer this week and will talk with Dave Munn before making any decisions, but again, ModernVespa forum has been very informative and has helped make me more knowledgeable before I even set foot in the scooter shop.

Scooter News and Blog Posts

• Orin O’Neil at Scootin Old Skool writes about Seattle’s biggest scooter rally Scooter Insanity 21. They also showed the film Mondo Scooterama featuring Seattle area scooterists. For me the highlight would have been the special guest: J.P. Patches. Check Orin’s blog for the latest.
• Steve Guzman at The Scooter Scoop spotted the Kymco People S300i, on motoblog.it and Italian site, unfortunately it sounds like this beautiful is bound for the Euro market. So, here’s a question, why do all these manufactures pawn off the small displacement scooters in the USA and keep the classy designs for other markets?
• New York Times auto section had a story about renting a Vespa and touring Rome. From the itinerary it looks like they cover a lot of the city, including many of the main Piazzas and parks. The idea comes from Sergio Caggia, founder of Nerone Tours who has been organizing private walking tours of the city for the past ten years. If you are feeling brave, check out the story and make your plans.
• Motorcycle.com this past week posted a video test ride of the Vespa  Mp3 500i.e., giving us another look at the three wheeled scooter from a motorcyclist’s perspective. The riding pictures are quite good and the comments are positive although sometimes shallow. Coming in at just under $9k  it isn’t for everyone.

Music for this show is from the Podsafe music network and Lil Ed Williams and the Blues Imperials.  Lil Ed is one of the last authentic West Side Chicago blues men. He plays an amazing smokin’ slide guitar and bats out Chicago style shuffles and slow blues.

 

 Episode 62 [23:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Show Notes: I have notice that every time I turn around there is another scooter on the road here in Richmond and many of them seem to be the Kymcos and Genuine Buddys. Just this past weekend I delivered my own Vespa Sprint to Scoot Richmond for an adjustment and it seems that their once bulging inventory of Genuine Scooters were almost all gone. I looked at Chelsea and said, “so business is good”, my first clue being she had a perpetual grin on her face. Her smile got even bigger.

There have been way too many news stories clogging up my news reader all of them about how popular scooters are becoming. I noticed the onslaught of repetitious reporting once gas hit $4 per gallon. I am not going to talk about them, because most of them are boring, but it is worth mentioning that have been getting more emails from newby scooterist looking to buy their first scooters.

On the forums, like twostrokesmoke questions about buying cheap Chinese scooters are common. These are usually posted by the naive individual who obviously has not been following the forum and he/she is usually taken by surprise at the hostility and flaming that their post elicits. Usually the conversation turns around and is helpful, but just as often these people are ridiculed and disappear from the forum. Personally, I like some of the members who take a more educational approach. given that there is a lot to learn about in scooting.

Alix from the Peace Scooter ride and I have been trying to connect via Skype for about two weeks now and it was just yesterday that I was able to catch up with her. Over the past month she has made her way out to the west coast and I tracked her down in San Fransisco where she was meeting up with friends and attending a local rally. She is heading out for points north, like Eugene, Portland and Seattle so check her website for ways to connect with her as she comes through your town. Given the upset with and derailment of Vespadition, it is nice to see Alix continuing her ride and connecting up with people along the way who have a passion for what she is doing. Make sure you help her out, there are ways to donate to her ride and the charities she has chosen. My sweet PEACE Scooter T-shirt arrived just the other day and you can get one too. Click over from the SCTRCST link or look on the website for how to order.

Blog posts and links

• Orin’s post on the Seattle All city Scooter Community Day
• Honky Tonk Dragon’s observations on the race
• The Sportique Scooter Uproar
• Marco Quaretta and his Vintage Scooter Workshop in Livorno

Music for this show

Some of you who have been listening to the show for a while know that I have been amateur musician for a number of years and even held onto my dream of being a rock star late into my 40s. Just to prove that all hope is not lost, I want to turn you on to a musician that I had the pleasure to play with back in the 90s when I was making the bar band circuit in Boulder, CO. The Hillbilly Hellcats are a rockabilly group fronted by Chuck Hughes, a fellow we all considered a guitar wizard. On on memorable night, Chuck jump on stage and proceeded to play note for note rendition of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Lenny, leaving me wishing I had the opportunity to play with this kind of  talent every night.

Not enough time for all my scooter endeavors like the blog and the SCTRCST podcast. One up side is that I have been saving up all my notes and will have a killer show this week, including music from a guy that I played with in the bars around Boulder, CO. Look for the podcast show to be posted shortly.

