For most people, it is part of mobility within the city: the scooter. In Paris, for example, there are masses of scooters on the road, as they are small and maneuverable and therefore predestined for the Parisian streets with their constant traffic jams. However, it took some time and overcame many initial difficulties before it became so well established. In 2020, however, the establishment of scooters in Germany will now be 70 years old. To celebrate this event in style, several old scooter clubs are organizing a large scooter meeting in Sigmaringen (Germany). The event will take place from May 29 to June 1, 2020.
Time to look beyond the horizon
When the scooter was introduced in Germany 70 years ago, no expert would have predicted the wave that would be unleashed in Germany in the following years. Then as now, the scooter was and is more than just a means of transportation for its owners. Riding a scooter in a community and sharing a common passion was already very much in evidence in the 1950s. Today, this is still the basis for numerous clubs, interest groups and internet forums and groups dedicated to old scooters. However, these are usually focused on a specific scooter brand or model series. Now the time has come to think outside the box and organize a cross-brand vintage scooter meeting that encompasses all models of the golden age of scooters and brings together enthusiasts from all over the world.
A new era in two-wheeler history
The motor scooter is almost as old as the motorization of transport, but until the middle of the 20th century this only made a hesitant appearance in the USA. In the 1920/30s, tentative attempts to establish scooters in Germany and England failed. This only changed after the Allies' airborne scooters fell on fertile ground in Italy. From Pontedera and Milan, a mission set off around the world from the end of the 1940s. In 1950, the wave of scooters also reached Teutonic roads and Germany registered its first 5500 or so "motor scooters". A new era in German two-wheeler history began, which has now lasted for 70 years.
Reviving a shared passion
What better occasion than to use this anniversary to bring old scooter friends together in a unique event? Over the past two years, several brand clubs and interest groups have worked together with the Zoller-Hof brewery to organize a meeting unlike any other. On the Whitsun weekend, enthusiasts are invited to Sigmaringen for the old scooter anniversary meeting to share their passion in a beautiful landscape together with enthusiasts from all over the world for a weekend in a relaxed atmosphere and to show it to the public.
Extensive program for the participants
- Friday (May 29) is the arrival day. In addition to getting to know each other, Sigmaringen and the surrounding area can be explored and the ZÜNDAPP Museum can be visited. The parts exchange starts on the event grounds. The official welcome will take place in the evening.
- Saturday (30 May) is organized as a hiking and connoisseur day, with two delightful scooter hikes on offer. Participants can enjoy the landscape of the Swabian Alb and Upper Swabia without any time pressure. A limited number of participants can complete fun special tasks on the two routes, which count towards the scooter trophy. The day will be rounded off with petrol talks and the award ceremony in the large marquee.
- Sunday (May 31) is anchored in the program as a presentation day, which takes place on the event grounds and to which visitors are also cordially invited. With a large scooter parade of the participating vehicles, the old scooters will be presented on a brand-specific basis. Selected vehicles will provide an overview of scooter development in Germany in a special show. The remarkable diversity of the scooter program from city scooters to grand tourisme will be on display. This will be rounded off by contemporary scooter combinations, scooter trailers and cargo scooters. Individual vehicles and participants will be presented on the presentation stage. The participants will show off their vehicle skills in the skills tournament and slow race. A joint vehicle parade is planned as the crowning finale, before the focus is on mutual exchange in the large marquee in the evening.
- On Monday (June 1), after a Weißwurst breakfast, it's time to say goodbye. Shortly after the announcement of the Altroller 2020 event, there was an immediate response from the entire Altroller scene. Whether from friends of German scooters in England and North America, enthusiasts of French scooters in Alsace or the numerous brand clubs throughout Germany. No distance is too far. Everyone will be at this unique event on Whitsun weekend 2020, where around 800 vintage scooters are expected. Also noteworthy is the announcement by English participants that they will be traveling from the island on their own wheels.
Further information
Further information on this event can be found on the website of the Old Scooter Anniversary Meeting 2020.
