51'19N 0'33W, (somewhere south of London) 5th June 2008
Details have been released about our departure, and its going to be BIG. Everyone is welcome to come down to Hyde Park between 11:00 and 15:00 on Saturday July 19th. The Mongol Rally vehicles will be parked up on North Carriage Drive, just type it into Google Maps; the nearest tube is Marble Arch and theres loads of parking nearby. Try not to drive though as the GOBI BAR will be open serving some VERY special drinks all for FREE so make sure you come down! Heres the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13427464118
With six weeks to go the momentum of the Gobi Ambulance is unstoppable! Were still interviewing, tying up last minute sponsorship arrangements and finishing the final bits of paperwork. This week its been medical insurance forms for our sponsor William Russell and carnet de passage time, which is basically a temporary importation document – we have to deposit a load of cash with the RAC who hold it until we get home with the fully stamped carnet.
Mark Logan has joined us too, I work with him and originally he was to go in a SJ410 jeep in convoy with the Gobi Ambulance but for one reason and another hes now joined our project. For more information on Mark, see the team page.
Ive had the first of three rounds of injections today. The rest of the gang are in the same position, visiting their GPs and getting the jabs. On the list is Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus booster, Diphtheria and Polio. This afternoon my arm feels a bit like a pin cushion but its better than picking up the “lergy” along the way I suppose!
In other news weve dumped our old sign writing company (Top Signs in Wickham Bishops, Essex) who charge us over the odds for sign writing in favour of a very helpful company called Showcard Print who will be finish the sponsors sign writing on the Ambulance free of charge! So make sure you give them a call for all your sign writing and printing requirements – they are great.
Russ and Stu have made the decisions to change the engine on the ambulance. So were going diesel on Stus advice. He just happens to have an engine lying around so hes set about fitting it, mainly by replacing the hoses and giving it a good service before the transplant. The ambulance weights 2.3 tonnes and in road trials weve found she doesnt like going up hills, to the point that were in 1st gear and going VERY slow. The Pamir highway will tear the engine apart so we went for a torque filled 2.5 litre naturally aspirated diesel lump which should be fine on those 4000 meter mountain passes!
Weve finalised the mechanical jobs list and theres plenty to do. Our first real pre-rally road trip is going to be Wales on the 21st July; were taking the ambulance for a weekend of off-roading which is something we thought wed never do!!
Dont forget you can donate to our charities by clicking DONATE on the left hand site of the website as well as sending a text message with the word GOBI to 82010.
Updates are going to get more frequent now the rally is getting closer, so be sure to keep checking the web site - Mat.
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