Gotta love it when someone has a zany idea for Des Moines and then makes it happen! Joe and I stopped by El Bait Shop on Sunday for the “Tuk Tuk Goose Chase,” an event that featured a fleet of decorated three-wheel auto rickshaws.
The event was the brainchild of a local guy, Matt Smith, and featured costumes, pimped-out tuk tuks and amused spectators. Check out this awesome video of him securing “the motherload” of these things from a guy in smalltown Nebraska.
The concept was like of like a road rally, and apparently there were tuk-tuk jousting and polo competitions planned for later in the day. It was fun to see how different companies decked them out and it looked like the teams had a great time driving them around.
My favorite was probably the yarn-bombed Goodsmiths tuk tuk:
The event itself was definitely a passion project and I’m sure there were mind-boggling logistics involved. Hopefully there’s a next year and the challenges become a little more spectator-oriented, because it could be a blast.
The Tonka Tuk:
As I was taking this photo, Brian Sauer from Saturday Mfg. was asking whether the thing should smell like burning. Ha!
As it was, Joe and I grabbed some burger baskets for lunch and watched the tuk-tuks whizz in and out of the parking lot. So cool to see a concept like this come to reality.
Listen to the story John Pemble from Iowa Public Radio did on the event: http://news.iowapublicradio.org/post/inaugural-tuk-tuk-goose-race
Hi Brianne,
They were selling Tuk Tuks at the Ford dealership on Ogden and Finley near your Mom’s house. I always wanted one, but the $17K pricetag and the lack of a heater put me off. You Iowa folks know how to party. –UncBob
Wow, Uncle Bob – I think Craigslist would be the way to go here. Sounds like you can get them for about $500, then fix it up – and decorate it – as you are able! I think we’ll have to go on a tuk tuk hunt next time you come out for an Iowa adventure.
Thanks for the write up Brianne
Great blog you have here, and hey, Uncle Bob if you catch tuk tuk fever, I’ll get you a steal on one!