Bumpstart Magazine

20/08/2023

Remembering Albert Drake today.

11/01/2022

Thanks Vespa Portland for the Bumpstart love! If anyone needs some winter reading, I have back issues of Bumpstart Magazine available for purchase.

It's cold and stupid out there. Whether or not you choose to ride in it this Winter is up to you but here's some recommendations to help you pass the time ei...

12/11/2021

Flat Out Press has a Christmas special all you hot rod daddies and mamas should check out.

For Christmas 2021 we are offering a Flat Out Press books bundle at a significant discount. You can get these three books, a $65.90 value, f...

26/10/2021

09/07/2021

Meet another awesome 2014 Cannonballer and friend Eric Almendral Enjoy his 2014 Q + A.

Scooter Cannonball Run starts tomorrow in Hyder, Alaska. Los Angeles scooterist, Eric Almendral and his 1987 Honda Helix CN250 will be a m...

09/07/2021

Good luck Matthew Benintendo aka 4n6iscool!

Matt's centerfold is from my Cannonball themed issue of Bumpstart #6/7. Back issues are still available!

Here's an interview I did with Matt back in 2014.

http://kickstartkaren.blogspot.com/2014/05/scooter-cannonball-run-2014.html?m=0

08/07/2021

Scooter Cannonball 2021 starts this Sunday. Look out, Bar Harbor. Here come the 'ballers!

The yellow rider blocks are slowly inching their way towards Bar Harbor! If you are near Bar Harbor, feel free to join us Sunday afternoon at the Bar Harbor Starting Line Party! 🛵

12/04/2021

9 years ago to when Chloe Eudaly let me ride my Vespa into her bookstore Reading Frenzy for my Bumpstart reading. My favorite reading, and book store! So fun! That's Chloe introducing me.

26/03/2021

Happy Birthday Al Drake! Looking all badass on his BSA.

I was fortunate to have Al write for my zines and American Scooterist. He's an author, native Oregonian, OG Scooterist, Hot Rodder, Professor Emeritus of English at MSU, and a dear friend. Al doesn't like to talk about himself, but I persuaded him to do a Q + A with me years ago for a writing class at PSU, which he attended back in the '50s. Below is a rough cut of our Q + A, wish it was longer. Meet Albert Drake

Karen Giezyng: Could you state your full name for me?

Al Drake: Albert Dee Drake. My father’s name was Albert Howard Drake and my grandfather’s name was Albert James Drake.

KG: Ok Prince Albert, where were you born?

AD: I was born on March 26, 1936 in Portland, Oregon at the Multnomah County Hospital, which is now OHSU. My parents went there because you could be born there for free.

KG: The hospital didn’t charge your parents?

AD: No. I was born in the charity ward.

KG: Wow. Could you tell me about your parents?

AD: They came to Oregon by train from North Dakota. My mom use to joke that we were so poor that we didn’t have salt for our dried beans; which was a big deal back then. My family lived in a tent on a bluff by the University of Portland until we could earn enough money for a house.

KG: Your first home was a tent?!

AD: Yep, we kept the tent when we got our house and would use it when we went camping.

KG: What were your parent’s jobs?

AD: My dad worked for WP did road construction for Highway 26 from Portland to Seaside. Coming from flat North Dakota, my dad liked all the Oregon hills. He also worked on Swan Island as a whirley crane operator. $1.33 an hour. My mom, Hildah was a housewife.

KG: What school did you go to?

AD: Lents Elementary, Franklin High School. I attended Portland State College (now PSU) and the University of Oregon, where I received my degree.

KG: Tell me about Portland State back then.

AD: I attended Portland State from 1956-59. It was pretty neat; better than working for a living. Actually, I worked part time (32 hrs/week) at a gas station while I was going to school. At first I wanted to be an architect, but didn’t think I was smart enough in
math. Some classes were taught at “Old Main” which is now Lincoln High School. The Student Union was in the basement of the “Old Main”. Everyone knew each other. I’d drink tea in the Student Union and read the Ninth Wave and On the Road.
Before college, I was only reading popular men’s magazines like: True Magazine and Argosy.

KG: Where were some of your favorite campus hangouts?

