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Dan McIntyre tackles Alps on disability tricycle | Dan McIntyre tackles Alps on disability tricycle |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A West Yorkshire man is attempting to cross the Swiss Alps on a tricycle manufactured in 1932. | A West Yorkshire man is attempting to cross the Swiss Alps on a tricycle manufactured in 1932. |
Wheelchair user Dan McIntyre from Liversedge will be the main driver recreating a 1,500-mile (2,400km) journey made on the trike, a forerunner of modern mobility scooters, in 1947. | |
Visiting Paris, Basel and Geneva and back to London via three alpine climbs will test the machine's reliability. | Visiting Paris, Basel and Geneva and back to London via three alpine climbs will test the machine's reliability. |
But Mr McIntyre, 32, said: "It's a cracking machine." | But Mr McIntyre, 32, said: "It's a cracking machine." |
The ride is a tribute to Oswald Arthur Denly who, after contracting polio while in the navy, was invalided out of the service, paralysed from the waist down. | |
Dream trip | Dream trip |
Having not yet realised his dream of seeing the Alps he set out alone on his 1930s Argoson 147cc tricycle, reaching heights of almost 8,000ft (2,900m). | Having not yet realised his dream of seeing the Alps he set out alone on his 1930s Argoson 147cc tricycle, reaching heights of almost 8,000ft (2,900m). |
Mr Denly also founded the charity that has now become Disabled Motoring UK. | Mr Denly also founded the charity that has now become Disabled Motoring UK. |
He was made an MBE in 1959 for services to disabled people and died in 2010. | He was made an MBE in 1959 for services to disabled people and died in 2010. |
Mr McIntyre, a writer from Dewsbury, will be following as closely as possible the original journey. | Mr McIntyre, a writer from Dewsbury, will be following as closely as possible the original journey. |
The trip will start from Greenwich, London, on Saturday and finish back in the city at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, 16 June 2011. | The trip will start from Greenwich, London, on Saturday and finish back in the city at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, 16 June 2011. |
He added: "Having learnt to drive the trike I have a lot of confidence, with a few spare parts I am very confident it can finish the challenge." | He added: "Having learnt to drive the trike I have a lot of confidence, with a few spare parts I am very confident it can finish the challenge." |
His trip will have two support vehicles and accommodation will be sorted out en-route with no fixed daily mileage target. | His trip will have two support vehicles and accommodation will be sorted out en-route with no fixed daily mileage target. |
Two members of the Royal Light Dragoons have restored the original trike for the challenge. | Two members of the Royal Light Dragoons have restored the original trike for the challenge. |
Along the way Mr McIntyre will meet disability campaigners and lobby government officials. | Along the way Mr McIntyre will meet disability campaigners and lobby government officials. |
Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, racing driver Nicolas Hamilton and television presenter and wheelchair basketball star Ade Adepitan will join Mr McIntyre at times on the route. | Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, racing driver Nicolas Hamilton and television presenter and wheelchair basketball star Ade Adepitan will join Mr McIntyre at times on the route. |
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