this bubblecar is the prototype called Tractavant , created by engineer Henri Lanoy .
he made may be just this one , with hard top ; that you can discover at the fantastic Henri Malartre museum a Rochetaillée , closer to lyon .
you can find a roadster version in vintage magazines, with same licence number ... may be the first evo ...
front wheel has the aubier dunne 125 cc engine ,installed quite as a Bond .
but to get in , you must be a snake .... a big round hood covers the engine and front axel rotation, so that you have to threw the left leg, then bend over,
then , get the head in , move your ass over the seat, still holding the steering wheel firmly ...then while you sit down, remove the right leg, left outside of the tractavant, inside ... ouf !
You didn't notice that the tractavant was kick starter starting .... outside of the bubble .... under the front hood.....!
open the door, get the right leg out, grip the handelbar and try to leave your ass & body up from the deep seat, then get ass out, then head , then left leg ...........
( i dont post pics, just must just read this from end to begining ...)
now, in front of tractavant, turn the front wheel to max right , then open the hood, then open the little front right door , wet the carb, remove the kick stater out of the door , then pull it firmly ( repeat till it starts ...) hope your carbs set-ups are right and aubier dunne hold the 800rpm as long as you'll need to come back inside the tractavant ' without forgetting to close lill door and hood ! ( you can ask your rear passenger , to throttle with the pedal on the floor ... that 's easy for him ! and secured for you !!)
then quickly repeat the first lesson to get in the tractavant .....
we can now just think to your passenger, that had to " crawl to the rear seat threw a little way, between the front seat and the body, equal to a leg space ( in that case the right leg ...)if you wife is over 50kg ... ask her to ride your moped to go with you .....
note the extra window to close the door .. the door lock is outside .....
so .... now the engine starts, doors hoods are closed , friend or wife can't escape ... let's go for a ride !!!
how explain that .... it look as if you were moving water valves ,because of the flat position steering wheel, driving a truck , with the heavy front wheel, and beeing a spring chick in its egg some minutes before the shell explosion ......
mind when you turn , first action on the steerring wheell ... nothing ... then with strong action, you begin to turn steering, then suddenly, the engine weight, moves you to the max position : schlonk !!! ok , but as you had not put up your right feet, the front wheel grips , and has the tractavant has got small wheelbase, you turn over the interior wheel, wwoooopps .... with suddenly the impression that you'll finish on the door opposite the corner ( there 's only one door ok !)
get the brakes, read the first check list to get out of the tractavant , and get your moped ...
know why it's a prototype ??!...
next time we'll talk about the motorised baby carriage ...
thanks to Bernard Vaireaux , henri Malartre museum Scientific director , for the tractavant lessons and to have brought , and drive it during 2010 Bisbi national rally .
