Editor’s Note: What is this Mad Bastard Scooter Rally? We’d heard about it for years, and were always curious, but we’re focussed on touring and longer trips so we didn’t think it was appropriate; but then we realized, after checking out some of KYMCO’s maxi-scooters, that touring can be done on a smaller bike and it might even enhance the experience – i.e. slowing down to smell the roses. So we’ve tapped our favourite motorcycle riders, Barb and Dave, to ride along with the What A Ride crew, as they know touring, but they’ve also restored a couple of vintage Hondas, and we’re all going to enjoy exploring the backroads of Ontario! At 600k in one day on 50cc bikes, this is a challenge worthy of even the most steely Iron Butt challenger!
The Mad Bastard Scooter Rally is an 600km (approx.) scooter ride through some of the greatest of Ontario’s scenery while collecting as many “mad” points as one can along the way. This years Mad Bastard Scooter Rally will be held June 19-21 and will be headquartered in Guelph, ON. Any daring scooterist or motorcyclist with an inclination for the absurd and access to a scooter (preferably 50cc) is dared to take up the challenge of the Mad Bastard! With such a challenge on the table, the What A Ride team are kicking up their Scooter kick-stands, dawning their “Maddest” costumes and flying down the roads destined for Guelph!
In 2004, Canada Moto Guide editor and photographer Richard Seck had the problem of trying to figure out what to do with a 50cc Honda Ruckus that they had from Honda Canada for the summer. With a scooter designed for a ride around town and picking up groceries it was no surprise that there were difficulties convincing people how much fun an 850km non-stop 50cc scooter rally would be. The first Mad Bastard Scooter Rally was born out of this 22hr journey at a maximum speed of 70km/h around Lake Ontario. From 2004 and on The Mad Bastard Scooter Rally has been documented and immortalized in the pages of the Canada Moto Guide.
The exact route won’t be announced until everyone is onsite in Guelph. Rally contestants are divided into classes and given a time restriction to complete the route based on CC:
- “Straitjacket” – All scooters & mopeds up to 50cc in capacity have 24 hours
- “Heavily Medicated” – Scooters greater than 50cc but no greater than 110cc are given 20 hours
- “Therapy Required” – Scooters greater than 110cc but no greater than 200cc are given 18 hours
- “Delay Release” – All scooters greater than 200cc have 16 hours.
Points can be made throughout the journey from costumes, picture contests and other Mad ways! This years fund raising efforts will go to the Big Brother Big Sisters of Guelph. In previous years the rally volunteers and participants have raised up to $15,000 for charities like Kids Help Phone.
New for 2015 long time sponsor KYMCO Canada is taking over the event and giving it their own kind of twist! KYMCO Canada’s Sabina Heilman states that “KYMCO Canada is thrilled to be organizing the 2015 Mad Bastard Scooter Rally. As a long-time title sponsor, we have participated as rally organizers, co-rally masters, and of course, rally participants. 
With nearly a decade of exposure to the insanity of this event, we promise to stay true to MBSR’s core elements, but equally look forward to taking it up a notch! Editor ‘Arris will stay on as the asylum’s resident consultant, and may have the opportunity to finally get a taste of his own medicine, if he dares to ride with the pack this time. Ah, revenge is sweet isn’t it? Dust off those scoots, and fire up those engines. You will not want to miss this one!”
With room for only a handful of riders to participate each year KYMCO Canada has brought in the What A Ride team to document their adventures as they take on the challenge of the 2015 Mad Bastard Scooter Rally so you can experience the “Maddness” first hand! Stay tuned for the adventures to come!
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