I know the name of this publication is Motorcycle Classics and not Scooter Classics, but what the heck.

Scooters are cool, have tons of style and classic European scooters were many a man's stepping stone to the motorcycle world. Here are four photos of scooters I recently purchased in Germany. My reason for selecting these scooters is plain and simple personal attraction. They look cute and with gas prices as high as they are today, scooters are fun and economical.

The first scoot is a 1960 IWL TR-1, commonly know as the "Troll." It has a 150cc engine and boxy styling, and its two-tone paint make this East German scooter an Iron Curtain classic.

Next we have a 175cc, 1960 Cezeta. The snout on this one serves as a rolling bomb of sorts. Note that the gas tank is mounted directly behind the headlight! You've got your fuse and incendiary all in one!

Our third example is the 150cc 1956 NSU Lambretta Autoroller. NSU was at one time the largest producer of motorcycles in Europe. The Lambretta was an Italian design built under license by NSU in Germany. NSU Lambrettas are high quality, and many are still in use today.

Last but not least is my little 1960 NSU Prima. I really like the paint and chrome on this one, along with its jet-age styling that give this 175cc scooter pizzazz.

Scooters (and their four wheel kin, microcars) had their heyday in the late Fifties and early Sixties. They were popular when "motoring" was fun and exciting, and they're still a lot of fun today. -- John Landstrom

Story by Conrad Pfeifer

John Penton, 1959. Note his brother's white tank on John's black bike.
Photo courtesy Ed Youngblood

Why did you want to do this ride?
In 1958 I was a mixed-up guy. My wife had just died; I was left with three boys. I was kind of confused. My sister took in one son, and my brothers each took one. My brother Ted told me to just go ride, so I went on a 12,000 mile ride ending up in Mexico. When it was time to come home to Amherst [Ohio] I rode straight through from Mexico. When I got home my brother said that since I did that ride I should go for the coast to coast record [Then held by Cannonball Baker].

What did you do for verification and record keeping?
Checked in at Western Union NYC, kept a letterhead that I had stamped then at each toll booth or tunnel I asked them to stamp it. They looked at it and wondered what I was doing, then stuck it in their machine. I didn't care if it was upside down or backwards, just so it was there

John Penton and Floyd Clymer at end of the ride.
Photo courtesy of Ed Youngblood

Why did you choose BMW?
Anything else I'd be kidding myself. It was a modern motorcycle. It was an absolutely stock motorcycle. If I rode a Harley I would have had to use a support vehicle. Any other brand I would have to carry a bucket of oil, chains and spare parts. It was an absolutely stock bike. The only change I made was a windshield and a larger capacity tank which I took off of my brother's BMW.How did you arrange gas stops without 24 hour gas stations and was fuel an issue?The Turnpikes had service plazas and I knew where they were so I stopped at each of them. I stopped every 125 miles whether I needed gas or not.

What if it was after hours and they were closed?
If they were opened or closed, it didn't matter. (He said with a smile, Mr. Penton did not elaborate but he got gas somehow!

Was the weather a factor and did you run in to any rain?
The Turner Pike in Oklahoma was the only rain I had to deal with. [In] Flagstaff it was cold, 40 degrees or so. It was a shock coming down from Flagstaff on old Route 66 into Barstow where the temperature was over 100 degrees; I remember it [the temperature change] like it was a dream. But I had insulated leather and a rain slicker.

Did you take any rest breaks?
Coming in to Flagstaff Arizona everything was getting real fuzzy. I had two alarm clocks. I set them for a half an hour. I don't know if I slept or not but the alarms went off and my eyes didn't seem fuzzy anymore so I took off. The only food breaks were a ½ dozen Milky Ways that I carried in a bag on the back seat.

What was your most memorable moment?
Coming into St Louis [Mo.] I saw these flashlights, not stop lights, but flashlights. I thought "what in the hell? I've had it now." But the BMW distributor [Alfred Bondy from New York] called ahead to let them know I was coming. Two of the guys were police officers. They lead me through town on Route 55. That was a big break for me.

What the biggest hurdle in completing the ride?
Getting there, period.

For more information about John Penton read Ed Youngblood's book John Penton and the Off-Road Motorcycle Revolution. Available from Whitehorse press, or visit the Penton Owner's website at www.pentonusa.org

John Penton and daughter Barbara, 2006.

Editor's note: From time to time our blog will feature posts from well-known enthusiasts within the classic bike world. John Landstrom, vintage enthusaist and owner of Blue Moon Cycle in Norcross, Ga., is our first guest blogger.

The J. Wood and Co. auction is always a highlight of the Daytona Bike Week vintage events. Sunshine and 80 degree days greeted vintage bike enthusiasts at Stetson University in Deland, Fla., where the auction was held.

Buyers and sellers alike respect Jerry Wood for running a straight, honest auction with both affordable and high quality bikes. This year's auction had an amazing 96 percent sell ratio with a record number of bikes going at no reserve. Units sold numbered 202. Total dollar volume was also a record-breaking $1.25 million. Valuable and collectible bikes brought record prices. New this year was a live broadcast of the auction on Dish Network's Treasure Channel. As antique motorcycle auctions get more mainstream media coverage, we can expect more buyers and higher prices.

Lot 53, Vincent Egli. From the Jeff Glasserow collection, built by Big Sid Biberman. I had the pleasure of riding this bike 10 years ago, and it was a sweet running Vincent with a SuperTrapp exhaust, 4-shoe brake and the famous Swiss-made Egli chassis. With Black Shadows fetching $50,000-plus, this nice Egli was well bought at $33,000 plus commission.

Lot 30, a 1975 Hercules Wankel 2000. An extremely clean, low-mileage bike with original paint. These German bikes were expensive when new, and looking somewhat like a Hoover vacuum cleaner, were not big sellers. Today they are rare and unique, along with the other rotary-engined motorcycles offered by Suzuki and Norton (and don't forget Van Veen!), rotaries appeal to collectors of the unusual. This one was priced about right for its good condition, and sold for $7,200 plus commission.

Lot 17, MV Agusta Uni Wheel (art display). Weird and wacky, this whimsical sculpture depicts a one-wheeled motorcycle that would be impossible to ride if it ran (which it doesn't). Fine workmanship and a few overzealous bidders drove the price through the roof to $17,500 plus commission. A high price, but where are you going to find another one? At this price, I expect to see more next year.

Lot 71, a 1954 BMW R68. A restored, numbers-matching R68 with ISDT (International Six Days Trials) replica upgrades. Sold at $23,000, a fair price for buyer and seller. BMW R68s are rare and sure to climb in price. The ISDT parts add little to its value, but make for an interesting ride.

Lot 163, a 1946 Indian Chief. Mostly original but in need of restoration, the paint was old, scratched, and not original, the speedometer was broken, and it looked a little rough, though it was said to run. Not sold at $16,000. I think the seller should have taken the money and run. This old Chief will take a lot of money to make right.
-- John Landstrom