Monday, May 30, 2005

20,000 stops.

The white panda has developed a new hobby. It likes to stop and rest now, and does so every 800 metres or so. Its some kind of electrical fault, which basically results in the car stopping very completely and very suddenly. I broke down fully 9 times on my way home from work on Friday, and a further 11 times trying to get the car somewhere near our garage later that evening. Its a concerning development, and on my reckoning will mean that we actually have to stop, open the bonnet and let things cool down a full 20,000 times in order to complete the trip.

On one of the breakdowns (at the top of a hill on a roundabout) - a policeman helpfully pulled up alongside me and asked if I'd broken down. Incredibly intuitive. Was it the stationary car, hazard lights and bonnet up that gave it away? I informed him that I hadn't really broken down, and that the panda was resting and would be fine again in a few minutes. Indeed it was, and I managed to get at least 200m past the island before it happened again.

After a week of the panda running really well, its all ended in tears again. And the little blighter is abandoned on a sidestreet somewhere...

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Avo Performance Suspension

Thanks today also go to AVO Performance Suspension. Nigel at Avo kindly responded to our plea for help by offering to supply us with a set of adjustable rear shocks, to replace the flaccid efforts we already had in place. He offered us a custom made set, with adjustable damping rates, so that we could modify the springy-ness of our ride en route, thus providing comfort on both autobahn and through Kazakh potholes.


Thus ensued the rear damper adventure. Two trips to Northampton (home of Silverstone for that 'racing karma') to drop off and collect the treasured dampers proved not quite enough, as the individual nature of our Panda proved to be a tad awkward.


Nigel at Avo happily made the further mods required, and with a touch further modification from Ben and the grinder, the dampers were ready to grace the rally Panda.


Here you can see the before and after shot of the rear dampers. The lads at AVO did mention that our old dampers did look like they'd already been to Mongolia. They were officially shot.


Now, happy in their new home, the AVO shocks grace the underside of the Panda.


And since the shocks can't be seen from eye level - we've made sure they don't go unnoticed, with the careful placement of stickers. Thanks a million AVO - we look forward to bouncing over that rugged terrain now.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Hartleige - Industrial & Garage Equipment

There were jubilant scenes at Team Mongolian Job yesterday as we took delivery of an array of expedition supplies. The kind donors were Hartle IGE (who operate under the IGE - 'Industrial & Garage Equipment' brand). The MD, John Hartle, has to be one of the kindest guys around. Our begging letter asked for a donation of a Jerry-can or two, but John was insistent that he could contribute more and suggested we have a browse around the website and put together a more substantial list!

So, we then proceeded to do the online equivalent of a supermarket trolley run. Thanks to IGE, we now have all the Jerry-cans we could wish for, nozzles, a cig-lighter powered inspection light, foot pumps, spanners, wheel chocks and a selection of ratchets and wrenches.

So, if you have any garage equipment needs, check out their website and put a bit of business their way.


Thanks a million John and Hartle IGE.

Monday, May 09, 2005

Aaron Radiator Co Ltd


Just a quick post to thank some more sponsors. Aaron Radiator Co Ltd are the latest in an increasingly impressive line-up of cash and parts donors. Aaron Radiators, and the affable Gerald kindly supplied us with a free heater matrix (as our existing one seemed to spray coolant out of it) and also paid for the postage of our new shiny radiator which we fitted at the weekend (the old one leaked, needless to say).

Also thanks go to Piers and Jack Slater, Debbie, Tom and Elly, who all donated generously to the cause. It is massively appreciated guys. Also, our in-car advertising (sporting Team Mongolian Job banners in our 'real cars') finally paid off - as a car park attendant kindly offered money to the cause, straight out of the car park takings - that's the spirit. If anyone else wishes to defraud company funds into our charity accounts, please be our guest.