Darrell Newton is no stranger to riding in the open air.

He has owned motorcycles at different times during his 68 years, but he always returned to the same revelation: “There are too many people out here who might run over me.”

And he’d always give up the two-wheeled form of travel.

The West Hall resident rediscovered his zeal for nonautomobiles — this time, three-wheelers — on a six-week trip to Thailand over the summer.

“I started riding motorbikes with my wife and then I came back home and discovered this Econo-Trike,” a three-wheeler produced by Zhejang, a Chinese company.

And now he not only rides the cycle around town, he sells them.

“I’ve been retired 20 years, so I thought this would be a little hobby,” Newton said.

In addition to the ease and convenience of operating the vehicle, the scooter also proves to be quite economical. It sports a 1.3-gallon gas tank, but a full tank translates to about 100 miles of travel.

“It has really been a money saver, especially since I can ride it in just about any type weather and stay comfortable,” Newton said.

He took the vehicle out for a spin on a recent chilly morning, when it was 40 degrees and windy. Wearing just a light pair of gloves and a light jacket, Newton said he “stayed perfectly warm.”

The vehicle features removable, zip-up plastic side panels that help shield drivers and passengers from the elements, along with a windshield wiper that helps keep the vision ahead clear.

Also, its unibody design features a roof to keep cyclists dry.

And like most motorcycles, the scooter also features seating for two — the driver and a passenger seated directly behind — and a Honda GY6 clone 150cc engine.

“It is like a regular motor scooter in that ... you have to have a motorcycle license,” Newton said.

The three wheels provide more balance than a motorcycle, especially when cyclists are driving through a curve, Newton said.

Don’t buy the racing gear so fast, though. The scooters travel at speeds no faster than 45 to 50 mph, so it isn’t well suited for highway driving.

“It’s really a round-the-town vehicle,” said Newton, who moved to Hall County five years ago from Boulder, Colo., and is retired from the electronics business.

The vehicle also features trunk space and, in the interior, two lockable glove compartments, four speakers than can connect to a radio (which Newton’s scooter doesn’t have), an odometer and a gas gauge.

Newton said he has owned three of the scooters and has sold one.

“I’ll be going to a show in February and getting a little more exposure,” he said. “I’m just having some fun with it, really.”

In the meantime, don’t be surprised to see Newton tooling around town in the doughnut-shaped vehicle.
Curious looks may have turned into inquiring minds, as he said he has gotten several calls from people.

Also, the authorized dealer has a phone number on his scooter’s rear window.

“I tell ’em to come on over, go on the Internet or I’ll send them photographs,” he said.