This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take my Locost to my grandparent’s cottage on Manitoulin Island. Driving there, I took the long way, in order to avoid having to take a ferry. This part of the drive was 600km. On the map below, I started at F, drove through B, C and ended at the cottage, point D. To get home, I took the ferry, which went from the Island to point E, and then drove the rest of the way home, to point F. The trip was great. I went solo for the drive, but next time I go, my girlfriend will be joining me.
Two weeks prior to taking the trip, I realized that I wanted to make a convertible top for my car. This included making doors. I was originally going to pay someone to make the top for me, but I was quoted $1500 even if I made the doors, and the frame that supported the top. After thinking about it, I soon realized that I made everything else on the car, so why couldn’t I make a top for it too? Well, that decision lead to a lot of work. I worked for almost 60 hours in those 2 weeks, trying to make the top. I finished it at 2 am on Thursday. I was up at 6am on Friday to go to work. I worked 6hours and then started the drive. I was so excited. I didn’t care how much sleep I got. Below are a couple of pictures of the drive up.
On the drive, I had a lot of people looking at the car, and asking about it. Every time I stopped, I was complemented on the car, and asked all sorts of questions. Unlike Jack, I choice not to take pictures of all the woman that asked about my car.
(My girlfriend wouldn’t be too happy with me). The doors were great at cutting down the wind to almost nothing. I did the entire drive with the top down, while wearing a T-shirt. It was great.
In previous drives to the cottage, I would struggle to pass vehicles on the narrow 2 lane highways, due to the low power of the vehicles I regularly drive. For the first time in my life, I was able to pass any vehicle I wanted. A 5.0L in a Locost really helps with that.
Once at the cottage, I took some better pictures of my car. Enjoy:
I left the island on Monday afternoon. On the way home, as mentioned before, I took a ferry. I had to wait 1.5 hours before the ferry arrived, and I spent almost the entire time showing off my car to strangers. So many people were interested in the car. The ferry has 2 levels, and I requested that I go on the bottom of the ferry, with all of the SUV’s and Trucks. I was worried that the bottom of my engine would hit the ramp going onto the upper floor. My car sure seems small next to that Hummer.
I put the top up during the crossing, to add a bit of security to the car while at sea. Passengers are not allowed to go to their car during the 2 hour voyage. The ferry I took is in the background of this picture:
Inside the ferry:
On the drive after the ferry, I happened to look at my headlight, and the image on it looked so cool. I tried to get a picture of it, and this was the best I could do:
Note the 758km/h MAX SPEED I got. Its GPS verified. Fastest Locost ever.
The sunset coming home was beautiful, filled with bright pink and orange. Unfortunately, my camera was crap, and I couldn’t get a good picture of it. This is the best I could do:
And if anyone is wondering, there were lots of Police out this weekend, and no one pulled me over. I thought that at least one would pull me over to check my papers. Oh well, better for me anyways.
Wow, what a trip. It was a lot of fun. I can’t wait to go again, because this is what it is all about. Many of you dream of going on a little road trip with your own Locost. For those of you with a pile of parts in your garage just keep working on your car. Don’t stop. And when you get your car on the road, I look forward to reading about your own little trip.
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"The decision to build a car is not one reached through a rational mindset. It is a decision that is made because we have to do it! It makes no sense, but neither does love, children and taxes" -Sam Buchanan
My Build Log:
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3054
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. I have put on about 3500 miles although the speedo only shows about 1100 as I was having trouble with the angle drive. Never mind she is all good now and works good. Anyway, congrats on the trip.
