Mods vs. Rockers Chicago, 2011

The Mods vs. Rockers event, hosted by Ton Up Club Chicago on Friday and Saturday, June 17 – 18, 2011 was a rip roarin' success. Attendance was at its highest this year, with countless rows of bikes lining Lincoln Avenue near Delilah's Bar. Over 1,500 people attended, riding into the city of Chicago from over 30 different states. Country flags were placed on the street indicating to bikers where they should part their bikes. Triumphs squeezed into the UK spaces, BMWs filled in the German spaces, Kawasaki, Hondas, and Suzukis filled the Asian section and of course the Harley's parked by the US flags. The “Mods” (scooter riders) also represented by filling in all possible parking spaces reserved for them. Friday night's activities included rally registration and bag pick up, following by a rumble cruise to the Bottom Lounge. Saturday's activities started around 1pm and included a vintage motorcycle and scooter show, followed by the Mods and Rockers riding to the Bottom Lounge on Lake St. Once at the Bottom Lounge, all riders feasted on fish and chips dinners while checking out the Triumph hosted fashion show.

 NEW Cafe' Racer Burnout Tee

 VaVaVroom participated at the Saturday event where owner, Denise Maple, show cased the company's newest product- the Cafe' Racer Burnout Tee. The positive feedback from the crowd for this product has further fueled VaVroom's excitement to launch this great new product. Look for the new Cafe' Racer Burnout Tee soon.... VaVaVroom also sold its full line of motorcycle and scooter casualwear, jackets and jewelry.

For more pictures- check out Tone Up Club's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ton-Up-Chicago/75094371681

Denise Maple, founder of VaVaVroom LLC, received a Future Founders Champion of the Year Award to recognize her contributions to the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center's Future Founders Program. The Future Founders program was created in 2005 to expose students to careers in entrepreneurship and to foster skills such as public speaking, presentation, technology, and financial literacy skills by giving them the opportunity to work with successful local entrepreneurs.

Maple was presented this honor at a ceremony located at the Hard Rock Cafe, on May 4, 2011. Notes Maple on her award, “I really enjoyed working with the students on their business plans. I was the one mentoring them, however I still learned a great deal from them about the importance of creativity. I get as much out of it as I give. Seeing these kids learn and gain confidence throughout the year is very rewarding for me.”

The Future Founders Champion Award is awarded to volunteers who have made a significant impact on the lives of our young entrepreneurs. These volunteers have been committed to Future Founders for multiple years and are champions of the effort to expose students to careers in entrepreneurship.

This year’s Future Founder's contest included steeper competition; participants grew from 160 students in 2010 to 200 students in 2011. Students at five south side Chicago public high schools were provided the opportunity to become young entrepreneurs. The competition required students to develop and showcase a business plan for a new products or service they created independently. The students were recognized for their businesses by a panel of local entrepreneurs and business leaders. A total of $25,000 in prizes were awarded to various participants. The champion award and 1^st place in the technology category was awarded to Anthony Driver from the Chicago International Charters School's Ralph Ellison campus for his unique Charge 'N' Go device. Driver's device charges consumer electronics. Karalyn Kelly, a junior at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, won the product category with “Food Girl”, a business that makes and delivers lunches for high school students and faculty. For more information about the Future Founders program, visit www.chicagolandec.org/futurefounders.

Maple is no stranger to mentoring since she has held various leadership roles at LaSalle Bank, including a Senior Vice President position. Maple also understands what it takes to create a successful new business, as the founder of the increasingly popular female motorcycle apparel company, VaVaVroom LLC. She created VaVaVroom in 2007 to counter a lack of femininity and style in an ever-increasing market of women motorcycle enthusiasts. The apparel company delivers a passion for design, fit, and practicality to the industry.  

 Denise Maple, recipient of Future Founder's Award                                            

Teacher Scott Steward ofGwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy was honored for his contributions to the Future Founders program.

VaVaVroom announced its upcoming motorcycle and scooter riding jacket sweepstakes, which will be held on the company's Facebook page from May 17 - June 7, 2011. In keeping with the company's spirit of designing fashionable, functional riding apparel for women of all sizes, the contest will ask women motorcycle and scooter riders to answer the following question in 50 words or less:  

"What is your favorite feature of the new VaVaVroom 1.0 Motorcycle and Scooter Riding Jacket and why?"

VaVaVroom founder, Denise Maple, noted that VaVaVroom "wants to collect feedback from its loyal community of women riders and reward them for their valuable input."

After submitting answers on VaVaVroom’s Facebook page, contestants will automatically be entered into its weekly sweepstakes for two VaVaVroom 1.0 Riding Jackets, the company’s newest product. Since two jackets are better than one - contest winners will receive one jacket for themselves and one for a lucky friend.  In the event that a winner has already purchased the 1.0 Riding Jacket at VaVaVroomOnline.com during the sweepstakes period, they will be reimbursed for their purchase by VaVaVroom LLC. Submissions will be accepted from May 17 – June 7, 2011. In addition to the company’s Facebook page, contest entries will also be accepted by mail. Three weekly prizes will be awarded on May 25, June 1, and June 8, 2011. Winners will be chosen at random. Full contest rules can be found on VaVaVroom’s Facebook page by clicking on the Sweepstakes tab.

VaVaVroom 1.0 Riding Jacket Description

-  White vertical stripes on the left side of the black jacket offer style

-  Snap-down hood offers practicality

-  The jacket is adjustable with tightening straps at the hips and cuffs

-  Hidden elastic at the hips offers even greater versatility to fit all shapes and sizes 

-  CE - approved removable armor at shoulders and elbows and removable back pad

-  Reflective armbands and piping for safety and visibility 

-  Curved piping for a flattering look

-  Removable liner and venting for changing temperatures

-  Water-resistant Cordura shell for abrasion resistance

 -  Branded by the VaVaVroom logo

 -  Offered in sizes Small - 3XL, true American sizing

-  Jacket retails for $149.99

Women are encouraged to see and try on the new 1.0 Motorcycle and Scooter Riding Jacket at VaVaVroom dealers and upcoming events including Mods vs. Rockers on June 18, 2011 in Chicago and Rockerbox on August 6, 2011 in Milwaukee. 

VaVaVroom not only wants to give away its jacket, the company also wants to "give back". During the month of May, VaVaVroom is encouraging customers to "Shop to Save a Life". VaVaVroom will donate 10% of May, 2011 online motorcycle jacket sales to Riders for Health.  Riders for Health mobilizes health workers, providing millions of people in rural Africa with access to care. Without reliable transportation, this would not be possible.  Riders for Health is training local health workers in seven countries across Africa to operate their motorcycles safely and to carry out basic preventative maintenance. This ensures that the motorcycles will not break down and the health workers are able to efficiently and effectively do the job they were trained to do.  This jacket purchase brings Riders for Health steps closer to its vision of a world in which people do not suffer or die simply because the health care they need does not reach them.

Total Miles = 0

No time to ride when you are working like a dog. Up by 6:00 a.m. to shower and ready to work the booth around 8:00. On my way to the showers, I snapped a pic of the mountain range.

 The rally site is in a beautiful place. In keeping with tradition, The Chicago Region BMW MOA Owner's Association rented a tent for club members to gather during the rally.

It is nice to have a place to catch up and get out of the sun. Our last day in the booth was busy and VaVaVroom sales were the best of any of the days.  Biker patches and women's motorcycle apparel were hot on the days list, but it was getting late and my appetite was growing.  In keeping with tradition, Fred cooked for all of the Bob's BMW booth staff. I swear they were the best tacos I've ever had!