Prizegiving at the Gasthof Schlossberg, Reichnitz (Austria). From right: Marco Manzoli, General Secretary of the Vespa World Club; Bernhard Kübler Vespa Club Bonn (2nd); Claudia Ott, Vespa Club Hollabrunn (winner of the Austrian stage), Hans-Werner Both, Vespa Club Düsseldorf (3rd, Vespa Rally 2024 European Champion) and Barbara Schieder, President of the Vespa Club Austria.
October 2024 – Article by Marco Manzoli, General Secretary of the Vespa World Club: In Reichnitz, Austria, on the border between Hungary and Slovakia, in the Burgerland castle region, the third and final stage of the European Vespa Rally Championship 2024 took place, organised under the auspices of the Vespa World Club, thanks to the Vespa Club Austria and the efficient team of the Vespa Club of Reichnitz.
Vespa Club Austria:
https://austrianvesparally.at/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064912532919&ref=embed_page
Sixteen Vespa Clubs from Austria, Germany, Hungary and Italy took part, overcoming fears of bad weather, and were instead met by two beautiful autumn days during the rally. Many Vespisti made the journey to this stage directly on two wheels, to fully enjoy the touristic-sporting experience of the event.
DAY 1, Austrian Vespa Rally.
The event was therefore a great success in terms of participation, not least because on the eve of this third and last date of the season, the Vespa Rally European Championship was still wide open, with all top ten riders still in the running for the title after the two preceding events in Pontedera (Italy, held in April on the occasion of the Vespa World Days) and in Gissen (Germany, August).
As always at these events, hospitality played a leading role, along with the desire to show off the enchanting places and landscapes. From Saturday morning, in the paddock expertly prepared by the Vespa Club Austria, an Ape D was set up bearing a banquet featuring a selection of the best local cakes and pastries, along with the much-appreciated welcome coffee enjoyed by those in attendance before climbing into the saddle of their Vespa bikes. These are details that Vespisti always savour before getting into the sporting spirit, synchronising their stopwatches and unrolling the road book reels.
DAY 1, Austrian Vespa Rally.
The formula of the Vespa Rally is as simple as it is effective: in an area closed to traffic, the Vespa rider must drive along a section of road in their own time. At the end of the route, he must carry out an orientation test following the road book; as proof that they have completed the correct passage on the road as indicated by the radar, stamp controls are set up for the participants.
As per the regulations, the locations are in scenic spots, to give the riders time to stretch out, look around the area and take a few photos before getting back on the saddle. At the end of the road book, each Vespista heads back to the starting point to repeat the timed section, giving them another opportunity to complete their time. This event formula is designed to minimise performance differences and give everyone the chance to have fun with their Vespa friends in complete safety. The difference between the two times in the skill test determines the ranking.
DAY 1, Austrian Vespa Rally.
To ensure variation, two different timed sections were set up, one in the square in front of the event paddock and one in the central square of the historic town of Stadtschlaining, right next to the famous castle of the same name, the most beautiful and best-preserved in the region.
After refreshments at a typical restaurant, the Vespisti took to the road again following the road book, which took them via scenic side roads and up the highest mountain in the region (the Geschribenstein) to the terrace of the Aussichtswarte “Guglhupf”, on the Kaltenecker Landestrasse - beloved of riders of two-wheel vehicles - for the last stamp check. After one more taste of local sweets, the Vespisti were ready to set off again towards Reichnitz for the last timed section.
Day 2, Austrian Vespa Rally.
Our friends from the Vespa Club Rechnitz organised a superb typical dinner across the border in Hungary in the evening, in accordance with local customs. On Sunday morning, the Vespisti completed another timed section, then went on to discover other enchanting roads on a slightly shorter lap than on Saturday, before returning to the starting point to do the second skill test again.
Austrian Vespa Rally 2024: 63 participants; 4 countries: Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary; 16 Vespa Clubs. Saturday route 130 km approx., Sunday route 90 km approx.
Photo album European Vespa Rally, Austrian stage, October 2024:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.592466503109024&type=3
Photo album European Vespa Rally, German stage, August 2024:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.552968983725443&type=3
After the last metre had been covered, it was the turn of the VC Austria to draw up the rankings. For the first time in the history of the Championship a woman won the overall classification of the event: the Vespa rider Claudia Ott (Austria) won on a Vespa Rally 200. In second place was Bernhard Kübler (Deutschland) on a Vespa Messerschmitt. Hans-Werner Both (Deutschland) came third on a Vespa PX, and with this podium finish, deservedly took the European Vespa Rally 2024 title, confirming Gissen’s excellent performance and the superb form of the Vespa Club Düsseldorf school, to which champion couple Uwe and Sigrid Bodicker also belong.
Special thanks go to Josef Faber (Faber Holding GmbH, Vienna, Austria, official Piaggio Group importer), who made a major contribution to the success of the event. The support provided by him and his staff, along with Huber Freiler, Head of Marketing, has been truly invaluable. See you at the 2025 Championship!
European Vespa Rally Championship 2024: Hans-Werner Both, #13, from VC Düsseldorf (Germany), on a Vespa PX.
For the first time in the history of the #VespaRally, a woman won, dominating the overall European Championship rankings in this stage: congratulations to Vespista Claudia Ott, from the Vespa Club Hollabrunn (Austria), on a Vespa Rally 200, #45.
Vespa World Club:
https://vespaworldclub.org/
https://www.facebook.com/VespaWorldClub/?locale=it_IT
