Modern Vespa

Changed my avatar just for fun.

The new picture was taken in January 2 1961. I had scooted down the 920 miles to Cape Town for a holiday. In Cape Town January 2 is a public holiday, and it is the day that the Cape coloured community have their Mardi Gras, with singing and dancing competitions up and down the streets.

I was doing a ride around the peninsula and as I crossed from Hout Bay to Fish Hoek I came across the Fish Hoek Mardi Gras busy assembling. And there in the middle of it was the Cape Town Vespa club. So of course I joined in.

My father was also holidaying down there at the time. We were both staying at the Stans Halt youth hostel, and by pure chance he was in the crowd there and took this snap of me.

I later offered a lift to a nice lass who was tired of walking in the Mardi Gras, and then dated her a few times. Her name was Marion Zimmermann. I took her with me to a Vespa Club picnic, and she later joined the Vespa club as an associate (non-riding) member and was active in the club for several years.

Mike ... I congratulate you, you are a true Vespa enthusiast but ... according to my counts you should be over 75 years old, a scooter pioneer!

81 on September 12th. Got my first GS150 in September 1959, while at university.

Great story!

....and cool avatar.. 8)

My utmost respect, i am appalled by so much devotion. Great!

Nice one Mike!

Thats a great photo. I trust you have it enlarged and framed in your man cave. Must bring a lot of good memories when you were a young man. I can respect an authentic avatar that shows you as you were in former times, just like my avatar.

My man shed is a garage with model railway down one half and workbench, lathe, drill press etc down the other side with just enough room in the middle to park two Vespas. In between model train display cabinets the walls are covered with steam locomotive pictures. No room for pictures of me!

What a cool story!
And the odds that your dad was there to capture it all...

Mike, you scooted down the 920 miles to Cape Town from where? Could it be Johannesburg or even Windhoek? I lived in Cape Town at the time and went to UCT (University of Cape Town) and now live in Australia, as one does. Same vintage as you are as well. Groete!

Going to visit my daughter who i haven't seen for quite a while. I have to tell her that at the airport she should not be looking for me as she remembers me but for her grandfather as she remembers him

Johannesburg. That ride took me a day and a half, 600 miles the first day to Beaufort West, then the remaining 320 miles the next day. Coming back I split it more evenly, stopping over at Central.

I joined the Johannesburg Vespa Club in 1959, as soon as I got my first Vespa.

Alles van die Vespa
Mike