The ESC racing experience 0

A few years ago, in 2006 to be precise, the Vespa Racing team from Padova organised for the first time a race on a circuit in Italy. It was a six hour endurance at the Vittorio Veneto circuit, a beautiful kart track over 1km long, characterised by a long fast straight and a series of fast turns. For the occasion, those lucky enough to take part for the first time had the opportunity to prepare their first Vespa for the track.

Generally they were everyday scooters, mildly tuned for the race, some disc brakes and few gas absorbers. Most ran with road tyres, with old tuning kits born in the 80s and renewed for the occasion; aluminium Pinasco 121, Polini 177 or 210, some Malossi, some DR, rotary or reed valve, some with twin carbs and old exhausts that touched the asphalt at every curve. In particular I remember with affection and a pinch of terror that I used an old police leather jacket and leather padded trousers bought for 20 euros at the market and kneepads from a bricklayer! It was beautiful. Indeed it was so beautiful that I felt in love!

Since then, times have changed. Little by little we started to increase and renew our equipment, starting with riding gear. From Vittorio Veneto to Ottabiano, from Austerikart to Pomposa, Altavilla Vicentina, Imola, Bologna...we have tried all the kart tracks willing to accept Vespas and often we were able to get free practice days alternating the track with scooters, pit bikes or karts. After the clothes we developed the scooters, engine and handling, until today, strengthened by experience accumulated in these two years of tests on the track,we decided to participate in the European Scooter Challenge.

Much more in the current issue of Scootering Magazine.