VCM's annual two-stroke blue smoke ride is on again. This is a special ride to celebrate older classic geared scooters. All marques are welcome - Lambretta, Heinkel, Maicoletta, Puch, and of course Vespa including the entire PX Vespa range. Are there any Rabbits out there? The older your scooter, the better. Pillions are welcome too. This ride is badged as a Vespa World Club event and so we are using the VWC cog patch to acknowledge our club’s connection to a larger sisterhood and brotherhood of Vespa owners across the globe. It's capped at 40 to keep it manageable, and because we'll cater lunch for you, so we ask you to register and commit here.

Where

This year for a change we are venturing just outside Melbourne into the rural fringes far away from annoying traffic lights and “special-event” road closures that have caused hiccups in the past. Our destination, Hurstbridge, is actually a little bit closer to the CBD than Cafe Moto in Elwood where we have finished previous Blue Smoke Rides. For the first time on this annual event we have organised a van capable of carrying 2-3 scooters in case of breakdowns. Pete, the van man, will sweep the route at the rear of the ride. The ride is covered by the VCM's Public Liability Insurance.

The Route

Much of our route will be on quiet sealed semi-rural roads with little traffic. The scenery is very pretty and you’ll enjoy the ride at a leisurely ‘classic’ pace. The route from Carlton North to Hurstbridge is around 57-kms and will take us about 1.5 hours. After lunch join us for an organised 30-km return route to Ivanhoe, or make your own way home from Hurstbridge. The ride will use designated corner markers who will point you in the right direction at each turn so you can relax and enjoy the unfolding scenery. Due to logistics of a big ride, places are limited so we ask you to register to reserve a place. Its free! We will send an email to participants with a ride briefing so that we can all get on our scooters in the morning and just go.

Lunch

We'll be catering a complimentary lunch for you, or you can pack something to eat and drink as we will be having a picnic lunchin Fergusons Paddock, Hurstbridge. There are shops about 1km away along the main road should you need them. Various prizes will be awarded shortly after lunch.

Departure Point and Time

We will meet and leave from Park St Cafe, 815 Nicholson St, Carlton North. There is ample parking along Park Street. You’ll need to arrive before 9:30am if you want coffee and or breakfast before our departure at 10:30am sharp. There will be no fuel stops on the 87-km ride so please arrive with a full tank.

Volunteers Required

We are calling for several experienced volunteers to act as corner markers for this ride. These people will ride at the front of the pack and drop off at various corners as required. The ride will be halted briefly at a number of safe locations to allow the corner markers to ride up to the front of the group once more behind the leader.