Landsberg people: Alexander Barth and Ralf Jodl in portrait
English photographer Peter Wilson has been working for many years on a high-profile photographic project featuring portraits of people who live either in or around the small Bavarian town on the Lech. Some of the Landsbergers portrayed have deep roots in the area, others have just arrived - for whatever reason.
"Alex and Ralf had been riding Vespas for fun since the 80's. In 1994 the two friends, unable to fine-tune their scooters to their satisfaction, started designing and manufacturing their own parts. Their innovations were enthusiastically welcomed by other scooter enthusiasts and seeing a possible market they turned their hobby into their business.
SIP (Scooter Innovative Parts) was such an immediate success that after only two years larger premises had to be found. Ever-increasing business forced them, only one year later, to once again rent even more space. In 2016 they eventually moved into their own self-designed, custom-built, state-of-the-art building in Landsberg am Lech comprising of office space and a huge warehouse that currently stocks 2,233,549 items. It also hosts an Italian café bar, a shop selling scooter related products and a chapel. The whole complex is kept running by a staff of 114 from 8 nations who ride between them 125 Scooters.
Alex's favourite machine is his yellow 1974, Vespa Rally 200 and Ralf's is a 1953 Vespa that was made under licence by ACMA in Paris."
