More than 80 scooters gathered July 26 and went 30 miles round trip from Fairhaven to La Conner to share Bellingham’s summer and take in view of mountains and the ocean with non-Bellingham riders. The 3rd annual rally is the Hamster Run, which is hosted by the Scooters of Bellingham (SOB).
A scooter enthusiast zips past the starting point in Fairhaven for the 3rd annual Hamster Run Saturday July 26. Photo by Galen Helmgren
The run started three years ago, said Dorcie Wellman, co-organizer of Hamster Run. The name "Hamster" comes from Bellingham citizens calling themselves "Bellinghamsters," Wellman said.
SOBs members, like riders from other cities ride Bellingham’s best routes and enjoy the contrast in the mountains and the sea, Wellman said.
Although Bellingham has beautiful sights and twisted routes, such as Chuckanut Drive, SOBs had never hosted a rally until 2005, Wellman said.
Bob Williamson of Tacoma arrived in Bellingham on the morning of July 26, and rode more than 220 miles with the group ride of Hamster Run, he said. Williamson enjoyed the group riding and scenery from Chuckanut Drive, he said.
"People are so into scooters, and it is fun to share the same hobby," Williamson said. "[Chuckanut Drive] was very interesting, and it was so close to the water."
The number of participants has been growing and has nearly doubled from the first Hamster Run, Wellman said. The same people from past Hamster Runs came back and brought their friends, she said.
These riders ranged in ages from teenagers to 70 year olds and get along with each other well, Wellman said. They share the same hobby and exchange stories from riding, Wellman said.
But the scooter riders are mostly middle-aged because scooters remind them of their youth and are affordable as toys, not as a main transportation source, Wellman said.
"[Riding a scooter] makes me feel like I’m living in my youth," Bellingham resident Roger Wiederholt said. "I rode motorcycles when I was 17, and it reminds me of those days"
Western junior Andrew Amodeo rode his silver Yamaha Vino 125 in Hamster Run and is considering joining SOBs, he said. He has been riding scooters for four years, but he had never been to a rally.
Amodeo started riding scooters because of the rise in gasoline prices and found riding scooters is more fun and more enjoyable than driving a car, he said.
"[My scooter] goes 80 miles per gallon," Amodeo said. "Riding a scooter is fun because it is an open environment, and I can feel how fast I am going. But driving a car isolates you from the outside, and you got a box around you."
Members of the Scooters of Bellingham navigate the turns on Chuckanut Drive south of Fairhaven on their way to Edison during the annual Hamster Run Saturday July 26. Photo by Jon Bergman
Justin Daniels, a clerk of Chispa, a Vespa dealer located in Fairhaven, has participated in Hamster Run since last year, he said. He has more than five scooters and chose to ride a 1963 Allstate model, he said.
His red Allstate has a 125cc engine, Daniels said. It has nearly a 5-foot long body and has approximately a 2-foot long handle. Two painted birds are flying on the front of his scooter.
The reason Daniels goes to rallies in the Northwest is to see other riders and their scooters, as well as show his Allstate. He also enjoys sharing his experiences and knowledge of scooters, and hearing from other riders.
"[My scooter] looks old, and people make [fun] of it. But I want to show off that it’s strong and fast," Daniels said. "I usually talk about business with customers. But here I just forget about business, and I talk about bikes and see many kinds of scooters."
Todd Quessenbirry, another Bellingham resident, was pulled over by a police officer because he backed up an entrance to the highway to make sure the whole group of more than 80 riders could turn left safely. But he did not get a ticket, Quessenbirry said.
"I pissed off a cop because I was blocking the highway," Quessenbirry said. "I expected to get a ticket, but he didn’t give me one. I broke a law in the name of safety."
Hosting a rally impacts Bellingham’s local business. Chispa general manager James Pitzer said Chispa co-sponsored Hamster Run and served breakfast before the Chuckanut ride. Sponsoring the event and serving food help riders know Chispa and encourage customers to come back and buy scooters, Pitzer said.
The 4th annual Hamster Run will happen the last weekend in July 2009, Wellman said.
To run with the Hamsters of Bellingham click here...
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