Sahara Rally 2009 - looking for another team!

[Dorset_Clive]

alex said:

Ear plugs, brilliant! How did you find the Landie was for fuel on long distances if you don't mind me asking...did anything break?

Fuel wise I seem to remember being very pleased - IIRC we managed something like 20-25 mpg even when using the paraffin that passes as petrol in places like Mauritania!

The only breakages was a puncture - a long story short: before we went we were given 4 ex-Disco wheels (225 or even 255 x 16), so took them as spares (nothing like over kill!!) & used the "high profile" standard wheels for the road section & swapped to the wide low profile for the desert. Worked a treat till we got a hole, so just swapped back.

We broke a bump stop at the rear, which had to be welded - no problem cos where it happened (S Morocco) there were LOADS of Santana LR, so we just found a local repairer. The main problem which we didn't realise at the time was they burned through a brake pipe So 500 miles further on we noticed "interesting" braking and found the hole. We took the pipe off and another local place brazed it (no point in replacing a complete pipe for one small hole!!!).

Other than that I seem to remember remarkably little drama with the LR at all. And in the desert it was just MAGNIFICENT!!

[ironmighty07]

We had a damper come loose in Mauritania and break on the wonderful run onto the Diama border crossing, and the oil pressure switch packed in on the beach run(mind I did keep driving into the sea and had water spraying up and onto the inside of the roof. Mine was diesel and to be honest I never really worked it out economy wise(mainly 'cos you don't get as much fuel as you pay for generally!!). Tyres again dug in too much in soft sand, so it did bury itself a couple of time diff lock.low normally got it out apart from once...


Oops!!

[Dorset_Clive]

Oh I remeber the beach run! We did "fine dining in the desert" the night before (all dinner jackets and posh frocks! We bought a pre-made dinner party dinner with us, including silton and port!!).

At 4 the following morning we were up for the drag down the beach. We wanted a cuppa before we left, but were running a bit late, so we just jammed the coffee and milk at the back of the Landie.

BIG MISTAKE!!

An hour of charging down the beach trying to keep up with the rest of the group and avoid the tide and we had instant coffee and milk smashed across the whole of the back of the car - all over our stuff

I don't think we ever got rid of the smell for the rest of the trip!

[Dorset_Clive]

Oh and some more pics: smg.photobucket.com/albums/v300/cochapman/Rally/Ply-Dak%202003-04/

[wakster]

how much do landies that could cope with this cost these days, also is everybody an off-road expert?

[Padz]

i'd love to do something like this............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. In the Prairie!

[Greenfox Motors]

i wana do sumit like this

[Dorset_Clive]

wakster said:

how much do landies that could cope with this cost these days

I can't really help with this one - my mate got given the one we used by his dad. My mate had been going out with a lady who was into horses, so he was going to do it up for her, but then they parted, so he lost interest and it just sat in the garden for about four years slowly turning into a shed

We got lucky with some spares - a LR nut was having a clear out, and in exchange for a decent bottle of Scotch we got a diesel engine (which we sold) some wheels and two diffs, plus loads of other bits ;D Sometimes you just get lucky!

If I were doing it again, I'd look at an old Disco TDi.

wakster said:

also is everybody an off-road expert?

Both my mate and I had done a bit of off-roading so knew when to use power and when to go slow, but the whole point of going as a group (even of only three or four cars) is be able to help each other out.

My other mate went in a BX estate (the red one in the pics) and the suspension meant he never got stuck either.

[ironmighty07]

At the time I was working for a business specialising in Land Rovers and convinced the boss to donate and old plus a load of spares!!!

Last time I looked you could find Series vehicles from £500 that were usual, but 90/110 stuff is getting out of hand price wise but expect £1000+ for even rough stuff

Discos and range rovers can be found quite cheaply though, but tend to need a weldathon, it's all about looking and eventually bargains will turn up, particularly while people continue to demonise the 4x4.

[tri]

Man, I'd kill to do something like this. Job isn't very flexible, though - and I can't afford it. Still plenty of years left though, only 22.

[Lankytim]

And I thought driving to Norway was going to be a challenge!

