Houston Scooter Battalion

Blogger sucks!

2010-04-30T16:48:00.001-07:00

Blogger sucks and so we're moving. Sorry for the inconvenience. The Scooter Battalion's online clubhouse is now at http://scooterbattalion.wordpress.com/, and things don't look so pretty there but we'll have it all spiffed up in no time. And, in the future, you'll also be able to access us at http://scooterbattalion.com as well.

In the meantime, please join us for Pawdrophenia. It's a great time and a good cause.

The May Ride is Pawdrophenia III !

2010-04-13T09:36:00.001-07:00

This May 2nd will be the third annual Pawdrophenia Ride, with a new route, new stops and much fun. Come spend a scootering afternoon for a good cause. (Route map to be added soon.)

This blog has moved

2010-04-05T19:54:00.001-07:00

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Houston Scooter Battalion 5 Year Anniversary Party!!

2010-03-29T10:41:00.001-07:00

We are calling on ALL members, old and new to rally together to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of our own Houston Scooter Battalion. As always-first Sunday 2pm , April 4th (yes it's Easter). This will all happen at our Beer Island HQ (Studemont & White Oak) We are still putting together the afternnon events that may include scooter contests, group picture, food & of coarse, BEER. So please come out and socialize with us on this special day.

North Texas Lakes Rally, Mar 12-14

2010-03-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

This will be a free rally in deference to Amerivespa.
Details: http://northtexaslakesrally.com/

March Battalion Ride!

2010-03-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

We'll check out the SE quadrant with the first ever Houston Ship Channel ride. This is going to be one of the longest rides we'll do this year. The weather should be quite nice as long as the rain holds out. We'll make two pit stops along the way, the first one at Brady's Landing Restaurant for Ship Channel photo ops, R/R and maybe a quick drink. Then the second stop at Hermann Park, where we'll have access to Little Big's Shakes and Sliders if anyone is hungry. I'm really looking forward to this ride. We hope you join us!
Map: HSB%20Houston%20Ship%20Channel%20ride.JPG

Battalion ride this Sunday

2010-02-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Super Bowl falls on the first Sunday of February. But we will ride! Join us and we will end up back at Beer Island around 5:00. They'll be having a SB party, and Jimmy's will too. Also, Poison Girl is hosting a "Drink for Haiti" night, all profits going to Haitian Multicultural Association's earthquake relief efforts." 5pm - whenever.

Rockers vs Mods #4 - Dallas, TX

2010-02-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

I went to this rally last year and it was well worth it! What a blast!
-Charlie

Info and details: www.rockersvsmods.com

The Big Easy Weekender Rally is coming!

2010-01-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine a scooter rally in the French Quarter?
March 25 - 28, 2010 in New Orleans!
Go here for details and to register: http://www.bigeasyweekender.com/

Amerivespa 2010 is coming!

2010-01-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

San Antonio on Memorial Day weekend!
Now is the time to register and make hotel accomodations.
http://www.amerivespa.org/home

A Bit Nippy Ride!

2009-12-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

What better way to start the new year, than to do it on yer bike?! With all your classic biking and scooter-ing friends! Up Nawth they call them Freeze Your Balls Off (FYBO) rides, or Polar Bear rides. We won't have to be nearly as tough to get out on our bikes on 1-1-10. So I think we should.

Ride your classic motorcycle or scooter to the Tall Texan at 10:00am. Our friend Jamie has made special arrangements for free breakfast tacos for us. We'll then ride to the Shady tavern at noon, and then on to the West Alabama Ice House at 2:00.

Please spread the word. Hope to see you there.

Note: There's no charge for any of this. We just want to ride with our friends on January 1st.

Lights in the Heights Parade!

2009-12-05T16:20:00.000-08:00

LITH is a go for the Scooter Battalion again this year. We'll meet a Beer Island between 4:00 and 5:00 to decorate (if you haven't already done so), then scoot to the parade line-up as a group at 5:30. Suggestions: Go to your local dollar store and stock up on Christmas decorations. Go to Walgreen's or Target for battery light strings. Stock up on tape and zip ties.

As a reminder, twist-n-go's are preferred for this parade. It is a slow and crowded parade, and 2 stroke smoke is not very popular.

This is a fun parade, I can't wait to ride in it again. See you there!

Any Mods out there like comics?

2009-11-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

For all you Rockers vs mods fans out there (Thanks to Rad Rich for sending this link)

http://www.mcimekdesign.com/mvr_comics.htm

British USA Open House

2009-11-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

The folks at British USA were the ones who donated the raffle scooter for our 2nd Sandblast Rally in Galveston, and wanted the Scooter Battalion to know we're invited to their Open House on November 28th from 11-5. They are having a Bike Show from 12-3:30 with Scooters included in the categories. It will be a fun time and they hope to see as many of us as possible. They’ll have hot dogs and a keg or two, and our friend Les is going to entertain. So hope to see you there! Please try to spread the word around to your friends. Also, anyone want to scoot down as a group?

For questions contact:
Jim Vagas
British USA
Gulf Coast BMW
1210 College Ave.
South Houston, TX 77587
PH: 713.944.7951

Halloween Ride 2009!

