My first scoot was a Vespa 150 Super with 8" wheels painted in pink acrylic house paint by Tony Tonon of Vespa House in Collingwood. I was 17 and Tony's son Frank wouldn't let me take it until I had my L's at 17 and 9 months. Back then the Scooter Club of Victoria would attract maybe 30 people to their monthly meetings at The London Tavern on Lennox St Richmond. Most runs were to cafes but I recall a Hill Climb at Arthur's Seat and a "National Run" to Mt Gambier to meet the SA crew.
Vespa's shouldn't be banned. That's too harsh. Vespas are classic and beautiful things and there have been some superb Vespas like the 90SS, some of the other small frames (http://www.smallframes.com/), The GS and even the Rally 180. But Lambrettas were always sexier and more exciting and Vespas like the P's and the PX's are agricultural and hideous IMHO. One thing Vespa has over Lambretta these days though is that nice modern Vespa's are still made eventhough most are four strokes! I am deliberately ignoring the Lambretta GP reproductions like the Vijaya Super from India which are horrible quality and am doubting that there are still Servettas being made? Imagine a brand new, high quality SX200 Lambretta... Drool... Unlikely to happen given the steadily tightening emissions rules that are driving two strokes out of the market save for our precious 50's and a few 100's like the BeeWee and Aerox.
Do tell me. How the hell does the PX200 meet Australian emissions standards? I suspect some good old Family Business at work... Capiche?