Scootering’s popularity in the United States ebbs and flows, but America’s hosted a tight-knit community of dedicated scooterists since before WWII, when American-made scooters like the Cushman, Salisbury, and Moto-Scoot ruled the roads. Following the arrival of European scooters after the war, American Vespa clubs copied the model of European clubs. At the peak of the U.S. European scooter boom, the Vespa Club U.S.A. (active 1957-1961) and the American Scooter Club organized local chapters, planned local and national events, and published club newsletters

The Vespa Club of America (VCOA) was formed in 1992 as the spiritual successor to the VCUSA (and reviving its logo) VCOA is America’s largest and longest-running national club, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022. The VCOA is a 501(c) non-profit organization and the U.S. affliliate of the Vespa World Club, Piaggio’s official association of international clubs.

Among other things, the VCOA organizes the U.S. national rally, Amerivespa, as well as VCOA Vintage Days, Vespa Parade Day, and more. In the last few years, VCOA has been concentrating on rebuilding a national network of local chapters. VCOA-Chicago (formed February 6, 2019) is one of the first (and the largest) of these local chapters, with about 70 members.

While most worldwide Vespa clubs limit their membership to Vespa riders, we welcome all marques, vintage and modern, and celebrate the diversity of American scooters, scooterists, and scootering. VCOA-Chicago welcomes members and non-members to most of our monthly events, in the hopes that you’ll see that scootering is more fun with friends, and the VCOA is worth your support.