2009-10-21T12:01:00.001-07:00

Time for a scooter haunting. Get your scare on. The route has been finalized and posted. The stops were selected for the potential party factor. So, get your (safe riding) costume ready, spook out your scooter, and let's ride! The costume contest will be held at Beer Island, before the ride. FRIDAY OCT, 30. Meet at Beer Island at 8:00, we ride at 9:00

Route: HSB%20Halloween%20Ride%202009.JPG

Austin Scooter Rally, Nov 6-8

2009-10-09T11:49:00.000-07:00

This is the "Yall can go to hell, I'm going to Texas" rally for vintage and shifter scooters. More details here: http://home.grandecom.net/~biechler/

Oktoberfest Ride this Sunday!

2009-09-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

The monthly scooter battalion ride for October will be led by Scootersmith. He has an Oktoberfest themed route plannned, and it will be a good one! Don your lederhosen or dirndl and head to Beer Island, Sunday Oct 4, at 2:00PM.

Whiskey the Scooter Dog

2009-09-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

All of you know our unofficial mascot Whiskey from our Battalion rides. Well, Ms. Whiskey is in a contest to be the National Spokesdog for The Dog Whisperer. If you donate $5 or more Whiskey could appear with Cesar in a public service campaign. All donations support the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of dogs nationwide. Whiskey has a good chance of winning her category, so we would really appreciate your support in making her a celebrity.

To vote for Whiskey, click HERE Thank you so much!

September's Battalion Ride.

2009-09-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's starting to cool off thankfully. Good scooting weather is coming! Even though it's a holiday weekend, we're going ahead with the first Sunday battalion ride, in case you're one of those staying close to home this weekend. The ride will be a classic from years past, being led by Emily. See you at the Island at 2!

3rd Coast Rally #5 (3CR5) is ON!

2009-08-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

Join the Austin Scooter Club's second annual quest to San Antonio for the 3rd Coast Rally #5 (3CR5) - Scooter Libre!

Let's join them in San Antonio for this well organized rally where you can meet other scooterists, and get reacquainted with some of the Fistful of Scooters attendees. Last year's attendance was around 120, and it was an excellent rally!

Out of towners are encouraged to stay at two main hotels, the Red Roof Inn or the Days Inn Riverwalk. Register online at 3cr5.com, and for the $30 pre-registration, you will be guaranteed the rally t-shirt in your size.

This just in!

2009-08-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Regarding the upcoming Rockers vs Mods rally, we just got word that there will be a private after party Friday night for those who pre-registered. You will have the opportunity to mingle/party with the Reverend Horton Heat, Motor Head, and Nashville Pussy, the bands that will have just rocked Warehouse Live. You'll gain entrance to the green room where some classic bikes will be on display. Pre-registration ends Sept 2nd!
And remember, all scooters are welcome.

Rad Rich's Bash!

2009-08-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday August 29. If you've never been to this event, you're missing!

Here's a detailed flyer:
7thRadBashpstr.pdf

Classic Scooter Roundup #3

2009-08-04T10:48:00.001-07:00

Amerivespa 2010!

2009-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Dawn Wells of VCOA (Vespa Club of America) in San Antonio, has invited the leaders of any scooter clubs in Houston (including the Battalion) to attend an organizational meeting with the president and vice president of VCOA at the El Tropicano hotel, Saturday August 15. These individuals are flying into San Antonio Friday Aug 14 and will be staying the weekend, scouting the city. Let me know if you are interested.

August Battalion Ride

2009-07-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a swim ride! We're going to cruise to a Houston public pool for a cooling dip. Wear your swimsuit, wear it under your street clothes, or change into it at the pool. If you don't want to swim, chill in the shade and watch. We'll be at the pool about an hour, then head back to Beer Island for burgers and beer.

Get some BBQ this sunday!

2009-07-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Along with the Classic Scooter Roundup this Sunday at the West Alabama Ice House, there will be BBQ for sale, to benefit Terri Myers, who was hit by a hit and run driver. The proceeds will help her pay hospital bills. Come on out and join us, even if you don't have a classic!

Classic Scooter Roundup #2

2009-07-09T10:52:00.001-07:00

Join us for the second of this quarterly rally. This time, instead of just meeting at West Alabama, we'll meet at "The Usual Pub", and scoot to West Alabama as a group. Meet at 2:00PM, July 19. See you there!

Amerivespa 2010 will be in San Antonio!

2009-07-09T09:18:00.001-07:00

We just got word from Dawn of the San Antonio Neer-do-Wells SC, and it's official. Amerivespa 2010 will be Memorial weekend, May 27 - 31 in San Antonio! This is a huge rally, and it's not limited to Vespas. Of course, we want to have a strong Houston Scooter Battalion presence, so mark your calendars and save the date! Details regarding registration, lodging, schedule, etc will come later. I'll post as soon as I know. Great news!

Rockers vs. Mods, H-TOWN RUMBLE

2009-07-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

That's right, a Rockers vs Mods rally right here in Houston! For info and pre-registration go to the website here: http://rockers-vs-mods.com/

July battalion ride - Water Features!

2009-06-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Please join us, Sunday July 5th, as we explore some interesting water features that Houston has to offer. To help cool off, bring a water pistol, and dress appropriately. Good deals for water pistols can be found at any dollar store.

Here is the map:
Water%20Feature%20Ride%20July%2009.JPG

A list of stops will be available at the start of the ride. We'll start and end at Beer Island, and there will be beer specials at the end of the ride and hamburgers for sale.

