WACKY RACES
Page 25
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CAfs trip to China with Iveco (see feature, page 34) had As lighter moments. A dozen of Europe's finest transport hacks travelled to Nanjing to view the Naveco plant where Iveco operates a joint venture with the Chinese producing Daily minibuses. On returning to Beijing by air the group made its way by coach to its hotel...Unfortunately, that night had been chosen to set up a dress rehearsal of the forthcoming hoolie on 1 October when the People's Republic of China celebrates the 50th anniversary of its creation by MaoTse-Tung.
As a result, all traffic was banned from the city centre and the cream of Europe's transport journalists found themselves, clutching suitcases, transferred to a convoy of bicycle rickshaws in what soon became a re-run of the chariot scene from Ben Hur.
As this absurd convoy rattled through BeOng's empty streets, locals tried hard not to snigger and resisted the temptation to throw fruit.
CM bet $100 on its man getting to the hotel first but unfortunately a whip-cracking Dane pipped him to the post. Watch this space for news of a group rickshaw test.