“Hi, Matt,” writes Che Underground contributor and veteran San Diego scenester Mathias Kuo to the Che Underground hotline. “Here are some scooter pics from the hallowed halls of SD history — taken from a South Bay perspective.”
“Set #1 — Chula, Bonita and Coronado mods before a rally.”
“Ski Beach”
“I think these relate to the one of the other Mt. Soledad rally pics.”
“Set #2 — LA, Huntington Beach Rally 1984. I think these also relate to a post that you have done, as the second pic looks like it is in the same setting with the stairwell.”
“Thanks for all you do.
— Mathias Kuo”
Great photos. I spy a few kids in the photos: Mark Stalinovich on his Serveta with the Swedish flags painted on the panels. Marty Montillo is in one. Kids without helmets, riding mopeds (there’s no pedals, man)!
Has anyone else tried to develop some 110 film lately ??? the first kid at the camera shop looked at the negatives and could not ID the type, then called over a “senior technician”. they sent it out and it took 2 weeks to get back.
anyway…
great memories here of the “formative years” when our parents thought we were going off the deep end. Ski Beach was a great place to see and be seen, and the LA Rally was somewhat of an adventure. I got a flat at a red light in the middle of the rally, and then found out I did not have a spare tube. Aubrey stayed behind with me, and eventually went to Scooterville, which ended up being across town. We fixed it after like 3 hours, then went back to the hotel to rest up for the show that night. Needless to say we got sidetracked and somewhat polluted, waking up only when everyone was coming back from the show. I think it was an Untouchables show so we were really bummed to miss it. Thinking back — riding to LA on a 150 Super was probably not the best idea, whizzing on the freeway at a dizzying 50 -55 mph (which was all I could do), wobbling side to side from the grooves in the road. and…yes Tony….no helmet or pedals.
Hope to see some familiar (and wizened) faces at the January Casbah show !
I wanna figure out all the locations in these photos, based on the signs in the background. (Is that fragment of a yellow-and-red sign in the photo of Mathias and Dean the Tower Records logo?)
the route looks to be ski beach over to the sports arena area, and that tower records was the one on sports arena blvd. dont recall where we ended up after that, maybe the Ken Cinema ?
Wow and they keep coming. Who was taking the pics? Did you find the 110 roll in your parka pocket in storage?
I grew up in PB and I remember seeing you guys out and about and at the Vespa shop on Garnet, right? The first time I went to see Rocky Horror (’84? I was 13) the row of scoots in front of the Ken left a permanent impression of what “cool” means to me.
Who’s Mario? He’s got this “I was a South Bay Mod!” page.
dont recognize all but do see some old faces. the truth was very few of the southbay(sandiego) so called mods attended scooter rallies. they just liked looking good in southbay. i myself loved the adventure of travel and other prospects… having a scooter to us in those days was style and a way of escape from boring south bay. alot of guys were jealous of us so we stayed away from the negativity, we would go to a party and people would move out the way. they thought we wanted their girls we didnt there was enough for all. anyway it was good times, friends, music and most important scooters.
These pictures remind me of how little we cared about what anyone thought and we did as we pleased-anyhow,anytime anywhere.I’m grateful for those times and all of my friends.There are still shows and scooters-come out and join the fun!Cheers-Aubrey
Alright, this is a question about a party back in ’84-’85, It’s been bugging me and I want to find an answer!
There was a Mod party ’84-’85 near and around freeway 94 east and Federal blvd, up in the hills(East side of Federal) there…
I drove in a car with the Beattie twins(Hilltop High School) in their car and I think Mathias Kuo went with us…
The road came to what I think was a dead end and you turned left into the drive way of the house… The house was built at an angle to the drive way… the road to get to it was slightly down hill and windy…
I remember, hooking up with one of the Power twins and her friend…
Anyhow, I’m being very sentimental about this, no biggy…
Thanks,
Erik
Erik that was Lonis house it was on scimitar dr
man lots of parties, san diego was a paradise. cruising your scoot accross silver strand to buy beer cause we werent old enough. new horizons for a young guy you need very little gas money the thrift stores were plentyful. i miss those days and it feels good to see those old pictures. i was i guess in the second generation of san diego mods, starting around 83. i first saw a mod in 81 two tone movement ended 78-79 hit california 1980 correct me if im wrong i saw jim wold on an orange jet 200 in 1979 1980. george ringo on a silver p200e 1981 david hernandez who was like scooter god to us 1981-82 he had a burgundy p200e with batman decals on the chrome cals and it had a stereo mirrors etc.. he was a dj and the local ib south sandiego scoots went with him to all his parties. bobby meza had a 1980 jet 200 with stipes on cals awesome days. those guys were cool down to earth. i went to a rally my first at jps on chatsworth right accross pint loma high it blew my mind. i meet guys who rode down from santa barbara on vespas fucking awesome. batman and robin was there adam west and the other guy, scooter races bands till three in the morning manual scan played. they were selling records etc.. the only mod i saw a real mod from my area was moses zazueta his sister went with someone in a band or from secret socierty or something awesome.