Mongol Rally 2007
The Wingit Racers
22nd August 2007
8320 miles later…
Well the last 48 hours were a great top off to the rally. We were on the final stretch to UB, around 400k out, when we ran in to some more stricken cars—those of the Jack Osbourne convoy. His mate Tommy's car was a crapped out Rover Metro 1.1 that he had brought for 100 pound, rust everywhere with a faded red paint job. The fluid suspension system it had was now completely wrecked to put it nicely! And the tire had blown as a result of the rubbing.
The team had basically decided to get it to the next town, about 10k away, and put it on the tow truck to UB, much to the disappointment of Tommy. The wing-its decided to take a look and within a couple of minutes had come up with the second evo of their tried and tested shoe-suspension-system! And set about doing it with cable ties, duct tape and a couple of hose clamps. Once the rest clicked on that it might actually work it was all on and we even ended up fixing the hole in the fuel tank as well.
We camped up for the night and made the only camp fire we have had on tour with bits of wood we had picked up throughout the day.
In the morning everyone set out early besides the Wing-its and team Endo who had bit of a sleep in before getting the foot down in the direction of UB. We pulled into UB around 5.30 to a text message from team Endo that they had broken yet another rear leaf spring, but were proceeding on at a slow pace. We all managed to met later at Dave’s Place for a couple of cold ones and where stoked to see Tommy pull in with his shit-box rover still sort-of going strong, sporting a massive grin on his face to the claps and cheers of the rest at the bar.
Will update the photos a.s.a.p. as I can’t text them through at the moment. Still have no plan of how we are going to get out of here but I’m sure something will come up. As for the chaser it is still going strong and will be sadly missed.
Cheers
the wing-its
21st August 2007
Good Progress
We have reached Bayankhongor abound 600k from Ulaabaatar. We had to strip the carb and fuel pump on the fruit machine today—it had stopped dead. The work paid off and it hasn't missed a beat all day. Also had a massive river crossing today. We hope to reach UB late tomorrow night…
Cheers
WingITs
18th August 2007
Keeping Endo in suspense
Today was a big one. It started early with team Dzogchen suffering a hit to the gearbox yesterday and developing a slow leak.
The wingITs went to work, and the repair was quite well until we tried to stick the oil back in. We began to remove the speedo cable, but had trouble with the housing inside the gearbox itself. The result being that we were going to have to find a different way to get oil into the gearbox.
We used a bit of reverse engineering, and after some funny looks from the others in the group, we proceeded to roll the car onto its side. We removed the gear box, the sump bolt, and then poured the oil in – all good. We got back on the (crap, getting worse) road. Later on we were to see what these roads can do to a Suzuki suspension.
We had shot ahead of the group, but as usual we hung back to check that the Micra was still going. It passed by a few minutes later, but then we started to wonder here team Endo’s SJ was. After about 15 minutes we went back to see where they were. What d’ya know – they’d busted their rear leaf spring. Once again the wingITs went to work.
Off with the wheel, then we cut away the metal box-step off the side of the jeep. This’ll do fine we thought. After a lot of heat from our camping gas burners on the bushes, a lot of swearing, and busted knuckles we managed to unbolt the busted spring. Then we replaced it with the box, replaced the bump stops with one of the guy’s shoes (cut-up), and got the wheel back on.
We then started again on the road to Altai. The roads are getting worse and worse...how the hell they get this bad beats me!!
WingITs
17th August 2007
Riverbed to airborne
We set out today in the direction of Altai which is 420km away.
Last night coming into town we saw the Micra that we had fixed on our first night in Mongolia, on the hill. The gearbox had taken more hits, and was now totally seized. We helped them lift it onto the back of a flat-bed truck so that it can be taken to Ulaan Baatar.
We had a couple of interesting river crossings on the way into town yesterday. Two of the four SJs that were in the convoy were in stuck in two wheel drive due to the broken drive shafts, so they managed to get bogged down in the middle. Luckily the chaser was following.