The few days I had back home in Port Angeles were relaxing and I was lucky enough to see Little Billy and Jeff (Jaybee) before I left. Bill has taken his Vespa GT and rattle canned it with a flat color that pops, then accented the fender, legshield and cowls with hand painted pinstripes. It seems that some people have been blessed with all kinds of hidden talents. His friend Jeff has two projects going and another club member is restoring a Simplex scooter

 

 Episode 61: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Show notes: I have been obsessing for about a week on what to say about the meteoric fall of Vespadition. I know that it’s hard to draw a line between truth and fiction, especially on the Internet and I have toyed with saying nothing or reporting on dirty details, accusations and counter claims. Some of you may remember my interview back in March with Peter Ramstine. At the time he was planning a scooter ride across America and Canada, and was promoting his plan to do the ride with the help of a few sponsors, while relying mostly on the generosity of the scooter community. It was amazing how quickly Vespadition came to a screeching halt. Literally, within three days the Vespa GTS was parked in West Virginia, the scooter forums were blazing with reasonable questions and flaming accusations and what had sounded like an admirable venture turned into a pile of steaming s**t. I began writing myself little mental notes, that is the way I start preparing for the show and by yesterday my perspective had crystalized. What I have gotten out of all this is just how generous the scooter community really is, how we tend to look out for each other and for the most part presume the best about each other. It shows every time someone crashes, gets in over their head with a mechanical project (I sure know about that) or someone new shows up at a ride-out with a brand new 50cc moped. We run an amazingly open and inclusive community. Here in Richmond at the 7hills scooter club, I am probably one of the older members and I certainly don’t have the tattoos or piercings, let along the stamina to keep up with everyone. But at the same time, I am welcomed at every event, feel comfortable hanging at the local scooter shop and can even speak about my mechanical blunders without feeling like a big dumb ass. So regardless of what is true or untrue about Vespadition, I look forward to continuing to be a part of a scooter community that does have an altruistic outlook on life and as for me, I will be looking forward to this summers scooter rallies and events, where I am sure to meet more people who share this value and appreciate the kindness inherent in community we have created.

Next week I will be at the other end of the country, so expect a remote show from the oft times drizzly pacific northwest. Port Angeles should be starting to perk up with lots of flowers and greenery and of course I will check in with Bill Sommers to see what is cooking on the local scooter scene. Port Angeles also has an Internet celebrity who sometimes shows his face in town. If you are a techie you will recognize the name, John C Dvorák. Although he still lives most of the year in northern California, he and his wife own and operate a Deli, or maybe more accurately a spice store in Port Angeles. I am a dedicated listener to all things Dvorák, including podcasts like TWIT, No Agenda, Tec5 and Cranky Geeks and I must return to see what John is raving about, like the deli meats, the spices and the wines.

Blog Posts and bloggers

• From my point of view the biggest blogging news this past was Steve Guzman’s post over at The Scooter Scoop, reporting on his own split with LS Motor Sports. My best wishes go out to Steve as he moves on. Make sure you get over to the Scooter Scoop to check out the source for all the changes.
• I still get emails asking about recommending a scooter or questions about comparing one scooter to another. But it occurred to me that I have been remiss on not talking about some of the non-European scooter blog and wanted to refer you to a blog called Kymco Jones. The posts are informative and often include pictures.
• I have mentioned Jeremy a blogger who has been documenting his restoration of a Vespa 180ss for many months now. One of his latest post has a short with him taking the scoot for a test ride. It looks to be an accurate and beautiful restoration.

• It seems that Vespa has scored another product placement winner, putting a Vespa LX in the middle of the story line of the upcoming Get Smart movie.

Music for this show features blues harmonica player Sugar Blue. You can find his music on the Podsafe Music Network, at Ariel Publicity or at Sugar Blues’ website.

My sincere apology with the lapse in posting. I was so disconnected this past week while in Key West, I am still trying to catchup with everything that happened while I was gone. Although I missed getting a podcast out, I have been working on an interview I did a while back with Iggy Granger, author, scooter tester and an original English mod. Iggy has just published a book on the Scooter Lifestyle. It is a journey of discovery through the scooter scene in England. I will have the interview in this week’s show, along with more scooter information and talk about Key West. Check back shortly for more to come and thanks for hanging in there.

 

 Episode 56 [23:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

SHOW NOTES: Spring continues to blossom here in Richmond and that means both warm and cold days. I feel sorry for our friends up north who by this time must be praying for spring to come. It seems like scooters are coming out of the woodwork around here and I have been able to ride several time this week without having to bundle up of worry about the weather. Despite all this, Marcel and I will be heading south this week to spend a few days in Key West Florida taking in the sun and generally lounging around. As I understand it, scooting is a way of life in Key West This is the first time I have taken a vacation in months and when we get back, I have Pod camp New York to look forward to. Unfortunately, the pod camp is the same weekend as the Dogwood Delirium here in Central Virginia. So, once again I will have to settle for hearing about all the over eating and drinking along with the usual general mayhem and embarrassing moments from other club members. If you happen to be in Central Virginia and weekend of April 25th consider joining the 7hills gang.
Most of you know that my Vespa Sprint has a new engine in it. What I haven’t talked about is how this has left me with a bunch of spare parts. I happen to be one of those people who rarely throws anything away. As I laid everything out and looked at the blown crank bearing again I notice that almost everything else was in pretty good shape. Dave the mechanic had shown me some damage on the inside of the engine case, but for the most part, everything else was OK, the clutch assembly, the cylinder head, the gear changer and a whole lot more.
It has been a long time since I have bought and sold on Ebay. For a while I was very active trading spare BMW parts, old computer components and other electronics. I think that the experience has changed a lot over the years. It use to be that buy on Ebay was like trading with your next door neighbor. Now you never know who you are dealing with and as I understand it, there are fewer auctions taking place and more fix price items than ever before. Hopefully all the Ebay scooterist will find my spares interesting and I expect the bidders will be like most of the rest of the scooter community, honest.

