mongogolia

for sale, Nissan Micra one careful owner

2007-09-08T09:50:00.000+01:00

Astonishingly we made it all the way to UB and we're now back in the UK.

In fact we got back a couple of weeks ago having traveled for 5 weeks through 11 countries (12 if you include Korea), mountain ranges, deserts, rivers even tarmac at some points we managed a whole day there before flying back. Poor old beige was looking a bit the worse for wear after her ordeal but she trundled into the car park to begin her new life in Mongolia on three wheels and a rim, no exhaust and the magical climbing rope that had been holding it all together since Altay.

I should take this opportunity to thank all the people who helped us out along the way and those who made it possible in the first place. There are going to be some major revisions to the website over the coming months so come back soon. Cheers

We're in Russia

2007-07-29T20:42:00.000+01:00

Evening All,
Well despite a lot of trials and tribulations we've made it as far as Russia, hopefully you'll have spotted our updates to the main rally site but as I've got the chance to update our blog properly I'll use it.
It was all going so well up until 80km from Prague when our rear suspension collapsed due to slightly overloading poor old beige. Things weren't looking too good as we were trying to work out what to dump to reduce the load on our overworked rear suspension. A quick stop later and some hammer action and we where up and running, made it to Prague where the suspension collapsed again just as we entered the car park.
Was this the end of our adventure? Obviously not as we're in Russia but as I'm running out of internet time you'll have to wait to hear the extent which we've gone to to keep rolling...
Need sleep...

this news just in

2007-07-21T00:44:00.000+01:00

Reports have reached us regarding the systematic abuse of defenseless Nissan Micras when will it end....

and your back in the room

2007-07-21T00:10:00.000+01:00

So here we are then 6 months of meticulous planning and its all come down to this, we leave tomorrow- are we ready? To be perfectly honest, probably. The last week has been a flurry of have we done this, did you remember that, can we stop now but no matter how much planning, ideas or good intentions you always think you could do more.

Its been an incredibly long week of 2.0a.m finishes, stress, wrong bits but as we're currently holed up in a very nice hotel in London with beige poised for action tomorrow we haven't done so bad. Before I forget and degenerate into a champagne fuelled stupor (ooh get us) I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the people who have helped get us here in the first place. Without loads of help from friends, colleagues, random strangers and especially Sara and Amanda we wouldn't be here.

Hyde Park tomorrow, 1.30 be there or be square

Catch you on the road

Shaun and Chuck (and the mighty beige)

2007-07-07T14:28:00.000+01:00

BLOOD: Thanks to all the donors in the Bedfordshire / Northants areas who took an interest in reading the info pack that you may have read whilst drinking a cuppa after giving blood. a big thanks too to the Luton National Blood Service team for distributing the info packs. Thanks to anyone who visited our web page; please leave us a message and/or donation

SWEAT: Have been busy with the car making sump guards, wiring up stuff, welding up the frame for our 'rhomboid roofbox' and generally doing a few mods.

TEARS: Also, Shaun & I have been busy trying to drum up support & fundraise which is as ever 90% frustration & 10% elation but a big thanks to everyone who have suported us in anyway whatsever.

Only two weeks to go....!!!

Maps, jabs & so little time!

2007-06-14T20:43:00.000+01:00

Got maps for Kyrgystan, Uzbekestahn, Mongolia etc. Jabs ongoing, stickers & logos progressing. Still so much to do on car & blagging stuff but hey somehow we'll do it!

Somebody thinks we'll make it

2007-05-13T19:50:00.000+01:00

Incredible but true - there are people out there who think we're going to make it to Ulaanbataar and have decided to throw their weight behind us in the form of sponsorship. At the moment we don't know whether it was our top notch sales pitch or pity which persuaded them to join in but I'll hazard a guess its the latter. So without further ado we have pleasure in announcing that mongogolia are now supported by these fine people:

Proteus Market Research
Horiba Instruments

Additionally the chaps at NGK have sent us some spark plugs and natty threads for the trip, cue Man At C&A action shot. Plus we've even been given a bicycle just in case it all goes wrong, whilst this shows slightly less confidence in our abilities to fix things at least we get the chance to keep fit.

Next time on the mongogolia blog - beige on stilts, 2CV racing, weddings and more...

Names have been changed to protect the innocent

2007-05-10T23:43:00.000+01:00

The more observant among you will have noticed a couple of things, firstly our team name has changed a little bit and if you're reading this you've found our all new official website.

The name change goes right back to the start of this escapade when during the excitement that was the sign up I added the word team. Cue much discussion from slightly peeved team-mate and it was decided we would drop the team bit, and lo 2 months later its gone. More importantly we've got our website up and running and its got more stuff about us, the rally and our sponsors than our pages at the Mongol Rally site so we'll be posting to here from now on.

We've got loads of exciting developments to let you all know about including getting some major sponsors on board, what's been happening to beige (mostly involves grinders to be honest), a new team member, PR for beginners, and more importantly the up and coming first Mongol Rally meet and greet. So I guess we'd better get busy

Something wicked this way comes, if only we'd realised

2007-04-26T19:49:00.000+01:00

Left by "Chuck" at 2007-04-16 20:40:20

Well, we are making progress slowly but surely. We have sent our visa applications off, we've started to raise some money, and we're preparing our press pack and blagging letter. Our new super-duper website is nearly there; and we've even kicked the tyres on the car!!! 13 weeks to go (gulp)

(originally posted on our Mongol Rally Team Page)

You're new to this then?

2007-04-26T19:40:00.000+01:00

Left by Shaun at 2007-04-02 07:43:31

What you shouldn't do is repeatedly hit submit entry when you're a bit tired and not used to the art of blogging as is evident in my last 4 messages, oh well I'm sure I'll get used to it.Anyway our secondary sponsorship page is now active at: http://www.justgiving.com/teammongogolia

I'll cut out the other bits of this, but its along the lines of this but all four versions are slightly different, genius eh..
If you'd like to support our efforts you can now sponsor us at:http://www.justgiving.com/mongogolia

(originally posted on our Mongol Rally Team Page)

Will the real Shaun please stand up

2007-04-26T19:37:00.000+01:00

Left by Shaun at 2007-04-01 22:40:54

'spose I better put my 2p worth in after Chuck's sterling work sneaking in here while I wasn't looking and actually getting on with stuff. It all seemed so easy when we were chatting about the Mongol, especially when I wasn't likely to be the co-pilot. However one fateful night earlier this year I found myself saying yes when Chuck told me that the spare seat in 'beige' had become available. Somehow the responsibility for securing an entry fell to me and the warm glow generated by getting a place was quickly replaced by the realisation that we're (hopefully) driving to Mongolia in the summer, I don't usually go beyond Skegness. So here we are 2 months on with far too much to do and an ever reducing amount of time to do it in...Shaun

(originally posted on our Mongol Rally Team Page)

We're in

2007-04-26T19:33:00.000+01:00

Left by Shaun at 2007-03-30 19:34:05

Hi to all you nice people out there who I hope will be interested in our plight and give generously to the cause.
Well, we have the car, we have the entry despite the HUGE demand (the first 150 places went in just 30 seconds & the remaining 50 by ballot), now all we have to do is get on with raising money, buying maps & route planning, sorting visas & jabs, buying kit oh and preping the car... hmmm a hell of a lot really, so Shaun & I better get on with it then then.
If you're interested in supporting our plight in anyway then we would love to talk to you & welcome your support... Cheers "Chuck" & Shaun

(originally posted on our Mongol Rally Team Page)