KEIJO ROUVALI of Brandt OY, Finnish importer of Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Gilera and Derbi bikes, reports: “We held an event to mark the beginning of the 2018 season with our commercial and aftersales teams in the middle of March. It was held at a unique location by a frozen lake, at a temperature of eight degrees below zero. There was plenty of snow, and plenty of fun in the saddle of the new Derbi Senda X-Treme 50 and Aprilia RX 50 Factory bikes”.
What better occasion to put the performance of these little enduro bikes to the test… under some pretty extreme conditions! Here are some highly expressive pictures of the test rides on the frozen lake.
INFO:
We have received this from Clinton Lehman, Sales Director Vespa South Africa: “Vespa South Africa made this custom Vespa GTS 300 Super, for one of our very special customers, who had been fighting cancer for many years. Leigh Hammond wanted a Vespa to remind people to never give up the fight!
“Leigh Hammond, from Johannesburg, was an influential business man who dearly loved his Vespa. The coloured hands painted on the scooter reproduce those of his family, doctors and close friends who were walking him through his struggle with cancer.
In between the hands are the dates when Leigh went into remission. Unfortunately, Leigh Hammond (in the photo below on his cherished custom Vespa, ed.) died after many years fighting cancer. He will forever be a legend in the Vespa community in South Africa. An example of strength and love of life, of friendship and freedom.
Vespa South Africa organised a memorial Vespa ride to honour Leigh; and I still keep a badge in memory of him on my blue Vespa. As Leigh Hammond (1964-2017) said, even till your last day: NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT!”
The staff of Wide Piaggio Group Magazine thank Clinton for telling this profound and moving story for our readers… worldwide.
INFO VESPA SOUTH AFRICA WEBSITE: www.vespa.co.za
CLICK HERE FOR AN ARTICLE FROM IOL MAGAZINE WHICH INTERVIEWED LEIGH IN 2015::
www.iol.co.za/motoring/bikes/vespa/this-vespa-is-a-celebration-of-life-1902537
ORGANISED BY THE VESPA CLUB OF JORDAN WITH IMPORTER DARWAZEH MOTORS.
The “Vespa Breast Cancer Awareness Ride” on 27 October in Amman, starting from the Rumi Café, was a great success, attended by many Vespa fans (and also by some motorcyclists friends and with the support of the police). The event was organised by the Vespa Club of Jordan with the invaluable assistance of the importer in Jordan, Darwazeh Motors, as part of “Breast cancer awareness month” to promote awareness about breast cancer and treatment.
This splendid photogallery sent by Tamer Darwazeh documents the great turnout of Vespa enthusiasts for the ride, with the hundreds of pink balloons (later left to float up into the sky), and the crossed pink ribbons that are the symbol of the campaign. Special t-shirts had been created for the event, with the slogan “Never give up”, an encouragement for women affected by this disease and invaluable support to help people not to feel isolated during their illness. Full marks to the organisers for an important initiative, which translated into an opportunity for friendship and understanding.
FACEBOOK DARWAZEH MOTORS:
www.facebook.com/darwazeh.motors
FACEBOOK VESPA CLUB OF JORDAN:
THE AFRICAN COUNTRY HAS BEEN SUFFERING FOR MONTHS FROM A SEVERE DROUGHT, WHICH HAS DEVASTATED CROPS. PELICAN MOTORS LTD. IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RELIEF OPERATIONS, TAKING FOOD AND BASIC NECESSITIES TO THE WORST-HIT VILLAGES.
Appeals on behalf of Somalia have multiplied since the beginning of 2017: urgent action is needed to save thousands of lives, endangered by the severe drought that has hit the country, devastating crops and causing food shortages and famine. The Piaggio Commercial Vehicles importer – Pelican Motors Ltd. – responded immediately, taking food and basic necessities to families in the worst affected villages.
Somalia has a population of more than 14 million (2016 World Bank figure), and malnutrition is still a widespread problem, even among children (Unicef estimates that about one million of them are affected). The Piaggio importer’s commitment is an admirable example of solidarity.
This is not an isolated effort, however: Pelican Motors Ltd. has always combined its business activities with solidarity, taking part in a variety of initiatives to promote the development of the community, with a particular focus on young people.
IN THE MARKETS COLUMN READ ALSO THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE:
PELICAN MOTORS LTD. SPONSORS THE MOGADISHU FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
Not just business: Pelican Motors Ltd., the Piaggio Commercial Vehicles importer in Somalia, also has a social focus, a “philosophy” that takes the form of sponsorship for a variety of important events and initiatives, intended mainly for young people and to support the local community. One example is the football tournament in the Somalian capital, Mogadishu: as sponsor, Pelican provides the clothes for the teams (all the shirts, in different colours for the different teams, have the importer’s logo) and handles organisational arrangements, the preparation of the pitches and the award ceremony.
The football tournament is an occasion for young Somalians with limited financial resources to become involved in sport and its healthy positive values. The 2017 final took place recently in the Ex-Control Olympic Stadium: the cup was won by the team wearing the white shirts, by Pelican Piaggio Commercial Vehicles.
This video clip provides a “portrait” of the 2017 tournament in Mogadishu, an event enthusiastically followed by the young players’ fans, families and friends.
Football in Mogadishu - Portrait 2017
INFO:
www.pelicanmotors.so
Editor
Direttore Responsabile
(Istanza di variazione in corso)
Senior Editor
Caporedattore
Graziella Teta
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WIDE Piaggio Group Magazine
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Phone: +39.0587.272943
wide@piaggio.com
WIDE Piaggio Group Magazine:
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