Diva

Diva, the 1981 French film featuring one of the coolest moped chase scenes EVER, is showing at Cinema 21 here in Portland. It goes till tomorrow, so run or moped on down there before it's gone.

Holly Jolly from Kickstart!

Photo from left to right: Mike Einis, me, and Steve Talley
Kickstart crew, Year 1

It's coming up on our second year anniversary at Kickstart and my thoughts turn to that time two years ago. Mike Einis had volunteered to take the helm of OSC’s newsletter and I agreed to lend a hand. At the time, I had no idea how big a part of my life it would become. Mike and I had no experience with graphic design and needed someone to become our layout guru. After holding an open call meeting, in walked Steve Talley and our 'zine staff was born. Having been a fan of the Vespa Club of Canada’s newsletter, The Indicator, and the local Portland scooter ‘zines, I knew that we just had to name our baby. After brainstorming such names as The Spanner and The Cruciform, we came up with the beautiful name of Kickstart.

Thanks to all who have helped us along the way!

This year we didn't have time to pose for an ugly Xmas sweater Christmas card, so I'm posting a photo from the patch jacket shoot.

Happy Holidays to all and here's wishing you a healthy, happy, scootin' new year!

Too Much Coffee Man

This looks like a job for Too Much Coffee Man!

TMCM is a satirical comic strip created by Shannon Wheeler. It's a parody of superheroes and TMCM even wears full body underwear with a buttoned flap on the back. Shannon and composer Daniel Steven Crafts adapted the comic strip into an opera that debuted at Brunish Hall here in Portland last year.

To find out more about Too Much Coffee Man visit Shannon Wheeler at: www.tmcm.com

Ice Ice Scooter

Finding inspiration from his Whiteout series, Steve Leiber drew this ice Vespa for me. He is a founding member of Mercury Studio and has been published by Dark Horse, DC, Marvel, and Oni to name a few.

To see more from this 9 time Eisner nominated artist, visit his website: www.stevelieber.com

Brybox

Bryan Fleming aka "Brybox" sketched this great scooter action drawing for me during Stumptown. Like "Big Time" he is also attending Pacific Northwest College of Art and a member of the Robopocalypse comic collective.
Check out his website: www.brybox.com. Or you can also catch him at www.robopocalypse.com

Big Time

Know as BT Livermore or simply "Big Time", this handlebar mustacheoed man digs robots and drawing. His two-wheeled transportation is Crusher, his bicycle. When he's not busy attending Pacific Northwest College of Art, he's collaborating on a children's book project with 59 other comic artists. The proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Check out this very talented Minnesotan's websites: www.robopocalypse.com and www.bigtimeillustration.com.

R.I.P. Evel Knievel

My brothers had all the Evel Knievel toys growing up. I loved to play with the Evel Knievel stunt cycle. You put it on a stand and wound a handle to make it move and do wheelies. Endless hours of fun!




A couple years ago at one of the Seattle/Portland scooter meetups in Centralia, a group of us visited a nearby vintage motorcycle museum. On display were various Knievel items, but the coolest of all by far was this sweet pinball machine.

You'll be missed you crazy daredevil!

Kaz's Mour Ning Star

On his website, Kazimir Strzepek describes Mour Ning Star, "Eisner nominated and Ignatz award losing post-apocalyptic adventure comic...." Well, I liked it Kaz and thought you should of won.

To see more of the self-deprecating Seattlite's work visit his webpage: www.scubotch.com

The Cheapest S.O.B.'s

Are your grandparents "frugal"? If they are, you should check out Kelly Froh's "The Cheapest S.O.B.'s". Her grandparents give new meaning to the phrase penny pinchers. The Snoopy lawn ornaments her grandfather made from empty milk jugs and gave as gifts were hilarious.

Kelly said her grandfather would probably siphen gas from a scooter before taking it for a joy ride. Scooterists, you've been warned.

Visit Kelly and see more of her work at: www.scubotch.com

Sarah Oleksyk's Scooter

Sarah's table was packed during most of Stumptown comicfest, but she did manage to fit in a quick scooter sketch for me. She also told me her boyfriend had a scooter, but it was stolen and hasn't gotten another one. :-(

Be sure to check out her great scooter boy illustration on her website: www.saraholeksyk.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

E.T. Scoot Home

As a child Aaron Mew had a fear of E.T. and as an adult he has turned that childhood fear into a comic called, Turn Off Your Heart Light. I liked it so much I picked up a copy during the comicfest.
For my sketch, Aaron drew E.T. attempting to ride a scooter. Since the extra terrestrial's small of stature, he may want to consider a Vespa smallframe or using a lower seat.