AD: Oh, there was Jerry’s Gable, a popular burger joint on Broadway. The New Olde Lompoc Room was a bigger place. If you were twenty-one, it was the place to go for beer. Lydia’s was only three blocks west of Portland State. I liked going to the Pink.

24/03/2021

Thanks, Dr. Piaggio! 🛵🐝💖

75 ANNI FA I PRIMI ESEMPLARI DI VESPA 🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵🛵

Il 24 Marzo 1946 il dott.Enrico Piaggio presento a Torino alla Mostra della Meccanica e Metallurgia il primo esemplare di VESPA.
Il 23 Aprile 1946 depositò il brevetto ed è così che nacque il mezzo più amato dagli italiani ❤️🛵❤️🛵

Speriamo di festeggiare tra un mese con un bel giro per le colline in sella alla nostra compagna di viaggi!!

Vi aspettiamo🛵🛵

27/02/2021

It's a beautiful day for a scoot to the coast.

14/02/2021

Happy Valentine's Day! 🛵💘🛵💘🛵💘

07/02/2021

Thanks for the Scootering Magazines and calendar, Milly! It was a nice surprise to find in my mail today. Below is Milly's scooter enjoying the scenic Welsh countryside.

22/12/2020

Thanks to The Scooter 'Zine for featuring me as their Rider Profile in the Jan/Feb issue. A subscription to Howard's zine would be a nice stocking stuffer.

01/11/2020

Scooter Witch

31/10/2020

Happy Halloween from Karen, Steve, and Captain 8 Ball!! 🎃🍫🍬👻

27/10/2020

Ran into this awesome scooter/moto club in Italy when my Vespa tour group stopped for coffee. Check out the Lambretta 125 D, Fiat 500, Mini Cooper, sexy convertible. What a beautiful sight!

26/10/2020

Happy World Pasta Day!!! Perfect day for it here in chilly Portland. Ohhh, look at all those delicious carbs and sliced truffles!!! I enjoyed these pasta dishes in Verona and Tuscany.

25/10/2020

Tuscan Joyride!!!

In the Tuscan village of Radda in Chianti, Fabrizio Ferrucci happily scooted along the crowded cobblestone streets on his Piaggio Liberty carrying not one, not two, but three cases of wine. Stopping in front of the local wine bar, he'd beep his horn until his wife Carolyn would come out and help unload the cases. Then he'd scoot off and repeat this numerous time much to my amusement. After his last delivery, he noticed me and my Amerivespa T-shirt, and walked over to talk.

He was a local Radda business man and scooterist about town. Fabrizio and Carolyn were doing their usual wine delivery between their two businesses, Enoteca Toscana and Bar Dante. Fabrizio spoke fluent English and enthusiastically rattled off a list of all his U.S. scooter friends I just had to know. I complimented his driving abilities and his Piaggio workhorse.

Fabrizio smiled, threw me the keys and told me to bring it back to the bar when I was done. Now, would you let a complete stranger take your scooter on a joyride? Probably not. Apparently, they didn't get the memo in Italy. I hopped on the Piaggio before Fabrizio could change his mind and took off out of the village towards the Chianti hills for a little test ride. I'd stop for some photo ops along the way and really, just to admire the views. Fabrizio, thank you wherever you are.

Why did that Italian let this American stranger take off on his scooter? Because scooterists are revered in Italy. It doesn't matter if you're from Portland or Pisa, you are part of a worldwide scooter family.

25/10/2020

Bumpstart #2 Centerfold featured the Sirens Moto Club out of Seattle.

These saucy six will enchant you with their charms, but be forewarned: They like their men on the rocks.

Sirens from left to right are: Mary, CJ, Shannon, Kelly, Tamra, and Meredith. Thanks, Sirens!!

Photographed by Jon Hawley.

23/10/2020

Corky was Bumpstart's very first International Scooter Pet. He was featured in Bumpstart #2. I met this dashing ex-pat through his owner and sommelier Elizabeth Miller while scooting through Tuscany with Scooter Bella. He passed away years ago, but lived a good life in Italy and was very loved by all who met him. Here's Corky's bio from Bumpstart Goes to Italy.

Scooter Pet: Corky - a true Dandy

Corky's Bio: He is an American ex-pat Boston Terrier residing in Italy.

