Africa rally 2009 - Roonforimprovement

[pjm300]

This is a thread on an event I'm taking part in from December for 4 weeks, driving from England to Cameroon

A while back I was asked by one of my mates whether I was interested in taking part in a rally to Africa. It's organised by the same people that sort out the Mongol Run, Rickshaw Run etc.

I've always fancied doing some long distance driving, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity to get this under my belt!

A couple of days later, and we were all paid up, signed up, and looking forward to travelling across some pretty nasty parts of the world!

In brief, we start from the top gear test track on December 13th 2009, driving via a mountain hut in southern Spain, somewhere in Morocco, and arriving (hopefully) in Cameroon. There are no set routes, no external help, so you're pretty much on your own.

The car has to be...

Less than 1 litre
Left Hand Drive (as its now illegal to drive a right hand drive car in Cameroon)

As a result, we picked up this beast

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/AX.jpg

oh yes, its a 1989 1l LHD Citroen AX.

looks alright from the photo eh?

well...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C6.jpg

the seats need a bit of tlc, and there's only minor rusting...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C1.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C2.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C2.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C4.jpg

at least its got an engine tho...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C5-1.jpg

and an exhaust...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/C7.jpg


Slight technical problem was that it was located in Inverness...

So with some last minute flight booking, we were on our way!

We arrived in Inverness and after waiting for a little while (presumably for the owner to give it a last breath of life before it was handed over) we met the car... the documents were signed, and they beat a hasty retreat...

so some more photos at Inverness airport

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0229.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0230.jpg

5 doors baby :D

We set off on our journey down south, stopping by at Loch Ness (a somewhat unrequired detour that probably added another 2 hours to our trip)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0231.jpg

On the road

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0233.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0234.jpg

Im sure there should be a mirror there somewhere...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0235.jpg

We made it to the English border, itself a miracle!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0240.jpg

After staying the night at Newcastle, we got back on the road, stopped for a carvery lunch

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0246.jpg

before finally making it back to Hertfordshire!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/IMG_0247.jpg

[pjm300]

if you are interested in following our progress, then follow the link in my sig

there are also justgiving links if you're feeling generous and want to sponsor us ;)

[Colin]

Quality litte read there matey.

Will be keeping my eye on this for sure :)

[AlexB]

needs a roof rack tbh dude ;)

[pjm300]

Cheers Colin! site will be updated as best as I can!

Alex, I might be popping up your way, and will pick those bars up if theyre still around?

[Saxo_theedge]

Always wanted to do somthing like this after watching the mongol rally on tv.

Good look with it, are you going with some sort of theme or funny paint job?

[Elliott]

Would love to do something like this!

[pjm300]

Always wanted to do somthing like this after watching the mongol rally on tv.

Good look with it, are you going with some sort of theme or funny paint job?

i'm already rocking the rat look ;)

if we have time i'll get something drawn up, however the sponsors decals require some space on the bonnet and doors....

incidentally i believe a couple of people were castrated in one african country for rocking some african decals on the side of their car a few years back - apparently it was deemed offensive to the tribe... i'd rather not have that happen to me :D

[AlexB]

Alex, I might be popping up your way, and will pick those bars up if theyre still around?

still sat in my garage dude
there actually still wrapped up from when i bought them lol!

[pjm300]

lol fingers crossed they'll fit!

i'll let you know when im due, either later on this week or at the weekend

[Caino]

are you keeping your progress updated on here.. would really like to see what happens with this :y:

[craig180]

Awesome! What happens if it dies mid journey?

Is the plan to leave the car there and fly back or are you bringing it back to the UK?

[Luke]

That looks awesome, must of been a long drive from Inverness to Hertfordshire!