Visit Aaron at: www.scubotch.com

Scooter by Dragon

Dragon Green was in town during Stumptown Comicfest and did a sketch of a scooter she used to own. She talked fondly of driving around on it in San Francisco and mentioned that some of the local S.F. scooterists may remember this one of a kind dragon themed scooter!

Check out her cool website: www.skullyflower.com

So...How Do You Really Feel?

In the current issue of Kickstart, I talked with Jeff Lillie about his 1995 scooter zine, PDX Scooter Rider. Due to space issues I wasn't able to include this marvelous letter he received from "Ed", who had very strong opinions on scooters and Jeff's zine. Whether or not you are a fan of scooters, enjoy one of the best letters to the editor I've seen in a long time.

Kickstart # 7

Here it is, our seventh Kickstart! This amazing cover was done by the very talented Noah Pfarr (www.noahillustration.com). I didn't know what he had in mind, but knew it would be good. There are tons of great details in his illustration. Look for the OSC ride poster in the doorway and other little touches.

# 7 is packed full of great stories like the Puddle Cutters cover story, a Dave Gibbons Q + A, Holiday in Havana, Amerivespa Seattle report, India Story Part II, a Devo centerfold, and we even have our first Kickstart staff photo! And if you can believe it, we have even more jam packed inside.

Thanks to all who helped make this one of our best issues yet!

Be sure to pick up a copy at your local PDX scooter shop. Or you can get one by becoming an OSC member.

Karen
xo

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Kickstart staff!

It's a Mod, Mod, Mod World

Jason Rainey drew this loverly mod scooterboy for me during Stumptown. Check out Jason's online portfolio at: jae.imperialotter.com

Scooter by Ron Chan

This amazing scooter drawing was done by Ron Chan during Stumptown. Go to his online studio and see more of his impressive work: www.ronchan.com

Why So Down?

Poor Ed the Emo Elephant. Susan Tardif's elephant just can't catch a break. View more of Susan's creations at www.susantardif.com

Meanwhile at the Oni Press table.....

Joëlle Jones, winner of Stumptown's Outstanding Artist Award drew this lovely scooter girl sketch for me. She's currently working on a hardboiled crime graphic novel called You Have Killed Me and is also drawing the graphic novel Token for Minx/DC.

To check out her art blog go to: www.joellejones.com

It's a bird...It's a plane...No, it's Fistman!

Joseph Bergin III's Fistman is stylin' on his one of a kind scooter.
You can find more of his work at: www.sayunclecomics.com

Scooter Sketch - Monkey on Scoot!

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a fondness for monkeys. A monkey on a scooter, well that's twice as nice. Colleen Coover, artist of Banana Sunday(featuring 3 monkeys) and Small Favors did this quick sketch for me. Visit her at www.cooverart.com

Scooter Sketch - Bold Riley

Leia Weathington, creator of The Legend of Bold Riley, a collection of tales featuring a lady adventurer drew what she says is the world's ugliest scooter. She must not of seen the new Lambretta. For further info on Leia's work, go to www.girlamatic.com

Scooter Sketch - The Assistant

When I heard there was a comic coming out called The Engineer, I was curious about it. For CAD Monkeys, such as myself, the engineer at times can represent our natural born enemy. I was happy to hear this engineer is good and is even trying to save the world! Brian Churilla's sci-fi romp, The Engineer: "Konstrukt" is coming out in November, but here's a sneak peak at The Engineer's lowly assistant. He's so lowly he doesn't even have a name. You can visit brianchurilla.com for more info and preview art.

Grendel on a Scooter?!

It's the 25th Anniversary of Grendel and Matt Wagner was kind enough to sketch him on a scooter for me! You can view more of Matt's work at: www.mattwagnercomics.com

Kickstart goes to Stumptown Comics fest!

I'd never been to a comic fest before, so I didn't know what to expect. Would there be masked avengers or caped cusaders walking the halls of the Doubletree? No such luck. The most memorable sight, by far, was a man walking around with a boom box, wearing a spinner mask. His tire rim mask actually spun around as he walked by.

