Day Tripping: April 5
Monuments, Motor Trends, and Momentus Endurance
Pacific Treasure
Navigating through the South Pacific in 1722, Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen discovers an island about halfway between Tahiti and the coast of Chile with over 800 stone sculptures ranging in height from 2 metres or 6.5 feet, to 10 metres high. Easter Island as it was named for the time of year Roggeveen’s expedition discovered it, it was home to Polynesian emigrants from around 700 A.D. but possibly as early as 300 A.D.
The Rapa Nui (Polynesian for Easter Island) erected these busts depicting unique faces on platforms called ahus, presumably in homage to King Hoto-Matu’a. The average weight of each figure is about 13 tons with the largest being an unfinished work standing 20 metres, and weighing over 80 tons.
Automotive Icon
Buoyed by his friendship with Henry Ford and armed with an exclusive contract to produce tires for the Model T, Harvey Firestone’s rubber company was in a unique position to develop the evolution of rubber tires. In 1923, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company began production of the first inflatable tires. The new tube inserted design boasted a smoother ride and greater longevity of the rubber tread grip.
