The summer of 2015 was supposed to be about events and community. It turned into one of the most intense riding weeks of my life — a motor seizure 100 km after Croatia, a 2,583 km sprint across five countries in 4.5 days, and a return leg I named Mission Quijote.
I started the summer at the Vespa Alp Days in Zell am See — one of the most beautiful scooter events in the Alps. I rode the Großglockner on my Vespa, setting a personal altitude record. The mountains, the community, the riding. This is why I do this.
From Austria I rode to the Vespa World Days 2015 in Biograd na Moru on the Croatian coast — the largest international Vespa meeting in the world. Thousands of scooterists from across Europe, all in one place. Pure Vespa energy.
Directly after the World Days I had to reach the First National Scooter Rally in Tomelloso, Spain — the Concentración Nacional de Vespas y Lambrettas. The distance: 2,583 km across five countries. The time available: 4.5 days. That meant averaging over 600 km per day.
Motor seizure — 100 km after Croatia Only 100 km after leaving Croatia, my motor seized. A highway cleaner truck towed me to a gas station. I spent an entire day repairing the piston and cylinder by hand — using sandpaper donated by a Slovenian truck driver. No workshop. No spare parts. No help except from a stranger who happened to have sandpaper in his truck. Then I kept going.
Extreme conditions Across the sprint to Spain I rode through intense heat, strong winds, rain and hail. Everything the road could throw at me, it threw.
Tomelloso — the reception I arrived in Tomelloso on schedule. The local press and scooterists received me with great respect. I won the prize for the participant who had travelled the furthest to reach the rally. Worth every kilometre.
The return from Tomelloso to Kempten: 2,000 km in 3 days. I named it Mission Quijote — a tribute to Don Quijote and the region of La Mancha where the rally had taken place. A stubborn, slightly mad man on a scooter, tilting at windmills. Felt appropriate.
What is the Concentración Nacional de Vespas y Lambrettas in Tomelloso? The first national Vespa and Lambretta rally in Spain, held in Tomelloso in the region of Castilla-La Mancha — the land of Don Quijote. I rode 2,583 km in 4.5 days to get there directly from the Vespa World Days in Croatia.
What is Mission Quijote? My name for the 2,000 km return ride from Tomelloso to Kempten in 3 days. Named after Don Quijote and the region of La Mancha. A fitting description of the kind of stubborn madness required.
How did you fix the motor seizure? Roadside, by hand, using sandpaper donated by a Slovenian truck driver. Spent an entire day at a gas station. Then kept going.
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