Two UK men completed an epic 8,000 mile journey from London to Mongolia in an unmodified 1978 Ford Fiesta - without major mechanical problems!
September 7, 2006 (Press Release) --
Press Release:
September 7, 2006
London, UK
28 YEAR OLD FORD FIESTA COMPLETES 8,000 MILE RALLY TO MONGOLIA
Crazy charity fundraisers Will Rankin and Pete Smith, of West Drayton, Middlesex, have completed an epic 8,000 mile journey through 18 countries, in a 1978 Ford Fiesta.
The friends took part in the annual Mongol Rally, the brainchild of eccentric Brit Tom Morgan, which has just three rules: the cars must all be under one litre; there is no support or back-up, and each team must raise a minimum of 1,000 pounds for charity.
Pete and Will spent a month driving from London's Hyde Park to outer Mongolia's mysterious capital, Ulan Baatar, which only opened to western tourists in 1990.
"The windscreen wiper fell off in London, and then the engine blew up on the motorway near Canterbury," said Will, "but it was simply a lack of water in the radiator. While our start didn't bode well for the rest of the journey, the sturdy car limped to Prague, where we got a new radiator fitted, and the rest of the journey only featured a few flat tyres."
With no air conditioning, plastic seats, and a broken window, driving through the deserts of central Asia, with the temperature guage hitting 50 degrees, was harsh.
And despite getting a phone, a video camera, food, medical supplies and a tent stolen in Krygzstan, the intrepid pair still feel strongly the journey was worthwhile.
"We raised over 1100 pounds for Send A Cow and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation, both of whom do such good work, our efforts driving a few thousand miles in a Fiesta pale into insignificance," said Will.
"The fact that the car is so old is a credit to Ford. Far newer cars blew up, broke down and had loads of problems," added Will.
After mainland Europe, the journey took in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Krygzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia.
"The roads got progressively worse as our journey continued, but the kindness of strangers seemed to increase" said Will.
The pair were given gifts en route, including a hand carved wooden backgammon set and a pipe in Russia, music and books in Kazakhstan, and best of all, a free pint at Dave's Place, the bar in central Ulan Baatar where the rally ended.
All the vehicles which completed the journey - and some are still on the road - were donated to the Nairamdal International Children's Centre in Ulan Baatar, to be auctioned off, raising extra vital funds for charity.
Further funds for the charities were raised in a daily sale of car parts and unwanted items at Dave's Place.
Around 150 other vehicles took part in this years' rally, from a hearse to a Honda C90 motorbike.
Pete and Will would like to thank all the individual and corporate sponsors, without whom the journey would have been impossible, including Anglo Drinks Uk, Jenny Telfer, London by London, The Mongolian Barbecue Restaurant, Innocent Drinks, Radioactive Audio of Swindon and B&Q - for the toolkit!
For more information, visit www.mongolrally.co.uk
For a small selection of images, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/willstonia
You can still sponsor Will and Pete at http://www.justgiving.com/fiestamongolia2
To speak to Will, call +44 (0)7905 439 746
September 7, 2006
London, UK
28 YEAR OLD FORD FIESTA COMPLETES 8,000 MILE RALLY TO MONGOLIA
Crazy charity fundraisers Will Rankin and Pete Smith, of West Drayton, Middlesex, have completed an epic 8,000 mile journey through 18 countries, in a 1978 Ford Fiesta.
The friends took part in the annual Mongol Rally, the brainchild of eccentric Brit Tom Morgan, which has just three rules: the cars must all be under one litre; there is no support or back-up, and each team must raise a minimum of 1,000 pounds for charity.
Pete and Will spent a month driving from London's Hyde Park to outer Mongolia's mysterious capital, Ulan Baatar, which only opened to western tourists in 1990.
"The windscreen wiper fell off in London, and then the engine blew up on the motorway near Canterbury," said Will, "but it was simply a lack of water in the radiator. While our start didn't bode well for the rest of the journey, the sturdy car limped to Prague, where we got a new radiator fitted, and the rest of the journey only featured a few flat tyres."
With no air conditioning, plastic seats, and a broken window, driving through the deserts of central Asia, with the temperature guage hitting 50 degrees, was harsh.
And despite getting a phone, a video camera, food, medical supplies and a tent stolen in Krygzstan, the intrepid pair still feel strongly the journey was worthwhile.
"We raised over 1100 pounds for Send A Cow and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation, both of whom do such good work, our efforts driving a few thousand miles in a Fiesta pale into insignificance," said Will.
"The fact that the car is so old is a credit to Ford. Far newer cars blew up, broke down and had loads of problems," added Will.
After mainland Europe, the journey took in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Krygzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia.
"The roads got progressively worse as our journey continued, but the kindness of strangers seemed to increase" said Will.
The pair were given gifts en route, including a hand carved wooden backgammon set and a pipe in Russia, music and books in Kazakhstan, and best of all, a free pint at Dave's Place, the bar in central Ulan Baatar where the rally ended.
All the vehicles which completed the journey - and some are still on the road - were donated to the Nairamdal International Children's Centre in Ulan Baatar, to be auctioned off, raising extra vital funds for charity.
Further funds for the charities were raised in a daily sale of car parts and unwanted items at Dave's Place.
Around 150 other vehicles took part in this years' rally, from a hearse to a Honda C90 motorbike.
Pete and Will would like to thank all the individual and corporate sponsors, without whom the journey would have been impossible, including Anglo Drinks Uk, Jenny Telfer, London by London, The Mongolian Barbecue Restaurant, Innocent Drinks, Radioactive Audio of Swindon and B&Q - for the toolkit!
For more information, visit www.mongolrally.co.uk
For a small selection of images, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/willstonia
You can still sponsor Will and Pete at http://www.justgiving.com/fiestamongolia2
To speak to Will, call +44 (0)7905 439 746
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