Scooters make 108-mile trek from Temecula to Idyllwild

By: NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | Saturday, June 23, 2007 9:46 PM PDT ∞

TEMECULA ---- There may be a reason why there are no "Vespa gangs." Turquoise scooters ridden by drivers with argyle sweaters certainly don't conjure the same emotions as the image of chromed-out motorcycles with leather-clad captains.

And that's okay.

"We all know we're dorks," said Len Smith of Fallbrook. "Once you're riding a scooter, you've got nothing to prove."

Saturday marked Smith's third year taking part in Temecula's annual Vespa ride, now called "R'Idyllwild."

Matt Gordon, event organizer and member of the Cafe Moto Vespa Club, said while the ride typically is a jaunt through Temecula Wine Country, this year, the group opted for a longer ride.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the group of approximately 100 Vespas left the Tower Plaza parking lot and headed north to Winchester Road to continue to Hemet and, ultimately, Idyllwild. The group would then connect to Highway 371 to bring them back into Temecula at roughly 3:30 p.m.

Gordon said the total trip was 108 miles.

"The ride is for fun and to raise awareness of the town," Gordon said.

Smith said when he bought his Vespa four years ago, he had to make an image decision as well. But he added that Vespas are a friendlier machine than a Harley.

"When you have a Vespa, people come up to me all the time and want to talk about it," he said. "I hear stories from a lot of older guys who tell me that they used to have (a Vespa) when they were in World War II."

Heather Carpenter and Jacqueline Kahn, both of Oceanside, have been Vespa owners since April, and Saturday marked their first time taking part in the rally.

"Vespa owners are kind of a cult, with its own special lingo," Kahn said. "They are also really easy to ride, just twist and go."

Carpenter said her Mojito, dubbed as "The Harley of Vespas" because of the appearance of the handlebars, only held two gallons of gas ---- but was quick to mention the machines got about 70 miles to the gallon.

Steve Krans of Poway said he was an avid motocross and motorcycle rider for 20 years, but switched to the world of scooters a year and a half ago.

"I decided to slow down," Krans said. "They still handle really well; you feel at one with the road. And the gas savings makes going to the mountains more affordable."

Anna Hurbutt of Riverside is also a self-described "convert." After riding motorcycles for years, she bought a Vespa, which is now named "The Black Rose." But just because it's a scooter doesn't mean it is slow.

"I've got an altered pipe, so I can get it up to 90 miles per hour ---- but I've only done that once, just to see what would happen," Hurbutt said. "But mostly I cruise the highway at 65 to 70 miles per hour."

She is a daily rider as she uses her Vespa for commuting to work, shopping and for fun.

"It's a great ride," she said. "They are wonderful machines."

Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com. Comment at www.californian.com.