We hooked in some low ratio and proceeded to do some panel beating on their rear bumpers to push them through – much to the amusement of the local onlookers. We then managed to get the chaser fully airborne when we hit a hump on the dodgy roads. And we got it on the camera dash – sweet!!
So last night we spent the night in Khovd, and in the morning we raided the Micra for parts, taking the jerry can and the octane boosters. Here we go again! The sun is out which funnily enough has been rare this last week.
WingITs
15th August 2007
The hill of destruction!
We passed through the border into western Mongolia yesterday. It was set to be our most expensive crossing yet with $28usd for the car and $15usd for the guard.
Refusing to pay the $28 for the car worked in our favour and we crossed into the Mongolian outback and onto what seems to be the end of tarmac roads.
Getting through the border yesterday we passed straight onto farm dirt tracks that I don't think even a goat would bother using! Pulling into the first settlement we noticed three other rally cars parked up. Upon investigation we found the cars to be that of the Canadian team, a British and a Welsh team – it was the end of the rally for ‘em.
The owners long gone the locals explained they had tried to take the northern road to UB but after driving a day and finding nothing had turned back only to destroy their cars, Later selling them to the locals for some tea and a ride to UB airport.
So after a short break inside the "ger" with some tea and some weird tasting food we set of in a 5 car convoy on the southern path. With the chaser leading the way the cars could judge the holes and ruts better and we were making good progress until the "Hill" started.
It started slowly but soon got steeper and by the half way mark the cars were stopping. I will just mention here that "the Chaser" hooked low ratio four-wheel-drive, proceeded to not even bother with the winding road, and charged straight up the side of the mountain over everything only to have to turn around to help the rest. This is now the "chasers" territory.
With us heading back to help the shoebox cars everyone was out helping push the cars, we figured out later that night it was easier to just ram them up with the chaser! One by one they started off again and all was going fine until one nailed some huge rocks in the darkness. This put a massive dent and two holes in the fuel tank, and a crack in the gear box casing caused the contents to out.
So the other teams carried on to the top to set up camp while the wingIt's went to work. Stealing the pipe from Team Endos SJ window washer system gave us some new fuel lines, and the jerry can placed in the passenger’s foot well was to be the new fuel tank. Using some of our weld-it putty we also fixed the crack to the gearbox. A little bit of encouragement from the "chaser" on the rear bumper got it to the top with speed where they were able to tidy up the arrangement in the morning.
We are now staying the night in Oglii before heading off early tomorrow morning for the Gobi desert. Oh and we put about 250ml of oil in the chaser this morning and tightened the fan belt, yer we have loads on! And everyone driving cars told us the SJs where the worst to take.....yeah right!
Cheers
the wingITs
13th August 2007
4 becomes 2
Finally made it through the Russian border late last night, only to look back and see team Endo pushing their SJ through it.
We managed to get it started, only for it to die again today. We think there’s a block in the carb somewhere. They can still get half throttle so we’ve decided to push on for the mo (after having spent the afternoon at a mechanic who could do nothing for it.
We are about 2 days behind the main group that took the western route into Mongolia.
Team Endo’s bumper fell off at some stage and went unnoticed until this morning. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the lights weren’t attached to it. We’ve taped the breakdown triangle to the back, and they ride in the middle of the convoy at night.
Well push on as far as possible tonight though Barnaul, before turning to Mongolia- around 600km from Barnaul...
...Later that day
Well 20 minutes after sending the last update team Endo’s SJ lost its drive shaft – whilst doing 80kmph. It went like this: Chris Tommy and myself were having a nice peaceful drive until we got a call from tom screaming ‘the car s officially dead – please turn round’.
So we swung a u-turn, got to the scene, and assessed the situation. Chris then got under the jeep, removed the remaining brackets, slammed the jeep into 4-wheel drive – hey presto! – Team Endo are the proud owners of a front wheel drive SJ.
Once again were heading in a Mongolian direction. Its 750k to the border, which is Team Endo’s only objective – even if it means pushing! Ha-ha!
