Over 3,000 Vespa scooters from 37 countries descended on Belfast, Northern Ireland, over the weekend for one of the most important gatherings of Vespa enthusiasts around the world: Vespa World Days. The annual event is a celebration of the Vespa legend, a scooter born in 1946 to become a true global icon that transcends generations, languages, and cultures.

Continue reading for more on 2018 Vespa World Days.

Vespa World Days

Thousands of scooters and thousands more spectators made the trip to Northern Ireland for the four-day event. Folks arrived from, not only the U.K., but also from nations from all over Europe, North America, and Asia to show their love for the Vespa. Fewer Vespas registered for the event this year than last year's gathering in Celle, Germany, but several more nations were represented in Belfast. Among the attendees this year was a very pristine 1951 Vespa Douglas, still with its original spare tire.

Each year, the event finale is the announcement of the Vespa Trophy, which recognizes club members who spread the Vespa love by documenting all of their stops on the way to the event in photos and special stamps on their Travel Books. This year, the trophy, fittingly enough, went to Italy and the Vespa Club Verona. A first-time award for Solo Vespa Driver went to a woman from Prague who traveled over 3,700 miles by herself to attend the 12th annual Vespa event. That's no small feat on a scooter.

The 13th annual event slated for 2019 and will be held in Hungary.

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