JUNE
2003
30/06/03 :
Those of you who took a digital camera to The London Run and took pictures, could you please send me any pictures you have. The larger the
image resolution the better too as it may be possible to use these pictures for the write-up in Twist & Go, thanks.
Drag racing news, this weekend (Sunday 6th July) it is Round 4 of the X-Race UK Championship and this time round we're at
East Kirkby in Lincolnshire. I'm told that this is venue has one of the best surfaces so hopefully there will be some new records set here
(fingers crossed). It's a bit of a change to The London Run so if you're up for some quarter mile action in the countryside may I suggest you
join us on Sunday.
As previously mentioned, the Ace Cafe are happy to host a regular scooter night provisionally titled "Twist & Go Night"
on the first Monday of each month. So the first one is a week today (Monday 7th July) then the rest of the dates are as follows:
4th August, 1st September, 6th October, 3rd November, 1st December, 5th January 2004 etc. The Ace Cafe is a great venue and I suggest you all get
your asses down there!
26/06/03 :
We came, we saw, we kicked ass! Yes, I'm talking about the one and only London Run which took place yesterday in the metropolis... It was
a momentous occasion and in fact, the first automatic scooter only gathering in London. Looking at the
wider picture though you could say that the event could be seen as the start of something new and perhaps much bigger...
The memories of the day will stay with me for a long time, i.e. the various encounters with the law during the ride-out (eek),
the stuntin', the Ace Cafe, the scooters, the people, the scenery and generally speaking the overall chaos of it all!
The legendary Ace Cafe itself turned out to be a great choice of venue but it's a shame though that I don't live further south cos'
I'd visit the Ace everyday cos' it's bohemian man, it's all about theatre and it's a great place to meet the like-minded.
Big shouts out go to Mark Wilsmore (the owner of the Ace Cafe) who did a great job of helping co-ordinate the day and for offering
his enthusiasm towards automatic scoots particularly in terms of wanting to help build and nurture a new scooter 'movement' if you like by
offering his support and encouragement for automatic scooter owners to converge at the Ace Cafe.
Y'see the good news is that from now on the first Monday of every month will be a dedicated automatic scooter only night ("Twist & Go Night" as it's
currently called) at the Ace Cafe. I suspect many of you who live in the London area will regularly attend these gatherings
(and I know I will try to my level best to get down there whenever I can).
Right now though I've got the task of putting into words the full low-down on the day's events for Twist & Go magazine.
A BIG thanks go to everyone who came to The London Run, a big thanks to 'Ricky' who seemingly appeared from nowhere and stepped in
as our guide through London, you did a sound job mate and no, it wasn't a disaster! It was nice to put a few names to faces and I hope to see
you all again soon, Santa Pod Hijack maybe? Failing that, you can buy me a drink at the Ace Cafe some time! Cheers, Paul.
22/06/03 :
London calling... The last minute details of The London Run are in the process of being finalised... eek! I'm not sure how many of you are gonna
be there though but fingers crossed it's all gonna go smoothly! (The words "what have I let myself in for" keep going round in my head")...
Anyways, a 'Schedule' will be on display at the Ace Cafe, but for your information the plan is as follows:
10:00am - Rendezvous at the Ace Cafe
11:00am - Commence ride-out into central London
03:00pm (Approx.) - Return to the Ace Cafe
06:00pm - Cruise to Bar Italia in Soho
As you can see we will adjourn from the Ace Cafe to the (also legendary) Bar Italia in Soho at 6pm.
For more info on Bar Italia and it's location check out the official
Bar Italia website. The reasons why we have to leave the Ace Cafe is because
it is unfortunately, 'Max Power night' at the Ace and the management don't want any trouble... So you have been warned!
Over the last week I've been running around (well, not literally) organising some 'merchandise' which will be available at The London Run. The numbers are
limited however so the following are available on a 'limited edition' basis.
T-shirts! 100 'Fruit of the Loom' white cotton t-shirts are available in two sizes: XL and L. (Sorry no XXL for the 'Giant Haystacks' clones out there)!
Price is £10 each. On the off-chance that there are any left over I will let you know so that you can order them by post. I have reserved a few anyway
for those of who you unfortunately now can't make it to the event for various reasons. Anyway, here's the design:
Some London Run Stickers are also available priced at £2 each. And finally, I now have some more ItaljetDragster.com
stickers available priced at £2.50 each, these are good quality vinyl cut stickers available in blue, yellow, flourescent orange, white and silver.
These will be available at the Run and you can also order them by post by sending a cheque payable to me 'Paul Robinson' and send it to this address:
Paul Robinson, Italjet Dragster.com, Longlands House, Wakefield Road, West Yorkshire. WF5 9JS. ENGLAND.
Anyway, that's me over and out, see you in London!
18/06/03 :
Not long to go now... A week today and it's... yes, The London Run! Some of you will already be aware of the route that we will be taking
in and around central London, the plan is to take in key locations such as Big Ben, Hyde Park, the London Eye etc.
The time to meet at the Ace Cafe is 10am (as advertised) on WEDNESDAY 25th JUNE. Full directions to the Ace can be found here.
The rideout will commence at approximately 11am, some maps of the route (all being well) will be handed out on the day
along with contact numbers so that should anyone get lost/left behind we can help you out. Various people have agreed to stand in as
'marshalls' to help keep the group together. There will be various stop-off points during the run itself for people to re-fuel and take a break.
We expect to return back to the Ace Cafe some time mid-afternoon (approx. 3pm). Because the event is taking place mid-week and during the
day the traffic in London is expected to be a little 'quieter' so hopefully there shouldn't be any problems (fingers crossed).
Unfortunately the event is expected to wind down at the Ace Cafe at around 6pm (7pm at the latest) since it's Max Power night
and I've been told by the management at the Ace to make you lot aware of this just in case there's any 'confict' with the boy racers, now
we wouldn't want that would we? Beyond 6pm, a few people have suggested a ride into central London, so unless anyone else
has any other better ideas we will adjourn to Bar Italia in Soho after 6pm. More info on where to find Bar Italia later for those of you
who can't make it to the event during the day due to work commitments etc. But anyway, for those of you who are coming, I'll see you
all in London next week for what will be the first auto-only rideout in London.
Other news (and of interest to residents in the US), Marlow at Italjet Moto (USA) wrote in to say that they
now have a forum on their website waiting to be used, with separate forums set up for owners of other Italjet scoots such as the Velocifero, Formula, Scooop etc.
and of the course the Dragster, anyway it's there if you want to use it.
05/06/03 :
Some of you will be pleased to know that the results from Round 3 of the X-Race UK Championship are now on-line. The X-Race UK website
has recently been transferred to a different web host, so apologies for the delay.
04/06/03 :
Italjet US have a few shots of the new Morini engined Dragster 50 on their website.
And this bit of news applies to residents in the US; anyone who will be in Florida the weekend of 14-15 June can stop and see
the new Morini engine Dragster 50 at the Ducati Miami and Vespa Miami booths at the Miami International Motorcycle Show
where you will also be able to check out the Scooop.
