topic A great escape in Off-Topic

A great escape

Martin-O2 — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:02:35 GMT

In 1991 a Frenchman called Emile Leray was driving his Citroen 2CV across the Moroccan desert when he was involved in an accident which damaged his car leaving him stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Knowing that the trek out of the desert would likely kill him Leray set about breaking down his Citroen and using the parts to construct a make shift motorbike to escape the desert. The process took him around 12 days and with only half a litre of water left he finished the bike and took about a day to reach safety. Unfortunately for Leray the Moroccan police diden't approve of his construction skills and handed him a hefty fine because the registration documents for his car no longer corresponded to what he was driving.

I probably would have attempted to walk out in his situation despite the risks as my mechanical skills are average at best. Does anyone think they could have built a similar vehicle with no power tools or welding equipment?

Full story here

Re: A great escape

Anonymous — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:06:34 GMT

He's Mad Max, The Road Warrior

Re: A great escape

MI5 — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:06:44 GMT

I guess us old uns have the advantage here.
When I was a kid, if we wanted a bike or a Go-Cart we'd have to make one - Many days were spent rummaging around the local council tip looking for suitable donor parts to make our next toy

Re: A great escape

Anonymous — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:09:44 GMT

Yup my old man made me a postman pat van from wood & old go cart wheels & I would pedal it

Re: A great escape

Martin-O2 — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:35:20 GMT

Building a Go-Cart is one thing I never did as a kid. Although I managed to get in enough trouble on my push bike so it's probably a good thing

Re: A great escape

MI5 — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:37:58 GMT

You've never lived until you've zoomed down Tuttle Hill with no brakes

Re: A great escape

Martin-O2 — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:44:02 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
You've never lived until you've zoomed down Tuttle Hill with no brakes

Sounds dangerously fun!

We had "the bumps" which was a series of super steep dirt tracks down the local park. Saw a good few wipeouts down there over the years.

Re: A great escape

MI5 — Thu, 19 May 2016 15:47:06 GMT

@Cleoriff will know what I mean - you could easilly beat Guy Martin's speed record

Re: A great escape

Cleoriff — Thu, 19 May 2016 17:15:03 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
@Cleoriff will know what I mean - you could easilly beat Guy Martin's speed record

Both my lads had Go Karts.....they still have the scars on elbows and knees from racing down local hills and tracks and crashing...Those days there were no laws about crash helmets, knee and elbow pads....

Re: A great escape

Martin-O2 — Fri, 20 May 2016 08:47:59 GMT

Definitely a simpler time before the health and safety rules became so common place. I remember the breaks on my first bike was me jamming my foot on the back wheel till the bike stopped!

Re: A great escape

Cleoriff — Fri, 20 May 2016 19:04:41 GMT

As a Mum I remember the destruction of shoes.....torn trousers at the knee, ripped shirts and jumpers...we became expert at changing wheels, tyres and handlebars.....