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The A-Town Rumblers, a little history.

 

The A-town Rumble burst from the Menand's Farmer's Market in July of 2010. Organized by Chuck Price and his family as a fund raiser for JDRF, it brought moped and scooter riders from across the Northeast to "Rumble" through the streets of Albany, Menands, Watervliet and Troy.

 

Seeing the turnout of riders, Jerry Dunn, Chuck Price, and Scott Brodie had the brilliant idea that the A-Town Rumble could be the basis of a moped and scooter club. Soon after, the Capital District Scooter and Moped Club (CDSMC) was born with Jerry as its President.

 

Under Jerry's leadership, with a full schedule of rides and activities for both new and experienced riders, the club grew rapidly. We had short local rides, medium rides, and our first two-state overnight ride to Hartford, Connecticut! We also began the traditions of an inaugural ride through Albany at the beginning of the season, and a ride up to the Heldebergs for a group photo at the season's close. Restaurants and ice cream joints became destinations, and a family picnic with or without scooters became a tradition, too. The A-Town Rumble remained the pivotal event of the riding season as it continued to raise more money for JDRF.

 

When Jerry stepped down as President in 2012, CDSMC formed a Steering Group of several regular riders who took over the leadership. In the last few years, we have expanded our rides to include overnight trips to Martha's Vineyard, Pennsylvania, the Finger lakes in Western NY, and more, and we have expanded our shorter day trips, too. Our mailing list and facebook friends have shown steady and impressive annual growth.

 

In 2013, seeing that the moped riders had spun off their own group, the Mohawk Mammoths, CDSMC altered its official name to reflect this change. While keeping its familiar initials, the new name became the somewhat tortured, Capital District Scooter Motoring Collective.

 

In 2014, with another successful year under our belt, we officially partnered with the A-Town Rumble organization. A plan developed to expand the Rumble into a 3 day rally that would attract a greater number of riders from beyond the Capital District and raise more funds for JDRF. Once that partnership was established, we decided to change our name one more time. Our new name brought us back to our roots and acknowledged our partnership with the A-Town Rumble. We became, the A-Town Rumblers. 

 
A - Town Rumble #1, July 2010

 

Words can’t describe how fun and successful the A-Town Rumble was. I don’t think that even big metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or New York City could do much better as far as turnout. There were so many scooters that riders were able to park next to other scooters that had the same color. We had a whole row of just light blue scooters! 

 

I think the final calculation was somewhere around 50 bikes participating and many more people. 

- Jerry Dunn

Conquering Mt. Greylock - 2011

A 47 year Obsession!

 

by Bob Addis

 

During the summer of 1963, I was riding a 1959 Vespa 125, 3 speed, 43 mph top speed. Two friends had ridden to the top of Mt. Greylock with more powerful scooters, I was absolutely amazed and envious at the same time - my little scooter couldn't do that!

 

Fast forward 47 years and Jerry Dunn had invited me to join the Capital District Scooter and Moped Club (now A-Town Rumblers).  We planned a trip up Mt. Greylock on a day with questionable weather. I was riding my trusty 1980 Vespa P200E and Jerry let me lead as the smallest scooter...

 

READ MORE... 

 

 

Following the Erie Canal to Hammondsport, 8/1-3/14

 

AUGUST 8, 2014

By Bob Addis

 

Originally I had hoped to be test riding the slow Neracar on this weekend, so I approached a cheapass friend, a genius really, who was known for picking driving routes to avoid hills and save gas. The Tres Amigos turned out to be Dan Dwyer on his MP3, Scott Brodie on Nelli, his ET4, and myself on Ingrid, the Burgman 650 since the Neracar wasn’t ready yet.

 

After breakfast at the Blue Ribbon Diner on Rt. 5 in Schenectady, we headed west on that road to Utica....

 

See more here.

 

Whiskey Dick Rally #2 – April 26-28, 2013 – Stroudsburg, PA

By Bob Addis

 

Chuck, where did we hear about this rally? Never mind, it was a scooter rally fairly close at a reasonable time of the year – do you need more reasons to go?...

 

Read more here.

Whiskey Dick Rally #2 – April 26-28, 2013 – Stroudsburg, PA

By Bob Addis

 

Chuck, where did we hear about this rally? Never mind, it was a scooter rally fairly close at a reasonable time of the year – do you need more reasons to go?...

 

Read more here.

Three State Ride - Aug. 17, 2014

by Rambler Dan

The morning started out cool and overcast as Chuck, Al, and I struck out on our adventure, but conditions improved as the day wore on. We passed through the pleasant countryside of northern Rensselaer County and meandered along the Hoosic River, then were treated to some dramatic views as we glided down County Route 102 toward NY 7 and the Vermont border...

 

Read more here.

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