There were so many great artists in attendance and I was inspired by each and every one of them. Too bad I can't draw. While I was there, some of the inkers were kind enough to do some quick scooter sketches for me. As soon as I get around to scanning them, I'll be sure to post a few each entry.

The above sketch was drawn by Patrick Devine
He and the other half of Steampunk Squid, Paul Rogers can be found at:
www.steampunksquid.com

What in the Sam Hill?

Coming back from Bacchus Raucous, Miles, Holly, Maryann and I stopped at Sam Hill's Stonehenge. Mr. Hill built this replica as a tribute to WWI soldiers who lost their lives.

Hill was misinformed that the original Stonehenge had been used as a sacrificial site. He built the replica to remind us that "humanity is still being sacrificed to the god of war".

Maryann waiting to be sacrified

Bacchus Raucous V

Last weekend I was in Richland, Washington for Bacchus Raucous V. It's one of my favorite scooter rallies and the Tri-city scooterists always show us a good time.


With beautiful scenery and lots of wineries, it almost feels like you are in Tuscany. Well, maybe if you squint and have a glass of red.


Frank Easterly, owner of Barnard Griffin Winery and ex-scooterist


Maryann was happy to know that Christ the King Sausage Fest was also going on that weekend.


Thanks Tri-cities, see ya next year!

Go Green Vespa Video Challenge

Make a video and win a Vespa!
Check it out.
Karen G




PIAGGIO GROUP SPONSORS USER-GENERATED VIDEO CONTEST; VESPA SCOOTERS TO BE AWARDED

Vespa Scooter Fans Invited to Create Original Videos Touting Vespanomics Message

WHAT: Scooter riders and enthusiasts can show their devotion for the Vespa scooter and brand by creating original video content for the “Go Green Vespa Video Challenge.” Contestants could win one of three Vespa scooters and other branded merchandise!

PRIZES: - Grand Prize winner receives a Vespa GTS

- Second Place winner receives an LX150

- Third Place winner receives an LX50

- Vespa apparel will be provided to multiple runners-up and registered users of the contest site during a weekly, random drawing

WHEN: Submissions will be accepted from August 20 through October 15, 2007.

The contest winner will be announced on October 23, 2007.

WHERE: Details can be found at www.VespaUSA.com/GoGreenChallenge

WHY: Who better to carry the message about Vespanomics than Vespa scooter enthusiasts who already know or want to know the positive benefits that scootering can have on the environment and their personal lives? The contest requires incorporating some principles of Vespanomics and uploading the video to the Vespa USA web site.

Piaggio Group will conduct a two-month contest in which scooter owners and fans of Vespa can develop and submit creative videos that promote the Vespanomics message: how Vespas curb global warming, reduce oil consumption and decrease traffic congestion while making an iconic style statement.

Finalists and the grand prize winner will be determined by a Piaggio Group panel based on user ratings, ability to address key Vespanomics principles, as well as creativity and originality. Following the contest, the winner’s and finalists’ videos will be posted to YouTubeTM for viewing.

Super Mod

Coming soon to Kickstart #7: An interview with famed comic book illustrator and ex-MOD, Dave Gibbons. It was a pleasure chatting with "Dashing" Dave.

Amerivespa Snapshots

I had a great time in Seattle during Amerivespa. Miles(LBSC) and I rode up from Portland and had a blast scooting along the backroads. I even got to ride his Sprint on part of the route.

Here's just a few photos from the trip. Check out scoot.net for tons more photos. Thanks to all involved in organizing Amerivespa!


Pit stop in Centralia (Thanks for the loaner Miles & Holly)


Don's BLT Ride stop featuring The Ballard Troll
(A production of As You Like It was going on when we pulled up. When leaving,we did a bump start as not to disturb them.)


Me and the minty fresh Stella

The always dapper, Don & Nancy!
(thanks for the fine Seattle hospitality)


Slugrockets with gummi slugs!


On the Fauntleroy Ferry to Vashon Island

A Moped Odyssey

Here's my interview with Graham and Lee, two members of the Creatures of the Loin moped gang. They rode their mopeds from San Francisco to South America and lived to tell! Its a long interview, but worth the read.
KG