What's this all about then?
These crazy people, The Adventurists,
came up with The Mongol Rally a few years ago. The idea is, to make the world significantly less boring,
you drive a low-power, micro-car from London to the capital of Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar), get people to give you money
for doing it, and then when you arrive, you leave the car there to be auctioned off
for charity. It's so simple!
Oh, and there's no set route, no support, no real road much of the way, it's not a race
(although some people treat it as one), and we don't really know how we're getting back.
So, obviously, my complete lack of linguistic, mechanical, or international
travel skills makes me a perfect candidate for such an endeavor. But I guess that's
where the guys in the other car come in. Wait, they only know English and don't know
squat about cars either? Hmmm.
Assuming the Russians grant my visa and get my passport back to me in a timely manner, I'll leave for London July 9th, 2013.
Then, around Sept 3 (6 or 7 weeks later), I'll be back in Raleigh.
The Charities
CoolEarth
CoolEarth relentlessly fights deforestation.
Yes, I know: It seems a bit contrary to drive 8,500 miles to save forests and cut CO2 emissions,
but I've been assured that with the magic of offsets, if I raise even the minimum (about $600), that'll
help the world out. I'm good with that. Coolearth is the Official Charity of this year's Mongol Rally (and
they'll get the proceeds from the sale of the car when I make it to Ulaanbaatar).
Mercy Corps
These Mercy Corps folks are quite nice (I helped one diagnose a web error
the other night). They help *everywhere* (not just the web).
Since 1999, donations from Mongol Rally participants and their
supporters have helped Mercy Corps Mongolia dig wells, create
playgrounds, equip schools, conserve Mongolia's environment, and
helped Mongolians get access to loans and business training as their
country undergoes rapid (forced even) modernization.
Here's an interesting article from Bloomberg
about Mongolia's nascent mining, and their struggle not to be co-opted.
Who am I?
My name is Chris. I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. Now I live in Raleigh, North Carolina.
I work at a big software company in Cary. I'm too tall for any car model named "Panda".
Who Are These Ben and Paul Guys?
Ben is a high school friend. We always have fun.
He recently made this fun presentation about the rally.
Paul? Never met him. I hear, though, that he'll eat anything, for a price.
They're both professional photographers, which means that any mistake I
make will be fully and professionally documented.
Update: Unfortunately, Paul can no longer make the trip. So it's just Ben and me.
Who was Sir Walter Rally, er, Raleigh?
Even though I live in Raleigh, I don't really know much about him except
that he has something to do with a giant acorn (joke for Raleigh residents).
Basically, around 1580, most everyone (including the queen) liked him a lot (he got knighted).
He helped explore that new American place, wrote poetry, and lived like a boss.
But then he screwed up, married without the queen's permission, and got sent to the Tower of London.
Later, he got involved in a plot to overthrow the king. It failed (never good), and he got sent to
the tower again (for 13 years).
After he got out, he headed to South America to find those darn cities of gold, only to screw up
again... to the point that when he returned to England, he was executed.
Go look on the Wikipedia
and you'll know as much as I do.
Oh, and people on TV too often pronounce "Raleigh" as "rally". I heard that twice in a
day and the light went off: Team Name!
The Car
2005 Fiat Panda. 1.2 liters. Blue. It's micro-small -- think Fiat 500. Purchased
via a garage in Essex.
I went to a Fiat dealership and sat in a Fiat 500, barely.
A salesman was on me immediately (very nicely though), and asked if I was going to
buy one. I asked if he'd seen me get in the car.
If it's too cramped, maybe I can find a dremel near the starting line to
perform a dashboardectomy to make room for my knees.
It's right-side drive, which should prove interesting. Especially as I'll be driving on the
left side of the road, but only when I'm in England. The other 7,000 miles I'll be on the right (correct)
side of the road, but in a right-side drive car. I think I'm going to need extra mirrors.
And I just noticed that I have the only 2005 car that has a freak'n cassette player?!?!
Have Car, Need Title
The car, Sir Walter, was, obviously, knighted. I however, despite
watching all the episodes of Monty Python, Faulty Towers, and most all of
Doctor Who, have absolutely no chance of achieving what my French-born
auto apparently takes for granted. I also doubt my 4 days in the UK prior
to the start of The Rally will be enough to garner the requisite citizenship.
So, I need to come up with my own title (or 7). These sprang to mind:
- Head Supper Locator
- Grand Marquis of Maximum Milage
- Grand Marshall of Good News
- Duke of Dinner
- Grand Vizier of Impending Chaos
- Czar of Greater Appetite
From Liz (who also suggested this resource):
- Viceroy of Digestive Geste
- Perandor of the Panda
From Jeremy, Lee, Lizzie, and Charlotte:
- Keeper of the Menu
- Protector of Italian Fuel Economy
- The Right-hand of Drive
If you have one to add to the list, let me know.
EMT Training
I will NOT need this.
Time to donate!
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