See you there!

July's Scooter Battalion ride

2009-06-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a hot one, so were going to do a water ride. Details to come later. Bring a water gun! And be prepared to get a little wet. ; -)

Photos from the Ray Guns and Scooter Fun Rally!

2009-06-23T13:06:00.001-07:00

Find the photos here:
http://scoot.net/gallery/2009/texaslakes/

If you have some, please post them there.

Umi's wedding this saturday!

2009-06-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

Please join us in helping our friend Umi with his wedding wish. His wedding is around the corner, and it's time to finalize plans. I believe that the simplest way to do this is to meet at the hotel.

Scooters should arrive by 10:00AM and park in the back of the Hilton Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Blvd. The baraat party will come downstairs at 10:15 via the back door. The next half hour is getting to know the groom and groomsmen, letting them get comfortable with the scooters.

At 11:00, DJ plays some intro music as the groomsmen ride from the back of the building around the front and make a circle. (Should take about 5-7 mins) We will be there to watch the show.

Groomsmen ride around to the front and park the scooters and join my family and I and walk toward the entrance. DJ will provide music for about a 10 min walk.

Baraat/welcoming of the groom should be over by 11:30. Everyone continues to walk into the ceremony. I have spoken with Hilton and they have agreed to allow the scooters to be parked in the front of the building during the ceremony. (The valet will be there so they will be safe) After everyone has gone inside, you are free to go. You are, of course, invited to stay and watch the wedding ceremony, and have traditional Indian food after the ceremony. And you will receive $40 for your time and the use of your scooter.

Maxiscooters are OK, the groomsmen can double up.

See you there!
Charlie

Please help Terri Myers

2009-06-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Our member and good friend Terri was in an accident, a hit and run driver. She is expecting a full recovery, but has heavy medical bills, and needs scooter parts. If have the ability, please make a contribution to her account at http://scooter-relief.org/node/49
Thanks!

Skateboard Ride #1 this Sunday

2009-06-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Join us this Sunday for the Skateboard Ride #1. Here's the map:

Skate%20Board%20Ride%20Map.pdf

And the list of stops and points of interest:

Skate%20Board%20Ride%20Stops.pdf

Ray Guns & Scooter Fun!

2009-05-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

The next rally is just around the corner. Go here for details and to register:
www.northtexaslakesrally.com

Annual 'Ride to Work Day' is Monday, June 15

2009-04-23T14:26:00.001-07:00

On June 15, the number of motorcycles and scooters on roads and highways will more than double as many riders become two-wheeled commuters to help demonstrate that riding is an efficient, economical form of personal transportation which makes parking easier and helps traffic flow better. This year marks the 18th annual worldwide event, which involves riders of all ages occupations, and from all walks of life.

"Motorcycles and scooters consume less resources per mile than automobiles, and they take up less space in parking areas and on roads. Rider's seek employer support for this efficient form of transportation, and more government and public awareness about riding’s many benefits," states Andy Goldfine, the program organizer.

Commuting on this day shows the positive value of motorcycles and scooters for transportation. For hundreds of thousands of workers, motorcycles and scooters are an economical, efficient and socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits. Motorcycling and scootering clubs around the world encourage their members to ride to work on this annual day.

According to the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation, more than 80 million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding becomes more visible as a larger number of America’s 8 million cycles are ridden to work.

More information about Ride to Work Day can be found at http://www.ridetowork.org/

Battalion MAY RIDE - Pawdrophenia II

2009-04-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, May 3, the Scooter Battalion ride will be dedicated to SMART pet rescue, an all-breed dog and cat rescue (smartpetz.com).
We will ride around pet friendly places in Houston, ending up at Valhalla on the Rice University campus, cheap, cheap beer in a beautiful, oak shaded setting. They will open early (at 5:00) just for us. (valhalla@rice.edu)
If your pet likes to scoot, bring 'em! If not, they can meet us at Valhalla with your other non-scooting friends. We have a TON of great raffle prizes this year and will also have a pet photo contest, so bring your furry pal's best snapshot!
Meet up at Beer Island at 2, we ride at 3....you know the drill. Lets have a blast and help out some homeless pets at the same time!
Pawdrophenia gear is available at cafepress.com/pawdrophenia

Classic Not Plastic this Sunday!

2009-04-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Up-coming Scooter Rallies!

2009-03-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

Wow! The weather is getting warmer and Scooter Rallies are filling the calendar. I just got back from Mods vs. Rockers III rally, and Down n Dirty 2009 Ruckus Rally, both in Dallas. What a blast! Three more rallies are coming up quick, so put them on your calendar.

Mudblast Rally, April 3-5, http://www.mudblast.org/

Fistfull of Scooters, May 1-3, http://www.fistfullofscooters.com/

North Texas Lakes Rally, June 11-14, http://www.northtexaslakesrally.com/

I have no word yet on the Scoot n Tube River Rally.

As always, pre-registering gives the organizers a feel for the number of attendees, and helps them to plan better. Thanks, and I hope to see YOU for a lot of weekend fun!

-Charlie

Mudblast Scooter Rally (formerly Sandblast)

2009-03-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

OK Scooter Battalion, it is official. Thanks to Ike, there will be no Sandblast rally this year. Instead, there will be the Mudblast rally. So mark April 3-5 on your calendar, or better yet, go to the website and register! All the details can be found here:

http://www.mudblast.org/

March Fire Station Ride!

