Vespa restoration as a therapeutic measure
Over the course of the year, we have once again received many exciting and entertaining stories about Vespa and Lambretta from all over the world. Just before Christmas and New Year's Eve, we received a message from the Netherlands that really touched us, moved us and made us happy. Ferry Vijgen from Herzogenrath has had to endure some hard blows to his health in recent years, but he has not let it get him down. But it's best to let Ferry tell his story himself:
Giving up is not an option
"I would like to thank you and your entire team. My name is Ferry Vijgen, born in 1953 in Heerlen, the Netherlands. In August 2007, I was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo several operations. After a long recovery period, I was discharged but was unable to speak for two years. However, giving up was never an option for me and I never felt sorry for myself.
As a self-employed entrepreneur who doesn't necessarily see himself as a technician, I discovered two old Vespa scooters from an acquaintance in the Netherlands: a V50 Special-V5B3T (first registered in Italy in August 1978) and a PK 50 XL V5X3T0080871 (first registered in the Netherlands in August 2005). I bought them spontaneously to keep myself busy and distracted. As an autodidact, I first put three wallpapering tables in a row and read a lot of literature. Then I took the V 50 apart piece by piece and documented everything. With a lot of Insert, some challenges and thanks to numerous spare parts and advice from SIP Scootershop, the V50 was finally roadworthy again after about two years."
Next project: Vespa PK 50
"Working on the scooters helped me enormously to deal with my illness. Now it's the PK 50's turn. I would like to thank you and the entire SIP team once again. This project has shown me that even non-professionals can successfully carry out renovation work and that such projects can even have therapeutic value. As a technical note: I fitted the old V 50 with a SIP Performance by Vape Ignition 12V, and it now runs wonderfully!
I wish you and the entire SIP team a peaceful Advent season, a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year. Stay healthy, because that's the most important thing in life."
We would like to thank you and return the favour with best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We also hope that your health recovery continues to progress and would definitely like to see the PK when it is finalised soon. Preferably at the SIP Open Day here in Landsberg on 18 May 2024. All the best, Ferry!
