NBR American Pickers

[Orange Guy]

It's probably too late for anybody here to catch the premiere (my bad) but this show is worth checking out.

http://www.history.com/content/american-pickers

Mike Wolfe is a fellow Knuckle Dragger Scooter Club member and a full-time picker. In the first episode, he scores an old Vespa frame for $200. We're told that eventually the episodes can be watched at the History Channel web site.

[Quo Vadimus]

Does the "picking" community purposefully assign themselves that name because they're jealous of the huge bluegrass fan base?

[Mike @ NoHo Scooters]

I saw that show last night. The Vespa was a 1955-57 Allstate 125. Looked like a decent rusty parts bike. Still had the aluminum floor rails, US license plate bracket, handlebars with headlight assembly, and the tool box side panel. I think he paid $40 and they said it was worth $200.

Reminds me of a time years ago while driving across Missouri. My friend came up with the idea to stop at feed stores and tractor dealers and ask if they knew of anybody with scooters. The very first tractor dealer we asked told us of a guy with scooters. We found the guy, who had some sweet restored Cushmans. He told us of a guy with Vespa parts out on some dirt road. We found that guy who I wound up buying a bunch of Vespa parts and complete engines. Turns out he owned a motorcycle shop years prior and wound up with the Vespas, but parted them out and junked the frames. He had tons of old motorcycles, some American Bantam cars, and Subaru 360 microcars. We spent a whole day there hearing his old Army war stories.

On another trip across Missouri we found a uber rare 1954 Hoffmann Vespa and a 1959 Allstate Vespa when we stopped in a small town. An old guy saw our Vespas in the truck and said he had some in his barn. The Hoffmann was later restored and won "best in show" at Amerivespa in Denver.

[ericalm]

I need to spend more time in Missouri!

[KCScooterDude]

Thanks for looting my home state!

I wasn't aware of this rural connection with Cushmans/scooters, though I know Cushman was out of Lincoln, NE.

I will ask around the co-ops when I'm out in the hinterlands of KC next time.