KENOSEE LAKE - A rare amphicar visited Kenosee Lake on Monday giving on lookers to chance to ride in a vehicle on the lake.
Jeff Norton, the CEO of the Manitoba Teachers Pension Fund, took his car, which is also registered as a watercraft to Regina Beach and Kenosee Lake.
Norton came to Saskatchewan to play golf in Regina and came to Kenosee on Monday to play golf there as well.
Norton purchased the vehicle in 2010 from a private collector in Virginia.
The 1966 amphicar, model 770, was manufactured in Germany by the Quandt Group.
At the time, 3,878 were produced with 3,046 exported to the United States.
It is believed that there are under 600 of these vehicles in circulation today, with half of them in private collections and the other half also owned privately but used in the public.
The rear engine has four cylinders and sports 43 horsepower, 1,147cc.
It can travel a little more than 110 kilometres per hour and seven knots on the water.
This amphicar was originally sold in Red Bluff, Calif, and only has 34,600 kilometres clocked.
Norton and his father Bryan enjoyed cruising around Manitoba in 2010 and 2011, but in February of 2012 Norton’s father died from Parkinson’s disease. Bryan had suffered from the illness for many years.
The same year, the family launched a fundraiser for Parkinson’s, and over the years has raised $43,000.
In 2021, the fund was named The Amphicar Experience Fund and all proceeds go to Parkinson’s.
Norton is happy to put a smile on people's face when they ask for a ride. In return he askes for a donation for the fight against Parkinson’s.
Many people flocked around the unique car that had them curious and asking questions and looking for a ride.
The first ride caused a few issues with the craft when it stalled in the water, but once up and running people enjoyed the chance.
Rides were short lived when the park police shut them down and wrote Norton a ticket for operating a vessel within 25 metres of a beach area. After this he had no choice but to load up and return home.
