PUSH THE BOUTON

A century-old adventure in Paris

- Rupali Prakash

It was a dark and cold morning. The day of the Historic Vehicle Tour De Paris had finally arrived. November is known for unpredictable weather in Paris, but I was hoping the rain gods would be kind just for this one Sunday morning. With five layers of clothing, a bright red beret and a truckload of excitement, I was all ready to go. Was I nervous? Yes, indeed, but that little voice inside me was drowned by the divine chugging sound of the quadricycle that I was riding. I’m still not sure which word is appropriate — driving or riding — so I’m going to enjoy mixing it up as I go. Was this the first time I was riding it? Well, obviously not! But previous experience didn’t matter all that much because this was my second time. And my first practice session happened only the day before.

If you haven’t driven a 1900 De Dion Bouton before, allow me to take you through the deceivingly simple functioning of this innocent little machine. First, make sure all your reflexes are functioning properly; any lag in this area is highly detrimental to your safety. If you are a new-age driver who is used to switching on your ignition and watching your car magically move once it’s in gear, you’re in for a surprise. In the De Dion, the process of switching on the vehicle and getting it into motion is a result of a sequence of mini-events involving a series of levers and knobs located above the fuel tank on a rod between the steering wheel and the driver’s seat. Little wonder, then, that after this experience, I now feel like I can fly a plane.