29/29: Three

I re-entered the riding world around 2003 having been absent from 2 wheeled vehicles for many years. I didn't know anyone else who rode but eventually I started to see scooterists, mainly on Classic Vespas, riding around town and I started to join them on group rides. It's funny how it works. You don't notice scooters until you buy one. Of course I had a reliable Japanese model and I thought I could imbed myself deeper into the scooter scene so I purchased a Vintage Lambretta SIL GP200. It was a manual shift 4 speed, 2-stroke. It had already been refurbished by a company that specialized in rebuilding scooters and shipped to Canada. Even though I really wanted a Vespa P200, most were in sad condition and you had to be a mechanic to keep it running. I never knew anything about scooter rallies but then I found out about one of the longest running scooter rallies in North America which is held in Victoria, BC on the Victoria Day long weekend, every year. ( info HERE )

In May, 2006 I rode my NEW Lambretta GP200 SIL to Victoria for the weekend



I thought it was great to belong to a group and I think there were over 150 scooters there all belching out 2-stroke smoke, and sounded like a gaggle of Wasps due to their loud exhausts. There is nothing like riding a manual shifting scooter. The clutch is on the left lever, front brake on the right lever and the rear brake is a foot pedal. Changing gears is by rotating the left handgrip.



My Lambretta was very happy to pose on the causeway opposite the Empress Hotel. The show & shine is usually held on Saturday, around noonish "scooter-time" . There is always lots to do at a rally. Long ride, scenic ride, lunch, dinner, club scene or just hanging out at the motel chatting and schmoozing with others



Over the years I have met many people and I always look forward to going to Victoria to meet up again. There is a very active group in Victoria and they meet up every Sunday for coffee. ( info HERE ) You may have to log into your Yahoo account to visit their webpages

We managed to take a group photo on the scenic drive which continues along Dallas Road . I am sure Dar will know where this is


Left-Right: Andrew (Vespa GTS0, Carol (Vino 125), Myself, and John (V-strom DL1000)

Andrew and Carol both live in Victoria. John was my riding buddy that weekend who was riding his Aprilia SR50F, the orange one in the background