Richmond, Virginia to Host Amerivespa 2018 June 6-10

Vespa Club of America (VCOA) is pleased to announce that Amerivespa 2018 will be held in Richmond, Va., June 6-10. Jointly hosted by the 7 Hills Scooter Club and supported by more than 40 sponsors, Amerivespa 2018 will feature five days of scooter-related fun for registered enthusiasts as well as the general public.

“There is no city in America where the incredible wealth of past and future weave together so effortless,” says Chelsea Lahmers, VCOA board member and Richmond native. “Scooterists from around the world are in for a serious treat when it comes to riding Richmond’s streets and experiencing the soul and personality of our unique city.”

Amerivespa is the largest annual motor scooter rally in the United States and typically attracts 600-800 enthusiasts from all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Australia. This year signifies the VCOA’s 26th year and Amerivespa’s 23rd national rally. Centrally located within the population-rich eastern United States, Richmond could expect more than 1,000 Amerivespa attendees.

Schedule:

June 6 – Pre-rally shenanigans and a meet & greet at Scoot Richmond (217 W. 7th St., Richmond, Va. 23224)

June 7 – Registration opens and rides leave from the Graduate Hotel (301 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. 23220) and an evening event at Maymont (1700 Hampton St., Richmond, Va. 23220)

June 8 – Registration opens and rides leave from the Graduate Hotel, and an evening party at The Broadberry (2729 W. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23220)

June 9 – Rides leave from the Graduate Hotel and arrive at Richmond International Raceway – vendor exhibits, gymkhana and scooter judging, followed by the VCOA Annual Banquet and After-Party.

June 10 – Breakfast and a raffle at Byrd Park (600 S. Boulevard, Richmond, Va. 23220), followed by an unofficial post-rally gathering.

Richmond’s chic Graduate Hotel (301 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. 23220) serves as the host hotel, place of registration and departure site for the daily rides. Rides take place around the Richmond metro area and include trips to the Jamestown Settlement, Revolutionary War places of interest, Civil War places of interest, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Berkeley Plantation, as well as outings to craft breweries, antique shops, quirky boutiques and other notable locations in the area.

Amerivespa is staged annually in different cities throughout the U.S. Past locales have included Springfield, MO, Manitou Springs, CO, Knoxville, TN, San Diego, CA, Oklahoma City, OK, Portland, OR, Madison, GA, Salt Lake City, UT, Cleveland, OH, Denver Colo., Seattle, WA, Chattanooga, TN, Los Gatos, CA, San Antonio, TX, New Orleans, LA, Lake Geneva, WI, Indianapolis, IN, and Memphis, TN.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.