~ Just Dessert ~
The 2024 New England Spring Fling
Steven Rossi
The always-anticipated New England Spring Fling finally arrived for an anxious group of deserving Guzzi guys and gals on Sunday, June 2…with the turn of the calendar page. And it couldn’t have come too soon after months of unpredictable weather surprises as the seasons rocked and rolled. So, we were overdue for a break…and were thankfully (finally) rewarded with one!
The Northeast Connecticut corner arose to a spectacular clear and crisp morning with bright sun, low humidity and 60–to-70+ degree temperatures. It was truly picture perfect to frame what would be a great portrait of Guzzi’s gathered. As if it were a family reunion. At what’s now known as the Woodstock Trading Post…formerly, Sweet Evalina’s Stand…up on Route 169 in pastoral Woodstock, CT.
As always, even with the best laid plans (this certainly wasn’t our first rodeo), there had to at least be one more surprise (as previously mentioned). That being, the new Stand>Post owners pushed their opening hour back to 11:00 AM. So our published 10:00 starting time meant that some early arrivals were left to idle away an hour or so ahead of time. Which wasn’t too hard with what would ultimately be 21 Mandello del Lario-made machines on hand!
It was an Italian eye candy extravaganza that included:
Nuovo Falcone Eldorado
Eldorado T3
LeMans III Strada 1000
Jackal 1100 Breva
Norge Norge
1200 Sport Griso
Stelvio “Classic” California 1400
V7 III Special V7 Stone Centenario
V85 TT V85 TT
V85 TT Travel V85 TT Guardia
V100 Mandello S
There were license plates in our lot proudly representing the following states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and Maine (longest distance traveled…California 1400).
In addition, we always promote our events as Moto Guzzi “and more” so here are an additional 17 brands and models which we warmly welcomed:
BMW R100S BMW R100RT
BMW K1 BMW K1200
BMW R1200 GS BMW R1200 GS
Excelsior-Henderson (old!) Honda Dream
Honda Gold Wing GL1000 Honda CB1000
Honda 250 Honda CBR
Honda XBR 500 Royal Enfield Cont. GT
Triumph Bonneville Scramb. Ural
Yamaha FJR
And then, a brigade of “Blue Knights” arrived to fill the remaining, expansive side of the Woodstock Post Office parking lot with a worth of girth.
Before we knew it, the fling had flung to 2 PM. Time to part ways and spring toward the idyllic New England hills, and head for home. Until I realized, I still hadn’t gotten around to eating lunch. So for the second time in the same day, I enjoyed…just dessert.
