Man escapes African desert DOOM, turns wrecked car into DIY motorcycle

[Highbinder]

I thought this might interest some of you..


Emile Leray used the body of the car as shelter during sandstorms. He shortened the car's chassis and reattached the axles and two of the wheels, and installed the engine and gearbox in the middle.
(Emile Leray/Rex / Rex USA)
BY Meghan Neal

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS


Updated: Tuesday, July 3, 2012, 1:08 PM

A French electrician proved himself to be a bonified MacGyver by building a makeshift motorbike out of his wrecked car after becoming stranded in the Moroccan dessert.

Emile Leray, now 43, was driving his Citroen 2CV across the Afrian desert when he was stopped at a military outpost by the Royal Gendermerie - the Moroccan military, reports Oddity Central.

He was told the area was restricted and he couldn't go through. Ignoring the request, he instead drove off at top speed into the rocky terrain of the restricted area, making sure the military officials weren't following him, according to the site.



Emile Leray/AP

"In Africa they call [THE CITROEN] the 'Steel Camel' because it goes everywhere - provided you drive it gently," Emile Leray says.

Leray told the UK's Sunday Times that he had travelled around Africa about 10 times so knew the region well. But before long, his he crashed the car into a rock, rendering it unable to drive.

"In Africa they call [THE CITROEN] the 'Steel Camel' because it goes everywhere - provided you drive it gently," he told the paper. "I obviously was too rough because I broke it."



Alastair Miller/Rex / Rex USA

  Dubbed the "extreme mechanic" for the awesome feat, 43-year-old Emile Leray now lives in Northwest France.

The nearest village was 20 miles away and Leray didn't want to risk making the trek on foot. He had several days' worth of water and a hacksaw on him. He set to work taking apart the wrecked car and building a DIY motorbike from the car parts.

It took 12 days. When he finished he had a half liter of water left. He rode to the nearest village, according to various reports.


He used the body of the car as shelter during sandstorms. He shortened the car's chassis and reattached the axles and two of the wheels, and installed the engine and gearbox in the middle.

The Frenchman's extreme adventure happened in 1993, but wasn't heavily publicized at the time, according to the Mail. The story was unearthed last month via Reddit and Leray shared new details about the experience to the Sunday Times on June 24.

"I put myself in what one calls survival mode. I ate less; I monitored my supplies of water and food to make them last as long as possible," he told the paper.

Dubbed the "extreme mechanic" for the awesome feat, the 43-year-old now lives in Northwest France.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang, that's quite a story ! I think I would have just walked the 20 miles though.

[MarkT]

With "just a hacksaw"?  With some experience at building things with metal, I have to say there's more to the story.

[Beardo]

Mythbusters did an episode on this...they couldn't do it.

And yeah meathead...walking seems like a better idea. If he had enough water to last while building it, then he had enough to walk out of there. If he wasted all that time and water to build it, only to have it not work, he'd be dead.

[3fan4life]

You've got to admit it's pretty darn creative.

[Jess from VA]

What a story Don.  

I like his creation.  (reminiscent of the Flight of the Phoenix)

His shorts were a bit peculiar though.  

[3fan4life]

His shorts were a bit peculiar though.  

Well, He is French. 

[Varmintmist]

Sooo, he had a one day walk, food and water for 12 days, a hacksaw, so he "builds" a MC.......

I have a real nice antenna tower in France I will sell you cheap.

[Wizzard]

yeah,, this was all debunked a long time ago.

[Tx Bohemian]

 (reminiscent of the Flight of the Phoenix)

Yeah, I thought the same thing when I read it.

But "only a hacksaw"?

That's good for cutting things up but how did he re-attach things?
Must be more to the story, if true.

However looking at the last picture of the "motorcycle" the cars in the background look like his "donor" car. Assuming that is his place and his cars he probably has a good understanding of those vehicles.

But still...

Maybe he just did it as a test for himself to see if it could be done under those circumstances (limited food, water, etc...).

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm lucky if I can get thru 2' of sheet metal with a hacksaw, without snapping the blade or dulling it to the point of no use.