Issue 05
Two Stroke
By Neil MahoneyPhotos By David Jiro
Illustration By Blake E. Marquis
In this age of $3-a-gallon gas prices and scarce fuel alternatives, the appeal of the scooter—from the classic Vespa and Lambretta to the modern Honda and Yamaha—isn’t just a product of it shipster-chic style, but rather it s practicality, standing as the most fuel-efficient motorized vehicle to be had.
The first motorized scooter, cousin to the more widely recognizable motorcycle, was designed fresh out of World War II by Italian aircraft manufacturer Piaggio. Utilizing an aircraft-like design in the scooter, as well as actual parts such as airplane wheels, the aim was to create an affordable mean s of transportation for maneuvering through the country’s war-torn streets. And so the Vespa (Italian for was p) was born. Thanks to its sleek design and bright colors , maneuverability, and protection from dust and dirt, the Vespa was an instant hit, and other manufacturers like Lambretta soon sprang up in hopes of matching Vespa’s success. From there, the scooter rode it s way through the decade, making pivotal pop-culture appearances along the way in films such as Roman Holiday and Quadrophenia, and reaching material-necessity status amongst the mod, rudeboy, punk, and skinhead circles.
Yet, despite their long standing popularity in Europe and the rest of the world, scooters have failed to grab the American public in quite the same way. Whatever the reason, though, they haven’t been entirely forgotten in the U.S., with a devoted minority forming scooter societies and clubs across the country. Take the Los Angeles -based Reflections Scooter Society, meeting every Friday night out s ide the Bourgeois Pig café in Los Feliz, formed two year s back by Glen and Lisa Miller and Hilliard “Hilldog” Guess. As Guess explains , “We wanted to inspire people. Today, guys just want to ride a scooter. I was inspired by the guys in the ‘80s. It’ s a life style. So, we try to in spire people to get back to that. Even if you’re not a mod, rudeboy, skinhead, or punk, just dress sharp!”
This motley crew of riders on nearly every imaginable kind of scooter, old and new, cruises through Hollywood and surrounding areas, often to clubs like the Derby for their mod night, Satisfaction, or to the famed “muscle-car meet” outside the Bob’s Big Boy in Toluca Lake. As Glen states on the Reflections web site, “In order for us to have a scene, we have to be seen.”