Update from the team in Moscow.

Sorry to anyone that tried to contact us on our russian phone, when we left st petersburg it stopped working- maybe an internal roaming issue. (Russia's mobil networks consider different Russian states in the same way european operators treat other countries. 

At the time of writing we are all in a fantastic apartment in Moscow.  On the 22nd floor, a fantastic view over the city. 

The trip has been fairly eventful so far.  Red suzi got caught in a flash flood and drowned her electrics.  Thankfuly she came back to life after drying her out.   She also ripped open a tire on a pothole in Estonia but thanks to the guys RengasNet, Finland (rengasnet.fi)  red suzi now has a set of big bad-ass snow tires on the front.   They also had fun at the russian border where they would not trust Rich's passport photo was really him.  That is a story he can tell though!

The standard of driving seems to be getting steadily more eratic the further east we get.  In poland and the baltics we appreciated the use of the 'magic lane' we called it in which both sides of the road move apart to make a gap down the middle for overtaking purposes.  It was scary at first but we got used to it- nothing like being wedged between two lorries going in opposite directions.

In Russia they had more perminant magic lanes... in fact anywhere a car can fit seems to be acceptable including pavements, hard shoulders, grass verges. 

Anyway, everyone is okay and both red and silver suzi are back together.   The temperature here was about 28 degrees and will get hotter as we go on.  Apparently the temperature can hit above 40 celcius in the south and going into the kazakh desert.   I'm not sure how much civilisation we will have left, it seems like we have travelled a huge distance but we're only a 3rd of the way on the best roads.  The easy bit is over, the hard bit is starting. 

Both sump guards are unscratched despite a couple of bumps on them already.  Hopefully they will hold out further.  Silver suzi is currently parked on the main boulevard up to the kremlin parked with Lamourginis, Maybach, Audis and other assorted mean machines (which will never make it out of moscow centre due to the Potholed roads).   We like to think Suzi does not look out of place :P

OK, a bit of sightseeing in Moscow then we head southeast.

Update from the road

It has been a crazy few days.  At the time of writing we are in a german hostel in 'limburg'.  The day before driving down to the launch we just finished the car after midnight.

The launch went less than smoothly, red suzi got caught in traffic and arrived barely hours before the launch.    We did a parade lap and got off to dover,  JUST in time for the ferry.   Oh and silver suzi quite liked to vibrate its HT leads off and try to run on 2 cylinders.   In fact it did just that before we got the the port.  So Tim jumped out in the queue, whacked open the bonnet and replugged it quick.   Security however obviously thought that he was stashing something illegal ad pulled us to search the engine compartment.

We made the ferry and drove through to belgium and finally to the netherlands to spend a night at Ralph's family house.   We see it as the last house of civilization.  The next morning we tried to fit the red suzi with some spring supporters (bits of rubber) but totally failed to get one of the back wheels off.  We tried hammers , bigger hammers,  jacks,  loose bolts and handbrake turns- that wheel will not come off.  It is rusted on so we have to take it to a garage tomorrow.  We need the wheel free for later! 

We drove on to germany,  did our first bit of off-roading and set up in a hostel.   We ate left over sandwiches,   boiled eggs and noodles and drank some beer in the outside covered area while it banged it down with rain.     

Setting off to goodwood!

Sorry for the quick blog but we have been so amazingly busy over the last few days.  We have the cars finished off and packed and today we drive down to goodwood, UK to the launch.  It might be quite late before we get there now, we are still loading up the car etc.  Nearly ready though!   Check out the pick!

Only 6.5 days left... and still so much to do! (Ook Nederlands)

---Voor Nederlands naar onder scrollen a.u.b.---

The Mongol Rally launch is closing in fast now! We are at less than a week from driving on the legendary Goodwood circuit, followed by heading east. 15,000 kilometers east!