What’s next? Watch this space.
12th August 2007
To Western Mongolia
The chaser's team now includes Tommy from the Ironsides. A decision was quickly made not to be pussies, and to take on the western entrance to Mongolia—and all it has to throw at us.
The rest of the convoy are still undecided so we may be splitting up from here. Either way the chaser is not hanging around. The foot is down and we hope to be at the Kazak/Russian border near Semey within a couple of hours
WingITs+
11th August 2007
An ever reducing convoy.
We have finally reached Astana after a mission of a road trip. Sent the fourth car in the convoy of team Dzogchen off a head of us when we got stuck dealing with the sick SJ (Suzuki Jeep) of team Endo (Tim and fudge's big adventure). The car also had one of the yanks in as well: he had to try and get another entry into Russia.
The SJ was now going strong and no probs with the rabbit chaser, however after fixing the oil pick up and starting off on the road to Astana it seems there was too much damage to the engine due to running without any oil pressure for slightly to long (about 500k).
The noise from the big end bearing was chronic and they lost serious power mid-way through over-taking a slow truck. The decision was made to ditch. Luckily we had pulled into a small cafe and where soon surrounded by interested locals—one that also was willing to buy the car.
So we started lighting the load of the SJ and manage to flick the fiat (with all the junk in it) for a couple of chocolate bars and some vodka—much to the delight of both sides. We all crossed fingers as he drove off in a cloud of black and grey smoke. The fiat managed another hundred meters down the road before pulling over for a rest. Thinking he was going to come back we starting packing fast, but to our amazement it started again and drove off into the distance never to be seen again.
We swapped more of our stuff like the stunt kite and golf clubs to more locals for more vodka and repacked the jeeps. We set off from the cafe still having to cover around 650k now with an extra 3 people: Tomy and Joya (team Ironside), and Ally (Mongolbikers) who has been hitching a ride with the convoy since Atirau after not having the right visa to go to Uzbekistan.
The Suzukis powdered on through the night until we decided to give it a break about 2 in the morning and make camp for the night in a farmer’s field. Awaking the next morning to set off again the luxury of the tarmac roads we had driven on through the night fast ran out and we were back on to the dirt track diversions and pothole dodging of the classic Kazak road system we where use to.
The slower speeds however made for great fun as we were able to emerge and stretch out on the roof and bonnet of the chasers to the laughs, horns and waves of the locals driving the other way.
We now rest up in Astana, our plan now is to head off into Russia, more and more the group wants to take the northern route into Siberia to see the Baikal Lake but we will see as the original plan was to take the western side in to Mongolia and take on the Gobi desert. So time will tell but also in the back of the heads is the final party date of the 19th which we still have the outside chance of making.
Ciao
The WingITs
9th August 2007
Sumps, pumps & big end bearings
So the morning started well, we were able to find the coil for Team Endos’ jeep.
Team Ironsides’ fiat however was not looking so well. The oil light was coming on at low revs, and it had suffered some pretty heavy hits to the sump – time to take a look. Luckily over here they have ramps set up in the rest areas so that you can drive ya car on, and go underneath for a look.
So the WingITs went to work, taking the sump off only to reveal the oil pump resting in the bottom of the sump. It had been snapped clean off by the potholes on the Kazakh roads. We took everything off, cleaned it up, and then stuck it back on with a combination of weldit putty and superglue.
After we got it all back together it was great to see the oil light stay off – we were soon distracted by the smoke billowing out of the back. After a few laps of the car park it had pretty much died down though, just got to keep a close eye on the oil levels.
After a quick call to the little bro in NZ it was confirmed that the knocking noise coming from the fiat was the big end bearing of the engine. So the damage to the Fiat has been done and we will drive it til it dies, or off the nearest cliff – whichever comes first.
We are now finally heading out to cross the 700K to Astana...
Ciao
Cheers
WingITs
8th August 2007
Back-firing in Kazakhstan
Early morning…
Just leaving Qostanay after staying the night and finding a mechanic to fix team ironsides’ sick fiat, which is on its way out.
