Vespa and scooter meeting: Surf'n'Ride 2024
Stefan Reihs from the scooter club Plate & Switch Rothenburg sent us a story centred around their meeting this year: Surf'n'Ride 2024. We were very happy to support this meeting of friends of Vespa, Lambretta and other two-wheelers. And we are just as happy to share this report with you and link to a considerable number of photos below. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is simply always worth a visit. Welcome to the Middle Ages!
20. and 21 July: Surf'n'Ride 2024 - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Lauterbach
Almost 120 scooters came to the second Surf' n'Ride organised by the scooter friends Plate & Switch from Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The entire wake park, including the beach bar at the Mohrenhof in Lauterbach, was firmly in the hands of the Vespisti from Saturday morning. Many had already arrived with their families on Friday and stayed in tents or campers for the whole weekend. At check-in, everyone received a bulging SIP Bag with cleaning cloths, Ball Point Pens and Stickers. Plates & Switch also provided the latest Surf'n'Ride sticker, a club patch and, as a special gift, the Plate & Switch Sunglasses in pink, which were a big hit at the first meeting in yellow. With two kilos of Leberkäse and a cold drink, 120 welcome bags had been packed in advance and every last one was distributed. Thank you SIP for this great support!
Some of the drivers had travelled a long way to attend the meeting, which was held at the holiday farm in Lauterbach for the first time last year. They came from Würzburg, Darmstadt, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Bamberg, Wertheim, Bad Mergentheim, Crailsheim, Nuremberg and Erlangen - many of them on their own Axle, or like Heinz, year 40, in style in a blue and white Bulli, year 63, with a Faro Basso, year 53, and a Struzzo, year 56, on the trailer. As the oldest participant and a regular at all our meetings, he also had his family with him, son Marcus and grandson Marlon on their own scooter. This is how enthusiasm is passed down through the generations.
Vespas, Lambrettas and a swallow in summer
Chilling out, swimming, talking petrol, the summer sun, coffee and delicious cakes were a great way to spend the time. But the highlight of the meeting was undoubtedly the 45-kilometre corso in the afternoon. The route took us through the beautiful Franconian countryside along small and tiny roads to the historic centre of Rothenburg ob der Tauber - with the Gear Pulley into the Middle Ages. The Spitalbastei, Plönlein and market square were the attractions for the riders, while over 100 scooters on the cobbled streets of the old town centre were the attraction for countless tourists who witnessed the spectacle. After an extensive refreshment break at Christa's café marktplatz8, directly opposite the town hall, the route continued through the Klingentor gate bastion and down into the Tauber valley, where everyone was able to marvel at the magnificent city skyline from the double bridge. In addition to many hand-switched Vespa oldies, there were also two Heinkel Tourists, an NSU Lambretta, a Schwalbe and a Zündapp Bella at the start, as well as some current Vespa models, still "Plate" but no "Switch", that's the way of the times.
Back at the event site, we enjoyed a delicious dinner together at the long table of the camping restaurant. Afterwards, Danny Mac Farlane played live as a one-man band at the beach bar until shortly before midnight. Our meeting ended with a Weißwurst breakfast on Sunday before heading home again.
The weekend was a complete success for Plate & Switch! After four meetings at the Old West Ranch in 2013 to 2015 and 2017, the new location has established itself. Here, Vespa riding can be perfectly combined with a family weekend. Rarely have there been so many children riding along at a Corso. Many, many thanks to all visitors for the great and exuberant atmosphere, the shared fun and also the discipline in the long Corso. It was once again a unique experience to spend the day and the weekend with you. You only saw relaxed, happy and smiling faces. That feels good.
The new date is set!
Thanks also to our supporters, above all of course SIP Scootershop, the Mohrenhof and our local sponsors, Schöpper & Knoll Nutzfahrzeuge, E. Flemming Transporte, Rotabene Medienhaus, Ströbel Immobilien and the Vespakalender.
And the good news at the end: after so many people had already asked us and the Mohrenhof would also like to welcome us again as guests, we immediately fixed the date for next year.
Surf'n'Ride 2025 is on 19 and 20 July next year. Save the date now and see you then,
your guys from Plate & Switch!
Picture gallery: Surf'n'Ride 2025:
