plymouth - Banjul challenge
 The Plymouth - Banjul Challenge
3700 miles in a £99 VW Beetle!
Ever fancied driving to Africa? In a 34 year old car? worth £99? Well that's exactly what we, Fiona Easterby and Claire Murphy, will be doing this winter. On December 28th we set off from London Our destination, Banjul, Gambia. Why? Well to raise money for Great Ormond Street and West African charities. Also we have the strange notion that driving 3700 miles across 2 continents might be fun.
The Plymouth-Banjul Challenge has become an annual event, attracting a growing number of car enthusiasts and adventure travellers every year. The rules of the rally dictate that cars should cost less than £100 which has seen the challenge dubbed "the Ultimate Banger race" and described as "Top Gear" meets "Scrap Heap Challenge". Alarmingly we have no mechanical skills. Tony and Chris of "Vdubnutz" are giving the car a thorough overhaul and trying their best to equip us with some basic maintenance skills.
Our route will take us, via Brittany ferries, to the medieval, French town of St Malo. Onward to Spain, New Year in Gibraltar then another ferry crossing to Morrocco. The Medinas and Souks of Marrakech, the high Atlas mountains then their biggest challenge - The Sahara Desert! Out of the desert (hopefully) and along the beach following the Mauritanian coast to Senegal. Finally after passing through the wildlife parks and Mangroves of Senegal we aim to arrive in Banjul for Gambian Independence day on 18th January. On arrival in Gambia we must wave goodbye to our Beetle as all competing cars are auctioned with the proceeds going to West African Charities.
If you would like to follow our progress on their challenge and help raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital visit www.getchamotorrunning.co.uk where you can sponsor us online. Alternatively if you can help out with Beetle spare parts, camping gear or anything else that may be of use to the team you can contact them via the website. |
Our latest 5 diary entries
| 11th Mar 2007 | ||||
| Sponsorship total and the next adventure....... | ||||
| Between us we raised a total of £2224.70 for Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital. The car aucctions in Banjul have already raised over £55, 000 for Gambian Charities and not all of the cars have been sold yet. We... | ||||
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60 Words | 71 Reads |  | Read more | |
| 17th Jan 2007 | ||||
| Banjul | ||||
| When the ferry docked in Banjul it was just >a >short drive to the finish line at the Safari Garden hotel in the Fajara >beach resort. Here the manager coordinates the auction of the vehicles with >the proce... | ||||
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100 Words | 166 Reads | | Read more | |
 No photos |
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| 16th Jan 2007 | ||||
| Senegal/Gambia border | ||||
| > The Senegalese authorities insist the rally must have a customs >escort >through the country to ensure no vehicles are illegally imported. We set >off from Zebrabar in >a convoy of 29 cars however w... | ||||
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196 Words | 172 Reads | | Read more | |
| 14th Jan 2007 | ||||
| Zebrabar | ||||
| To get to the Mauritania/senegal border crossing you have to drive down 99kms of the worst "road" I have ever seen. It's essentially a dirt track along the top of a Dyke. The potholes are relentless, you get used t... | ||||
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267 Words | 134 Reads | | Read more | |
| 10th Jan 2007 - 12th Jan 2007 | ||||
| Sahara | ||||
| For safety and to keep the cost of a guide down we entered the >Sahara desert in a group of 7 cars, us in our Beetle, a fiat uno, a renault >19, a welsh ambulance, a pink flowery jeep, a fiat cromer and a ... | ||||
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167 Words | 174 Reads | | Read more | |
