Scooter class debut at Glemseck 101
Ralf Jodl and the team at German specialist SIP Scootershop (based near Munich) are avid 'FlameKeepers' where the passion for scooters in general, and older machines in particular is concerned - especially the older Vespas, and especially scooter racing.
But even they have managed to 'take it to another level this year' with the debut of a Scooter Class at the popular Glemseck 101 on the former 'Solitude' racetrack outside Stuttgart (September 1-3, 2023).
The centrepiece of the weekend is a classic acceleration race - old-school, hand-started with a flag, without timing, over 200 m with handmade motorbike conversions putting their unique combinations of performance and style to the test. Grass-roots racing at its best. A spiritual home for customisers with oil under their fingernails.
This was the first year with a class specifically for scooters with an invitation from the 'Rocket Race Club', the pathway on half an hour on the track in a very crowded schedule that has people on a wait list for a chance to get on the track.
Unfortunately, it seemed impossible to simply take part in the Glemseck 101 race with a scooter. There was no class that scooters fit into. "You had to apply for each class, and there were more than enough riders who would like to take part," says Ralf. "The waiting list was long, and the organisers were not exactly waiting for request from scooter owners."
Eight scooters competed in a knockout format in front of an event crowd that can number as many as 40,000 motorcycle enthusiasts off all kinds for the weekend. The "Rocket Race Club" organises its own racing classes within the Glemseck 101 weekend. "Spectacular café racer conversions with lots of bang for the dragstrip populated the paddock when our time came, and we were allowed to join them this year with our racing scooters.
"We were called to the start at 14:30 on the final afternoon and my adrenalin shot through the roof. I have rarely ridden in front of a grandstand with thousands of spectators - almost exclusively motorcyclists. How would the scooters be received?
"The flag drops, I ride the first race. On the way back, I was curious to see how the scooters would be accepted as starters. Then the surprise: the grandstand applauds and celebrates. Hardly anyone had expected the performance of the old 'Gear Pulleys'. In the end, everyone there was a petrolhead, and whoever delivers is respected. The spirit of this event is unique.
"I am lucky enough to win the scooter class in a final against Tobi Meusburger from Austria. A Vespa Smallframe with a high-end BFA plate rotary engine. Tobi not only has one of the fastest scooters, he also rode extremely strong and gave me and my VNA racer with a 400 Egig cylinder a close race. We put on the best show we could for the Glemseck crowd.
"In the end the organisers allowed a race against a motorbike after all. The winner of the scooter class against the winner of the Big Coffee Class. So, it was me against a Suzuki GSXR Dragster. Generally, I am quite optimistic about such duels, but with this opponent I was afraid it might be a bit predictable.
"I win the start by a narrow margin and fight back until the middle of the second gear and about halfway. Then the Gixxer comes by. I shift into third gear and luckily don't lose many more metres to the finish. Second place in this duel for me, but one of the most brilliant races I have ridden."
This was the 16th 'annual' holding of the Glemseck 101, and will Ralf and the happy band of scooter maniacs be back for the 17th? "You bet we will!"
The riders of the scooter class:
Andre' Jüterbock, Falco Engelfried, Jesco Schmidt, Michael Ziesel, Nico Gnisci, Patrick Brändle, Tobias Meusburger, Veit Nübel.