We’re going to try and cover the 700k to Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, today. Sounds like the first 400k should be ok, and then it’s back to dodging potholes.
…later that morning…
We’ve had to turn back as Team Endos’ Suzuki (part of our convoy) has decided to back-fire loudly and then stop. It turns over ok but it just won’t fire.
We’ve reached a local mechanic and he’s checking it over. Probably stay here the night and then head out in the morning
…and in the afternoon
Looks like we found the problem with Team Endos’ Suzuki – we swapped the coil with the one from the chaser and it started first time. Too late to set out for Astana now, so will get on it again and go tomorrow.
Cheers
WingITs
5th August 2007
Bit of a catch-up
OK then, it’s been some time since the last proper update, so here goes!
We left Odessa, Ukraine on Monday 30th of July. Once we finally made it out of the labyrinth we, and two other teams, got ourselves on a stretch of crap roads which we followed north along the Black Sea.
After a little swim we continued on to Russia. After a long drive we pulled into a sunflower field and pitched our tents for the night...only to be woken at the crack of dawn by a disgruntled Russian farmer.
We got a heads-up from Team Touchy (the aussies) that they spent 10 hours at the border so we stocked up on the necessary water and supplies. Whilst sitting in line at the border Jack Osborne and team pull up, bringing the rally teams waiting at the border to seven. Then some dodgy bloke who looks like a pimp (with his ladies of the night) offers us green cards for Russia. We politely refuse – over, and over, and over again.
Just as well cause it’s all malarkey! It turned out to be one of the easiest and cheapest border crossings. I completed the paperwork and then the general dude just pushes it to one side and asks for money – as ya do! After the fake country in Moldova I knew the drill. I opened my wallet to reveal $1 usd, and 5 local. The man said not enough so I went and got $10 from Chris back at the car. This, it seems, would be enough – after another search, and being asked for presents, naturally!
We all drove off for another five minutes...only to be stopped by the sticker police! Yip, that’s right, this prat thought he could stop us and fine us for having stickers on our cars...yeah, righty-ho mate! After 10 or so minutes, and threats to be sent back to the Ukraine we were all on our way not having had to empty our wallets or pockets.
That done we hit the first town, the first ATM, and the first restaurant...a karaoke restaurant! After a right old struggle with the menu we pointed at the fire and the beer and indicated five of each. After an awesome meal of MEAT we hit the road.
We got close to Volgograd and decided to call it a day. I found us a nice tranquil spot and we pitched camp for the night. Turned out it was next to a railway track...I counted eight trains through the night! As you can guess I wasn’t too popular in the morning. To top it off the tents got damaged beyond repair, and got binned.
On then to Volgograd, an ok place with awesome statues, an amazing eternal flame, and war memorials – as you can see in our photos. Some of us went for a swim in the river which wasn’t so clean but all good. Another struggle ensued at the next restaurant but we got our food and beer in the end. On then to Kazakhstan.
After a good night’s sleep in Atirau, Kazakhstan (at the top of the Caspian Sea) we said our goodbyes to the Mongol Bikers as they were heading to Uzbekistan. We started to service the chaser and plan our route in the hotel car park.
This attracted the attention of a number of the locals who were very interested in our planned route. When we showed them our intention to go towards the Aral Sea they went into a frenzy of arm-crossing and head-shaking. Followed by motions of loading and firing guns!
A team decision was quickly reached to avoid the bandits and change route. This was also influenced by the fact that two of the convoy needed to obtain extra visas for Russia. So we headed for the capital Astana, much to the smiles of the locals.
We covered about 300k that day before setting up camp for the night. The locals had been right about the roads too – 300k of sealed tarmac roads.
The flat Kazakh plains spread out as far as the eye can see in all directions. There is nothing to see apart from the odd cow stood casually in the middle of the road.
Cheers
WingITs
3rd August 2007
Where'd my phone go?
hey everyone…Ross' phone was stolen last friday in Odessa, Ukraine.
