Would you consider doing this Mongol Rally?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
Would you consider doing this Mongol Rally?
A friend asked me if I would be interested in doing something
like Mongol Rally (http://www.mongolrally.com/)
http://www.mongolrally.com/page2.htm
I'm not sure If I would like to something like this.. but its an adventure
for sure.
what are your thoughts?
like Mongol Rally (http://www.mongolrally.com/)
http://www.mongolrally.com/page2.htm
The challenge: travel ¼ of the way around the earth, from London to Mongolia in any crap car that has an engine with no more than 1 ltr of power.
for sure.
what are your thoughts?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2000
Programs: UA, AA, DL, HH, SPG
Posts: 889
If you do it...
you will remember the experience, forever.
It will not ever be confused with another day at the office.
Seriously though, I have not done a road rally like this one before. But if you can manage the time, other sacrifices and efforts, it WILL be memorable.
Be sure and let us know if you go.
It will not ever be confused with another day at the office.
Seriously though, I have not done a road rally like this one before. But if you can manage the time, other sacrifices and efforts, it WILL be memorable.
Be sure and let us know if you go.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
This cuts into my flying around time.. but I'm going to think about it..
probably not in 2007.. may be 2008.
Has anybody done it?
Here is a link to some more details(for 2006)... it sure sounds entertaining
http://www.mongolrally.com/modules.p...id=8name=Costs
probably not in 2007.. may be 2008.
Has anybody done it?
Here is a link to some more details(for 2006)... it sure sounds entertaining
http://www.mongolrally.com/modules.p...id=8name=Costs
#5
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
Seems to be a bit of a copy of the Plymouth Dakar http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk/
which I was going to do last year, unfortunately spaces filled up really really quickly....
which I was going to do last year, unfortunately spaces filled up really really quickly....
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Jose CA
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 149
Brother of a gal I know on a mailing list did this last year. Was apparently EXTREMELY exciting at times. http://ramrodmongolia.blogspot.com is the blog they put together.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA 1K, PC RA, HH Gold
Posts: 178
I'd love to something like this! The trick would be finding the right person to do it with.
I once drove from Fairbanks, Alaska to Lansing, Michigan in the middle of December. The trip was about 4500 miles. The real trick was that I did it alone in a 1972 Chevy 2wd pickup that I had just built the engine for, had everything I owned in the back, had no cellphone and no credit cards. Oh, and I did it in under a week too.
I once drove from Fairbanks, Alaska to Lansing, Michigan in the middle of December. The trip was about 4500 miles. The real trick was that I did it alone in a 1972 Chevy 2wd pickup that I had just built the engine for, had everything I owned in the back, had no cellphone and no credit cards. Oh, and I did it in under a week too.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
Wow.. thats something..
and how old was the 1972 chevy when you did this?
We have something called paved roads here in North America...
I think the concept of paved road is missing in several sections of this
rally. (Mongol Rally)
I'm tempted... to do this
and how old was the 1972 chevy when you did this?
We have something called paved roads here in North America...
I think the concept of paved road is missing in several sections of this
rally. (Mongol Rally)
I'm tempted... to do this
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
Brother of a gal I know on a mailing list did this last year. Was apparently EXTREMELY exciting at times. http://ramrodmongolia.blogspot.com is the blog they put together.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA 1K, PC RA, HH Gold
Posts: 178
Well, I bought the truck in 1998 because I saw it sitting in a field near a place I was living in (North Pole, Alaska). The truck hadn't been registered since ~1986. It had sat there so long that it started to sink down into the ground.
The engine that was in it (305 Chevy, not original to the truck) only lasted about 1 full tank of gas before it developed a rod knock, so I swapped in a Pontiac 389 that I had rebuilt and was looking to put in something. I averaged about 14 MPG on the trip with that.
The engine that was in it (305 Chevy, not original to the truck) only lasted about 1 full tank of gas before it developed a rod knock, so I swapped in a Pontiac 389 that I had rebuilt and was looking to put in something. I averaged about 14 MPG on the trip with that.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
Well, I bought the truck in 1998 because I saw it sitting in a field near a place I was living in (North Pole, Alaska). The truck hadn't been registered since ~1986. It had sat there so long that it started to sink down into the ground.
The engine that was in it (305 Chevy, not original to the truck) only lasted about 1 full tank of gas before it developed a rod knock, so I swapped in a Pontiac 389 that I had rebuilt and was looking to put in something. I averaged about 14 MPG on the trip with that.
The engine that was in it (305 Chevy, not original to the truck) only lasted about 1 full tank of gas before it developed a rod knock, so I swapped in a Pontiac 389 that I had rebuilt and was looking to put in something. I averaged about 14 MPG on the trip with that.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA 1K, PC RA, HH Gold
Posts: 178
I sold that truck about 5 years ago. It went to someone who had the time and money to restore it like it deserved.
As for the car to use, I'd find something popular from the area so parts would be plentiful if necessary.
I'd seriously consider doing the Mongol, it's just a matter of finding the time to do it.
As for the car to use, I'd find something popular from the area so parts would be plentiful if necessary.
I'd seriously consider doing the Mongol, it's just a matter of finding the time to do it.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 99654
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,450
I sold that truck about 5 years ago. It went to someone who had the time and money to restore it like it deserved.
As for the car to use, I'd find something popular from the area so parts would be plentiful if necessary.
I'd seriously consider doing the Mongol, it's just a matter of finding the time to do it.
As for the car to use, I'd find something popular from the area so parts would be plentiful if necessary.
I'd seriously consider doing the Mongol, it's just a matter of finding the time to do it.
Agree with you on the car part.. and also something basic, and simple.. that you
can improvise on parts if necessary.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: just above cargo
Posts: 2,072
Fiats have a lot of parts in common with Soviet Ladas, don't they? And they have a lot of 1-litre cars. Alternatively, you could just get a Lada, which will be catered for OK in W Europe and great in E Europe/C Asia.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
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I would try for something that lasts...VW beetle and I'd be trying to get diesel not petrol..
My friend and I have been discussing driving from London to Sydney since we were 15 at school. Guess we just need to get the time to do it.