Roberto Patrignani in Kamakura, Japan, Vespa Milan-Tokyo rally of 1964.
July 2024 (G.T.) - There are people and stories that are not lost in the mists of time, but rather return like waves and are told again and again due to their extraordinary nature. And, on the occasion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it is worth remembering the incredible feats of Roberto Patrignani (Florence 1935- Milan 2008) 60 years ago. A journalist, writer, rider and adventurer with a passion for the Vespa, Roberto, who was then 29, travelled 13,000 kilometres alone, from Milan to Japan, on his Vespa 150, taking the Vespa Club Europe Trophy to Tokyo, to the Organising Committee of the 1964 Olympics.
This adventure lasted 100 days, 80 of which were spent travelling on his trusty Vespa which never let him down, carrying a camera tripod and a tent in his luggage. His feat is recounted in his cult book, “In Vespa da Milano a Tokyo” (From Milan to Tokyo by Vespa) (Edisport, Milan, 1965).
Video created by his son, Franco.
And 10 years ago, his son Franco Patrignani rode a Vespa GTS 300 across the United States, coast to coast, to commemorate his father’s journey half a century later. Here’s the article from 2014 from the Wide magazine archive:
wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/travels/like-father-like-son/index.html
But there’s another Patrignani to mention, too: eldest daughter Marzia, who is one of the characters in Paola Scarsi's book "La prima Vespa non si scorda mai” (You Never Forget Your First Vespa) ( wide.piaggiogroup.com/articles/people/paola-scarsi-la-prima-vespa-non-si-scorda-mai). Marzia tells of her Vespa rides with her famous father, a true legend of Vespa culture; when she was a child, her father added a seat in front of his, so that his daughter could rest her little hands on the handlebars, making her feel like she was steering herself.
Images source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_owqGakJHU
Fabio Cofferati's evocative journey also deserves a mention, “Vespa RAID MILANO-TOKYO OLIMPIADI 2020” (‘Vespa Raid MILAN-TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020’); due to the pandemic, the XXXII (32nd) edition of the Olympic games was postponed until the following year (2021), when the Vespa enthusiast set off on his 1963 150 VBB2, adorned with decorations by artist Luca Moretto. His book – “Ancora in Vespa da Milano a Tokyo” (NFC Edizioni, 2022, ‘Again on a Vespa from Milan to Tokyo’) – recounts his feat.
Images source, Fabio Cofferati’s FB page www.facebook.com/fabio.cofferati
Some people have even visited Mandello del Lario, to see the Patrignani house and discover the first-hand accounts, memories and memorabilia of that epic Milan-Tokyo rally by Roberto Patrignani. Like Flap (Flavio Carato), author of this story and its beautiful photos, published on AMOTOMIO.it (February 2024). A tribute to Roberto Patrignani:
www.amotomio.it/dentro-al-bauletto/8209-roberto-patrignani-la-forza-dei-libri.html
Image source for information purposes: amotomio.it