As this is always the case, we are not just waiting around watching time pass. At this moment we are sorting official things like insurances and making sure we get appropriate press publicity. But besides that, we still have some work on the cars that we really need to do. Plus don't forget preparing camping gear, installing photo and video cameras and consolidating all our music playlists!

It's all coming together now, all those months of meeting, researching and working. We started with Rally ideas in October-2010, but it feels like it was last week. Time flew really fast.

It's already a good sign that both teams made their charity minimum of 1000GBP! A big thank you to all who donated already. If you didn't yet? Why not do it now!

Wednesday all Tools will be present in Sheffield and on Friday we hit Goodwood circuit camp ground!

Don't forget to check in regularly now, we will update almost daily!

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Nederlands

De Mongol Rally launch komt nu snel dichterbij! We zijn minder dan een week verwijderd van het rondje rijden op het legendarische Goodwood circuit, gevolgd een ritje naar het oosten. 15.000 kilometer richting het oosten!

(vertaling: "Slechts 6,5 dagen tot de MongolRally ...en nog zoveel dingen nog te doen!")

Zoals dat altijd gaat, we zijn niet gewoon aan het wachten tot de tijd voorbij gaat. Op dit moment zijn we druk bezig met officiële zaken te regelen zoals verzekeringen en het krijgen van de juiste publiciteit. Daarnaast hebben we ook nog wat werk aan de auto's wat echt gedaan moet worden. Plus, niet te vergeten, het voorbereiden van kampeerspullen, het installeren van photo en video camera's en het samenvoegen van onze muziek playlisten!

Het komt allemaal samen nu, al die maanden van vergaderen, onderzoeken en werken. We startten met Rally ideeën in oktober 2010, maar het voelt alsof het vorige week was. De tijd is snel voorbij gevlogen!

Het is al een goed teken dat beide team hun minimum goede doelen geld van 1000 Engelse pond hebben opgehaald. Iedereen die gedoneerd heeft, enorm bedankt! Als je nog niet gedoneerd heb, doe het dan nu! Waarom niet?

Woensdag zijn alle Tools compleet present in Sheffield en op vrijdag laten we ons horen op de camping van het Goodwood circuit!

Vergeet niet dagelijk te kijken he! We zullen namelijk vrijwel dagelijks updates hebben nu!

Safe from the rivers and the dust.

Things are so very close now.  We leave in just 12 days and there is so much more yet to do.  Today we were working on the car a bit more,  the brakes are nearly sorted now- we just need a new nipple (oooh!) . The roof rack is now painted and complete.   We fitted a snorkel to the air intake on the car and raised it up to roof level.  Its not so much for crossing raging rivers but simply to try and get a bit less dust in there.  The previous air intake was around the wheel arch.  
On the to do list,   tyres,  sump guard, plugs and belts!

More car work pictures!

What have we been working on recently?

Roof rack - from some old renault bars and some hollow steel bars.
Rear brakes - stripped down,  new shoes,  one seized cylinder replaced.
Fuel filter - replaced :)
4 new cigar-lighter power sockets wired in.
1 powered cooler, wired in :)
1 cheapo, but new radio put it. 

Been busy!!!  Rumour has it Rich has dismantled an old fridge and is currently building his in-car drink-cooler!

ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY ROCK INTO MONGOLIA ... Success!

Against all odds the charity gig was a total success, we collected £134.75 in our bucket alone.  Since we were not charging for entry and relying solely on the generosity of our audience I think this is a great number. Even those of you that chucked copper in there, it all adds up in the end! 

A big thank you to the musicians that played in the bands, the rest of the guys & gals from the Outsiders and Red Hot White.  Surviving Savannah who played an awesome set and David Malelamb for throwing down the gauntlet with this impressive acoustic work.  Also a big thanks to David Malelamb, Sheena Savage, Clare Davenport and Lesley for filling in on vocals for the Outsiders.  And get well soon to Gareth who wasn't able to sing.   Here are a few pics from the night!