I'll have a look at the link later, but sounds interesting :)

[AlexB]

lol fingers crossed they'll fit!

i'll let you know when im due, either later on this week or at the weekend

they should do man if not im sure a bit of bodging they will lol!

thats cool man drop me a pm and ill sort out numbers so you can contact me easily like :y:

[pjm300]

are you keeping your progress updated on here.. would really like to see what happens with this :y:

i'll keep updated on as many sites as possible, but the http://www.roonforimprovement.com/index.php website will be the best place to see whats happening! not sure on the availability of internet cafe's in the middle of burkina faso....

Awesome! What happens if it dies mid journey?

Is the plan to leave the car there and fly back or are you bringing it back to the UK?

if the car dies we die... or we get picked up by some locals and wing our way back to the uk... there's not really going to be any assistance, so it really will be us on our own!

the car will get auctioned of to the locals and then we fly back - so hopefully we'll make it all the way there!

That looks awesome, must of been a long drive from Inverness to Hertfordshire!

I'll have a look at the link later, but sounds interesting :)

the drive was pretty hairy! didnt know the car at all, and as soon as we handed over the cash the seller legged it as quick as he could!

brakes were lacking, it kept overheating, and we were stuck in traffic for most of the m1! luckily we stopped off overnight at my sisters in newcastle, but it still took the best part of 2 days to get down!

hopefully we'll have slightly improved progress down europe and africa!

[pjm300]

they should do man if not im sure a bit of bodging they will lol!

thats cool man drop me a pm and ill sort out numbers so you can contact me easily like :y:


bodging is something i can most certainly do!

[AlexB]

bodging is something i can most certainly do!

haha will deffo be a handy skill on the journey then man ;)

[mikey1]

how did you get into this? would love to do it one day just not sure how lol

[mtpagey]

the car will get auctioned of to the locals and then we fly back

what tight buggers you are :P

best of luck with the trip, i've been to africa for a month... you'll need it with those roads :hug:

[pjm300]

how did you get into this? would love to do it one day just not sure how lol

theres a few of them mate, you just need to sign up and hand over your moneeeeeeh :)

have a look on the adventurists site and see if there's anything that tickles your fancy!

http://www.theadventurists.com/index.php

what tight buggers you are :P

best of luck with the trip, i've been to africa for a month... you'll need it with those roads :hug:

lol, the money goes to charity, we dont get any of it.

in fact, we dont get to see any money at all. we've shelled out the best part of 1500 quid each so far, so it would be nice to see some returns in the form of sponsorship, otherwise we may as well have just given the charities the money ourselves ;)

cheers for the luck, it cant be too bad can it? :P

[Olly]

The picture's really dont do that car any justice tbh.

[PSPDan]

This looks wicked. I'll sponsor you matey :y:

[Predator_R32]

Great stuff paul, ax's rock, could of stopped by when passing newcastle damn you :p

[pjm300]

The picture's really dont do that car any justice tbh.

it really is an animal eh mate :D
cheers for the struts :)

This looks wicked. I'll sponsor you matey :y:

awww cheers mate :D

Great stuff paul, ax's rock, could of stopped by when passing newcastle damn you :p

sorry buddy, next time im up there i'll drop you a bell :D

[Predator_R32]

kinky bugger :p

[pjm300]

kinky bugger :p

only for you

:sweetheart:

[bullit]

nice 0ne paul. shes a beaut

[Connor_scotland]

hahaha i know the owner of that car lol well the old owner.

We were going to buy it as a winter car lol

Inverness is some place eh lol

You nutter - Sounds awesome

[Nij]

I am really jealous mate. I hope you throughly enjoy the trip and take millions of pics.

Also well done for having the balls to do it!

[pjm300]

nice 0ne paul. shes a beaut

cheers dears :D

hahaha i know the owner of that car lol well the old owner.

We were going to buy it as a winter car lol

Inverness is some place eh lol

You nutter - Sounds awesome

lmao! Seriously? Small world! Link them mate!

I am really jealous mate. I hope you throughly enjoy the trip and take millions of pics.

Also well done for having the balls to do it!

get out there mate! You only live once! Or half if you do this...... :D

[sparky771]

this does sound fun tbh just bin readin up on it

good luck with it mate.