Date of Birth: 12 yrs ago on New Year's Eve. He knows everyone is celebrating his birthday with him each year when the fireworks go off.

Place of Birth: a small nondescript town he can't remember the name of in Ohio.

Sibling: 6 total. Corky was the runt of the litter so he tried to make up for his inferiority complex by working out a lot and running for the title Mr Universe Boston Terriers. He still has a handsome, youthful body builder's form even at 12 years old which he is quite proud of.

Place of residence: Pennsylvania (only 1 year), Rome (8 years) and now currently living in Chianti Classico, Tuscany.

Languages: English, Romanaccio (bad Roman dialect from living in a very blue collar, historic Roman neighbourhood for almost 8 years - La Garbatella! ma... che sta' a fa'? Sort of like saying whatcha up to ?) and a little bit of Tuscan dialect now...but he is giallo - rosso inside (editor's note: the colours of AS ROMA, Rome's soccer team)

Profession: a true Dandy. He never goes out without having his tuxedo on - in Italy referred to as a "Smoking." Sometimes he works as a mascot for Scooterbella...only because his owner loves Vespas. He secretly would like to p*e on the red Vespa wheels when no one is looking (see his photo with mischievous smile) and sometimes he does...

Favorite Vespa Model: Vespa GS 160 from 1961

23/10/2020

It's wine harvest time. Reminds me of when Bumpstart went to Italy and visited Cascina Castlèt. Here's some photos of my 2008 visit! Grazie mille Borio Family and translator Ameriga. The winery now has a giant, red bench overlooking the fields that you have to see to believe. Cin Cin.

12/10/2020

Getting some Bumpstarts ready for delivery. If you're interested in back issues hit me up. I have PayPal.

12/10/2020

Dave McCabe as That Bumpstart Man! Photo by .

11/10/2020

Happy Sunday. Rainy day here in the Pacific NW. Thanks to all the people who have contacted me and shown interest in Bumpstart. Made me happy to know you enjoyed reading it.

I've missed publishing it over the years. I've been thinking of creating some sort of website version where we could share our stories and thoughts. Like an online Scooter Co-op. It's just a thought for now.

All of my past zines were hard copies, something you could hold in your hand, keep in your library or rumpus room. Bumpstart never had a huge online presence like in today's world. Well, it does have blog I haven't posted to in a while,lol. Have to get on that.

Social media exploded and I wondered is there a need for my zine. Then I thought of all the hard work Steve, myself, and all of my scooter friends put into it. I am very fortunate to live in a DIY city where i am surrounded by so many creative and talented folks. I had professional photographers and artists who helped make the zine come to life. So to honor them and the scooter community I will be posting clips and memories from old issues. Think of it as a scooter time capsule of a simpler time where our biggest concern was scooter drama.

I do have some copies of Bumpstart if you are interested in buying contact me.

Much love,
Karen G.

11/10/2020

Hi Everyone. I have been thinking a lot lately about writing, and creating something new. Before any of that, I thought I'd share a little behind the scenes of Bumpstart - the Pacific NW Scooter Zine. Bumpstart #1 cover featured an awesome illustration of me and Steve Talley, my layout man bump-starting my 1967 Simson Schwalbe along NE Prescott Ave in Portland, Oregon. Illustrator Noah Patrick Pfarr needed some pictures to base his artwork on, so Steve and I met up in the Freightliner Trucks parking lot during my lunch break. As Steve and I pushed my Schwalbe up and down the parking lot, a lot of amused German engineers walked past us. All I understood was 'Der Schwalbe!! When I was deciding what to name the new 'zine, I thought of all sorts of names. Some friends suggested Bumpstart. I wasn't sure. Ultimately, it was my little German scooter that convinced me I needed to christen it that. 'Der Schwalbe kept stopping on the way home and I needed to bump-start it over and over. Ok, you pushy German, Bumpstart it shall be.

My next post will be about a rather famous centerfold that inspired That Bumpstart Man! and a mustache wear off featuring a well known Portland Scooterist and Burt Reynolds. We'll see if it's too hot to handle for social media.

Cheers,
Karen G.
xo

02/12/2019

30/11/2019

02/10/2017

Oh, heyyy. It's Mr. October Rodney Arundel Butler looking sassy in the sanddunes.