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Australian retired builder Rick Lindsay has arrived in Baku in a 1929 Pontiac Roadster, as part of a journey from Bangkok to Istanbul. He aims to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease research during the long-distance drive.
Lindsay bought the car after finding it abandoned beneath a tree in Australia. He restored it during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he had less work as a builder.
“I found it under a tree. I bought it from the owner and did some repairs during COVID,” Lindsay said.
The journey supports Parkinson’s research
After travelling thousands of kilometres across Asia, Lindsay’s stop in Azerbaijan is the next leg of his journey. From Baku, he plans to travel through Georgia to Istanbul.
Lindsay said he had learned more about Parkinson’s disease during the trip and had become more determined to support research. Donations, he said, could help scientists and researchers continue their work.
“We’re raising funds for this research, and they’re very close to reaching their goal. Literally, there are months to go. I’m trying to raise as much as possible to help the scientists and researchers get to this stage,” he said.
The challenges of driving a nearly century-old car
Covering long distances in the Pontiac presents mechanical challenges. The car has wooden wheels and an old fuel system. Lindsay said he was not a mechanic, but had brought enough tools to handle problems that might arise on the road.
“This car is about 100 years old. You can imagine there are some issues with the wooden wheels and the fuel system,” Lindsay said.
He now plans to drive the car through Azerbaijan’s hilly terrain, then head to Georgia and continue to Istanbul, the final stop on his journey.
