Hi
Thanks for your feedback. (Sorry about the south coast error:doh
Anyone who enters in to this rally obviously does so entirely at their own risk. As we aren't charging an entrance fee who are we to judge how competent an entrant is, you would think they would do there own research and preparation All we are doing is facilitating the opportunity for like minded people to do something life changing.
I am aware this is very ambitious, but not unrealistic. The world record was set in 1952 in a Humber Super Snipe, it took them 13 days 8 hours. it wasn't beaten till 1963 when they only beat it by one hour in a Ford Cortina and this record is current!
Our route will follow loosely that of the 1952 attempt.
See this amazing video -
YouTube- Destination Cape Town
To the Ambitious out there, why not?
Please, all feedback welcome. This thread was just a feeler while our website is being built, if you have anything to contribute please get in touch
Thanks
Lloyd
Rallyaid.com
if charity starts at home, why not stay at home? :blabla:
To be perfectly honest, far more detail and preparation is needed to make this event safe for the entrants. I realise that youre still in the planning stages, but if youre serious about the event being successful and getting people on board, you will need to be far more transparent with details.
Its one thing to say that people should do their own research beforehand, but there are so many issues which need to be properly addressed. Its a given that entrants participate at their own risk, but the lack of details heightens the possibility of something unforseen happening, and would be enough to put anybody off.
Ensuring that entrants are suitably prepared in things such as 4x4 driving, recovery work, first aid, navigation, basic mechanics, etc is critical to the planning process. It is naive to think otherwise mate. Everybody feels theyre capable of certain things, but its often not until a situation arises that they can/cannot demonstrate this, and carries the potential of death or serious injury. As an organiser, you still have an obligation to make all reasonable steps to ensure peoples safety.
Not meaning to be disrespectful to my northern mates (hehe!), but the terrain which you will encounter will be completely new to you, and you will effectively be thrown in the deep end. We have the same varieties of terrain here in Australia which Im very familiar with, and I can assure you that it is not going to be easy. Dont have any illusions that youll be ripping along open flat plains to make up time...the vehicles will be heavily laden and piloted by people who have little to no experience with the challenges which this terrain will surprise you with. Expect to be up to your axles in mud, sand and dirt, be doing lots of recovery work, and have very frequent punctures. This is the main reason I suggest that your time-frame for this expedition is unrealistic.
On to the vehicles... There definitely needs to be a standard set for suitability and equipment fitted/carried. Things like fuel types and storage, spares, recovery equipment, tyre choices (having common types is highly recommended), communications, armour/protection, etc are extremely important. As you said, vehicles will be travelling in groups of 3-4, so its important that these can share equipment, load-outs, balance capabilities, fuel types. Obviously this would be discussed in more detail when you get sufficient numbers up, but a minimum standard NEEDS to be established.
By not having a centralised method of visas, ferry, etc, going across 13 countries will be a logistical nightmare for everyone and will substantially delay the schedule. Dealing with some African borders is difficult at the best of times, so smoothing this process out is a very important step, and will avoid entrants being frustrated. It will happen!
There doesnt appear to be much facilitating to be perfectly honest, just a we go from here to here, and you can sort the important bits out...whos in?
The time-frame youve allocated simply isnt sufficient to do this trip with a projected sizeable number of vehicles, because there are factors that havent been taken into consideration. Conditions of roads and terrain, weather, inability to travel at certain times because of wildlife in some areas, problems with getting across borders (due to no centralised system), having to wait for armed escorts in some areas, vehicle breakdowns/recoveries (these will happen), etc. You will need to allow for more time just to do the trip, let alone fulfil the charity work. Expect to be pinned down in areas because local officials will insist on wanting to meet the group, show you around and play the good host. In Africa, by obliging them is often the easiest and safest way of travel by way of their local influence...by not doing so can create a host of problems down the road. I have a lot of mates who were refugees from South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Congo, so this info comes reliably.
Id be very keen to do something like this in a year or twos time, but it would need to be far better organised and thought through than this is at the minute.
Please take all of this as constructive criticism to help you with making this expedition go ahead smoothly and safely. I have the ambition for something like this later, but not under these circumstances. Im happy to discuss things more with you if you like.
Cheers