With the Vespa from Denmark to SIP Scootershop
On Sunday, 28 May 2023, we received a visit from the far north, more precisely from Greve, near Copenhagen, Denmark. Peter Lindschouw Pedersen, known as quite the only Vespa and Lambretta workshop Peters Garage in Denmark, had set out on the good 1,000 kilometres on the morning of 28 May, exactly at 00:01 clock, because he had a mission: "It has always been a dream of mine to visit SIP and besides, I wanted to break the record of my colleague from the Copenhagen Scooter Club Michael Hoby, which was 23 hours non-stop to Landsberg. This time it took me 21 hours. I started at exactly 00:01 in Greve. The first stop was the ferry to Puttgarden, otherwise I only ever had to stop for fuel."
Arrival at SIP Scootershop
He was on his way with a 125cc Vespa Smallframe from 1966, somewhat boosted by parts from SIP Performance and Egig Performance. however, 200 kilometres before the finish line, he began to have doubts about his plan: "I suddenly thought this was a pretty stupid idea, because I was very tired. I called my wife and she just said, 'What are you waiting for! Drive on!' And then another guy with a BMW approached me and asked where I was going with my Vespa. He didn't want to believe me, what I already had behind me and still had ahead of me. That was further motivation."
At around 9 pm, he finally reached the home of SIP Scootershop in Landsberg am Lech and had set the existing record, incidentally omitting any stages on the motorway, country and federal roads only that is. After a more than deserved portion of sleep, he was finally welcomed by Martin at SIP Scootershop. Of course, he appreciates the achievement: "My longest ride on the Vespa was about 13 hours from Landsberg to Bergamo, and in the evening I didn't know whether I wanted to eat or sleep. It's unimaginable how that can be endured for another eight hours." The two have known each other for years, as Peter's garage has been a good customer of SIP Scootershop practically since the workshop was founded. A relaxed Vespa tour of around 100 km around the Ammersee with various gastronomic stops, by Peter's standards, made Whit Monday a successful recovery for Danish Dynamite and his speedy Smallframe.
Quick help from SIP Scootershop
On Tuesday afternoon, after the obligatory factory tour, a pit stop was made at the SIP workshop to get the faithful Vespa in shape for the return journey. Of course, expert Jesco was on hand to give the Dane advice and support. Peter was also ceremoniously presented with the SIP pass sticker, which you can't buy but have to earn. Now it adorns Peter's Vespa. "I now belong to the IBA - the Iron Butt Association," Peter says with a laugh, "because you have to ride 1,000 kilometres at a time to be accepted. I managed that. Under difficult conditions, because my mobile phone didn't handlebar, so I had it in my bag and followed the GPS lady's instructions by ear. Every now and then I had to stop and convince myself that I was heading for the right Landsberg, because there are several places in Germany called that. It was an adventure."
Work on the Vespa progressed and Peter set off on his return journey on 31 May. We will of course report whether everything went smoothly on the way. In any case, we wish you a safe journey and take off our helmet before this achievement. Ride on, Peter!
