| The Mongol Rally | The first ever rally was in 2004. Less than a dozen cars took part, but it got international press coverage. This year it's snowballed. In 1990 Mongolia abandoned its 70-year-old Soviet-style one-party state in favour of political and economic reforms. You won't find euros here - the currency is: 1 Togrog (tugrik) = 100 mongos. How much is that in pounds? No idea. One of the main exports is cashmere - so the lads might be able to pick up a cheap jumper or two along the way. |
The Mongol Rally, now in its second foolhardy year, is all about driving the most unlikely of cars to the most unlikely of places, Outer Mongolia. The rule is only cars under 1000cc, and only pieces of junk can take part.  | | The 'beast' itself |
The dream was to drive a milk float to Mongolia, but we had to settle for Ian’s sixteen year-old Fiesta – bought for £200 a few months back and teetering on the brink of a failed MOT. The milk float was never going to make it and to be quite honest, we’re not a hundred percent sure if the Fiesta is up to task either. Our competition is in the form of Reliant Robins, Austin Metros and Fiat Pandas. Basically, anything that has trouble mounting a curb, let alone crossing five mountain ranges, two deserts and some of the worst roads the planet has to offer.  | | Starsky and Hutch - no sorry - it's Ian and Phil |
And why would otherwise prudent drivers take up the wheel for such an ill-advised voyage? Enter the remarkable ability of charity to justify even the most irrational of behaviour. With over fifty teams taking part, and a minimum donation of £1000 per team, that is a lot of money for two very worthwhile causes; ‘Save the Children in Mongolia’ and the elegantly titled ‘Send a Cow,’ which combats extreme poverty in Africa by supplying healthy livestock to poor rural communities. What are friends for!  | | Getting serious - well nearly - checking the route |
Now I’ve known Ian since our very first day at Birmingham University back in 2001. We ended up living next door to each other, for good or for ill. A few cars, and the best part of a degree later, I got a hushed call while at the library studying for my finals. The idea was born. Initially, the plan for the summer had been to drive the Fiesta as far south as possible, until it finally died, and then hitchhike back home. But when we heard about the Mongol Rally, the decision was as good as made. Kyrgy - where?  | | Phil and Ian hope 'the beast' is up to the job |
Crossing from Europe into Turkey through the Balkan Peninsula, skirting the Black Sea into the deserts of Iran, and onwards into Central Asia. Passing through the epic mountains of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan into the wild Kazakh grasslands. Then it’s up into the Altay Mountains in remotest Russia, and back down onto the Mongolian Plateau. Finally navigating the Northern Gobi, until arriving in the Mongol capital, Ulaan Baatar, 8000 miles and a mere twenty-one days later. Well, with any luck. And after donating what’s left of the car to a Mongolian charity, it will be a short hop, skip and jump on the Trans-Siberian railway back to Europe; rolling hills, afternoon tea and post-university reality. You won't see us for dust  | | 'Sleeping on the car is not the plan' |
Leaving on the 30th July from the east end of London, we’re expecting at least three weeks of continuous breakdowns and getting lost, negotiating car parts for camels, outrunning nomadic mafia clans, and maybe even swapping the car on the Mongol border for a couple of yaks and riding into the capital in a blaze of glory. Mechanical advice But of course, we’re also hoping to raise as much money for charity as possible, through private donations and commercial sponsors, who we eagerly invite to join us in this adventure by simply getting in touch. And indeed, a little pre-voyage mechanical advice would certainly not go amiss. We've got our own website - wrongolia.co.uk with all our contact details on. Follow our exploits  | | 'You won't see us for dust' |
It will surely prove to be a swift flight into the unknown. With extreme environments, exotic peoples and endless dirt track constantly caressing our suspension, we have decided to keep an online diary of our exploits. From the middle of nowhere we are not entirely sure how easy it will be to update our diary, but keep checking the BBC Birmingham website – as we shall cheerfully embrace whatever technical challenges happen to come our way. ================== Update: The rally began on Saturday 30th July. Ian and Phil are doing an online diary - see the diary links on the right hand side of the page >>> | 
