Glemseck 101, August 2024: Fastest Vespas & Lambrettas vs. fastest motorbikes
Europe's largest motorbike event, Glemseck 101, allowed classic scooters to roll onto the starting line of its 1/8-mile race for the first time last year. Glemseck 101 is an event of superlatives and attracts up to 40,000 spectators with its 1/8-mile race for custom motorbikes. The scooter show was so well received in 2023 that the "Rockt Roller" class was given more time and a date on the Saturday, which attracts more visitors, for 2024. But that's not all: on Sunday, at the end of the event, the four fastest scooters were to compete against motorbikes. It was spectacular what took place under the motto "Mods vs. rockers"!
Once again this year, the organisers were incredibly lucky with the weather. After ten not so nice days, the weather services forecast over 30°C and dry weather for three days, from Friday to Sunday. As usual, visitors flocked towards the Glemseck, similar to the crowds at folk festivals. Most of the well-known motorbike manufacturers were represented with large stands on the "Main Road". Custom conversions and racing machines of all kinds were presented on numerous stages. The grandstand at the racetrack was full throughout, and those who had the patience to queue for a few minutes were able to get one of the coveted seats.
Two special areas at the Glemseck are the "StarrWars" and the "Rocket Race Club". Both organise their own racing classes. Their paddocks also serve as an exhibition and event area close to the race track. The motorbikes are not just pure racing vehicles. Anyone competing here must also present an exceptional custom motorbike. There is plenty to see for every lover of handmade one-offs. There will also be music, food, cold drinks and petrol talk until late into the night.
We scooter riders are part of the "Rocket Race Club"
A mixture that fits together extremely well: Screws, customisers and petrolheads, all with a great enthusiasm for acceleration racing and an excellent spirit. Two-cylinder engines compete in the two motorbike classes of the Rocket Race Club: one class is equipped with carburettor engines and the other, somewhat more modern, with injection technology. Most of them are also equipped with NOS systems.
For the Rocket Race Club, the races start on Saturday afternoon. There is a big surprise in the fuel-injected engine class: the usual dominator in this class and often the fastest bike of the Glemseck weekend, Phil Ludwig, drops out due to problems with the fuel injection system. Thilo Günther wins the class with his NOS-powered Harley Bagger and 250 hp.
There was a spectacular surprise in the carburettor class. Stefan Graff competed here for the first time with his Harley. Powered by a 1988 Sportster Engine with 120 hp, he was unbeatable and delivered an impressive display of fireworks. He later proved just how fast he really is in the "Winner Race", in which he left the winners of all classes in his wake. Whether 250 hp, fuel injection, turbo, NOS or 4 Valves: every opponent was second only to his "no fancy stuff".
Mods vs. rockers
The scooter races went down very well with the public. There was an exuberant, friendly atmosphere among both the riders and the spectators. The weekend among petrolheads was simply great. But the highlight for the scooter riders was still to come: on Sunday, the "Mods vs Rockers" class took to the starting line. At the end of Glemseck 101, four scooters competed against four motorbikes. For the scooters, the fastest representatives entered the race - the two finalists from Saturday as well as Philipp Mittlerger with his 250 cc BFA Smallframe and Veit Nübel, who piloted the "Something Special" SIP Sprinter with a 72 hp BFA 306 Engine.
SIP TV Video: Fastest Vespas & Lambrettas vs. fastest motorbikes
The two fastest motorbikes of the entire weekend competed for the rockers: Stefan Graf, who had blown away all his rivals on his Harley, and Phil Ludwig, the perennial winner of Glemseck 101. After a technical failure on Saturday, his BMW was now running as usual again. The starting field was completed by Pepo from Spain on his 900cc Moto Guzzi and Oliver on his 100 hp Bimota.
In the first round, Filo and Jesco were able to beat the Guzzi and the Bimota with ease. In the following races, Phil and Stefan left no doubt about their superiority. In the semi-finals, Phil met Jesco (BMW versus Vespa) and Filo met Stefan (Lambretta versus Harley). Although the scooters performed well, they were only able to keep up with the fastest dragster motorbikes at the event for the first 20-30 metres. After that, the motorbikes dominated. Filo and Jesco were eliminated in the Lucky Loser classification. While Jesco lost out to the SIP sprinter with a mistake at the start, Filo secured third place. The final promised to be a spectacle even without the scooters: The fastest bike of the weekend against the dominator of recent years.
Phil, motivated by the technical failure the day before, got off to a blisteringly fast start and gained a few metres on the Harley in first gear. In second gear, Stefan was able to overtake the much more powerful BMW at the halfway point. The gear change to third gear was not as quick as usual for Stefan, and Phil won the race and successfully defended his territory.
Picture gallery: Glemseck 101, 2024
And who won the class? Mods or rockers? Each side won seven races. The motorbikes secured the last two places as well as the first two. The scooters were positioned in between. Of course, the two first places for the rockers stand out in this case. My warmest congratulations to the winners. The show that Stefan and Phil put on was impressive. We will of course be back and demand revenge. See you next year at this brilliant event!
Note: we'll be posting a video of the "scooter vs. scooter" races in the next few days, watch out! The best way subscribe to our YouTube channel!
