Vespa just turned 80 on April 23, 2026, and what better time to look back at the crazy stunts your buddy pulled than a milestone birthday? I mean, isn’t that what birthdays are for? I thought so!
Approximately 15 years ago, back in 2011, a swarm of Vespisti (I believe that’s the proper collective description, yes?) descended upon a particularly special race track in Italy. No, not that one. No, not that one, either, though we’re certain that Vespas have probably visited most of the ones you’re thinking of at some time or another.
No, very specifically, I’m talking about the rooftop race track that Fiat built on the very top of its Lingotto factory. Now, you might be familiar with this track already; after all, not very many rooftop race tracks have ever been built, so it will probably stick in your mind once you know it exists. Though somewhat surprisingly, there has been more than one, in more than one country; but I digress.
In what’s perhaps the most unsurprising thing I’m about to tell you in this piece, Red Bull helped organize this event. To hear mega scooter specialty shop SIP describe it, approximately 200 Vespisti registered to race on the rooftop track in 2011 (and in fact, it’s their video you’re watching above).
The track (and the factory) was built back in the 1920s, when vehicles were a whole lot slower than they are now. Over time, the Fiat factory stopped testing all its vehicles on this track, deciding there were better ways to tackle speed tests for many of them. But amazingly, the track still remains open at the time of writing, as a “panoramic walkway,” where you can actually visit and walk around it to see rooftop gardens and art installations, courtesy of the Pinacoteca Agnelli.
Would you think it’s a fantastic idea to ever race on a rooftop, no matter what type of thing you were racing? Maybe RC cars or something, I don’t know? Feel free to discuss in the comments.
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