I’ve been working with the Mongol Rally organisers in sorting out the car tracking systems for the official Mongol Rally web page, while at the same time following the progress of the teams.
I must admit, the rally seems to be doing it’s job. Breakdowns, long border crossing and corrupt police… The text updates are a great source of entertainment. Some of my favorites so far:
“Pulled over next to a concrete tank-statue by the rozzers. Couldn’t pay £75 fine for not understanding them. They settled for a Monty Python DVD instead.”
“Turkish visas 30 euros, turkish insurance 38 euros, turkish fuel £1.20 per litre, pulling into a turkish military base in the middle of the night, priceless.”
“Pulled over for an unknown offence in Ukraine. Bribe haggled down from $100 to jamie playing Hey Jude on his guitar. This is no joke. Other teams should try this!”
“Arnold the monkey has fallen off the roof somewhere between the turk / iran border in no mans land! Mr hossein and Nina are hunting for him!”
For me though, the best news is that of Christie! My Mini from last year, assumed to have disappeared into the hand of a corrupt Mongolian officials, was finally auctioned off for charity and has made her way into the hands of Dave of the appropriately named Dave’s Place.
At the end of the rally last year it was very upsetting to let go of the Mini. Jon and I had joked about setting up a Mongol Rally car museum for Christie and others. When Dave, who owns the English pub on the main square in Ulaan Bataar, said he wanted to buy it as an attraction for his pub we were thrilled. Almost a year later it has happened.
I’m informed that Dave absolutely loves Christie and has even slept in the car on nights when he has had no security to keep a watchful eye on her!
Time to plan my return trip to UB, me thinks.