I'm well up for something like this "one day" but work, mortgage wife e.t.c tend to put a damper on fun things like this. Maybe we could organise a RR mini rally one day? (sorry to hijack thread)

[alex]

autohausdolby: Being more suitable isn't what it is all about tbh ...we could have jsut as easily got an economical, newer, faster, more comfortable vehicle than a 1963 Land Rover!


colenelk: good stuff, get on the case

dave21478: Well aware that it's not the safest placest to go to. But then read any travellers guide books, even the so called backpacker guides and when you actually go to the countries and you think to yourself that these guidess could have no way been written by people that have actually been there.

ironmighty07: cheers about the fuel....probably similar sort of thing to places we have been to before. don't suppose youc an remember the cost of fuel last time you were there? Appreciate the guidance on how to deal with locals and I would completely agree with you...seen instances of people doing things and it just makes you think *sigh*....I hope this doesn't make them think all English people are like this! Being involved with culture is one of the main good parts about our last trip. I like the "stuck" pic

cochapman: 25MPG sounds OK to me! Mmmmm. The desert is certainly calling! Thanks for the extra pics

Padz: bring the prarie, it would make it!

I paid £500 for our Landie. It is a bit of a state, but my stepdad being very handy with a welder certainyl helps (see retrorides.proboards86.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=37358&page=3)

[autohausdolby]

I've been having a head scratch about this and as I posted in my other thread, I've asked if I can have the family heirloom (read - extremely neglected and ignored by my cousin since the mid-nineties) Series Landie - IIRC it's on a K plate but has a muddy and mixed series II/III history. I've had a look at the Plymouth-Banjul website and the Morocco off road challenge really appeals, in that it's not too long but has the right mix of dates (Christmas-New year holidays) and vehicle requirements (pref. 4x4 but not LHD).

Unfortunately it looks like I've missed the boat for applications. I've e-mailed Julian who organises it, but I'll be surprised if I get a reply - I imagine he recieves about a billion "Can I come pls mister" mails a day.

The DIY route proposed looks great but I fear it may be a bit much for my commitments to handle... Hmmm.

[ghettoeddie]

You have my attention...

Mass email went out to all adventure inclined friends!
Hopefully i will be in contact with you soon

Edd

[fifi]

Jun 16, 2008 22:48:03 GMT autohausdolby said:

I've been having a head scratch about this and as I posted in my other thread, I've asked if I can have the family heirloom (read - extremely neglected and ignored by my cousin since the mid-nineties) Series Landie - IIRC it's on a K plate but has a muddy and mixed series II/III history. I've had a look at the Plymouth-Banjul website and the Morocco off road challenge really appeals, in that it's not too long but has the right mix of dates (Christmas-New year holidays) and vehicle requirements (pref. 4x4 but not LHD).

Unfortunately it looks like I've missed the boat for applications. I've e-mailed Julian who organises it, but I'll be surprised if I get a reply - I imagine he recieves about a billion "Can I come pls mister" mails a day.

The DIY route proposed looks great but I fear it may be a bit much for my commitments to handle... Hmmm.

Oi! Save me a seat!

[autohausdolby]

;D I got my e-mail back from Julian today, so I sent one back to him asking what I need to do next.

[fifi]

Jun 17, 2008 22:15:19 GMT autohausdolby said:

;D I got my e-mail back from Julian today, so I sent one back to him asking what I need to do next.

w00t!

[alex]

Good stuff Eddie, get back to me if you hear anything

Regards

Alex

[ghettoeddie]

Goddamnit,

The overwhelming consensus is that its a smart idea, but at the wrong time.... when pushed further about why not at that time (early feb you mention) it turns out thats when university work is really loaded on us (4th year engineering students), so were really going to be crippled for time.
Ime pretty gutted as I had a few earmarked ebay cars... but "career first"

Edd (p.s.... next year?)

Edit - forgot to mention.... if i get any information that the above is NOT the case... team mate permitting i will get back to you... i promise!

[alex]

Our planned date for launch is now the 31st of January if that helps anyone!

Our Land Rover is getting there - body almsot ready to go on (see readers rides)

Regards

Alex