Post by Jimmy D on Jun 17, 2012 15:16:51 GMT
Well. That was... interesting.
Vespa World Days 2012 was, up until three weeks ago, due to be held at London Fields in North London. Until the council pulled the plug; it then moved to the o2.
I'm sure this change will be the the scapegoat for any blame, but in truth this entire event was simply a victim of severe lack of communication and marketing from the start (which was in 2007...). I tried, tried tried to be positive and appreciate what a big project it would be, and thanks to the other guys from this forum and the rideout I managed to make a good time of it, but I honestly feel sorry for the Europeans (many of which are very unhappy) who paid so much to travel so far to see so little.
If you paid for the full price £65 ticket (probably because you didn't know there would be cheaper tickets - and even day tickets - released in future), you got:
The weekend also included:
All of which were great, but nothing to do with the £65 entry fee.
Anyway. Photos first. Then I'll work on getting the rideout headcam video up.
It began here. A car park outside the o2.
Caught my eye did a rather pretty SS90:
At 10:45am we headed out. I had no clue where we were going - I thought we were going round London or something. 2000 excited Europeans drove through red lights and caused multiple near-misses, standing up and taking photos on their scooters at 40mph through the Blackwall Tunnel, while the tunnel operator screamed at us that this was an illegal ride out and we were all being tracked on CCTV. You'll hear that on the head cam video.
Before I knew where we were we were on the M11 motorway in strong winds. First time I've ever been up the motorway (having passed test last October and not trusted my engine until now) but it was an awesome ride, 55-60mph all the way, despite being blown about.
As for the Europeans, cue lots of weaving, undertaking on the hard shoulder, horns. Again, all on headcam. Sticky burned past me on his monster lardy at one point. Heard of one guy getting pulled over by Police on the motorway riding a 50 special with no numberplate.
Off the motorway and into congestion...
Then onto country roads and into Epping Forest.
Two-way roads became 1 way single lane roads, with cars swerving out the way.
Then we stopped.
People checked things.
Then there was a hill. A steep hill. And everyone had to crawl up it in 1st. Including this learner car driver who was freaking the hell out, as was her car's clutch. I bet her Dad just took her for a quiet drive on country roads and didn't expect this.
At this point, my and a number of others' clutch overheated. The air was full of bad smells and people cursing, chucking their women off the back and wheeling their scoots to the top. I had to stop for 10 minutes and let my clutch cool down.
Finally at the top, we pulled into a car park at the top of the hill. Commencing Vespa porn:
(Can you tell I rather liked this matt green 50 spesh?)
Brettas…
This headset was awesome… a very German smallie ;D
But my favourite Vespa was of course the 150 TAP, and its rider…
We then rode back to the o2. Check out this amazing PK, isn't it the best?
Sticky's (or is it Andy's?) Dreadnought
Crafty numberplate mounting…
Trevor from Project 13's smallie…
And then a green SS90.
SIP's Inglorious Basterd made an appearance…
And this grumpy Italian man who didn't speak more than 5 words of English sold 'original' parts. (At one point I heard him say to his colleague "London - its no good")
I then left and met up with Ben, Barney and Gareth at Ben's workshop and we went to the pub - then returned at 7pm for the Gala Dinner…
These people took it very seriously.
We didn't. We were too pissed on water.
Managed to get a few free helpings of pie by making up people on our table using helmets and jackets… ;D
The Team Smallframe table.
And then I left, and went home to sleep.
Rideout vid soon…
Vespa World Days 2012 was, up until three weeks ago, due to be held at London Fields in North London. Until the council pulled the plug; it then moved to the o2.
I'm sure this change will be the the scapegoat for any blame, but in truth this entire event was simply a victim of severe lack of communication and marketing from the start (which was in 2007...). I tried, tried tried to be positive and appreciate what a big project it would be, and thanks to the other guys from this forum and the rideout I managed to make a good time of it, but I honestly feel sorry for the Europeans (many of which are very unhappy) who paid so much to travel so far to see so little.
