The Works

| 2005 |

When he tuk a three-wheeler for a record ride

With hundreds of rickshaws all over Goa, why would anyone bother to give a second glance at yet another three-wheeler? But heads began to turn towards one three-wheeler on the evening of April 12, as this was no ordinary vehicle. The driver was no ordinary person and the journey was far from ordinary. The three-wheeler happened to be a multi-coloured and brightly lit rickshaw from Thailand, better known as the Tuk  Tuk, and  the  rider  was a

jovial French food and beverage manager, Didier Vacher, who was on course to break a world record.

As soon as Didier’s Tuk Tuk reached Panjim, motorists and pedestrians began to notice the unusual three-wheeler on road.

And a cheerful Didier was quick to reciprocate by either waving to the amused onlookers or by simply blowing the Tuk Tuk’s loud horn.

“Almost everywhere I travelled in India, people would notice the Tuk Tuk and would wave to me. They seemed amused to find a foreigner with a 'big toy',” said Didier with a broad grin.

A native of France, Didier however stayed in South Africa for some time.

“I worked on a cruise ship 'Celebrity Cruises' as a food and beverage manager for a small team of 460 crew members,” Didier told Herald.

But what got him turn to a vehicle, a peanut in comparison to the gigantic cruise ship?

“Following my divorce, I had to find a crazy idea to change my mind. I decided to find something that we do not have in France. I have been to Thailand a number of times and I was very impressed with the Tuk Tuk,” explained Didier.

“I then checked up on the internet and found out that nobody had every brought a Tuk Tuk to France. So, I phoned the company that built the Tuk Tuk,” he added.

Then, the urge to do something unique and historic with the Tuk Tuk saw him contact officials at Guiness Records.

“I found out that an English couple had done 19,163 kms on an autorickshaw. I decided to beat this record,” Didier said.

Didier then wrote to Guiness Records and they gave him the claim number, the registration number and the contract.

“I charted out my route that would cover over 24,000 kms across 32 countries from Asia to Europe. In fact, my journey of 80 days would be even shorter than the existing record of seven months.”

Once Didier’s plans were set in place, he bought the Tuk Tuk, powered by a Daihatsu 550 cc engine, for about 4,000 dollars in March.

But was it difficult to for a Frenchman to buy a Tuk Tuk in Thailand? Replies Didier: “Not at all. In fact, when I informed the tourism authority of Thailand of my plans, they were happy and gave me logos to put on my Tuk Tuk.”

The French ambassador also readily obliged to Didier’s request for a picture of his Tuk Tuk in the park of the ambassador’s residence.

Didier’s expedition began in Bangkok on April 1. “From Bangkok, I drove to Kuala Lumpur in Malasyia. Then I left the Tuk Tuk at the airport on April 4 and flew to Chennai on April 6, while my Tuk Tuk followed on a cargo plane.”

From Chennai, Didier and his Tuk Tuk took two days to reach Mahe in South India.

Didier then left Mahe at 5 am on April 12 and drove for the next 600 kms, before he reached Goa at about 6.30 pm.

“Whatever little I have seen of Goa is very nice,” remarked Didier.

He left Goa at 6. 30 am the next morning to proceed to Hampi and Kolkata en route to Bhutan, which he hopes to reach by April 20.

Didier will then proceed to Nepal and will pass through a number of Asian and European countries, before he stops at Sweden.

“My two boys live in Sweden and I want to surprise them with the Tuk TUk,” Didier said.

If his plans are executed to perfection, Didier hopes to break the world record when he reaches South West France.

The entire expedition, which includes the Tuk Tuk and the insurance, will cost Didier 20,000 Euros. His shipping company 'Celebrity Cruises' is sponsoring 2,500 dollars for his expedition.

“In addition, two French guys gave me Rs 7,000, which is better than nothing,” he said.

Full of praise for his Tuk Tuk vehicle, Didier said his three-wheeler proved to be very reliable and efficient during his journey.

“I have had no problems so far. I understand a bit of mechanics and hence, I could perform a minor service on the Tuk Tuk. I changed the engine oil at 4,000 kms when I reached Mangalore,” informed Didier. “At the Maruti garage, 40 people besides rickshaw driver came to see the Tuk Tuk.”

Didier is confident that his Tuk Tuk will be well-looked after in France. “Since the engine is from the Daihatsu, I will take it to the company in France for general maintenance,” informed Didier.

At the end of his journey, Didier would have experienced various cultural influences spread across 32 countries during his 80-day expedition spanning 24,000 kms on a three-wheeler.

“The main goal of my trip would be to show people that it is possible to undertake the journey in a small vehicle,” sums up Didier.

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