Ken Warby and Hans Tholstrup
Photographer
David Watson
(deceased)
Date1978
Object numberANMS0532[086]
NameNegative
Copyright© Luke Watson
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionKen Warby and Danish adventurer, Hans Tholstrup.
Hans Tholstrup is a power boat enthusiast and a record setter himself. He was the first person to go around Australia in an open boat (a 17 foot fibreglass runabout called TOM THUMB) in 1970. Tholstrup would go on to become a world advocate for solar energy and drove a solar-powered car across Australia with Larry Perkins in 1982 / 1983.HistoryHans Tholstrup AM was born in Denmark and travelled to Australia to Australia in 1964. In 1970 Tholstrup, after extensive planning and using every dollar he had, embarked on a two month voyage around Australia in an open power boat. He named the 17 foot runabout TOM THUMB after the small boat Mathew Flinders and George Bass used in 1796.
Tholstrup would go on to be the first person to achieve many travel feats, one of his most notable crossing was Australia in the solar powered car, THE QUIET ACHIEVER. Others were:
* First to fly solo around the world without auto pilot or crew (in a single-engine 105hp Grumman AA1B trainer, after a 10-day learn-to-fly course).
* Fastest drive time from northern tip of Europe to southern tip of Africa.
* Fastest motorcycle circuit around the world (BMW).
* First motorcycle crossing of Australia east-to-west.
* First 4X4 solo crossing of Australia east-to-west.
* First south-to-north car crossing of Australia, including self-propelled crossing of Bass Straight on a rubber raft with the car (Mini Moke) on board.
* First open boat trip around Australia, world's longest outboard engine trip, 1970. Navigation famously consisted of 'keeping Australia on the left'.
* Created and had built world's first solar-powered car.
* First solar car to cross a continent (with racer/engineer Larry Perkins, from Perth to Sydney, 1982).
* First truck (semi) across Australia Perth to Townsville direct via a 1500km short cut.
* First bus (22-seat 4WD) across Australia Perth to Townsville direct.
* First to walk solo across the Simpson Desert.
* First open boat trip from Australia to Japan, 2001.
* First production car (electric/petrol hybrid) Brisbane to Melbourne on a tankful.
SignificanceHans Tholstrup and Ken Warby shared a similar drive to break barriers, create personal challenges and achieve dreams. Although Warby was about speed, his dogged determination and overcoming obstacles found a supporter in Tholstrup who had also been criticised for attempting what many said was impossible.