2009-02-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

The March 1st ride will be the first ever Fire Station ride. Top off your tank and join the Houston Scooter Battalion on a 22-mile round trip past 8 current and former Houston fire stations. Meet up will be at 2:00 PM at Beer Island (White Oak & Studewood in The Heights) and the ride will start at 3:00 PM. There will be a social break at the Petrol Station halfway through and we should end up back at Beer Island by 5:00-5:30 PM. See everyone on March 1st!

Ride map: HSB_Fire_Station_Ride.pdf

Scooter T-shirts

2009-02-15T14:46:00.001-08:00

My friend designed these neat-o scooter T-shirts. I just bought one and thought I would pass the link on to y'all.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/gosugimoto/t-shirts

Cheers, Emily

Feb 8 is the Mural Ride!

2009-02-06T08:33:00.001-08:00

This is the list of mural stops:

Mural%20Ride%20020809.doc

See you there and bring a camera!

Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum

2009-01-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

On Feb 12, 2009 from 10:00AM - 2:30PM, in Austin, TX, you have the opportunity to provide input to representatives of TX-DOT and Texas DPS on issues relating to motorcycle and scooter safety. Here is the flyer with all the details:

Motorcycle%20Safety%20Flyer_09.pdf

February Ride

2009-01-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

So as not to conflict with the Super Bowl, this month's ride has been rescheduled for February 8.
See you there, and let's hope for good weather!

Amerivespa 2009!

2009-01-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

Hello to all my Scooter Battalion friends, Happy New Year!

Wanted to get in touch and let ya'll know Amerivespa '09 will be in San Jose, CA this summer over the July 4th weekend. San Antonio Ne'er Do Wells (about 10), will be hauling scoots from San Antonio, and if anyone in Houston would like to send their scoot, we would be happy to haul it round trip. We are probably gonna ask $400 round trip and we have at least one trailer and truck that can handle 12 or so with 4 spaces already taken and if needed we have another rig.... We could be in touch with anyone interested and maybe ya'll could get your scoot to San Antonio and either fly from San Antonio, or drive a car possibly in a caravan.
Vespa Club of Los Gatos will be celebrating 20 years and there will rides from SJ to San Fran and Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It should be over the top. VCOA is pulling out all the stops anticipating 1200 scoots. Also, we are still planning, and 99.9% sure that Amerivespa 2010 will be in San Antonio, so, of course, I would love the majority of ya'll to go to one before coming over and participating, and even helping produce 2010. My email is sascootergirl@yahoo.com and I would love to hear from anybody interested. I am back on La Sirena and the Allywn will be ready early March cause that scoot was really damaged and we are getting that baby ready for Callie.......Ride like you mean it my scooter buddies....Until we ride again....
Miss Dawn.
VCOA Secretary

P.S. I'll let ya'll know when the web site is up.

The Las Vegas Scooter Rally is coming!

2009-01-07T18:50:00.001-08:00

March 19-23, 2009
For information and registration, go to:
http://www.highrollersweekend.com/

January Ride!

2009-01-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

We are going to have our first ride of the year and its gonna be good one! We are gonna have our POKER RUN. We are tentatively set to visit THE FLYING SAUCER, THE DRY CREEK, JR'S, RUDYARDS and ending back BEER ISLAND. This is how the POKER RUN works- you will pay $5 to participate and receive a wristband then we take off from the BEER ISLAND and head off to any off the above mentioned establishments. At each place, you will show your wrist band to the bartender at each bar . The bartender will hand you one card, after collecting a total of 4 cards from the 4 different places you will return to BEER ISLAND to get your last card. Who ever has the top hand will be the winner with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. We did this years ago and it was a blast. As always we will meet @ BEER ISLAND @ 2 TO ROLL @ 3 this Sunday Jan 4Th. See ya there.

Stolen Scooter

2008-12-30T09:55:00.000-08:00

A good friend of ours, Eric, had his scooter stolen this weekend. If you see it, try to get a photo of who's riding it and pass it to me at charlie@scooterbattalion.com. Stay safe out there.

Houston Scooter Battalion T-Shirts are here!

2008-12-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

These shirts have printing on both front and back, and are available now at Scootersmith. All sizes are available for $20 each. Get yours for the new year!

Christmas light ride!

2008-12-16T08:52:00.000-08:00

Join us this Friday evening, Dec 19, for a special ride around the near north-west side. We'll see some hidden treasures in the form of neighborhood lighting displays. Meet at Double Dave's Pizza on Ella around 6:00, eat some fantastic pizza, and we'll depart around 7:30. Afterwards, we'll ride to the Petrol Station for refreshments. See you there, and feel free to decorate your scooter!

Lights in the Heights Parade!

