3 wheel fun...

And now for something a little bit different...

After Sundays trailride and over a pint friend Tom suggested we have a day trip to Oban to see friend John who lives up there on his Boat...we have all been friends through motorbikes for over 12 years now...sounded like a good idea...
Tom also suggested we go in his Pembleton 3 wheel kitcar he built this year...
Now it sounded like a really fun good idea...
oh by the way it is an open top car and it was November!...
so Tuesday morning i jumped on the train to meet Tom at 8am in Waverly Station and it was the first time i have seen his Pembleton and it looked ace!...
i didnt take pics of the car until we were at Oban but here it is...


based on a citroen 2CV engine...





it has Honda CB250n superdream carbs fitted which improve the engine...

Tom has done a lovely job of this progect and the finish is excellent,he added a small raised cockpit for the 2 windscreens to keep the wind off but that wouldnt keep off the rain so like him i dressed prepared...
i already had paclite waterproofs on which i added a Motorcycle waterproof jacket and cycling storm trousers,add to this a neoprene facemask i wore winter cycling last year,wool hat and with the hood up some Scott Enduro goggles for eye protection,Scott Adventure gloves on and i was set to go...getting into the Pembleton Tom gave me the seat belt then got in and immediately it felt like sitting in an old aeroplane cockpit...

starting up the roar of the engine echoed around the train station and driving out up the hill into the morning sun a huge grin couldnt be held back,already i knew this was going to be a great day out...

we drove out through the streets of Edinburgh and just like when you ride the Surly Pugsley everyone stares then smiles!,
onto the M9 Motorway to Stirling, if you think this car would be slow being a 2CV engine remmember it weigh`s half the weight of a 2CV car and you sit about 8 inches off the ground...you could reach out and touch the road!,70 mph feels real fast...
As forcasted incoming low pressure front with heavy rain showers loomed ahead...

Then it started to rain..then leaving the M9 it really started to rain...
but we were still laughing...it was still great fun...i couldnt stop thinking about how this was how it must have felt like motoring back in the 1930s when cars were often like this...you get a real sense of the experiance of driving in the Pembleton...

a bit like on a motorbike, you sense the smells,temperture and weather and although like today when it was pretty bloody wet it is an amazing buzz...

was hard to take pics with the weather and the 1 waterproof sports cam i brought was behind me in the storage compartment in my backpack but here is some film on the infamous `rest and be Thankfull`...

we were a bit damp by the time we got to Oban and it was great to see John again...

Now im a landlubber (COASTkid) and was wobbling all over the place on the boat in the choppy conditions...

but felt safe when i seen the Radio inside!


John is an ex Royal navy diver and Olympic standard swimmer so just like i can trust Toms driving in a open car with no roll cage i wouldnt hesitate to go sailing with John...

his boat is real neat and i love the compactness of the boat inside and how every space is used...of course i took lots of pics but all were blurred as we were bobbing about!,after a coffee to warm up we went up to the shore again and tom took a neighbour of Johns for a spin in the car...


then John had a shot too,having owned a 2CV he loved it...


and heres the car parked next to Johns Land transport...a monkey bike!

with its folding bars he can take it on his yacht too...

i had a wee shot of Toms car too..maybe this is way better than a motorbike for the road?

then it was time for lunch...scampi and chips...and a pint of strongbow...

Then we had a look at Johns nieghbours boat,an 8 year labour of love from a floating shell and it was lovely...




most of the pics of the woodwork were blurred with me bobbing about but 2 show the parrafin cooker...

and some lovely designs...

time to get back on shore and get kitted up to leave...



soon we were on our way home,warmer with a tailwind and only light showers the return journeys weather allowed for some filming...we even overtook a Ferrari on the M9!...watch out for the flooding on road!...