Mongolia in a Micra

Environmental concerns

2007-05-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

We're looking forward to driving to Mongolia. We think it's pretty cool that we're doing it overland so we can meet people in places that people don't normally go, and so we can see the minor changes that you miss when you're on organised tours. We also like the idea that we can just stop when we want to, maybe for a beer or to chat to a Marmot.

Now the thing is that driving to Mongolia is a lot better for the environment than flying...but we've got to get back somehow. The truth is that it would be better for the planet if we didn't go on this journey at all, less emissions, less petrol wasted on a non-essential journey. However we're hoping that the money we raise and the fact we are donating the car will mean that their are social benefits that in some ways compensate for the environmental impact.

However we both recognise that transport is one of the major factors in climate change, and I also know that it is the Worlds poorest who are most likely to be effected by climate change as they are those least able to respond to its challenges. So we are going to look into Carbon offsetting the trip. We know that some people will thumb their noses at this 'gesture', but we kind of think we're going anyway so anything we can do to make it greener is surely a good thing? Let us know if you've any views and we'll keep you updated with what we're doing.

Contact us and how to help

2007-04-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

You can currently contact us at: mongoliainamicra@hotmail.co.uk
Or at yelromboy@hotmail.com and john_cooper999@hotmail.com.

Or why not join our Facebook group - mongoliainamicra

If you want to help out in any way, we are looking for the following assistance:

Equipment :

Tyres - a full rugged set for those terrible roads
Jerry cans
Roof rack
Race suits (orange with graphics)
Helmets
Vinyls
Tools
Tow rope
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher

Modifications:

Exhaust - fit a skid shield to the back box, and check and improve the mountings, include flexible joints.
Suspension – We don’t know if up rated springs and shock absorbers are available but we have advised they would be a good idea – we’ve heard you can often use van springs to do this. Also boosting the suspension mountings with additional metal, and possible fitting a strut-brace.
Fit a sump guard and a petrol tank skid shield.
Cooling system - change the mountings on the radiator.
Electrics - waterproof
Change the air filter and the air-filter trunking to the manifold.
Engine - Cap and strengthen the engine-mountings improve the gearbox mountings
Battery – Add an additional strap
Brakes - Change the brake pipe material and change the pads and fluid

Rally accounts

2007-04-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

I think it is generally recognised that Coops has zero personality and two of the most serious social disorders known to man: gingeritis and the fact he's a serious maths geek. These conditions have ruined all chances of finding either friends or love, but on the plus side he will be setting up a small set of accounts for similarly disabled individuals to read the more interesting aspects of our visit to Mongolia.

ACCOUNTS COMING SOON!

Charities and sponsorship

2007-04-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Our decision to go on a stupid holiday should not be a reason for you to part with your hard earned cash. However, the fact that we are giving you a really easy opportunity to invest in any one of three worthy causes should.

Basically, read the following descriptions of our chosen charities and give generously to your preferred cause. If you disagree with our choices then that's ok, but while you're here take a quick visit to www.justgiving.com and find something you do believe in.

News flash - Charity donation incentives!!!

Right from the start we have said that we want as many people as possible to be drawn into the Mongol Rally adventure, what better way than to recieve some recognition for your donation.

Postcards - Everyone who donates will receive a postcrad sent from somewhere along the route. Let us have an address where you will be based in August and we will guarantee a card will be dispatched to that address. (Proof of postage is not proof of delivery - when we say August it may be August 2009 before it arrives)

Mongol Rally Badge - Donations of £10 will receive a limited edition Mongol Rally badge. Wow your friends safe in the knowledge that you know people more stupid than they do. But no worries, you'll get the postcard too!

Patented Mongol Rally pants/boob tube - Yours for a £20 donation. Every found it hard to find clothes to match your washed out undies? Not in these beauties! Specially imported to provide hard wearing yet comfortable support throughout the epic journey, these bad boys will complement any colour combination. Check out the photos if you don't believe us. As one of our more daring female friends also demonstrates they make an extremely fetching boob tube - donate twice to get this years must have beach wear, alternately donate just once and go commando!

Limited edition T-shirt - Missed out on Kate Moss's Top Shop range? Primark too last year? What you need is a limited edition Mongolia in a Micra T - shirt. Available in a tasteful ginger colour that will make the Mongolia in a Micra launch the biggest and best. Make a donation of £50 or more and one will be winging its way to you.

Special Prize - The two biggest donators to our four charities will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the thrills and spills of the rally for themselves. Details have to remain underwraps at this point, but this is one that everyone will want to be involved in!

The Charities

Mercy Corps - Mongolia Click here to donate to Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps Mongolia supports rural communities to mobilize resources to meet their economic and social needs, and by extension, to provide a better quality of life for rural residents. Over the past five years, Mercy Corps has established a strong organisational structure and reputation in six aimags of the Gobi region, and is currently expanding operations into an additional five aimags.

http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/countries/mongolia/556

Whizz Kidz Click here to donate to Whizz Kidz
Whizz-Kidz is the national charity that gives disabled children the freedom to be themselves by providing them with customised mobility equipment, training and advice that is not readily available on the NHS. With the right mobility equipment early in life, disabled children are given the chance to develop the confidence and skills they need to fulfil their potential in life.