2008-12-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again, SECOND Saturday in December, the Lights in the Heights street party and parade. Scootersmith has registered with the Woodland Heights Civic Assn to participate in the parade, however, there are space limitations and only a handful of scooters can ride in the actual parade.
So to make it fair, the first 20 scooters to sign-up at Scootersmith will be admitted. At that time, you can find out the when and where to meet. Even if you miss the sign-up, you can still go and watch the parade and join in the other festivities! A street party is a street party. Battery operated LED light strings are available at most big box stores as well as garland and any other holiday decorations you want to decorate your scooter. And don't forget to decorate yourself too! A word of experience: this is a short, very slow moving, night-time parade. 2-stroke smoke can get everyone choked up in the wrong way, and constant shifting is a pain. I will be riding my automatic because it's more pleasant. ; -)
Again, be one of the first 20 scooters to sign-up at Scootersmith. (new location @ 727 Yale)

This is a video clip of last year's ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YNHRwrbAcc

See you in/at the parade!

Good helmet sale!

2008-11-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you are aware that to participate in our monthly rides, you MUST wear a helmet. If you need one, or need a new one, there's a good sale going on here:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/default.aspx?SiteID=em_Nov_24_Gen_header&WT.mc_ID=35621&WT.i_e_dcsvid=1464975383

They have an extensive selection of scooter helmets and other safety gear.
Ride safe and we'll see you soon!

Mr. Projector Benefit at Aurora Theater — UPDATE!

2008-11-17T08:06:00.000-08:00

There's trouble in Projectorville! Mr. Projector (Houston resident and Scooter Battalion member Aaron Ball) needs your help, so he's throwing a party at the Aurora Theater this Saturday.

Proceeds from the event will go towards extensive medical bills incurred by Ball following a recent scooter accident that resulted in open-heart surgery.

The benefit will take place Nov. 22 from 6-8 p.m., and will feature a new episode of Mr. Projector , screenings of vintage educational films, and a live auction. Admission to the event is $10, and the first 50 people will receive a free Mr. Projector DVD.

Mr. Projector is the bespectacled and bow-tie-wearing alter ego of handsome actor Devlin Rogue, who stars in a movie-within-a-video podcast created and portrayed by Ball. The podcast was conceived as a vehicle for sharing Ball's extensive collection of 16-mm educational films from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Read an interview with Mr. Projector on Houstonist.

See the flyer!

Benefit for Mr. Projector!

2008-11-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

We are throwing a benefit/fund-raiser to raise money for our friend and Battalion member Aaron (Mr. Projector). You might recall that he was injured during the hurricane in a 1 vehicle incident. He was released from the hospital last week after a 2 month stay. The benefit will be Saturday, November 22 at the Aurora Picture Show in the Heights, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Please print the flyer and pass it out to help draw support. Of course, we hope that the Scooter Battalion will be out in force! Thanks, and I'll be looking for you there. It'll be fun!
This is the flyer:
Mr_P_Benefit_Flyer.pdf

We miss you already, Robert.

2008-11-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am very sorry to inform you that we lost our dear friend and official Battalion photographer Robert Fox. He was in a fatal scooter accident at the Spook and Scoot Rally yesterday. On the last ride of the weekend, he took a curve too fast and lost control of his scooter. He was surrounded by his new brothers, the Royal Bastards, and suffered no pain before he left this world. The Royal Bastards have a forum and web page dedicated to him. We will update you with information about funeral services as soon as we know. If you have stories about Robert or memories you would like to share, please post them on our forum. I know that I will never forget his sweet shy smile.

2008-10-24T11:10:00.001-07:00

Ready for a Halloween Ride? Decorate your scooter, get in costume, and lets go for a wild ride! Friday, Oct 31. Meet at Beer Island at 8:00, Ride at 9:00. More details to follow via e-mail.

Please help Mr. Projector!

2008-10-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

We are raising money for our friend and Battalion member who was injured during the hurricane. Aaron (some of you might know him as Mr. Projector) had a 1 vehicle incident, obtained some nasty road rash, and was released from the emergency room on crutches. One week later, Aaron was unable to move and was back in the hospital with crippling pain. He developed a rare and very serious Staphylococcus infection that spread to his kidneys, heart, and brain. The doctors performed a risky open heart surgery to remove as much of the bacteria as possible. He has now been in the hospital for over three weeks and is expected to be there at least another month. Aaron's hospital bills are already piling up at an outrageous rate (close to $500,000). Aaron has no medical insurance. We are asking for any assistance you are able to give, if that be money (check or cash), fundraising ideas, or expert advice on the medical system/billing process. We will be passing around a donation bucket at this Sunday's ride. Please help if you can.

Not going to the rally this weekend?

2008-10-03T07:15:00.001-07:00

The Flower Man Needs Our Help
Saturday, October 4th
10am to 5pm

2305 Francis Street
(two blocks south of Dowling & Alabama)

Unfortunately, Hurricane Ike did a number on The Flower Man's house and we need help putting it back together! Please join us Saturday, October 4th starting at 10am as we work to help Cleveland "The Flower Man" Turner restore his wonderful Third Ward landmark.

Some of the tasks include: staking up the fences, removing a large dead tree, fixing the leaking roof, repairing the front room ceiling and clearing debris from the yard.

The Orange Show will provide materials for general clean-up and restoration but please bring tools and work gloves, if you have them. In particular, we need pruning shears, at least one chain saw and a shop vac. If you have any additional tools that may be helpful please let us know. We will also have plenty of cold drinks and water available.

Austin Rally: November 7-9th

2008-09-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

Registration is now open. This rally is vintage only. Sorry, I didn't make the rules. The Dead Milkmen are also playing that weekend. It should be a lot of fun! Click here for details: http://www.pistonbrokesc.net/itinerary

August Ride Photos

2008-08-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

I will now be posting our monthly ride photos using the fabulous Picasa. You can check them out HERE.

