This is a translation of my own article from Hebrew to English
I wrote that article last month and I was wondering
What who'd you think of it?
Comments please:
Experienced and wrote: Gilad Ben-zaken
photo by: Ronen Topelberg
originaly posted here: http://levi-itzhak.co.il/Levi/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=2&TMID=84&FID=523&PID=2066
In the name of nostalgia, the Israeli Vespa Club
It's been some time since I started following the happening of the Israeli Vespa club events. The club, sponsored by Ofer Avnir, the dealer, encourages differentiation of the mythological Vespa compare to other scooters. This differentiation is welcomed, because of course it is the scooters first pioneer, With two-stroke engine and a cheap tin-iron structure. But still - most graceful.
I decided that I should try and taste one of their trips to achieve a kind of dream, a dream which is achievable. And that is what the Vespa all about! Cause it enters to the concept of a dream, In to the nostalgia, but is still affordable. The Italian Vespa original idea was held exactly the same as the idea of the German VW beetle. Briefly: World War ruined industries and customers left without money. Response: The Vespa And the beetle were created to response as a vehicle that is very reliable and inexpensive. These two vehicles saved the automobile industry after World War I and II. Typically, over the years most products gets the label "expired" and disappearing from the landscape. In the case of both of the vehicles - not just that they haven't disappeared, but both have a current retro technology version and are in very expensive price. Versions of those remind what was before, but no longer designate to the crowd with the hole in there pocket, but to the audience of the gourmet and fashion. And the Rest? The rest is busy with keeping the commandments of the restoration to the many exemplars left. So I joined the trip with the Vespa Club with a completely brand new Vespa with a 300cc four-stroke engine, the outer shell made of tin. For the nostalgia and for the right taste.
Wait! Where are you rushing?
After all, we are dealing with a Vespa, and speed is not the name of the game here, so I want to tell you another story before we set the road. A few years ago, a good friend from the army, Yoel Ben-Ezra, drove me crazy "let's get two vespa's, one we paint with green and gold, and on it's side we'll write:" Green for the money, Gold for the honey", and the other one will be painted black and we'll write on it in a simply exaggerated way: "the Bullet"! ". Needless to say, the idea never worked out. I am among the fans of modern vehicles. Smooth operation as much as possible makes me more pleasant in the right hand, sometimes the right leg also. The idea was hidden in the drawer and forgotten since then.
I got the Vespa at Friday noon from the dealer, cream and petting beautiful white, I smiled and put my buttocks on the saddle. Yes, the sound of the electric starter demonstrated that despite the tin building around here, it is a prestige creation of Piaggio from the 2000s. Cool and quiet engine and there's no clutch and transmission with four gears on left handle bar. All automatic, even opening the trunk under the seat is no longer mechanical with the use of a key, there is an electric button. The design of the Vespa however, completely loyal to the source. Includes three stripes for a foot hold on the floor in every side, and includes a ventilation grill on the back side looking just like the original "cooling system" of the original Vespa. Front suspension is a single side rack similar to the old one. It seems to me that the shock absorber is simple just like the original. Although ridding quality was pleasant and comfortable, the handle of the wasp was quite clear, only that it could handle better at higher speeds. But it was definitely the road handle of a Vespa.
Something began to remind me the entertaining story from Yoel idea of the two Vespa's.
all the way at 60 Kph
1/8/09 . The Green village gas station 6:45 am: I arrived quite early and there was only two Vespa's waiting. One from the old recipe with a side car. And the second from the model of 2007 that was the last original Vespa to be sold in Israel. All Vespa's that will sell her after it, will be four-stroke, fully automatic, fashionable and modern. "Slowly - Slowly" (in the case of a Vespa everything happens slowly) came all the rest of the fellows with their Vespa's and a Piaggio tent was opened at the exit the station. I tell you, those guys love their asses, and they opened the tent for a cake and coffee of fifteen minutes. Amusing. Good morning, the road is long! "Gentlemen's, start your engines!" The sounds and fragrant of the two stroke tired engines after a few kicks on the Vespa's side's starting up was heard and we started hitting the road, at the speed of 60 kilometers per hour, Saturday morning Empty roads. Years I have not seen what is there on the sides of the road no' 4. Some beautiful woods, tennis court, and all sorts of cyclists along which threaten to pass my speed. Did you know the road bike-cycle riders are called "Kvishonim" (in Hebrew, from the word "road")? Today I know that since I could have a word with one of them while riding. my Vespa, however, could rope the entire convoy with a cable and drag it to 100 kph, but if 20 Vespa's doing 60 kph and drivers waving their hands true the car windows, who am I not to join them. a smile of romance in the air, small talk's from Vespa to Vespa during ride. There is no such thing. We head to "Daliyat-el-Carmel" through the Carmel Pine woods Road. Amazing scenery all the way made me get my camera and take pictures while riding. Some girl once told me she does not understand all the ones that immediately take out a camera and take pictures, "What happened gentlemen? Look at the landscape, just inhale it. Myself? I can be counted with the photographers, so occasionally it would pop up my screen saver and move my heart. Not to worry, this convoy will not be able to run away and I may slow down when I just feel like to and get them back easily. They in return will smile to you when you get them and find more amusing story to tell you while riding, something to do with a Vespa, and how they found it in a bush at a yard of an old lady's house and restored it.
What, we got to the end?
We really got to the end, it's hard to believe, I know. But all Vespa's except one Lambreta rode from the Green village to Dalyat-el-Carmel. The Lambreta that broke earlier dragged all the way on a tow jeep, and before the woods of the carmel, the Lambreta was dismantled without tools, the air filter got a nit "Foo - Foo" with the breath of the mouth. The Lambreta started away and hit the road. Mechanical simplicity. I think you could do an overall with a penknife to these scoots.
I have to say goodbye. Splits from the members to a various paths. After Daliyat-el-Carmel trip they head to the "Mochraka" observation post for the rest of the trip. I had to get to a lunch with my family so I left them there. Suddenly it is strange to do 90 kilometers per hour; it seems faster after all hours of riding in 60 kph. I remember we even got at one certain section to 40 kph.
I ate fill, and I dozed like an old mans nap. I set out to the road and went back heading home at around 15:00 pm. Suddenly near one intersection, I see a group of small midges at the intersection, speeding up to get them and here we meet again. Howdy friends! Short conversation with the guy on the original 2007 Vespa and when I accelerated, the last I heard was him shouting back: "The last one ever sold!" and I gassed off, just forgot to tell him he has a front disc brake. Oh the great sin!
I honestly think that if I was buying myself a new Vespa 250/300cc, I'd paint it black, and write on it in a simply exaggerated way simply "The Bullet!".
