Page 16 - Beep Beep February 2023

Photo from Myra Doyle
Photos from Noel St John-Wood
BEHIND THE WHEEL
This month our intrepid ‘driver’
Noel St John-Wood is driving at a very leisurely pace with minimum horse-power
Something different this month as I take a ride in a 1920s Sulky.
The cart was purchased by my niece Viarna from a barn near where she lives in Brisbane West. These Buggies were made in Australia with many models available from basic carts to 4-wheel Tourers. This particular Cart would have retailed for around $30 when new.
Unfortunately, this Cart needed a fair amount of work to get back to a road-safe condition. The patina appearance which still had most of the original paint and pin-striping was kept. Some rusty bolts replaced, new brass bushes were made for the wheel bearings, some new seat rail spindles reproduced on a wood lathe and some original upholstery from a 1936 Oldsmobile did the trick on the seat.
While I worked on the cart Viarna worked on her new horse ‘Thistle’ spending many hours training the horse to obey commands like “Back-Up”, “Walk-On” etc. Thistle is a breed of horse (Gypsy Vanna) suited to being harnessed for work – she has a good temperament and is not spooked easily, she also responds favourably to liquorice.
As for specs – averages 1HP, runs on bio fuel, 100mm dia. exhaust, voice activated speed control, wide hooves and high torque.
Recently, over Christmas, we decided it was time to road test Horse and Cart so we harnessed up and took a ride on a grassed easement at Grandma’s place in Karana Downs. We both hopped aboard and took a slow and steady ride through the neighbourhood.
The cart is surprisingly comfortable with triple sets of leaf springs and large wheels that tend to roll- over holes and obstacles. Vision is excellent and Thistle responded really well to voice commands coupled with easy movement of the reins.
It was an experience we both enjoyed as an insight to what was a popular mode of transport 100 years ago.
Cheers Noel SJW
16