5 days ago
12
Of all the road-going vehicles we’ve come across, a 255kg, 88-key piano with lights and rubber tyres is possibly the most musical.
This weekend, a Tasmanian man will attempt to push a 255kg piano for 21km to ascend the summit road of Mount Wellington in Tasmania to raise money for charity.
Musician Kelvin Smith, who under his “A Piano of Tasmania” moniker has earned some notoriety for conducting piano performances in wild and remote locations around the Apple Isle, is seeking to ‘drive’ his piano up Mount Wellington to raise money and awareness for Speak Up!, a Tasmanian mental health charity.
The piano, a classic upright Albert Fahr from Germany, has been mounted to a custom-built trolley, equipped with rubber tyres, and multiple braking systems to ensure the piano only heads up the hill.
The custom-built 4mm aluminium-plate cradle and chassis, created and donated for the attempt by Australian industrial manufacturer Richmond Rolling Solutions, includes 255mm rubber tyres, each fitted with anti-rotate braking functions, with a harness and lights also part of the 'roadworthy' setup.
Speaking with Drive, Kelvin said that in case of an emergency, his support crew is instructed to secure the piano before attending to his wellbeing!
"The event is in support of Tasmania’s main suicide awareness, organization called ‘Speak Up, Stay Chatty’. This is a vivid metaphor for 24 hours in the life of somebody living with mental illness. Hopefully, I can complete the challenge and play on the summit", said Smith.
"I guess at some point in our lives we’re all pushing a barrow uphill. Why not make it a piano? At least we can play it when we get to the top!"
Kelvin has been training for months and has allowed himself just over 21 hours to complete the 21km route from the Mures restaurant in Hobart and up the gruelling 10km climb to the peak of Mount Wellington.
Mount Wellington, just outside of Hobart, is accessed by the C616, a narrow road paved with hot-mix asphalt that has about 55 corners and ascends approximately 1271m along the 10km run – a near 13 per cent gradient.
If successful, Smith may even set a time-trial record for a four-wheeled vehicle as although the route is regularly used for running and cycle races, it has never been part of the Targa Tasmania road rally course.
The route has a number of tight bends and is narrow along the majority of the climb, but a number of scenic lookouts and parking bays should ensure Smith is able to rest and perhaps bang out a quick rendition of Fur Elise as needed.
The Speak Up, Stay Chatty charity seeks to promote normalising conversations about mental health.
"My hope is that this event will not only raise funds for those who are experiencing vulnerable moments but, hopefully, the rather unusual spectacle of some dude sweating it out pushing a piano uphill will help a few of us smile as well," Smith said.
Good luck Kelvin!
With over 20 years of experience in digital publishing, James Ward has worked within the automotive landscape since 2007 and brings experience from the publishing, manufacturer and lifestyle side of the industry together to spearhead Drive's multi-media content direction.