So many rallies . . . so little time.

2008-08-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again! 4 big rallies in 6 weeks.

October 3-5
3rd Coast Scooter Rally IV (3CR4)
San Antonio, TX
www.thirdcoastrally.com

October 24-25
Harvest Classic European and Vintage Motorcycle Rally
Luckenbach, TX
www.harvestclassic.org

October 31- Nov 2
Scoot & Spook Scooter Rally
Conroe, TX
www.rbsc-armadillo.com

November 7-9
Y'all Can Go To Hell I'm Goin' To A Texas Scooter Rally

Austin, TX

website TBA
*European, vintage and shifters only

Dawn's Scooters Recovered

2008-08-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

After six weeks of searching, Dawn's famous scooters were recovered in San Antonio with minimal damage. The thief was arrested (due to a tip from his suspicious girlfriend) and is now in jail. Thanks to all of those who kept on the look out for them. We look forward to seeing her scooters at the 3CR4 Rally in San Antonio the first weekend of October.

Scooterist Event in Dallas this Friday!

2008-07-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Party at SoHo this Saturday!

2008-07-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

Scooters Stolen - San Antonio

2008-06-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Dawn's two scooters were stolen yesterday in San Antonio. She saw the brown mid 70's Ford truck drive off from her apartment with both scooters in the back.

They are easy to identify. One is la lone sirena (Vespa p model with
Robert Tatum art work of a cowgirl mermaid) the other is her off green/blue Servetta with the Vespa front fender.

If you see the thieves who stole them, call the police and say a report has been made on the stolen property, get a license plate id or an address and report it right away.

Let's all hope she gets it back! We all know what those scooters mean
to her.

Scooter T-Shirts

2008-06-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

At our last ride Scootersmith talked about getting the Battalion official club T-shirts. First off, we need to decide what logo to put on them. Are you interested in creating our logo? You don't need to be a professional graphic designer....just send your creativity our way at scooterbattalion@gmail.com.

On a side note: My friend from high school, now artist living in London, has produced some cool scooter t-shirts. I thought you might want to check them out, maybe even buy one or two. Click HERE to view them.

Monthly Ride Date Changed - SUNDAY JULY 13th

2008-06-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Because of the 4th of July holiday weekend, we are changing the date of our monthly ride to July 13th. Meet at Beer Island at 2 PM and ride at 3 PM.

Charlie will be leading the ride. We will be traveling trough the city in search of the Houston's largest trees. I hope the shade will keep us cool!

June 1st Ride - Outdoor Sculpture Ride

2008-05-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

Dmitry (here wearing bomber jacket) will be leading the ride this Sunday. He put a lot of thought into this route, so I hope to see a great Battalion turnout. The stops include: the Art Car Museum Memorial, MFAH Sculpture garden., Herman Park, Menil Colection, and more. I will post more details here on our forum.

The River Rally Rocked !!!

2008-05-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to Erika, Lester, Gary, Mark, Dawn, Martin and all for putting on such a great rally. There were over 75 scooters and 100 attendees. Beautiful weather, rides, food, camping, races, river soaking, and plenty of debauchery. You can view and share your photos at scoot.net!

There was also an exciting announcement about 2 upcoming rallies:
The North Texas Rally on Jun. 13th-15th, 2008. For more info visit here.
Scoot & Spook 2008 will be held in Conroe, TX on Oct. 31- Nov. 2. It will be put on by The Royal Bastards SC - Armadillo chapter.

Now I Am REALLY MAD

2008-05-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

The Houston Art Community sadly lost a influential member on the night of the Art Car Parade. Tom Jones, the museum curator of photography, was killed and two others were seriously injured after being struck by a piece of shit drunk driver. I am angry not only because an innocent person was killed, but this accident happened 100 yards away from where I was also hit by a drunk driver last year. Same time, same day (Corner of Waugh and Washington at exactly 2 AM). For all of my fellow scooterists: Please do not ride at the witching hours on Friday or Saturday. And please don't drink and drive...its not worth it! Battalion members have dropped off flowers and pieces of their art car over the past week. I think it would be nice if we added this memorial as a stop to our next monthly ride.

River Rally is ON. Website is back UP!

2008-05-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Register now HERE !!!!! There is also detailed info about the itinerary, other attendees, resources and contacts. I am so excited. It is going to be GRRRRRREAT!

The Ultimate Geek Scooter

2008-05-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Two dudes and their step by step geekiness HERE.

Don't be a Dumbass

2008-05-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

This week in Austin I learned an important lesson:
1) Don't be a dumbass
2) If you are going to be a dumbass, make sure you wear the appropriate gear, helmet, jacket, etc., it will hurt less.

Dumbasses also have bad luck. You change two tires in two days.

Ride this Sunday May 4th

2008-05-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Nick is leading the ride this Sunday. Meet at 2 PM at Beer Island. Free keg afterwards for riders wearing helmets. Yes, I know there is very ironical.
Thanks to Robert Fox for the photos!

