In an extraordinary feat of endurance and whimsy, two friends have recently etched their names into the record books by driving a three-wheeled car the entire length of Africa. Englishman Ollie Jenks and Canadian Seth Scott completed a 22,500-kilometer journey from London to Cape Town in a decades-old Reliant Robin, setting a new record for the longest trip in a three-wheeled vehicle.
The adventure began when Scott pitched the idea to Jenks. "It was so ridiculous I couldn't say no," Jenks recalled. The Reliant Robin, a humble British three-wheeler produced until the early 2000s, is celebrated in UK culture but is notoriously unsuited for long-distance travel, especially across diverse African terrains.
Dubbing their silver car "Sheila," the duo set off in October with minimal supplies and a dose of blind hope. Over four-and-a-half months, they navigated through 22 countries, confronting tropical jungles, mountain ranges, and deserts along Africa's west coast. "No power steering, no air con, and it doesn’t do well up hills or down them; it is the most unsuitable car for probably any journey," Jenks said of Sheila's capabilities.
The journey, costing between $40,000 and $50,000, was supported by sponsors and crowd funding. Their exploits were documented on an Instagram page titled "14,000 miles, 3 wheels, 0 common sense," amassing nearly 100,000 followers who tracked every mile of their epic quest.
This record-setting drive not only highlights human spirit and adventure but also showcases how modern storytelling through social media can bring such unconventional journeys to a global audience.
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Two friends set record by driving three-wheel car the length of Africa
cgtn.com
