File courtesy: Ross Lavigne

By Darren Rathwell

Altered scooters and peddle tractors: a Hatter’s passion

Jan 27, 2022 | 5:32 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — He’s known for his work with small autos, but it’s Allan Jacobs’ latest hobby that has caught more attention in the city lately.

Jacobs, who is owner of the Peddle Tractor Farm, has expanded his fleet of vehicles to include modified scooters.

Not the mechanics are modified mind you, but the shell the scooter’s carried in.

“All of these (shells) are made out of aluminum fuel tanks off of a semi , so I buy a used fuel tank… you can buy a whole fuel tank for like 15 dollars. If you bought the materials it would be like 700, so a lot cheaper… and I like it beat up because it looks old,” Jacobs laughed.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

11h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

Jacobs, a welder by trade, is no stranger to small vehicles.

For years people have gone for rides on his peddle tractors at events like Spectrum, but the pandemic has slowed him down. And so did Multiple Sclerosis at age 65, which took away his ability to walk.

“I just need something to do with my time so i just all of a sudden decide what I want to build and away I go.”

His scooters certainly keep him going, and at a brisk pace when he wants.

“I got one here goes 8 miles an hour for miles a charge, so i can make it to Seven Persons and back.”

Jacobs’ favorite journey though is on city trails. But he found other trail-goers weren’t very friendly when he rode a normal scooter. He says he proved that point during an experiment with a friend.

“We both took two scooters, and I said (to my friend), ‘We’ll go all the way from Kin Coulee to Strathcona and come back. When we come back you tell me how many people say hi.’

And Jacobs says only one passerby spoke to his friend, and it wasn’t to say hello, but “can you get over?”

But when Jacobs’ custom designed scooter hit the trail, attitudes changed.

“When you go with a (the modified vehicle) it’s just a different atmosphere altogether. People enjoy looking at them, they want to take pictures.”

And then Jacobs hit a big bump in the road, suffering a broken rib after an accident on a slippery trail. But he doesn’t blame anyone for it, and is just happy to enjoy his hobby.

“The city has a beautiful array of paved trails that are just awesome for this type of stuff and I really appreciate it.”

And if this scooter dies on him he’ll just substitute it for another.

“(The) body I built for this is removable and can just be put on another (scooter) and the wiring all hooks up exactly the same way.”