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Righty ho, well I thought I'd start a fresh thread that will be used purely for blogging our antics along the way! It's 1.14am, approximately 11 hours before we're due to leave the Ace Cafe and head down to London for the official launch at Goodwood. So, as you'd expect, the car is ready to go... well actually... no, it's not. Still need to: Fit the starter motor and solenoid Fit the stereo, speakers and various bits of wiring and errrrr Plumb in the front rad. The front rad was spectacularly left till the last minute and better still... in the hands of others! It has all been fitted and ducted by our very own "loon" (cracking job mate!), who donated his fee to Diabetes UK. However, I ordered the hoses, elbows, connectors etc on ebay, only for the straight connectors to arrive yesterday... as a length of 3 metre, fish pond flexi hose and a cruical 90 degree elbow not to arrive at all. jolly pain in the backside. I tried to fit it this evening with the flexi hose, but pretty much as I expected... the stuff just collapsed as soon as it got hot. So, currently a small piece of bamboo is crucial to the cooling system, as it joins the two pieces of heater hose I cut, only for it not to work! Tomorrow en route to the Ace I shall buy some elbows and straight connectors from Burton, and I'll just have to do it some other time!! Still, at least it looks ready: (Pic to follow) Massive thanks to the guys at "Kamset" for the free graphics, top stuff! Last night was a little send off with old school friends (and a few randoms!) at the pub and we thought we'd see just how many people you can fit ON a hillman imp! Oh well, it's going to be an all nighter from me I expect. Packing up now and then working on the car as soon as it gets light. That's a point, we started packing the car earlier and got one toolbox in there, and a box of "consumables" (cable ties etc) and errr..... we've already run out of space.....! jolly pain in the backside! Hey ho, like I say, I'll keep this page update with our shenanigans, but for when I don't/can't, keep track of our twitter page for the most regular updates: www.twitter.com/imppossibleand our photobucket: www.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/imppossiblePeace out homies, I have a long night ahead, so I'd best crack on!
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good luck Frank
i ll be keeping an eye on the blog
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room.
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All the best Frank! ;D Safe trip!
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Good luck mate , have fun and have a safe trip
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You've been telling me you were a genius since you were seventeen ... in all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean !
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Damn if I had known I could have told you where to get the bits from, 10 mins from the Ace, Midnight Motors of Wembley! Hope you got it sorted, and good luck with the trip.
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Jul 17, 2009 22:39:44 GMT
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Good luck mate. If you happen across a W-reg Skoda Felicia doing the rally, we just bunged them a load of free stuff at work today in return (apparently) for carrying some Halfords advertising ;D (I didn't quite get it to be honest, the closest Halfords to Ulan Bator is in Poland.... )
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1989 Peugeot 205. You know, the one that was parked in a ditch on the campsite at RRG'17... the glass is always full. but the ratio of air to water may vary.
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dannyb
South East
Posts: 1,048
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Jul 18, 2009 14:47:29 GMT
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ahh! you must be the guy my neighbour was telling me about (colin foster) he has a friend who is doing this in an imp. good luck and have a great trip.
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Jul 19, 2009 15:21:23 GMT
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Hi all!
Well, time for an update I guess.....
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Jul 19, 2009 15:39:21 GMT
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Well, we're at Dover! I'm sitting on the ferry, the car is downstairs and we are no longer in England! This feels absolutely superb and is without doubt the first of many a milestone for the trip. It silences the first group of critics and their quips of "you won't even make it to Dover in that!"
I'm pleased to report that up till this point **touchwood** the car is running very nicely. The front rad works and absolute treat, which is a relief, but only really when used in conjunction with the auxillary heater pump mounted at the front. It's very reassuring to watch the needle swing down towards the blue section once you flick the switch! Admitedly... a temp controlled switch would be better but ho hum! I've not yet wired in the rad fan, but will get round to that at some point...
...talking of wiring, I started on the stereo whilst we waited in the paddock at Goodwood. Passenger side speaker is done, as is the stereo itself, but the drivers side speaker is also on the todo list!
