A Rolling Museum

Chiang Rai has three interesting clubs with the aim to restore, maintain and ride classic two-wheelers: Bicycles, Vespa's and light Honda motorcycles.

The seniors concentrate on mainly English bicycles of which some are almost hundred years old: Humbers, Raleighs, Robin Hoods, BSA's, Rudges and Standards. They show great respect to authenticity in the way they restore the bicycles.

The Vespa club (the Bee's) keep the history alive by keeping their remarcable Italian post-war motorscooters (since 1946) on the streets of Chiang Rai. The Wasps might have been a better name as Vespa actually means wasp, but the name Bee's reflects better the diligence of the members of the club in maintaining their vehicles.

The juniors take care of mainly Honda 50 and 70 cc with all kind of different models. This club has about seventy members. It is great to see their enthousiasm and their love for these unbelievable strong and well-made Japanese machines.

Keep them rolling! In a town with only one private museum (Oub Kham of Acharn Julasak at Den Haa, close to the military base) it is good to see that at least one aspect of the history of Chiang Rai is preserved for the future. Together these clubs constitute a kind of rolling museum.

By the way, time to think about our three-wheelers as well. The drivers, together with their samlors are getting older and older, and less and less. When will they disappear from the townscape? And when?

Please read Joel Barlows' topic about Dr. Briggs as well.

Limbo