Whizz-Kidz receives no statutory funding, relying entirely on funds raised through events, trusts, corporations and individuals. Since its inception Whizz-Kidz has helped over 4,500 children to lead a more active childhood.
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/Page.asp

The charity is also campaigning to improve wheelchair services for children so that all disabled children can have the right start in life. This is a really worthwhile campaign – and it’s easy to take part. To help make sure the Government takes action on this issue go to
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/Page.asp?originx7922sh_31905104459a74t6933559824

Christina Noble Click here to donate to Christina Noble
The Christina Noble Children's Foundation is an International Partnership of people dedicated to serving children in need. Christina Noble do incredible work in many parts of the world, but particularly in Mongolia where they work with children and families to esnure that all children are able to fulfill their potentials.

Click here to read about current CNCF projects in Mongolia.

Below is a link to a news story which discusses some of the work Christina Noble are doing with Ulaan Bators street children.
cbs news story

Freewheelers EVS
Freewheelers is a charity sponsored team of motorbikes that transport essential medical supplies around the South West of England. They do fantsastic work and in the spirit of mechanical solidarity we would like to raise as much money for them as possible. Dean - who helped us immensley with Hyacinth is a patron and as a local Paramedic vouched for the urgent need for continued support for the service. As both Coops and myself have lived in the South West we know how difficult it can be to access areas away from the built up areas (Bristol) and think this is a worthy cause.

Freewheelers do not yet have a Justgiving page set up but as soon as they do we will publish the link.

Donate to Charity for free
You may also want to click on the following link, it's free to do and every visit donates food to the worlds poorest people thanks to sponsorship raised by regular visits. Make it part of your daily routine:
www.thehungersite.com

Flymos - the ultimate status symbol

2007-04-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

At some point on every trip across borders there comes a time when one needs to oil a few parts. In the past people have stuck to the staples of vodka and US dollars, but times are changing. These days vodka just gets you drunk a US dollars are thrown on the fire. What they really need are the ultimate status symbol, a sign of true class and wealth...

...what they need are Flymos.

Not wishing to disappoint we are on the verge on signing a ten year deal with lawnmowing's greatest champion. For more information please visit www.flymo.com.

Wills - see what you win when we die

2007-04-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

We realise the severity of the task we are undertaking and have therefore taken the necessary legal advice on some of the more serious considerations. As such, please find our Wills attached below.

Sorry - that link clearly doesn't work yet

2007-03-22T10:39:00.001-07:00

Return to blog

Thanks

2007-03-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Sincerest thanks to the following who have helped us on our merry way...

Design

AKA - Joe Robinson

Alround top chap and producer of some of the finest designs this side of the Mongol Plains.

High quality designs at short notice...and a vast knowledge of the flora and fauna of Central Asia.

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Photography

Jon Rouston - Quality photographer, even made us look reasonable. http://www.jonrouston.co.uk/

Other teams

2007-03-22T10:37:00.002-07:00

It turns out that we're not the only idiots out there, in fact there are quite a few, though judging by their websites they at least have some clue about something.

Route and Mongol Rally Top Trumps

2007-03-22T10:37:00.001-07:00

Current plan is to start in London, cross over to mainland Europe, drive South for a while, when we've hit some good weather we'll hang left and head over to Mongolia.

By using paint and clipart I have attempted to show our proposed route. Not sure if it's to scale or not, but I'm sure it's not far off.

So where are we going to be when?

We've done some back of an envelope rudimentary guessing at where we may be at various stages of the adventure. We have three weeks to do it and attached below is an idea of how long we reckon it will take to get from place to place along the way:

This is (not) a plan

21st July - leave London, board ferry or Eurostar
22nd July - arrive in Prague for evening of merry making
23rd July - rise late with banging head, progress to Budapest
24th July - Istanbul - a long one but we're hoping we can do it
25th July - Somehere in Central Turkey, possibly eat a kebab
26th July - Turkey/Georgia - sample a drive through pub
27th July - Azerbaijan + ferry - please don't let us get stuck here
28th July - Turkmenbashi - Turkmenistan
29th July - Ashgabat - Turkmenistan
30th July - Merv - Turkmenistan
31st July - Samarkand - Uzbeskistan
1st August - Tashkent
2nd August - Kazakhstan
3rd Auguist - Kazakhstan
4th August - Kazakhstan
5th August - Russia
6th August - Russia
7th August - Russia
8th August - Mongolia

Coming soon

Mongol rally top trumps - giving you the opportunity to take part in a pleasurable past time courtesy of our trip to Mongolia.

The Team

2007-03-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

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Oliver Morley
Optimist and enthusiast

Useful skills to bring to the Rally
...

Useful skills to attain prior to departure
Ability to mend broken cars;
13 new languages (to a reasonable degree of fluency); and
How to catch marmots.

About me
I have particularly long limbs.
If I were to go on Mastermind my specialist subject would be English towns and their museums.

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John Cooper
Suffers from an acute case of gingeritis (which, incidently, is not contagious)

Useful skills to bring to the Rally
Too many to list here (and all really impressive).
Fellow of the International Gingerkids Foundation

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Hyacinth
Experinced campigner looking forward to new life in Mongolia

Useful skills to bring to the Rally
Full Service History
Willingness and a sense of duty

Useful skills to attain prior to departure
Ability to regenerate lost or broken parts
Levitation
Ability double as boat in event of Caspian Ferry sinking

About Me
I smoke a little bit more than I should
I have dog hairs on my back seat
I'm a little bit worried about the bumpy roads and weak petrol
I still haven't met Oli, but he sounds very enthusiastic