The "Mongol Rally Festival of Slow" at Goodwood this morning was great fun. The drive roun the M25 was the first opportunity to test the cooling system and we arrived in good time. Bit of a scare when we calculated the MPG however and found it to be just 25MPG.
There was a huge amount of interest in the car, and lots of people coming up to chat and say hello. It's a shame I didn't have much time to engage in conversation... too busy changing airfilters, wiring and bolting the seats down. In the paddock we were parked up next to a super cool Lada Riva, driven by a pair of equally cool Danish guys. Not having a clue where they were going and not having a suitable map, once we completed our lap of honour around the legendary Goodwood Ciruict, to the cheers and applause of the adoring crowd, they followed us out of Goodwood. We soon showed them this was not perhaps the best idea as we went round within a hundred yards of the circuit at the very first round about!
Along the way there was a slight issue with the brakes, but after a quick adjusment they were tip top once again and we were back on the way. Shortly after we caught up with our nearest rivals on the rally... a 1967 Morris Minor who were accopanied by a mk3 polo. They, us and the lada convoyed for a shortwhile before deciding on different routes for the final part of the journey to Dover.
Having arrived at the ferry port over an hour late, we were very pleased to be allowed onto the next ferry which was only a 20 minute wait and we were even more pleased to see a few other Mongol Rally cars in the queue.
So here we are, floating on the water between France and England. Next time I write anything.... it will be on French turf!
Here's to hoping the car starts....
Frank "Everything's going to be fiiiiiiiiine" Claydon
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Jul 19, 2009 15:39:56 GMT
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This update was brought to you thanks to McDonalds! I love those golden arches and their free WIFI!
I'll try and get some photos on but a bit pushed for time
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Jul 19, 2009 15:56:30 GMT
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Jul 21, 2009 15:07:51 GMT
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Hello...?? Anyone there?
Well we're in Prague. Last night we partied in a castle with hundreds of other people on this epic adventure.
Found our nearest "rivals" to be a 67 Moggy minor, Citroen Dyanne van and a Fiat 126. Couple of awesome ladas too.
Can't do pics at the moment but will do soon I guess!
Everything's a bit up the sh**ter at the moment, my Russian visa starts nearly a week too late, leaving us with loads of time to kill before we can get into Russia, which stops us from advancing into Kazakhstan, which is where we are seriously going to struggle for time if we are to stick to the schedule.
**touchwood** the car is fine. Had some teething problems on day 1, but they seem to be alright now. Front rad is keeping the temperature under control, which is lucky seeing as I plumbed it in the day we were due to leave!!
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Jul 21, 2009 15:17:32 GMT
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great pic of paris
more pics please, where are you waiting out out your visa countdown?
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room.
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Jul 21, 2009 15:20:35 GMT
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Awesome! Good to hear its going well! More pics ftw.
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Jul 21, 2009 15:30:05 GMT
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looks good shame about the visa cock up, i was just thinking how you sorted them only to read two seconds later that its wrong
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Jul 21, 2009 15:38:58 GMT
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More pics! better VISA planning needed, hope you don't need the tyres which are still at mine, lol!
Good to hear the rad working well, wheres the next stop then?
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Jul 21, 2009 16:46:28 GMT
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More pics sil vous plait !
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You've been telling me you were a genius since you were seventeen ... in all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean !
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MR TIKI
Posted a lot
TIKI,style from a different angle!
Posts: 1,154
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Jul 21, 2009 18:26:36 GMT
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good to hear the new pumbing is doing its job,good luck Skaman.
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Boldly driving faster than a tin worm can wiggle.
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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Jul 21, 2009 18:48:43 GMT
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Who'd have thought the Imp would get you there before the visa came into force eh?
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport 1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport 1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2 1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome 2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily) 2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily) 2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,516
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Jul 21, 2009 18:56:18 GMT
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Great going Frank Glad to hear you've got a fair distance.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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