You’ve got questions, 
we’ve got answers…

What is Amerivespa?

Amerivespa is Vespa Club of America’s annual national scooter rally, held since 1993. It’s held in a different location every year, this is its first time in Chicago (it’s been held twice in nearby Lake Geneva, WI). This year’s rally runs Wednesday evening through Sunday evening of Labor Day Weekend. (Labor Day Monday is free for travel, family, or more sightseeing.) 

What is Slaughterhouse?

Slaughterhouse is Chicago’s annual scooter rally, started in 1995, the longest-running scooter rally in the Midwest.

What can I expect from this year’s merger of Slaughterhouse and Amerivespa?

It’s two rallies in one! The rally will feature five days of rides, parties, competitions, VCOA’s annual meeting, live music, and a gala award dinner.

If you’ve been to Amerivespa, it’s that, with the Vespa Club of Chicago adding some of our favorite elements of the historic Slaughterhouse rally, showing off the city we love. We’ll also spotlight the Allstate and Sears Vespas imported by Sears here in Chicago.

If you’ve been to Slaughterhouse, it’s that, with even more scooterists from outside the Midwest, a big banquet, a bit more pageantry, more vendors, and more of the great swag Slaughterhouse is famous for,

Do i need to ride a Vespa?

No! Vespa Club of America, Amerivespa, Vespa Club of Chicago, and Slaughterhouse welcome all scooters and all scooterists, both as members and at our events.

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That said, we must impose limits for group rides to ensure everyone’s safety:

All riders participating in our group rides must ride registered and plated street-legal vehicles. Operators must be properly licensed and insured and sign the event waiver. Electric vehicles and mopeds are welcome if they meet the above specifications. If you must run lights, weave in and out of the group, or ride in the bike lane to keep up with the group, you’re creating an unsafe situation, and we’ll ask you to catch up with us later.

Motorcycles, minimotos, and maxiscooters are welcome, but we ask that you stay towards the back on the group rides and allow the slower bikes to set the pace. If we’re too slow for you, jump on the highway and meet us at the end of the ride.

What do I need to know about riding with a group?

Please familiarize yourself with the Vespa Club of Chicago group riding guidelines, based on MSF group riding standards. If you’ve never ridden in a group event before, we’ll host a practice group ride a week or two before Amerivespa. If nothing else, please listen carefully at the ride briefings. We have zero tolerance for racing or stunt riding. You’ll be asked to leave immediately. No warnings or second chances.

Can I rent a scooter?

Limited scooter rentals are available from our friends Second City Sirens. Otherwise, check motorcycle-sharing sites, there are usually a few available there, or ask on the WhatsApp group, a few of us have more scooters than we can ride at once.

How can I get my scooter there?

Ride it, tow it, or ship it! Find lots of advice and guidelines here. If you’re shipping, we recommend Denver James, but book soon!

Can I come without a scooter?

Of course! You’ll miss the rides but there’s a lot more to the rally than the rides! It’ll give you more time to see the city, eat, and hang out in the pool!

What’s up with parking?

The hotel shares a large parking garage with the convention center and other hotels. Be sure to use only the indicated scooter entrances/exits or you will be charged full rate and liable for injury/damage. We’ll share maps and instructions before the event, and there will be clear signage.

Scooter Parking is free for everyone, in a designated (large! covered!) space in the hotel parking garage. Do not cut around barriers, gates, or cones (unless indicated by Amerivespa signs), or you will find yourself outside the Hilton’s parking area and will be charged full rate.

Car Parking for hotel guests will be discounted at check-in, It’s (something like) $9/day (rather than $45!) and includes in/out privileges.

Trailer Parking will be available (for hotel guests only). To get in/out of the trailer lot, you must notify the front desk to open the gate. Guests are liable for damage if they enter/exit the trailer lot without front desk assistance.

Where can I park in the city?

Here’s the City of Chicago website and a brochure about scooter parking in Chicago.

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Most of Chicago’s major streets are metered and each vehicle (not each space) is required to pay the meter, ether at the kiosk or using the app. Non-metered streets may be marked with “residential parking zone” signs, any scooter with a ‘city tag’ can park here, but out-of-towners may not.. Parking on the sidewalk is illegal. Most of the venues where we’ll be together in large groups either have a lot or will be blocking off street parking for us.
 

What do I get?

Advance registration includes:

• admission to ALL rally events, many include food and drink.

• goodie bag including an embroidered patch, button, enameled metal legshield badge, sticker, and magnet

• a t-shirt (size guaranteed if you register before July 1)

• Saturday awards banquet including buffet and drink tickets.

• Sponsor swag

• a large handy “legshield bag” embroidered with the Slaughterhouse and Amerivespa logos. (register before May 1)

• a commemorative legshield banner. (register before June 1)

Registration will remain open after July 1, but may not include a t-shirt or goodie bag.

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How do I get Slaughterhouse swag?

A limited Slaughterhouse 32 swag package is being sold separately, sales benefit Slaughterhouse/Vespa Club of Chicago. It includes a patch, button, decal, and magnet for $25. You can preorder your SH31 swag package here.

How do I get a personalized Illinois license plate?

The deadline for personalized AV/SH Illinois license plates was April 20, sorry!

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Why is this year more expensive than in the past?

There are several reasons:

• It's bigger and better!

• The economy is terrible, we’re seeing a 15-30% increase on many costs since last year.

• For that same reason, some sponsors have cut back their support or declined to participate this year.

• Hotel and banquet contracts are necessary for an event of this scale.

• Event insurance is also necessary

• Chicago is a major global destination, and priced accordingly.

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That said, when you consider all that is included in five days of entertainment and activities, we’d argue that Amerivespa is a bargain compared to other entertainment/convention options.

Why must I join Vespa Club of America to register?

Amerivespa is a VCOA members-only event and is partially subsidized by member dues. If we offered a “non-member” price, it would work out the same, and by joining, you’ll get all the benefits of membership (club swag, newsletter, roadside assistance, etc) along with your registration. If, after a year, you don’t think the VCOA’s for you, that’s fine, don’t renew, and pat yourself on the back for supporting the scooter community in Chicago.

Why must my family join/register?

If your family wishes to participate  in the whole rally, we ask that they pay the registration fee. If your family is coming with you but isn’t going to ride or participate in registrants-only events, and doesn’t want the swag, they don’t need to register. Concert tickets will be available a-la-carte, and individual banquet tickets will be available (to immediate family members ONLY) if you register and contact us before July 1.

Why must I register for Amerivespa to attend Slaughterhouse?

It’s been a decades-long dream to host Amerivespa here in Chicago, and we don’t have the resources to host two rallies in one year, so we mixed them together.  If you’re a Chicago scooterist, you know that Vespa Club of Chicago works tirelessly to support the scooter community in Chicago, and we keep our rides and events open to non-members. We never ask for much in return, so now is the time to show your support! We bet you’re going to love this once-in-a-lifetime event. And hey, if it’s not your thing, “regular” Slaughterhouse will be back next year!

If you’re a long-time Slaughterhouser and don’t want to break your streak, but just can’t swing the registration fee, you can still support the rally: buy a SH32 swag package, visit Scooterworks or Motorworks while we’re there, buy tickets to the concert on Friday night and check out the concourse, gymkhana, and vendor area on Saturday. Just please don’t crash the private events, that’s not “sticking it to the man,” it’s screwing over your friends and sponsors who worked very hard to make this happen.