The theif's been caught by undercover cops trying to sell it, so i will get it back with the same number—but it wont be 'til early September. So if you have texted and there was no reply then thats the legitimate reason—not because im a slacker!
The rabbit chaser aint too keen on the hot weather, but come night fall he's a little racer!
'Its Nice'…we are in Kazakhstan now!!!! its very random place,so big and empty. The town we are in now, Atirau, is pretty rich as they struck oil about 10 years ago and its pretty expensive…who would of thought!
Cheers
WingITs
31st July 2007 pm
Where'd the road go?
The roads have slowly deteriorated since we left the Czech Republic. Gone is the smooth organisation of the German autobahns and French auto route.
Now we drive on roads laid down in the soviet era, and they seem to have had little or no maintenance since. The roads are just about drivable — at a crawl. We have to carefully negotiate all the potholes, and 'repairs' to potholes on the 'road'.
This is beause the chaser has lost the ability to absorb shocks and is now chasing the world bouncing record instead.
With the race now entering the endurance stage any attempt to estimate time and distance have been throw out the window. Or in our case the roof.
Cheers
WingITs
31st July 2007 am
Mo money, mo checkpoints
We've made it into Russia. The bribe at the border was only $11 USD, and it only took 4 hours compared to the 10 hours it took the ozzys last night.
Five minutes down the road was a permanent police checkpoint. They tried to fine us for having stickers on our cars.
With the moves we've learned so far we got through without having to pay a thing. As it happens the ozzys had to pay a $20 USD fine for not having a GB sticker on the back of their car.
Just waiting for the next encounter now as we chart the map towards Volgograd
Cheers
WingITs
28th July 2007
Money makes the world go round
Well the rally just stepped up a notch over the past couple of days. The dash across Romania took us through some amazing country side.
Using a local map we found ourselves trekking right into the back country – passing by locals with their horses and carts, and starting to dodge potholes which are gradually getting worse as the trip progresses.
We lost the American team early on, but as night fell we managed to find a hotel in small town about 3 hours from the Moldavian border. Setting out early the next day we headed out of town over bridges that were about to fall down eventually reaching Moldova around lunch time.
Getting in wasn’t too bad but we found out later that it was to be "the day of the bribe". Moldova is a very poor country, its main economic income is from farming and the police earn around 200 bucks a month so they are out for anything they can get. After the first run in we came off less 100 euro and a hunting knife but we soon wised up and manage to get through another 3 checks and into the Ukraine for fewer than 50, so wasn’t to bad but definitely a quick learning curve on the way things work.
Also the skills we picked up earlier in the trip by getting lost good and proper came in very useful as there was a major lack of road signs in Moldova. We actually only spotted one sign throughout the whole country. Thankfully we managed to find our way out and will cross that one off the list with a note to never return!.
So the next event was the arrival of the Ukraine boarder which we were pleased to see but once again we got pulled to the side and asked a load of crap questions – the moral of the story: ...money talks!
So with the final bribe of the day we set the chaser in top gear and pointed at Odessa. A crash course in reading Ukrainian road signs and a major bit of luck we found our hotel in the middle of the city and wasted no time in ditching the bags and heading for a couple of cold ones.
Eventually rolled back through the hotel door to the porters amusement as the sun was rising. The yankys have now joined us and some ozzy boys have just turned up as well so tonight is set to be a good one.
We are staying another night here before we making the move towards the Russian border on Volgograd city to check out a statue I heard something about.
Thanks to everyone’s support and hope to keep the updates coming.
Cheers
WingITs
25rd July 2007
Ironsides and the The Church of Bones
We have made it to Bratislava in Slovakia. We travelled via Brno and went to see “Church of Bones” yesterday. Of course we got lost in the back of Czech—getting used to it now so it’s all good. Looks like we will be heading through Budapest and Romania into Moldavia and in to the Ukraine to Odessa by tomorrow hopefully.
So...a bit of a drive today. Gave the jeep a good look over, checked the fluids etc.
