Yocum Ford Has Gone Bananas

It’s not every day that you can drive through the heart of Lansdale and see a big yellow banana car sitting on the corner of Main Street and Line Street. 

This was exactly what you saw driving by between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Big Banana Car is in all reality is just that - a fully functional car that looks exactly like a banana with four seats for passengers. 

Its mission is simple and twofold: To drive around the world in a huge banana and raise money for deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, awareness. 

One of the co-builders of this unique car is Ron Kutt, who runs his own welding business, RK Services in Sellersville. He is also a customer of Yocum Ford. 

It was his suggestion to sales manager Stan Levinsky that brought the car and the cause to Yocum Ford’s lot today. 

Levinsky thought the Big Banana Car, which is built on an F-150 truck chassis, is extraordinary.  He thought that the idea of bringing it to Yocum Ford is “great for community relations and good for the kids to have something fun and unique to see.”

He said that by noon, they have had more than 60 people stop in the showroom and parking lot. 

Cars on the street would stop and talk to the team as they passed; the drivers would often give a donation.  Passersby would stop and snap a quick photo.  There was a huge community interest in this unusual car parked on corner of the Ford lot.

Yocum Ford provided free hot dogs, sausages, chips and sodas for the event. The Big Banana Car Team was selling T-shirts, wristbands and small toy banana cars.

Saturday is the first time they had their donation treasure chest out and they hoped it would be a success.

They had donations from Rhode Island Sen. Jamie Doyle, from the Bananagrams game company, and they will soon be receiving a donation from Chiquita. 

Half of all sales and donations goes toward DVT awareness and half goes toward their world trip.

Banana Car owner Steve Braithwaite, a seasoned traveler, and his brother have been planning on an around-the-world trip, what he called an “ATW.” 

It takes only a minute of talking with Braithwaite to understand why he gets such a kick out of taking this trip in a banana.  He has such a great sense of humor and a knack for story telling.  It is obvious that he is thoroughly enjoying life’s adventures.

He said that this whole venture started with the passing of his mother from DVT, who ironically had just beaten cancer with the help of a cancer drug trial in England. 

She flew from England to the U.S. to celebrate her health with her sons, but it was a blood clot she contracted during that flight hat ultimately claimed her life. 

Braithwaite said that there are so many people who have never heard of it and that is why he is raising awareness in her honor. 

He spoke fondly of his mother, saying that she is the type of woman who made sure her family was always living life joyfully and positively. 

“She is probably laughing right now thinking ‘my son is the most ridiculous man in the world,'" he said. "She would be pleased that we are raising awareness, but more pleased that we are having fun with it."

Standing out front of Yocum Ford watching the kids’ excitement over the Big Banana Car, Braithwaite said, in his laid-back manner and strong English accent, “I love seeing the kids clambering all over it.” 

Kutt and crew member Liz O’Neill said they are always up for promotional events. 

O’Neill manages the sales, promotions and photography. The Big Banana Car Team has even been working with an independent film crew out of California to document their adventures.  Look for great things to come for this unique group. 

Be sure to check them out at www.bigbananacar.com