Jesada Technik Museum has the biggest classic car and motorcycle collection in Thailand. This year, in collaboration with the Thai Army, they organized a parade of over 140 cars, 99 of which were so-called micro cars.
Link to the Bangkok Post article
Video report from Channel 3
News report with video, also Channel 3
Video report from Thai PBS
Article and pictures from INN (Independent News Network)
Some nice pics here and here and here
Short article and pics from the Nation
About a month ago I was lucky to notice a post on Facebook, were the museum called upon volunteer drivers to join the parade, driving one of their micro cars. I just couldn't let this chance slip me by and applied immediately. Luckily, they accepted me and 2 other friends with our respective wives.
Last week we drove to Bangkok to choose a car and do some practicing laps in a car park. We had the opportunity to drive any car we wanted! We all felt like little kids in a toy shop.
Today then, under a scorching sun, we again drove to Bangkok to take part in the classic car parade in honour of the Queen's 82nd birthday, which is also Mother's Day in Thailand. The car we had chosen last week (BMW Isetta) was out of commission, so we've been given another one: a 1962 Trojan 200.
My two other friends had a BMW Isetta and a Fiat 500 (Cinquecento). Unfortunately, neither of them would make it to the end of the parade, as both their cars broke down about halfway through.
I got lucky...kind of. As the parade started, I had to learn fast how to drive the little bugger. The gears were a mess: hard to engage and if you didn't hold your hand on the lever, the gear would jump out due to the vibrations. Not ideal but something I could cope with. After that, the car wouldn't hold the idle and would die on me without constantly revving the engine. Changing gears was a no-no. I kept it in 2nd gear throughout the whole drive. Drenched in sweat, we eventually made it to the end. Quite an achievement considering the alarming whining noises coming from the engine!
We are all very grateful to Khun Knot and the whole team of the Jesada Technik Museum for giving us this amazing opportunity and adventure. Hope to do it again soon!
If you're in Thailand and love classic cars and bikes, you can't miss a visit to the museum.
Enough talking. Off to the gallery!
Link to the Bangkok Post article
Video report from Channel 3
News report with video, also Channel 3
Video report from Thai PBS
Article and pictures from INN (Independent News Network)
Some nice pics here and here and here
Short article and pics from the Nation
About a month ago I was lucky to notice a post on Facebook, were the museum called upon volunteer drivers to join the parade, driving one of their micro cars. I just couldn't let this chance slip me by and applied immediately. Luckily, they accepted me and 2 other friends with our respective wives.
Last week we drove to Bangkok to choose a car and do some practicing laps in a car park. We had the opportunity to drive any car we wanted! We all felt like little kids in a toy shop.
Today then, under a scorching sun, we again drove to Bangkok to take part in the classic car parade in honour of the Queen's 82nd birthday, which is also Mother's Day in Thailand. The car we had chosen last week (BMW Isetta) was out of commission, so we've been given another one: a 1962 Trojan 200.
My two other friends had a BMW Isetta and a Fiat 500 (Cinquecento). Unfortunately, neither of them would make it to the end of the parade, as both their cars broke down about halfway through.
I got lucky...kind of. As the parade started, I had to learn fast how to drive the little bugger. The gears were a mess: hard to engage and if you didn't hold your hand on the lever, the gear would jump out due to the vibrations. Not ideal but something I could cope with. After that, the car wouldn't hold the idle and would die on me without constantly revving the engine. Changing gears was a no-no. I kept it in 2nd gear throughout the whole drive. Drenched in sweat, we eventually made it to the end. Quite an achievement considering the alarming whining noises coming from the engine!
We are all very grateful to Khun Knot and the whole team of the Jesada Technik Museum for giving us this amazing opportunity and adventure. Hope to do it again soon!
If you're in Thailand and love classic cars and bikes, you can't miss a visit to the museum.
Enough talking. Off to the gallery!
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| That's my face when I'm deeply concentrating |
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| One of the cars that broke down...not very reassuring in case of a fire |
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| Not flashy at all, but a pretty good runner |
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| A Vespa 400 |
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| Invasion of the microcars! |
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| Bubba is coming too! |
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| Sadly, their Isetta broke down |
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| The saying "chewing off more than you can bite" comes to mind |
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| Amphibious car |
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| Colm being interviewed |
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| At the end of the parade we got refreshments from this lovely Citroen van |
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| What a great day! Thanks Jesada!! |
In all fairness, Markus, we did in fact make it to the end of the parade in our little Fiat 500. We just had to take a bit of a shortcut!
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