Kalkar: Scooterist Meltdown 2023

After the Corona break: bad taste as programme! Don't worry, we weren't at a Goldwing meeting. We were at the Scooterist Meltdown at the Kalkar nuclear power plant - finally again!

When Mareike, Marcus and their team invite to the Scooterist Meltdown, the visitor can always rely on a very elaborate organisation. Dealers from all over Europe meet here in the exhibition area. At the Custom Show, everything that has rank and name in England and Germany is on display. Top new products from high-end companies are presented here. New engine concepts can be test-driven or demonstrated in operation.

Everything about Vespa and Lambretta.

For entertainment, there are bands, parties on five different floors with international top DJs and, last but not least, every Meltdown has a specific motto. Visitors and organisers like to dress according to this, of course only those who like it. This year it was "Bad Taste".

The stay at the Scooterist Meltdown can be booked in different packages. A maximum of four nights is possible. However, the vast majority of visitors enjoy the benefits of the all-inclusive holiday from Friday to Sunday. Those who arrive already on Thursday can attend a small but fine party in the "Irish Pub" in the evening. Exquisite soul, played by English DJs, gets about 60-80 visitors in the mood for the weekend. The atmosphere is pleasantly informal.

Friday is the big arrival day. The hall where the Top Event takes place on Saturday opens for the more than 70 commercial exhibitors to set up their stands or custom scooters. For dinner, the big dining hall fills up for the first time and when it gets dark, all the pubs, stages and bars are open. The party is very well attended and the mood seems to be especially exuberant this year, after the long Corona break.

The Saturday has a great daytime programme: over 100 scooters at the Custom Show, Trade Show, club displays, test stand with Major Power Award, test rides, demonstrations, interviews and concerts. Even live pinstriping with Nic Nagel was possible. Plus continuous catering. All this was spread over about five hours. Those who got bored stayed in their hotel room. After dinner, the "pub street" opened again. Again the full programme of the previous evening, even if some visitors slowly get tired on the second evening. This does not dampen the mood and the party.

BFA 306 test rides at SIP Scootershop

SIP Scootershop participated with a stand. What's more, this year we presented our own area together with the Scooter Center: "SIP/SCK and Friends". We had Bavarian beer from the wooden barrel, our latest products to touch and information about the upcoming Matscho Karatscho. We had three scooters with us for exhibition purposes. As a highlight, there was the opportunity to test drive a BFA 306 scooter.

On Sunday, most of the visitors went home. Many of them have long journeys ahead of them. They have to travel back to England, Belgium, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland or even Bavaria. Those who haven't had enough yet will sleep in and stay until Monday. There is a skittles tournament, a cinema film, a wine tasting and a cosy finale in the "hotel bar".

After a two-year break, organisers and visitors went into the weekend with mixed expectations. Can the Meltdown continue its success story from before the big break? Will it be fully booked again? Will there be as many exhibitors and scooters as before? Are the atmosphere and party like before? I have the impression that it wasn't quite like before. Everything was just a little bit better. On the one hand, this may have been due to the enthusiasm of the more than 1,600 guests who were finally able to ride to the Meltdown again. On the other hand, Mareike, Marcus and the team went the extra mile to offer a spectacular event. Not least with great personal commitment in implementing the "Bad Taste" motto.

Many thanks for this and we will definitely see you again in 2024.

Video: Kalkar Scooterist Meltdown 2023

Picture gallery: Kalkar Scooterist Meltdown 2023

CUSTOM SHOW RESULTS SCOOTERIST MELTDOWN 2023

BEST OF SHOW

1st Lambretta "The Clash"
2nd Vespa PX by Lars Lübke

BEST VESPA

1. smallframe with detachable rear section
2. banana chopper

BEST LAMBRETTA

1. Li Serie 1 with trapezium lamps
2. Judge Dredd

BEST DEALER SCOOTER

1. RLC 250 Casa Twin
2. PLC Corse Smallframe

BEST CUSTOM SCOOTER

1. lambretta "Resurrection"
2. Vespa GS "Tribal".

BEST ODDITY

1. Vespa Chopper Austria
2. ESTD Lambretta Chopper

BEST RIDDEN SCOOTER

1. Lambretta "Mr Rusty"
2. Tricolore Supertune

BEST VINTAGE SCOOTER

1. SS 180 Eddie Grimstead Replica
2. Black & White Supertune

BEST ENGINEERING

1. Lambretta KTM EXC 250
2. PX with self-made sidecar

BEST ORIGINAL PAINT RESTO

1. Vespa U47 by Thomas Knickmeier
2. Vespa VNB by Yoleila

BEST ORIGINAL PAINT CUSTOM

1. DTC Lambretta GP Satan's Hounds
2. Vespa SS 180

People Trophies

FARTHEST TRAVELLED

Shaun Hodgekin 480 Miles

BEST TURNED-OUT RIDDEN CLUB

Speed Demons - 13 riders

BEST DRESS

Andrew Stacey

BEST DRESSED CROWD

Northampton Vespa & Lambretta Club

MAJOR POWER AWARDS

VESPA LARGE FRAME

Vespa VNA Sprinter by Jesco Schmidt - 75,1 hp

VESPA SMALL FRAME

Vespa PK by Marc Bernten - 49,7 hp

LAMBRETTA

Lambretta GP by Wilkinson Racing - 47.6 hp

VINTAGE CLASS

Vespa V11 by Salvatore Sambatore - 26.9 hp