I have stopped talking about it and finally begun selling off a few scooters and parts. In the past couple of weeks a Lambretta LD Mk3, Vespa VL3 and two engines found new owners. My recent post about getting rid of an expensive rental storage space resulted in the contents landing in my garage. After seeing it all in one place, it became clear that it was time to sell a few things. A second LD Mk3 will be picked up by its new owner in August. All of these scooters were project bikes. It was tough to let the VL3 go, since it was the only one in my stable. It's been sitting in storage for a couple of years. Representing the last of the great Vespa handlebar bikes, the VL3 was one I probably should have kept, but like they say... sometimes when you love something you have to set it free, right? The buyer is from Germany so I assume it will be making it's way back to Europe. What a strange, intercontinental journey this old Vespa has had.

There are a few more scooters, parts, and accessories to sell. This is not enjoyable. While it is true that the online selling/auction process helps sellers reach a lot of potential buyers, at the same time it can be a huge pain. The people who make make ridiculous lowball offers are particularly annoying. So are those who ask if a 55 year old classic scooter can be ridden on the freeway. I listed a bare Vespa frame on eBay once and a guy asked me if it ran. Another time, the winning bidder on a 1955 Vespa Faro basso sent me an email saying he was praying for the money to arrive so he could send it to me. I guess you have to take the good with the bad when selling.

Next on my selling list is a couple of bare Lambretta LD frames. One is a Mk3 and the other a Mk1. I may sell my Li150 Series 1 project as well. I'm still debating that. Once I'm settled on what scooters to keep, I'll begin going through parts to determine what will be needed for future restoration projects.

The few people who have come to know me either online or in person know that I am not a member of any scooter clubs and don't attend rallies. If others do, I don't take issue with it. It's just that I have an aversion to clubs of any kind, as well as confederations, federations, alliances, brotherhoods, fellowships, fraternities, guilds, leagues, orders, organization, society, guilds, unions, aristocracies, associations, clans, gangs, cooperatives, orders, or circles.

Among the many things I try to avoid in my life are gatherings, assemblages, companies, conclaves, conferences, congregations, conventions, convocations, crowds, groups, meetings, and of course, rallies. I suppose this point of view could be interpreted as some kind of elitist or even anti-social behavior. It's really not. A rally is supposed to be a get-together of hobbyists or other like-minded enthusiasts, primarily to meet and socialize. Too often, it ends up more like the rally as it is defined in British theater - a quickening of pace for heightening the dramatic effect in a scene or act.

For every fun, interesting, or knowledgeable person at a gathering there are two whiny, scandal-mongering, or oversensitive yentas hell-bent on creating drama and ruining the whole thing. For some reason the most contemptible, annoying people among us seem to love a crowd and feed on having an audience. It's more than I can stand. Too bad, because I do enjoy talking to others about scooters. And admiring the work of others.

I wish there were something in the scootering world that more closely resembled a classic car or motorcycle show. There are scooter events like this in Europe. Sort of a cross between a show and a swap meet. I was lucky enough to attend one in northern Italy a few years ago and was in awe of the size of the event and the huge selection of rare and interesting scooters and parts. None of it cheap though. Those days are long gone. 

What I like about the idea of a show is that there are no commitments or club aspect to it. It's a gathering of people of course, but you are free to browse and engage people in anonymous conversation. There are no members, group rides, dinners, pub crawls, or club politics to deal with. Just scooters, and the talk remains focused on scooters. While strolling around, I thought about how cool it would be if there were also an auction at these events for people looking to buy collectable scooters. Like the Barrett-Jackson classic car auctions in Arizona. Maybe there was, but if so it wasn't obvious. I did see some clubs represented, but it seemed like most of the people there had no affiliation with them. Clubs are a bit more civilized in Europe, but that's a topic for another day.

For a lot of people who collect things, it is fun to show off your stuff now and then. I'm going to explore entering a scooter in an antique car or motorcycle show (or two) and see how it goes. Maybe others will like the idea and join in. Perhaps this is a better way for me to be a little less isolated and have fun at the same time.