Livery

Our first corporate sponsors now have their name emblazoned on the Panda, so business readers get in touch - there's only so many panels on the car. Here's a pic of Ben and our glorious Racetext sponsor logo.

Proper website launched

Over the past few days Ben and I have put together our official website. Ben did all the nice design and I've been helping out with the content and general editorial/tidying stuff. Now that this is up and running, we can concentrate our efforts on the publicity and sponsorship drive (and of course, learning how a car works, learning French, Flemish, German, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, Kazakhstani, Krygistani and Mongolian languages and advanced navigational skills etc, etc).

I hope to have final confirmation from work as to whether I can go this year or not, within the next 24hrs. If I get the go ahead - then it'll be all hands to the pump - as we only have 166 days to prepare. The homepage of the site now provides a countdown to the start of the event.

Legal and running

Last night marked the monumental unveiling of the engine compartment. In our excitement to get the Panda bought, we entirely forgot to check the engine over - preferring instead a short test drive followed by the relinquishing of cash. So last night we swapped the planning confines of the pub, for the garage and driveway, as we thoroughly checked our steed over. Once we figured out how to release the bonnet - we marvelled at how tiny the engine was (so small that there's room for the spare wheel in the engine compartment too!). Then we shopped for the cheapest possible insurance, a measly £110. Once sorted - it was onto the road - and we successfully completed 2 laps of the housing estate I live on. No real incidents. Aside from non-effective headlights, the car went well. The 4x4 feels strong - and the only problem was that of contact between the Yokahama's (tyres) and the arches. Presumably this will only get worse as the car gets further weighed down - so one of our first modifications is likely to be administered using a hacksaw.
Tonight see's our first 'business' meeting - a pub liaison with someone with contacts in the rally and sticker making areas.

Planning, planning, planning

Its been all go since the weekend, with planning meetings every evening thus far. Its been one big brainstorming effort. We now have 6 sides of typed A4, full of ideas, requirements and contacts, so there's a good deal of work ahead.


We've also decided upon our official team name - 'Team Mongolian Job'

The final decision on whether to compete in 2005 or 2006 is set to be made by the start of next week.

Panda procurement

My, don't things move at pace! Today saw the purchase of the rally vehicle. Predictably, given that the website is called 'Across the globe in a Fiat Panda' - Ben and I chose a Fiat Panda, with which...to go across the globe. So fully 48 hours after deciding to participate in the adventure - the wheels are procured.
Special thanks must go out at this stage to Ross (Ben's bother), who drove the team down to Dover from Birmingham in the early hours of this morning to collect the car on a trailer - kindly supplied by his friend Scott (thanks) And also to my mother who has kindly allowed the short term storage of the vehicle in her garage.

So. What does the bad boy look like then. Well. Some pictures will follow. For those that haven't checked the official rally site yet, you won't be aware that the idea is to use as shitty a car as possible (and it must be less than 1000 cc, so don't be alarmed by what you see next!

(pics may not appear just yet - something up with server)

Emotional scenes in Dover when the Panda is collected:


Here it is. Ready and loaded:


Interestingly, we plan to drive it 8,000miles across the globe, but didn't have the confidence to get it from Dover back to Birmingham!


Early acclimatisation for the wee fella - we took it to the countryside:


Next up is to register and insure it, learn how to drive it, repair it, rebuild it - how to earn £1500, learn russian, survive in the desert and much much more.
The next post we make will have a final decision about whether to compete in 2006 or 2005.

A plan is born

Yesterday a monunmental decision was made. Ben and Rich will be competing in the 2005 or 2006 Mongol Rally. Either 6 or 18 months of preparation and excitement are about to begin - as they prepare to traverse the globe, from London to Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia....in a Fiat Panda.

Watch here for tales of developments, fundraising, car buying and modification, in what promises to be a completely barmy journey.