Modern Vespa

If I may permitted to do so, I would like to submit this post on behalf of VTO.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scooter friends,

I would like to offer up my position on the suggested ending of Vespadition and hope that speculation will cease and that the burning threads on multiple scooter forums will have a little bit of a clearer picture on this situation.

It was suggested to me some months back by a very dear client of ours to look into a story regarding a gentleman that wanted to do a scooter ride around North America promoting "Kindness, Compassion and Volunteerism" and I was humbled and honored to be thought of for a trip like this. Our store does have a documented reputation for giving unconditionally, supporting the scooter community and always going above and beyond when we are called on to do so. Our family takes great pride in that fact and we will continue to do so forever. Vespadition will not change who we are, we are good people, I am very proud of my family.

When Vespadition was introduced to me I was intrigued with the riders spirit, the plan, and the human touch the ride implied, in short I was in hook, line and sinker. I am guilty of being a person that does not do deep background checks, reads people well and still believes in the human spirit that all people are good and more importantly that their intentions are genuine. Forgive me for that, I can't be me with any other belief system.

We starting working on logistics with huge enthusiam about 45 days prior to the launch of Vespadition April 1st. We supplied a brand new GTS, many hours of planning, equipment for the scooter, break in rides for the scooter. I went over this bike so many times I can't tell you. It was perfect, ready to roll, Vespadition here we go. We paid the airfare to have the rider come, unconditionally supported him for his short stay here, threw a small party. The rider stayed in my home as he had many others. The monies that VTO put up for this journey were large and those of you that know us well know that means nothing to us. I would do it again in a heartbeat, I actually would support a new rider to complete the trip.

I have information that will never be required to share because the rider complied with my request that if the ride ended without drama than it would. I asked to have the bike parked and end it, and it did. This trip was a journey to promote "Kindness, Compassion and Volunteerism" and I took it from day one for those 3 words, its what we all paid for, its what we all were supporting, and it is not what this trip was about. Disregarding the now famous "email" and other speculation in spite of those facts and my deep investigation into this prior to making my move the trip was eroding away anyway.

The character of the rider was and remains in question, the actions of the rider were not of the same spirit of a Los Angeles televison interview with reference's to Katrina like "and it touches me all these years later". Somebody that attempts to do a journey like this on other people's dime must stay true to their word and the rider did not. It was becoming a drunk-fest, it was becoming about a vacation for the rider, not focusing on the original closer that the trip was about "Kindness, Compassion and Volunteerism". As the past crept up it had to end, it would not be fair to the next host, next support person, next deceived person, period.

I discussed this with many extremely level headed and intelligent scooter people prior to making a final decision. We all agreed it was the right thing to do however it is I and only I that made this final decision and I know clearly I made the right one. I am heart broken tonight that the ride has ceased however I am very secure that I know the rider is no longer representing this shallow and misguided vacation on the next kind persons dime.

I would be honored to allow somebody else to continue the ride with financial support however obviously that is not going to happen. I am going to get the GTS back at some point soon and then will decide how to properly give it away. This has never been and never will be about money for me, those that know our store well know that loud and clear.

I know that some will pick my statement apart somewhat. I expect that and you can find your own truth. Please remember that I am less concerned with the $8K that I donated, I am more concerned with the next $20 that somebody else would of.

The spirit of this has been well captured by statements made on other forums that donated money, was spent not in the spirit of a donation. This is not the essence of a scooter ride promoting "Kindness, Compassion and Volunteerism", it is the essence of a man taking kindness for weakness.

Please get back to your normal programming, ride and have fun. Enjoy your amazing scooter friends and worry more about the folks that got duped out of $20.00, not me. I am a big boy now, I am over that. I am 100% positive that the correct decision was made, it is what I call a "non-negotiable" and the truth will always be the truth.

In closing I will tell you as a scooterist at the end of a very stressful day I had two choices tonight when I closed up my shop. I was going to ride home either my Moto Guzzi V11 Lemans Tenni at mach 1 to relieve the stress or a kitted ET2, now ET3 that is throttle pinned at 60 indicated and I chose the ET3. I rode that damn scooter long and hard at the rev limiter for a good 10 miles thru some very twisty roads and I feel a little better, saved by a scooter again.

Enjoy the ride, enjoy your friends.

Best,
David Meyer
President
Vespa Thousand Oaks
__________________
2 GT60'S, MP3250, 05 ET2 AND ONE BAD BOY MG TENNI #137.

This was turning into more flames, so I've locked the thread and left the original statement here. There's nothing more to be gained by a bunch of people who don't have any idea what actually happened making wild assumptions about Peter or his accusers.