Help Out A Fellow Scooterist

2008-04-27T13:03:00.001-07:00

Our friend Casey from the Austin Hooligans SC was in a bad wreck last week. You might remember him as wining Best Custom Scooter at SandBlast Rally the past two years. The Hooligans and The Scooter Scoop wrote detailed description of the accident and his condition. There is a Get Casey Back Riding Fund set up to help him out. The Scooter Scoop is graciously sending gifts for your donations. For $5 you will receive a patch and for each increment of $20 you get a raffle drawing to win an awesome scooter gift basket. Thanks Guz! So please help out with anything you can.

Update: And the raffle WINNER is...

2009 SandBlast Jousting

2008-04-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Scooter Jousting at SandBlast

2008-04-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Everyone remembers Team Go Nadz.

I was almost hit by my own scooter here.

The River Rally Returns

2008-04-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

After a 3 year hiatus the River Rally is finally back! Scheduled for May 16-18th in New Braunfels, TX (located between Austin and San Antonio) you will be camping along the Guadalupe River. This year Austin's clubs (Piston Broke SC and Austin Hooligans SC) are taking the lead in organizing the rally. The pre-registration cost is $40, and Erika assures me that price is well worth it. Registration includes, camping for 2 nights, 3 meals, a rally bad (with T shirt and patch) and much more. For details please visit the Piston Broke SC homepage. Please be patient with their slow website.

This is one of my all time favorite rallies. The scenery is spectacular, and the rides are too. You are camping a feet away from the river, so you can always take a quick dip to cool off. This is also the one rally where Texas scooterists really become United!

Disclaimer: If you are accustomed to fine dining, soft music, 250cc touring, this rally may not be for you.

SandBlast II = SUCCESS!

2008-04-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

We had 4 amazing days at the beach with beautiful riding and camping weather. Over 200 scooterists attended the weekend's festivities. Many told me it was the best rally that they had ever attended! Even though we didn't have Abby the monkey, Ben's comedy act entertained us to pieces. The gymkhana was simply insane and is currently toping the YouTube charts (see videos below). Please share your rally photos by uploading them to scoot.net.

Thanks to all the scooterists that came out from all over the country. We also couldn't have done it without our generous sponsors. I want to thank my fellow organizers and other volunteers who worked so hard to make this the best SandBlast yet!

SandBlast II - Extreme Gymkhana

2008-04-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

This one will go down in history!

April 6th Ride: Last day to Pre-reg for SandBlast Rally

2008-04-06T03:38:00.000-07:00

We look forward to seeing you at our monthly ride this Sunday, April 6th at 2 PM. We will meet up and end at Beer Island in the Heights. There is a free keg at the end of the ride graciously provided by our friends at Beer Island.
Also, April 6th is the last day to pre-register for SandBlast II Rally. You can pay in $30 cash at the ride or online at www.sandblastrallytx.com . We are also offering Saturday passes for $15. Everyone is very excited about this year's rally. There are already 100 scooterists registered. It is going to be a big one!

Art Car Parade - Looking for Scooterists

2008-03-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

This message is from the HSB forum:

We need 25 to 30 scooter riders to lead a fabulous float at the Art Car Parade on May 10th. You will need to be able to commit from 9am to 3pm. You have to wear all white and wear angel wings that we will provide. It will be a lot of fun and the float is one of the largest. Water will be provided and there will be a celebration in the Heights that evening that we can all attend.

If interested please email: pmchenry2@yahoo.com

DJ Party at Balinese Room

2008-03-22T20:15:00.001-07:00

You don't have to be a scooterist to enjoy SandBlast! Invite your friends (scooterists and non scooterists) down for some fun. Friday Night at the historic Balinese Room there will be a FREE event. The Balinese Room is 600 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, and was elite spot frequented by Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Geroge Burns in the 1940's . We are lucky to have 5 Houston DJs come down to spin music from 80's to Oi, and everything in between.

You could WIN THIS SCOOTER at SandBlast!

2008-03-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generous support of our friends at British USA, we will be raffling off this scooter at SandBlast II . It is a brand new 2006 Schwinn Campus (49cc's). We will be selling raffle tickets throughout the weekend, April 10-13th in Galveston.

Help Make SandBlast II a Blast

2008-03-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Wanted: SandBlast rally sponsors. We are looking for anyone or any company that would be willing to donate gift certificates or merchandise to our raffle. Ask your employer or maybe even your favorite restaurant or bar. Pass this message on to your friends. Anything helps and is greatly appreciated!

This year there will be vendor booths for sponsors. Each sponsor that would like a booth will have a 12X12 spot (in a pre-designated area) during the rally, and a 20X20 spot during Saturday’s main events. Please note that the booths are first come first serve. In addition, sponsors will receive 2 free registrations and 2 rally bags with adequate sponsorship.

Please contact emily@scooterbattalion.com for more info.

Thank You, Beer Island!

2008-03-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing anniversary party. Thanks to all of the riders that joined us to celebrate. Also to Beer Island for the keg and Charlie for taking so many photos! Click here to view them.

Special Announcement:
We will now be having a keg party at EVERY Battalion Ride. Beer Island is graciously donating one keg for us to enjoy at the end of our monthly rides. You guys are awesome!

SandBlast II Pre-Registration

2008-02-25T20:35:00.000-08:00

Registration is now up at sandblastrallytx.com. You can either pay $30 by paypal or in cash at our March ride. Registration includes camping for 3 nights, a rally bag with patch, two dinners (catered and BBQ), two breakfasts, entrance into all events and kegs galore. Pre-registering not only saves you money, it also helps us plan a better rally.

