Joel Hamilton of Book of Knots takes his Vespa cross-country for Scott Harding

There has never been a time when Vespas weren’t cool. The Italian motorbike has been a rock 'n' roll favorite since the 1960s, when natty Mods embraced it because its design kept their clothes cleaner than the greasy motorcycles that rockers drove.

When I was a wage slave at Tower Records in the 1980s, the Mod revival was on full-stop; guys in skinny ties and girls in cashmere sweaters would come on their Vespas to pick up the latest music from the Untouchables and Style Council. 1990s Britpop made Vespas hip again, though not so much in the States. Now, scooter riding qualifies as green as well as fashionable, and Joel Hamilton’s out to reinforce that message.

The Brooklyn-based musician and producer plays in Book of Knots, an experimental rock band that includes bass great Tony Maimone. In the studio, Hamilton has worked with the likes of Elvis Costello, Jolie Holland, Anthony Hamilton and Marc Ribot. But apparently that’s not adventure enough for this guy.

Starting Sept. 11, he’ll ride coast to coast on his black Vespa, joining 27 other enthusiasts in a rally known as the Scooter Cannonball Run. The Run, which happens every other year, is a competition –- but Hamilton says he’s doing it for the joy of the road, and to honor his friend Scott Harding.

You remember Scott from the post we did on him when a terrible accident befell him last winter. Paralyzed in a hit and run accident, the producer, who lives in New York but has strong West Coast roots, has been recovering slowly but surely in a rehabilitation center in the Bronx. Friends on both coasts have organized numerous benefits for him; Hamilton’s unites those communities in spirit, and 75 percent of the money he earns from sponsors will go to Scott’s trust.

His ride also benefits the awesome Future of Music Coalition, a national research, education and advocacy group that does a world of good in many areas, including raising awareness about musicians’ health issues. (This page from its website helps musicians sort out issues about obtaining insurance.)

You can trace Hamilton’s preparations and progress on his blog. More info on Scott Harding is available here. And spend some time with the Future of Music Coalition. You’ll learn a lot.

-- Ann Powers

Photo of a guy who's not Joel Hamilton or Scott Harding on a 1964 Vespa Grand Sport by Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times