One thing I like most about Lake Havasu City, is the variety of cool and unusual transportation devices I’ve observed zooming around town on a daily basis. Side-by-side vehicles (SXS) are the most popular, along with Harleys, and tricycle style motorized bikes. On rare occasion, I’ve spotted a vintage 1970s three wheel Honda with large knobby tires destined for offroad use only.
A monowheel, electric-powered gizmo with female rider passed me on McCulloch early one morning— the gal evidently going to work. Was it legal? Who cares! Electric bikes are the latest craze with those folks buzzing around town on them seemingly enjoying the ride.
Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Ford GT40, Porsches, Hellcats, and Corvettes up the ying yang are a common sight, especially on weekends. Muscle cars, lifted trucks, deuce coupes, and hot rods, are as common as pontoon boats on our lake.
Driving down Highway 95 one afternoon I saw an older style speedboat converted into an automobile. Spotted it just as this craft drove by the other direction—with my wife missing out. When I told her she was skeptical, that is, until viewing a photo on Facebook that someone thankfully snapped.
A realtor here in town, Dean Baker, owns an Amphicar. This vehicle, unlike the rolling boat that I saw, was manufactured in West Germany from 1961 until 1968. I’m sure Dean has had his in the lake a time or two.
At one point Segway stand up scooters were seen quite often riding on city sidewalks. I believe there was even a place in town that rented them. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Segway has discontinued production. They’ve went the way of the Edsel automobile.
Inline rollerblades or skates appeared to be going the same direction as Segway, because they’re rarely observed anymore unlike twenty years ago. In an article I just read on them, the writer said that they’re having a resurgence in, Great Britain, so most likely the same will happen here. I owned a pair when younger, but never used them on neighborhood streets unlike some of my friends. “Bicycle trails” as they were called back then worked best for me because I fell quite often.
Two wheeled electric-powered and foot-powered scooters are still alive and well, looking to be here well into the future, along with skateboards. They’re seen more often in neighborhoods and not main throughfares, although on occasion some daredevil will give it an unsafe try.
When I lived in Anchorage, Alaska, the Harley Davidson motorcycle shop was located directly across the street from us. I’m talking late 1960s here. David “Pappy” Burns owned the place and he also sold Scorpion snowmobiles. Pappy’s two boys mounted wheels to the skis of one Scorpion, driving it up and down Muldoon Road a few times during summer, just because they could get away with such. Highly doubtful they could these days.
I’ve never spotted a snow machine on the streets of Lake Havasu City, so there’s a challenge for some brave and adventurous soul. As long as the machine’s registered with plates and having all required lights, I believe this would even be legal. This is a feat I’d love to do myself, but have already been told no by higher powers.
Another sight I haven’t come across is a motorized barstool rolling down the road. I hear there are some out there, being told a fellow in town has a fast one parked in his garage. Would love to see that stool zipping up and down McCulloch Boulevard during our Thursday night car show. Perhaps even have the inaugural “Havastool 500” staged there each year. Those things should be able to go 500 feet no problem as long as the driver’s sober. Helmets and safety gear required!
Better yet, mount a barstool on a paddle board and take it to the lake. A pair of barstools on connected boards sitting in front of the London Bridge, with Dean Baker towing them with his Amphicar, would definitely make for a photo worthy of local and national attention. Game on!
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