If you paid for the full price £65 ticket (probably because you didn't know there would be cheaper tickets - and even day tickets - released in future), you got:
- A free packed lunch (Apple juice, an apple, a chicken sandwich, packet of Walkers)
- Entry to the 'Vespa village', which was a car park round the back of the o2, which was a different car park from the one the scooters were allowed to park in, with a 15 minute walk between each site. The village contained a few overpriced stalls selling tat or VE spares, a museum that stopped in 1955 and resumed with the LX and GTS, and some cold-looking members of the Veteran Vespa Club
- A noisy, lukewarm 3 course meal in a windy marquee out the back, with no speeches or alcohol (no license, so only water was served) and a bunch of unruly Italians smashing their cutlery about, which was only made at all worth it by Barney, Ben, and Oz and his missus
- A free can of Fosters or thimbleful of cooking wine
- A 'parts fair' this morning which was 3 or 4 stands selling either overpriced new stuff or tat. I bought a rear lightbulb for a quid. Was offered a used PHBL 24 for £85. There was also a V100 Sport frame there being sold for £500 with no engine.
The weekend also included:
- A ride out, attended for free, from the o2 to Epping Forest and back
- A car park with lots of scooters to look at in it
- Going to Ben's workshop and meeting Gareth and Barney, and watching Ben's colleague Trevor try to kickstart a lardy with petrol firing out the exhaust
- The pub
All of which were great, but nothing to do with the £65 entry fee.
Anyway. Photos first. Then I'll work on getting the rideout headcam video up.
It began here. A car park outside the o2.
Caught my eye did a rather pretty SS90:
At 10:45am we headed out. I had no clue where we were going - I thought we were going round London or something. 2000 excited Europeans drove through red lights and caused multiple near-misses, standing up and taking photos on their scooters at 40mph through the Blackwall Tunnel, while the tunnel operator screamed at us that this was an illegal ride out and we were all being tracked on CCTV. You'll hear that on the head cam video.
Before I knew where we were we were on the M11 motorway in strong winds. First time I've ever been up the motorway (having passed test last October and not trusted my engine until now) but it was an awesome ride, 55-60mph all the way, despite being blown about.
As for the Europeans, cue lots of weaving, undertaking on the hard shoulder, horns. Again, all on headcam. Sticky burned past me on his monster lardy at one point. Heard of one guy getting pulled over by Police on the motorway riding a 50 special with no numberplate.
Off the motorway and into congestion...
Then onto country roads and into Epping Forest.
Two-way roads became 1 way single lane roads, with cars swerving out the way.
Then we stopped.
People checked things.
Then there was a hill. A steep hill. And everyone had to crawl up it in 1st. Including this learner car driver who was freaking the hell out, as was her car's clutch. I bet her Dad just took her for a quiet drive on country roads and didn't expect this.
At this point, my and a number of others' clutch overheated. The air was full of bad smells and people cursing, chucking their women off the back and wheeling their scoots to the top. I had to stop for 10 minutes and let my clutch cool down.
Finally at the top, we pulled into a car park at the top of the hill. Commencing Vespa porn:
(Can you tell I rather liked this matt green 50 spesh?)
Brettas…
This headset was awesome… a very German smallie ;D
But my favourite Vespa was of course the 150 TAP, and its rider…
We then rode back to the o2. Check out this amazing PK, isn't it the best?
Sticky's (or is it Andy's?) Dreadnought
Crafty numberplate mounting…
Trevor from Project 13's smallie…
And then a green SS90.
SIP's Inglorious Basterd made an appearance…
And this grumpy Italian man who didn't speak more than 5 words of English sold 'original' parts. (At one point I heard him say to his colleague "London - its no good")
I then left and met up with Ben, Barney and Gareth at Ben's workshop and we went to the pub - then returned at 7pm for the Gala Dinner…
These people took it very seriously.
We didn't. We were too pissed on water.
Managed to get a few free helpings of pie by making up people on our table using helmets and jackets… ;D
The Team Smallframe table.
And then I left, and went home to sleep.
Rideout vid soon…