[Connor_scotland]

Yep 110% mate lol thats insane.

We were going to use it for destroying in the winter.
I will sponsor you bud.

[pjm300]

a poll has been added to the website - where do you think the ax will die? :D

[AlexB]

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/sk8r_95_2007/IMG_0462-1.jpg


winner car tbh

[pjm300]

lol cheers alex :D

good to meet you :D

[Roj]

this is mental. good luck man!

[adam_baker]

good luck with it guys :)

[AlexB]

lol cheers alex :D

good to meet you :D

no worries man
glad to help out!

and ditto on meeting man
hopefully see you at a few shed events

[shooorn94]

Needs lowerring and S wheels tbh :p

Sounds like an epic journey bud! Will definetly be following the progress of this. Good luck with it all! What needs to be done to the car before you set off?

[Adam_Q]

Nice little read that! Are you able to make any changes to the vehicle? Like make it stronger, better suspension etc?

[pjm300]

Needs lowerring and S wheels tbh :p


im going against the norm and raising it on vtr alloys :P

Nice little read that! Are you able to make any changes to the vehicle? Like make it stronger, better suspension etc?

there's nothing in the rules about modifications, so i've got a set of vtr front struts, a disc rear beam, vtr alloys, vtr gearbox, larger clutch and flywheel to go on.

together with a set of roof bars (cheers alex) and a roof rack located somewhere in cheshire!

hopefully have most of that on after this weekend..... :)

[jeffchiz]

get my old vtr alloys on the beasttt lol i wanna see loads of pics where my alloys end up lol ill sponsor you when i get paid ;)

[pjm300]

there'll be plenty of pics mate :D

nice to meet you yesteday :D

[pjm300]

We've just passed the £1000 sponsorship mark!

many many thanks for those of you who have sponsored us, we really appreciate it!

how much can we now raise for these worthy causes?! :D

[Roj]

congrats! hows the car coming along?

[pjm300]

just need a few more bits before this weekend, when i hope to crack a bit of the suspension out.

if not full clutch, gearbox, driveshaft adn strut change.

fingers crossed :D

[pjm300]

16 days to go!

[Matt67]

Good luck fella.

Would love to do something like this myself.

[pjm300]

we made page 27 of the local paper! yay!

less than 10 days to go!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/pjm300/roon%20for%20improvement/hertsad.jpg

[M1VT]

good luck plum,hope you have some SSC stickers on there ;)

[CampDavid]

Good effort old boy

I will sponsor when I get round to it :D It's a worthy cause and value for money for a few weeks MSN peace!

[pjm300]

cheers guys ;)

[pjm300]

1 day and 15 hours to go

major problems have occured in the past couple of days

we were instructed by the foreign office not to go through mauritania

see webpage for full details, but basically we'll be driving to morocco as normal, then trying to get a cargo vessel to take our car and hopefully us to dakar. if we cant get us on the boat, then we'll look into flying, but its looking like an extra 1200 quid if we're gonna do the whole length of the rally.

sponsorship pages are still open, and there's now an email updates feature.

please follow our progress, we'll be updating as much as possible

[PSPDan]

1 day and 15 hours to go

major problems have occured in the past couple of days

we were instructed by the foreign office not to go through mauritania

see webpage for full details, but basically we'll be driving to morocco as normal, then trying to get a cargo vessel to take our car and hopefully us to dakar. if we cant get us on the boat, then we'll look into flying, but its looking like an extra 1200 quid if we're gonna do the whole length of the rally.

sponsorship pages are still open, and there's now an email updates feature.

please follow our progress, we'll be updating as much as possible

Will the sponsorship page still be open after you leave? I will sponsor you I just don't get paid for a week :n:

[pjm300]

certainly will mate :)

very kind of you :)

that really makes me want to complete the whole route, so we'll do our best for you :D

[pjm300]

certainly will mate :)

very kind of you :)

that really makes me want to complete the whole route, so we'll do our best for you :D