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Rally
Secret Society's
Scooter Rage 17
June 19-22, 2003
This year's Scooter Rage coincides with me moving, so I was only able to attend the Saturday show. The weekend was
packed with many events, lots of opportunity to socialize, and lots of scooter stuff. Sounds funny to say, but some rallies
are short on riding and scootering.
Saturday started out at SF Scooter Centre with refreshments and chit chat. My scooter developed some strange bogging on the
way to the shop, which made me suspect whether it could make the ride. Heartbroken, I had to put it on a truck & get a lift
to the day show! The ride took off without me, damn near on time. An unusual and welcome sight. An earlier ride had left an
hour before and took a long route over the Golden Gate Bridge and up to scenic Mt. Tamalpais. They ended up arriving
about an hour after the ride that left later. Now, that's a ride.
I arrived at the show early (of course) and checked out some of the vendors/sponsors. The event was held at the same parochial
school as last year. The vendors, food and drink were indoors, as was the raffle. This year's patch was small and affordable,
$5, which was great . I've grown weary of huge patches! Shirts were also available.
A slow ride was done, and I never found out who won, although there was a lady on an ET4 who seemed to do well. But, I think
that Vespa CLub Los Gatos' Bosco did a fine job and may have taken it. Gymkhana winner was also ambiguous (at least to me)
and it may have been an ET rider, but I think that is entirely unfair. They should have their own class! I digress...
The event ended with a mega-raffle. I had 16 ticket, none of which were pulled, but the Secret Society boys threw tons of
stuff into the crowd and I came away with one of the cool "meat" shirts which are basic white shirts with cuts of meat drawn
on them. One scandalous upset was that both of the giveaway scooters (a Derbi and Bajaj) were won by the same person! Turns
out he owns Dylan's pub which is always a supporter of the SF scooter scene, so I guess it wasn't as bad as it seems.
The group dispursed and met again at Barry Gwin's shop for a ride to teh Mariposa Yacht Club (nee the Hunter's Point Yacht
Club) for the night show.
Being the relocating looser that I am, I missed the rest of the weekend. I did hear that the Sunday poker run was fun, although
lots of out-of-towner got lost in the fast-paced game. Sunday concluded with a BBQ at Dylan's and the owner giving back to
the crown with a free round.
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Film Review
"White Teeth
Masterpiece Theater- PBS
May/June 2003
PBS' Mobile Masterpiece Theater makes a break from Edwardian comedies of errors and mid-century murder mysteries with this
two-part film adaptation of Zadie Smith's book White Teeth. Set in Early 70's London, the story follows Archie, a broken,
dull and companionless paper-pusher who decides to take his own life by car-enduced asphyxiation. Stopped by a local delivery
man whose driveway he is blocking, he gets a new lease on life. On his way home, he encounters a New Year's eve party in a
commune and meets Clara, a sheltered Jamaican Jehovah's witness nearly 20 years his junior. She is in a fragile place after
being in a major accident with her Lambretta-riding boyfriend. Their head-on into a bus leaves him "reborn" after emerging
from a coma while she still wants to shake off her ultra-conservative upbringing. Both she and Archie meet at a kismet time...two
new souls who clumsily begin a new life together.
The film also follows Archie's old army buddy, Samad and his new life in London. He marries a woman with a similar age gap,
and has to come to terms with England's changes. An outspoken instead of demure wife, twin boys who are a handful, the disparity
between Western culture and his devout muslim ideals. These are his challenges.
The first part is an amusing weave of cultures, lifestyles and society in the70s and 80s. The second installment is the playing-out
of Archie and Samad's plans (or lack thereof) culminating in a woven tapestry where every character seems to have interlacing
lives.
I review this film because of Clara's first boyfriend, Ryan who rides a sweet Lambretta. Clara finds freedom on the back
of his bike, wearing his parka and drinking a pint in one go. Although her courtship with Ryan is brief, it lights her rebellious
fire and provides us with a glimpse of some great scootering shots. Incidentally, the actor that plays Archie is the same
actor who played "Chalky" in Quadrophenia.
The film is entertaining and fun, although the second half becomes a little goofy. Deffinitely worth a watch.
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| Check out the PBS site for White Teeth |
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Grub
Moto Bars
Merlino Bakery, Seattle, WA
I was given one of these bars by a friend who knew about my scooter fever. After marvelling over the cool scooter illustration,
I decided to give the bar a taste. Let me say that the Blueberry Lemon Moto Bar is the last thing I want to eat again. The
combo of blueberry and lemon left an odd taste in my mouth that I had to chase with a glass of water. Ugh! I gave my boyfriend
a try; maybe it was just me. It wasn't. He wanted to spit it out, too.
To be fair, I've only had the one flavor, so I can't comment on the other bars. They also carry Apple Cinnamon, Cappucino,
Cherry Almond and a Pumkin Pie. One friend gave Apple Cinnamon a thumbs up, and I would like to try the Pumkin, which is rumored
to have Pecans in it. However, I can't find them anywhere in my area. I did send a request for Rally Sponsorship to the company
(after eating the bar, even!) But was shut down by their Marketing Manager. Too bad. Ah, well. Click on the picture above
to check out their site. You might have better luck with your rally sponsorship. Just avoid the Lemon Blueberry!
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