See you Sunday, March 2nd at 2 PM at Beer Island!

Party at Beer Island to Celebrate 2 Years of HSB!!!

2008-02-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the Houston Scooter Battalion's 2nd year anniversary, our friends at Beer Island are throwing us a party! Our March 2nd Ride will end with a keg party at Beer Island. We look forward to seeing all of our members join us for the celebration, ride and free beer. Thank you Lonnie and Ethan!

Ride this Sunday - Feb. 3rd

2008-01-31T10:21:00.001-08:00

This month's ride is set for this Sunday, Feb. 3rd. The route is TBD and the weather looks to be perfect. Starting point is Beer Island at 2pm, ride at 3. Gas up and bring your helmet.

Happy New Year Ride

2008-01-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

The first Scooter Battalion Ride of 2008 will be this Sunday, January 6th. The plan is to meet at 2 PM and Ride at 3 PM. We will be raising money to support the scooterbattalion.com website. If everyone could bring a couple bucks, we would really appreciate it. We were lucky enough to have Ryan C. set up the entire site and email system. I have been maintaining it for the last year. Also there will be a short announcement about SandBlast II. If you have any questions we will be happy to answer them for you.

See you Sunday. Gas up and bundle up.

SandBlast II Dates Announced

2007-12-19T06:36:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars! The dates for SandBlast II have been set for April 10-13th, 2008. Last year we had 125 scooterists come out from all over the country. This year we made some additions to the schedule and added an extra day of festivities. We will have a night at Balinese Room, long & short rides, same campsite (hot tub and pool), Gymkhana, scooter jousting, good ol" Texas BBQ and much more. Keep checking sandblastrallytx.com for more updates.

Rally Marathon Recap

2007-11-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

I attended 3 rallies in 5 weeks (San Antonio, Harvest Classic, Austin) and I am pooped! They were all amazing and gave me a lot of great ideas to pass on to Sandblast II. We had some Battalion winners at the San Antonio Rally. Nick P won the Gymkhana and Robin M won best Twist n Go. Congrats!

Ghoul's Night Out

2007-10-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

HSB's 2nd Annual Halloween Ride - Oct. 31st
$5 to Ride: money goes to costume winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd prize)

*Meet at Beer Island, 7PM
*Ride to The Brewery Tap, 8PM
*Ride to Rudyards, 9PM (awards given)

Pawdrophenia - Nov. 18th

2007-10-12T22:35:00.001-07:00

The ladies of the Scooter Battalion are organizing our first annual Pawdraphenia. We will meet Sunday, Nov. 18th at 3 PM at Beer Island. The itenarary includes: Alabama Ice house, Valhalla on Rice campus, and Hermann
park to the Ginger Man. All the proceeds will go to SMART rescue, an all breed/mixed breed dog & cat rescue. Bring your favorite furry one with you!
Get your t-shirts, dog
shirts and more at Cafe Press.

Get Well Scott!

2007-10-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Last Friday our friend Scott M. was seriously injured after being hit by a Jeep. He sustained an injury of 10 broken ribs, a lacerated liver, heart and lung contusions, and broken middle finger. He is now out of the hospital and at home resting. Scott is not only our favorite Houston DJ but moonlights as the editor of the HSB myspace page. Scott, we wish you a quick recovery and can't wait to see the new Vespa you will be riding!

We are having a Happy Hour Benefit to show our support on Tuesday, Oct. 16th at Beer Island at 7 PM.

So many rallies . . . so little time.

2007-09-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

Sep. 28th-30th, 2007
Pandora's Roundup
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
www.okccuriosity.com

Oct. 5th-7th, 2007
Third Coast Rally
San Antonio, Texas
www.thirdcoastrally.com

Oct. 19th-20th, 2007
Harvest Classic Rally
(European & Vintage Motorcycles/Scooters)
Luckenbach, Texas
www.harvestclassic.org

Oct. 26th-28th, 2007
Down & Dirty 7
New Orleans, Louisiana
www.jksc.org/forum
yahoo groups: scootneworleans

Nov. 9th-11th, 2007
Y'all Can Go to Hell I'm-a-Goin' to Texas Scooter Rally
Austin, Texas
www.pistonbrokesc.net

September Ride

2007-09-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

We received a lot of great entries for our September ride. Thanks to all who participated. The winner was Ben Leonard’s “Under the Burning Sun Ride.” You can view the route here.

Remember that all riders must wear helmets. See you tomorrow!

3rd Annual Third Coast Rally

2007-08-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

Our friends in San Antonio are putting on their annual rally. Last year was was blast and definitely worth the ride out.
Here is their announcement:

"Hello Everyone!
It's back...the 3rd Annual Third Coast Rally...October 5, 6 and 7!!
Registration is NOW OPEN! Some of you have already registered, which means your shirt size will be guaranteed! Be proactive and don't wait until the last minute...register today! Registration is only $30 (includes your shirt, patch and other goodies).
Visit www.thirdcoastrally.com to register, latest details and hotel info.
If you have any questions, please email us at 3cr3@thirdcoastrally.com.
Thanks and scoot safe! --
3CR3 Planning Committee"