A 10 km long parade of Vespa wound its way through the streets of Mantua and took to the roads of the province to reach San Benedetto Po. The City Parade, the grand Vespa parade, which opened the second day of the Vespa World Days 2014.
It is estimated that 10,000 Vespas have reached the town of Gonzaga for the world’s largest gathering of Vespa Clubs.
2014 is without doubt the most spectacular edition of the Vespa World Days, 310 Vespa Clubs were present representing 32 different countries. Representatives came from Vietnam, Pakistan, Brazil, USA, India, as well as from European countries that have celebrated the Vespa culture since its dawn such as France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Holland, Spain. Vespa enthusiasts also arrived from Russia (after more than 3,000 km of travel), from Portugal, Greece, Kosovo and Albania.
Great sympathy was expressed for a young newlywed couple from Sicily, Viviana and Gianluca of Termini of Imerese, who arrived with their Vespa on their honeymoon. The event, which is back in Italy after six years from its 2008 edition in Cefalu, Sicily, ended with numerous awards and the extravagant gala dinner bringing together all Vespa riders.
The party had a prologue with the opening party of the new Concept Store Motoplex of the Piaggio Group – the largest in Europe – which opened at the BOMA of Mantua. The inaugural party with hundreds of Vespa revelers also saw the likes of famous Aprilia Superbike riders Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli.
Motoplex is the first new concept store dedicated to all lovers of two wheels and a window on the future of the Piaggio Group. It is in fact a tribute towards the most important brands of the Group – not only but also Vespa Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi – and the millions of customers, owners and fans who have these brands in the world. Not only a store and a showroom but a full-fledged point of attraction for scooter and motorcycle lovers: 1,300 square meters of space, 46 vehicles on display, two real “lounge” where one can sit and admire large video screens, a bar, the chance to see “live” events in web streaming through the two 138 inch video walls.
The sprawling Motoplex store is the first example of how future outlets and dealers of the Piaggio Group in the world, not only in Europe, where the Group is the continental leader, but also in the U.S. (where the Vespa is the most popular scooter) and in distant markets such as Vietnam, India, South East Asia and of course, Australia.
With more than 18 million Vespa machines produced since its inception in 1946 (1.3 million units sold worldwide in just the last decade – 190,000 in 2013), Vespa love spreads across the roads of the entire world on all continents, combining distant and different cultures.
Under the aegis of the Vespa World Club Рestablished in 2006, heir to the Vespa Club of Europe and later the F̩d̩ration Internationale des Vespa Clubs (active from 1983 to 2005) Рevery year the Vespa World Days are held, a four-day rally that attracts Vespa enthusiasts from all over the world.
Built entirely in steel from the beginning, all Vespa models – from the legendary first 98cc which put the world back on two wheels in 1946, up to the very recent Vespa Primavera and Vespa Sprint – have weathered the test of time, with millions still on the road all over the world, inspiring the phenomenon of Vespa Clubs and various associations. Restored, cared for and pampered, millions of Vespas have become beloved objects today, often remaining in families for generations.
Enjoy the imagery from 2014 Vespa World Days below to get a feel of what went down in Mantua.
