With all the different activities in Amateur Radio like HOTA, SOTA, POTA etc, I was telling the Amateur Radio 101 Telegram Group about a well known Yellow Tuk-Tuk Three Wheeler that visited the Buffalo Rally in Mossel Bay in 1997. No this was not an ordinary Tuk-Tuk. It was the Tuk-Tuk of Chris Nagel ZS3B, ZS6BGH (SK several years ago) which was well known all over South Africa when Chris decided to hit the road. I once meet up with Chris close to the Buffalo Rally gates in Mossel Bay. Chris did not participate in the Rally, he decided to look out for radio amateur that might be at the rally. Needless to say that I spend a few hours with Chris who told many stories of his Tuk-Tuk Adventures. I can remember one of his many stories. He told me that on one of his trips through the Free State the Tuk-Tuk's front wheel bearings broke and he was left stranded along the road. Thankfully a farmer stopped and told Chris that he is welcome to stay over on his farm until the Tuk-Tuk is fixed. The farmer towed the Tuk-Tuk to his farm and in the morning he and Chris ordered a new wheel bearing. Chris stayed a few days on the farm until the bearing arrived and no he did not stay in the farmers house but in the Tuk-Tuk seeing that it was also Chris's mobile home with a bed and all the necessary things needed. After fixing the bearing problem Chris went on his merry way. As to all the amateur radio equipment he installed one can view the images. I regularly spoke to Chris on HF. Another interesting question that I posed to Chris when he was in Mossel Bay is: "How do he protect himself man alone against crime?" Chris was sitting in the Tuk-Tuk at the time and he reached to the roof pulling out his 44 Magnum Six Shooter. He indicated that thankfully he never experience any safety issues which necessitated the use of the shooter.
My son and I enjoyed a great few hours with Chris on the day. Sadly Chris became silent key but the memories live on. Till today I still miss that very pronounced voice of Chris.
Wonder if somebody will follow Chris in his footsteps by going Amateur Radio Tuk-Tuk Mobile in South Africa in the future?
Images courtesy ZS6PTA: (Click on the images for larger view.)
