Vespa Friends
Robin Davy, Elena Pongiglione, Mika Hahn
In the introduction to this book, we resolved to remain objective about whether or not the Vespa really is the most beautiful scooter, and we pointed out that this lies primarily in the eye of the beholder. However, for us, the Vespa is not only the most beautiful scooter, but also the best… Such a book can only be written when one has become hopelessly infected with the “bacillus vespisticus”!
Vespa Museum
Kleiner Einblick in Robin Davy's Vespa Museum
In the process of writing we had ample opportunity to smile, because the best opening line for each chapter should actually have been: “this is a broad and fascinating area within Vespa collecting…” Our project was born out of idealism and a passion for the subject. Around 9000 files were stored (pictures, scans, texts) while working on the 272 pages of this manual.
Museum Robin Davy
This book is based on the collection of Robin Davy, gathered together from all around the world during the course of twenty years. This included driving around 60 000 kilometres per year all over Europe unearthing Vespa treasures.
Every collector essentially collects for himself and for sheer personal enjoyment; hence rarities often remain hidden and unknown. This book aims to present the varied and delightful areas of Vespa collecting to a broader public.
Vespa-Freunde München
Akrobatik-Team
Robin Davy is president of the Vespa-Oldtimer-Freunde-München, a club dedicated to vintage models and responsible for organizing the world meetings (Welt-Vespa-Oldtimer-Treffen) 1996, 2001 and 2006 in the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany.
München 2001
The Vespa-Oldtimer-Freunde-München are the only Vespa acrobatic team worldwide. They leap through fire, drive backwards and form spectacular human pyramids on fender-light Vespas. The Vespa-Friends continue this long tradition of acrobatics since such displays were always an important feature at past meetings and were the breathtaking “Grand Finale” of such events. The Vespa-Oldtimer-Freunde-München are a good example of Vespa club life. The members not only meet for club-evenings, but also travel together to Vespa-meetings, make long-distance excursions together and help each other out whenever possible. United, Vespisti are a force – like back in 1956, when the Eurovespa was held in Munich (then the Club was called “Vespa Freunde München“, later changed to “Münchner Vespa Freunde”). What makes Vespa collecting and riding so very special is captured very nicely on the club’s own website: www.vespafreunde.de
Hoffmann-Vespa
www.tornax.de
Mika Hahn, historian and media analyst, together with his father Fritz-Jürgen Hahn has established an archive on the history of motorization and motor sports in the Rhineland. Between 1897 and 1960 over 150 motorcycle, 80 automotive and 35 truck companies were located there. For the last 20 years father and son, together with friends, have organized exhibitions, such as the „Düsseldorfer Motorradtage“ and are publishers of the „Rheinische Motorjournal“ as well as other related publications.
www.kneeler.de
Mika Hahn & Fritz Hahn
Among these companies once based in the Rhineland is Hoffmann, which built the Vespa under license between 1950 and 1955. Mika Hahn is working on a comprehensive study of the Hoffmann-Werke, after previously publishing the “Thouret” book on Hoffmann´s women´s team in 2004. For more information check the following website: www.tornax.de
Father and son Hahn are also dedicated side-car racers
(www.kneeler.de).
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