We got on the road from Bratislava at about 1pm and pointed ourselves in the direction of Budapest. Upon arrival we of course managed to get nicely lost. We got it sorted eventually, and celebrated by setting off in the wrong direction to Debrecen, arriving finally at our night stop-over in Oradea, Romania.
We plan to wait for the American team “Ironsides” who were with us until their alternator gave up. Hopefully it’ll be fixed and they’ll catch up tonight and we can set off to get lost together tomorrow on the road to Odessa, Ukraine.
thewingITs
23rd July 2007
Who needs maps?
We have reached prague after a drive that put everything to the test.
After we left Calais we managed to get seriously lost in the small french villages as we had decided to make up our own route to Prague. And to leave the safety of rest of the rallyers.
We later came to the conclusion that we should have invested in a new map of Europe before setting out, and not just grabbed the one floating around the floor of the kiwis flat in London. It doesn't have much detail and is nicely dated and worn.
We headed towards Reims, then Metz and onwards to Germany. Saarbrucken followed by Mannheim and Nuremberg after which we made the turn to Plzen in Czech—eventually, with a spot of luck, we found our hotel in Prague.
We had a few stops for power naps along the way and the final time of the drive was about 28 hours: London to Prague. We thought that we were going to be the last team to arrive, and were surprised to find ourselves in the middle of the arrivals. Other teams were still arriving during the rally party at the club.
“The Chaser” (our jeep) went well with no majors along the way. It leaks like a sieve when it rains. And on the motorways at night all the bugs manage to find there way in under the roof join across the top of the window. We almost had to tie the bandanas over our mouths at one stage to keep from swallowing a load.
The roof has made it intact so far, even on the German autobahns where we managed to take it up to 80 miles an hour!(down hill with the wind definitely behind us!).
We’ll do the sight-seeing thing today, and stay another night in Prague, before making a move towards Slovakia tomorrow.
cheers
thewingITs
21st July 2007
On your marks, get set…
…So, after getting lost trying to get out of London we managed to hook up with a few of the other rallyers and have made it to the channel tunnel.
We are just 30 minutes from continenal Europe, and then we start the long stint from to Prague from France. Haven't looked at the map yet but word is that it's a 13-16 hour drive.
No major problems so far, aside from a few leaks (courtesy the great british summer), and the rabbit chaser's running well.
Stay tuned…
26th June 2007
Fundraising begins apace.
With Ross in spain at the moment supporting Team New Zealand in the Americas cup sailing (go the kiwis), and myself slaving it out back at work, we have managed to focus the effort on our sponsorship chase.
E-mails are going in and out (luckily), left, right and center. It’s getting hard to keep up but a few more late nights (probably right up until we leave) will see us past the fund raising target.
Cheers and a big thanks to Toby for the tire pump and also Nikki, Mark, Michelle and Logan for the first donations. We hope to announce sponsors soon but must get back to finalizing the details now.
Ciao…
19th June 2007
The Wingit Racers website is go!!
In between the 60-70 hour work weeks, we’ve manage to find time to gather the visa doc’s up and get them off to the Embassies just in time. The mighty “rabbit chaser” manage to scrape through a M.O.T earlier in the week — and as a bonus it was only it”s second attempt.
We’re still working on what extra we need to do it before the start, but it’s slowing heading down the planning path of a few rolls of duck tape thrown in the back. And to go along with that the “tool Kit” was looking like a couple of screwdrivers and a hammer until our first sponsor came to the rescue...
British Anzani is not only donating towards the charities but also hooking us up with sick tool kit to help encourage the rabbit chaser to go the full distance. Also we might add a big thanks to paulo, our website man and honorary third team member, as his manage to pull a wicked site out with as little info from us as possible!
Things are starting to get rolling fast now with more and more time becoming free to start to tidy up those loose ends, like where we are actually going! So hope to check back soon with more updates as we build up to the start of the Mongol Rally 2007.
Ciao bella, thewingitracers.
