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It is seven o'clock when I met Stijnus Schotte on the east side of Manhattan. In a silent street his 1907 Spyker is idling, ready for a journey from the east coast to the west coast. He is following the track Alice Ramsey made in 1909. The first woman who crossed the United States by car. Exactly one hundred years later Stijnus will relive the journey in his vintage Spyker
Schotte's car really stands out in the crowd. Painted in a red white blue patern with shiny coper details. He attended Peking to Paris twice with this Spyker. Schotte says: "In the old days they knew how to build cars. This one always starts. Even in the desert."
New York City has its own challenges. Especially traffic jams and people in a rush. The Dutch car stands out in the morning traffic, where yellow cabs are fighting for the best spot on the tarmac. I am a passenger on the frontseat heading to the start of the journey on Broadway. In the backseat cousin Jan Bier has his own role: he is playing for turning signal as the 1907 Spyker has none.
In the meantime Schotte nods friendly to the surprised cab drivers. It is almost a royal nod to the civilians because the seating position is very high. With a speed of 25 miles per hour he is crossing the streets. A man in a suit shouts: "Wow! Is that thing for real?"
Schottte replies with the hunk which sounds as a duck in distress. When we arrive at the starting point of the journey, it starts to rain cats and dogs. Schotte slides the hood over the leather seats and says "One hundred years ago 'we' had exactly the same weather."
Schotte drukt als antwoord op de claxon, die klinkt als een eend in nood.
And to the question "What if it keeps raining?", he answers: "We'll wait until it is dry. It is about the experience, not about getting there in time."
By Floor Bremer De Pers, translated by me
Schotte's car really stands out in the crowd. Painted in a red white blue patern with shiny coper details. He attended Peking to Paris twice with this Spyker. Schotte says: "In the old days they knew how to build cars. This one always starts. Even in the desert."
New York City has its own challenges. Especially traffic jams and people in a rush. The Dutch car stands out in the morning traffic, where yellow cabs are fighting for the best spot on the tarmac. I am a passenger on the frontseat heading to the start of the journey on Broadway. In the backseat cousin Jan Bier has his own role: he is playing for turning signal as the 1907 Spyker has none.
In the meantime Schotte nods friendly to the surprised cab drivers. It is almost a royal nod to the civilians because the seating position is very high. With a speed of 25 miles per hour he is crossing the streets. A man in a suit shouts: "Wow! Is that thing for real?"
Schottte replies with the hunk which sounds as a duck in distress. When we arrive at the starting point of the journey, it starts to rain cats and dogs. Schotte slides the hood over the leather seats and says "One hundred years ago 'we' had exactly the same weather."
Schotte drukt als antwoord op de claxon, die klinkt als een eend in nood.
And to the question "What if it keeps raining?", he answers: "We'll wait until it is dry. It is about the experience, not about getting there in time."
By Floor Bremer De Pers, translated by me
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