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Car’s destination quietly achieved

NZPA Sydney The “Quiet Achiever” silently cruised to a halt at Sydney’s Opera House steps yesterday after becoming the first vehicle powered by solar energy to cross a continent. Hans Tholstrup, the solidly built driver and Danish-born adventurer, was elated. “Our tanks go to the sun,” he exclaimed, as the news media and spectators jostled around him and Larry Perkins, former racing driver turned inventor.

The “Quiet Achiever." a white fibreglass stubby vehicle resembling a bathtub capped with a ping-pong table, had taken 19 days 21*2 hours to complete the 4000 km journey from Perth to Sydney. To the applause of more than 2500 spectators, including the National Development and Energy Minister, Senator John Carrick. "Quiet Achiever" arrived precisely at 12.32 p.m. after crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge from North Sydney.

For its inventors, Larry and Garry Perkins, the thin framed vehicle performed beyond their expectations. When Messrs Tholstrup and Perkins set out from Perth on December 19, their entourage, comprising a 14man back-up crew, set a target of 28 days to reach Sydney. “We are surprised. It was a week faster than we expected.” During the journey "Quiet Achiever” averaged speeds between 25 and 30 km/h.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830108.2.88.3

Bibliographic details

Press, 8 January 1983, Page 8

Word Count
201

Car’s destination quietly achieved Press, 8 January 1983, Page 8

Car’s destination quietly achieved Press, 8 January 1983, Page 8