Scooter Blog Posts

• 2strokebuzz - “Have it your way” with Honda?
• Who Rides A Vespa - Vespa Canada launched the Vespa-head campaign
• Vespadition gets news paper article – Matua starts his trip in CA

Music for this show is from the Podsafe Music Network

• Ready to Go by Ben Cooper
• Empty streets by the The Gentleman Callers

 

 Episode 55 [41:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

SHOWNOTES: ScootRichmond did a fantastic job on the installation of the LML 150 engine in my Vespa Sprint. I have had time to take a closer look at it and the workmanship that including rewiring to a 12 volt system makes a big difference in the lights. Hopefully it will prove to be more reliable. I guess that’s another free plug for ScootRichmond, but I mean it as a plug for building a relationship with your local scooter shop. When you have an established relationship, they are more likely to go above and beyond to give you good scooter information and make sure you are happy with their work.

Before I prattle on too much about the usual scoot stuff, I want to tell you about a unique conversation with Alix from Peace Scooter on this week’s Scootercast. Alix is a person who speaks with amazing clarity and purpose. During our conversation she talked about her upcoming 20,000 mile ride for PEACE. Most people might ask the obvious, “are you some kind of fanatic?” But for Alix it is much more personal and the ride is a natural extension of her view of life. Since completing the first half of her PEACE ride last year (here is link to the CNN coverage), she has been planning and blogging about this years ride with the kind of enthusiasm a child has in anticipating a birthday. The ride will start in Washington D.C. On May 2nd and the route will circle the USA ending back in D.C. Along the way she plans to blog, post video, volunteer, mingle and generally commune with all kinds of people asking only one question, “how do you define PEACE in your life?” Over the course of the next few months I’ll try to check-in with her and get an update on the ride. Go over to the website and throw some support her way.
This is a very good interview, not because of me, but because of what Alix has to say. Although a little longer than most shows, it is worth taking the time to listen too.

Music for this show

• I Got Sunshine by Sarah Vonderhaar
• Love is in the Atmosphere by Kerry Politzer

 

 Episode 54 [24:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

SHOWNOTES: I am planning some changes on the website and want to know what you think about the idea. Last week when I put up the link to Vespadition, I noticed that several of the posts that included links to Peter Moore and Christian Bauer’s websites had fallen off the front page of the website. One way of fixing this is to increase the number of posts that appear here, but then the page gets to be very long and who wants to have to scroll and scroll just to find a link. So I have been considering changing up the format of the site and plan to keep a picture link to my most recent guests right at the top of the page.
Another website issue that plagues podcasters is the question of monetization. For the common folk, this mean “how do you make money to defray the cost of bandwidth.” But before I head off in this or any other direction, I want to know what you think. Are you interested in this kind of this stuff, you know sctrcst t-shirts, buttons and other good SCTRCST crap. I would hate to do anything to make you, my audience, feel like I was just pimping for pennies.
On a completely different subject, I picked up my 1966 Vespa Sprint at ScootRichmond. It has a clean, shinny, new LML 150cc engine and I got my break-in instructions from Dave the mechanic, which synthesize down to “don’t ride it like you usually ride it”. This translated into keeping it under 60 kph, that’s 37.28 mph for those of you keeping track. Coming home I could feel the difference in power and responsiveness and can’t wait until it is broken in, should be about 300 k according to Dave. Apparently he installs a larger main jet to keep people like me from over doing it in the beginning and after break in, changes the oil and swaps out the jet so it will accelerate as it suppose to. This is probably a good safety measure for me to have, I do like to go fast.
Maybe like you, I listen to lots of podcasts, especially those that have to do with tech. One of those is called net@nite, hosted by Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur. Leo is a longtime tech broadcaster who teams up with all kinds of people to produce podcasts and in this case he is working with an entertaining fresh face from Toronto. This past week, they talked about a website named Animoto. It is an on-line application that automatically generates a professionally produced video. There are really only three steps to the process. 1) Select your images and download them to the site, 2) choose your music, and 3) finalize some details as to how you want your video to look. You can produce the 30 sec clips for free, but I recommend signing up for $30 per year which gives you unlimited access to longer produce videos. If you want to see what a short clip looks like, checkout the one below.

Blogs Posts

• 2 strokebuzz - Josh from Scoot Mag and the silent auction to help him out
• MBI Awards – Mostly about motorcycles except MP3
• Vespadition – Changing his route

Music for this show is from the Podsafe Music Network

• Cant Help Myself by Kyoshi
• Dumb by 21 Against
• Podcast Sell-Out by Smart Bomb Radio