Mongolia

The Dulwich Dons
10 000 miles, 11 countries, 7 mountain ranges, 3 deserts and numerous rivers. All this in a car you could swap for a bag of crisps!

Starting point – London, United Kingdom

Finishing point – Ulaanbataar, Mongolia

The 19^th July 2008 sees the start of the 5^th Mongol Rally. This charity adventure is not for the faint hearted! Crossing a third of the planet in a car that is limited to an engine the size of your dad's lawnmower is no easy feat. The Challenge will take some four weeks, averaging approximately 300-400 miles a day across a multitude of terrains more suited to the British Army and a mechanical support team. The absence of GPS and the AA only help to heighten the adventure. Where there is a will there will have to be a way or else you won't be coming home!

So who in their right minds would attempt such a foolhardy adventure with such a ridiculous goal? Well amongst the 299 other slightly maladjusted teams will be two dons from Dulwich College Prep School, London. Some would argue that they had a little too much time on their hands but we'll be taking marking with us. What else would you do in car for 8 hours a day 7 days a week and for 4 weeks?

In preparation for the event we must first acquire a car. Not just any car but one that is wholly unsuitable for the challenge. After all where is the fun in taking a 4 X 4 when you can cajole, tinker, coax and entice a second hand vehicle with an embarrassing number of miles on the clock but buckets of character, 10,000 miles? The vehicle will have to carry enough supplies and equipment to service every eventuality. From hosepipes to jubilee clips, boil in the bag coq au vin and a bottle opener, everything will need to be considered and given a place!

Having established the car requirements there was only one obvious place to search for a vehicle of such calibre. Whilst one is never 100% certain about making purchases through the internet there are bargains a plenty if you are prepared to search. To some a ‘1993 Fiat Uno IE Start ’ with its slick lines and attention to detail is a marvel of classic Italian design but then others would doubt its ability to reach Dover in any kind of time scale. But then where would the fun be? It answers the brief perfectly. We are in no doubt that it will require an inordinate amount of love and care to nurse it through some of the harsher extremes on our journey, but it’s amazing what you can engineer on the side of the road in a 40 degree heat. And if a Lada can make it all the way?

So how does one set about navigating to Ulaanbataar? The first bit of course is easy providing you can get from Hyde Park to Dover barring any disaster. After that things get a little tricky. Not only are there language barriers but different currencies, strange road signs, officious boarder crossings and varying ideas of what constitutes macadam tarmac. Whilst maps will provide the basis for navigation, the compass will play an important role if of course you know how to use it. Still, there is always the instruction book!

With the rendezvous deadline set at four weeks from the off, there is a certain pressure to navigate the 10,000 miles with the minimum number of unforeseen hiccups. A feat in itself some would argue, but the final objective also includes presenting your chariot for a fund raising auction in Ulaanbataar. Whether the local car dealer can see past the odd scratch, dent, leaking radiator, suspicious squeak remains to be seen? However with some careful wording and a bit of artistic license on our part, they would be a fool not to snap it up. That's assuming of course that it didn't arrive on the back of a horse drawn low loader having come a cropper in the Gobi!

The premise behind the challenge, other than as an outlet for those suffering from a mid-life crisis, is of course charity. Last year the rally saw over 200 hundred teams head off to Ulaanbatar raising and incredible £200,000. Not all the daring adventurers made it having succumbed to 'technical difficulties' but the money was raised nevertheless. With 300 teams taking part this year that total is set to soar! In their bid to help beat last year's sum, the Dulwich Dons have chosen to focus on two very worthy charities.

The first is Mercy Corps/Mongolia. The charity supports rural communities to meet their economic and social needs, helping individuals, families and communities to become more self-sufficient, diversified in their production, and better linked to local, regional and national markets. (Charity No SC030289)

The second is Hope for Homes for Children whose aim is to give hope to the poorest children in the world – those who are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable – by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home, so they can fulfill their potential. (Charity No 1089490)

Whilst the rally is a demanding challenge the rewards are high. We hope to raise a worthy amount for both our chosen charities and would welcome any support. Whether it is through sponsorship, charity donations or just messages of good will, all will be well received. It is our intention to keep a written diary during our travels making regular posts on the dons blog site, so don't miss out on sharing our experiences.

Are we up to the challenge? Colleagues, friends and family laugh nervously but the adventure is there for us to grab with both hands! After all who would give up the opportunity to spend 228 hours in a car, camping rough under the stars and eating bully beef by the campfire? So roll on the 19^th of July and Hyde Park, the Dulwich Dons are heading to Mongolia by hook or crook!

To support our cause please drop by the website: http://dulwichdons.googlepages.com/ or for more information please contact us at mailto:dulwichdons@googlemail.com

Kieron Norris