Vesparados scooting down country for good cause
"We’ll be staying at country pubs along the way, via as many back roads as possible."
Rosco Pennell
The Northland Vesparados might not have quite the public profile of more notorious motorcycle gangs, but they are about to fix that.
Not that they are a gang, exactly, or that it is notoriety that they’re after.
They are in fact a group of nine friends who began planning a road trip on Vespa motor scooters, starting from Cape Reinga, destination the Burt Munro Motorcycle Rally in Invercargill next month.
As last year progressed, with all its challenges, one of the group was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and is having ongoing chemotherapy in Whanga¯ rei, but that hasn’t slowed them down.
And they won’t be doing it just for the joy of the wind in their hair.
“As plans for the road trip became more detailed, it also became apparent that here was a great fundraiser opportunity for our Far North Hospice, who assist so many people with their services,” elder Vesparado Rosco Pennell said.
“So we’ve teamed with the hospice, and will be sharing our adventures on the road — on Rosco’s Rocky Road Facebook page — and looking for donations to this worthy cause.”
The road trip began at Cape Reinga on Friday, the posse (not all on Vespas — only a “step-through” was needed to qualify) making its first stop at June Dampney House in Matthews Ave for an “official” start, sharing with hospice and a blessing to send them on their way.
The plan is to cross Cook Strait by ferry on February 2, and reach Invercargill eight days later.
“We’ll be staying at country pubs along the way, via as many back roads as possible, and there will be serious hospice bucket-rattling in the evenings, and whenever the opportunity arises,” Rosco said.
Donations could also be made to Far North Hospice via the ASB account No 12-3096-0166841-00, with “Vespa” as the reference.