What
VCM's annual two-stroke blue-smoke ride is on again. This is a special ride to celebrate older classic geared scooters. All marques are welcome - Lambretta, Heinkel, Maicoletta, Puch, Rabbit and of course Vespa including the entire PX Vespa range - the older your scooter, the better. Pillions are welcome too. This ride is badged as a Vespa Day event and so we are using the Vespa World Club cog patch to acknowledge our club’s connection to a larger sister and brotherhood of Vespa owners across the globe. Participants will receive a sticker as a memento of the ride.
Where
This year for a change we are venturing just outside Melbourne into the rural fringes far away from annoying traffic lights and “special-event” road closures that have caused hiccups in the past. Our destination, Hurstbridge, is actually a little bit closer to the CBD than Cafe Moto in Carrum where we have finished previous Blue Smoke Rides. For the first time on this annual event we have organised a van capable of carrying 2-3 scooters in case of breakdowns. Pete, the van man, will sweep the route at the rear of the ride. The ride is covered by the VCM's Public Liability Insurance.
The Route
Much of our route will be on quiet sealed semi-rural roads with little traffic. The scenery is very pretty and you’ll enjoy the meandering ride at a leisurely ‘classic’ pace. The route from Carlton North to Hurstbridge is around 57-kms and will take us about 1.5 hours. After lunch join us for an organised 30-km return route to Ivanhoe, or make your own way home from Hurstbridge. The ride will use designated corner markers who will point you in the right direction at each turn so you can relax and enjoy the unfolding scenery. Due to logistics of a big ride, places are capped at 40 so we ask you to register to reserve a place. Its free!
Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Vespa Club of Melbourne and served in Fergusons Paddock, Hurstbridge.
Prizes will be awarded shortly after lunch.
• Best Restored Classic Vespa
• Best Restored Other Marque Scooter
• Best Unrestored Scooter - lots of scratches, original paint and patina please
• Most Unusual or Rare Scooter
• Best Dressed Rider for the Era - whether it be a pudding-basin helmet, Biggles goggles, oilskins or an old leather coat, or a sharp tailored Mod outfit with pointy shoes, come dressed to suit the era of your particular scooter. Ride safe and put your costume in the van and change at lunch time if doesn’t provide the required protection.
Departure Point and Time
We will meet and leave from Park St Cafe, 815 Nicholson St, Carlton North. There is ample parking along Park Street. You’ll need to arrive before 9:00am if you want coffee and or breakfast before our departure at 10:30am sharp. There will be no fuel stops on the 87-km ride so please arrive with a full tank.
Comments
Thank you to all those who attended the club’s classic ride even though the day dawned cool and grey. It was great to see so many fine pieces of metal weaving their way along the narrow roads. Also thank you for your comments and Philip’s comprehensive feedback. Seems like we’ll have organise more rides to suit classic pace and tastes. Lisa is right, courtesy and patience was in abundance, so congratulations one and all, and to the fabulous support team that made it happen. David
Thank you David for arranging this Blue Smoke ride for classic and manual clutch scooters and to all who helped in making it a success. It was one of the best organised club rides I've been on. Just about the right length at 1.5 hours out and less than an hour back after a catered lunch in a very pleasant spot where we could all mingle, chat and inspect the 35+ scooters that participated. Urban riding at the start and finish where our swarm was noticed and appreciated with suburban and rural riding over undulating and winding roads. The corner marking worked to perfection and the pace was just right with nobody overtaking (except for corner markers getting back into position). Also, enough quick stops to regather and ensure that the slower scooters stayed in the swarm. Having the back up van and Claire on the emergency scooter was further evidence of careful planning. Thanks also to Claudio on his Primavera for providing the entertainment of losing the engine cover half a dozen times. I'd be keen to see more Blue Smoke rides like this one catering to the 8" wheels. Thanks again.
THANK YOU David xxxx
Is that huge enough Julie ?
Yes, a well deserved thank you to David, Imam, Clare , Gail ,Pete and Greg
Thank you Julie for being tail rider.
Congratulations to all the riders too for coming out , staying upright, staying safe, being courteous and having fun .
A fabulous day out xxx
A huge thank you David for all the work put into organising this ride today. It was very successful with 35 classic and geared scooters doing the ride and enjoying a lovely lunch in Hurstbridge before another thrilling ride back to Ivanhoe. A big thank you also to Imam for organising the lunch, Clare and Gail assisting and a special thanks to support Van Man Pete who ended up having to take Claudio and his smallie home to Brunswick. You deserve many free Gelatos for that :) Thanks to Lisa for taking such fabulous photos to capture the essence of the day and the fun everyone had. And congratulations to those who won a prize donated by Corazzo our Corporate Sponsor.
Cheers Julie
Sorry for the late notice.
Unfortunately I can't make it.
Hope it's a great day.
There are 5 places left on this ride. register now!
We have 20 registrations for this ride already, and haven't really promoted it yet. If you want a place then please register now.
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