Mongol rally 2012 launch

After sorting all our stuff out this morning, and a last minute sleeping bag purchase we made it to Goodwood at about 11 am for the launch or the rally! It’s been non stop rain all day so driving was fun, the car will totally do 70 on the downhill but is a struggle on the flat.

After a couple of hours of watching Mongolian wrestling and dancing in the rain we kind of just wanted to get going. Finally 2pm kicked in and it was time to get going. As soon as we got in the car my iPhone bricked itself which is worrying, im hoping it gets better but I might be out of luck for the entire trip…..

As soon as we started the engine my dad noticed a high pitch whirr which was new, turns out we have a lose fan belt!

With a huge cacophony of sirens, horns and shouts the rally started and we joined the queue to drive around Goodwood race track! Andy took that as an opportunity to actually race and overtake people ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

After the lap my dad showed us how cars work and fan belt things in case we get stuck! I’m thinking garage in Germany to get it looked at!

After actually leaving Goodwood we stopped off at a petrol station to add some air to the tires before finally heading over to the ferry terminal in Dover.

A Word From Our Sponsors!

Boring Car

Boring Car

This afternoon Dan drove a rather boring Blue Suzuki Swift over to mine and then I drove it over to the marina to make it all EXCITING!!!

Mongol RallyMongol RallyTeam RoninTeam Ronin

Despite the wind we did a fantastic job with spray cans, it looks totally professionally air brushed and anyone would think we’d just come off Pimp My Ride!

Team Ronin

Team Ronin

Team Ronin

Team Ronin

In all it’s glory it even gained a roof box! After the tagging it was STICKER TIME!!!!!! Where we got to liberally spread stickers about from our fantastic loving sponsors!

Flowtoys We Love You!

Flowtoys We Love You!

What Am I Taking ..

Rus' Stuff

Rus’ Stuff

Due to the whole concept of us being a team completely falling apart before we’ve even left Brighton I’ve no idea what the others are taking and I’m intending to be completely self sufficient in case I have to bail on them in order to survive. When I went to the USA last month I didn’t take anything, and it was a bit shit, so this time I’ve gone over board and am taking everything as we are taking a car. Hopefully it will fit in the big rucksack and the small gym bag as anything that doesn’t won’t be coming back with us to the UK..

From the top left corner one row at a time ..

  • Numerous maps and guide books for everywhere between here and Mongolia!
  • Map case
  • Stickers to put on the car from our sponsors
  • ‘Business’ cards to hand out to people with our website on describing what we’re doing
  • Sunglasses
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Plate, bowl, mug, knife, fork, spoon, tiny thermos mug thing
  • Tomtom with complete Europe map pack that will take us to 47% of Russia ..
  • Canon 400D + Gorillapod + Battery grip + 5 batteries + 4/8/16GB memory cards + stock lens + nifty fifty lens + car charger + misc accessories
  • Kodak PlaySport Zx3 + 2 x 32GB SDHC memory cards
  • First Aid Kit + Antiseptic Hand Wash + Clothes Washing Liquid + Insect Repellent
  • Small Black Gym Bag
  • Hiking Shoes
  • Trainers
  • Rucksac + orange survival bag
  • 3 x 4 liters paraffin + metal bucket for fire dancing
  • Plastic bucket for washing clothes in
  • iPad2 + SD memory card reader dongle + Compact Flash memory card reader dongle + ipad2 car charger
  • Sleeping mat
  • Weird hippy hoodie
  • Waterproof coat + waterproof trousers
  • White hostel sleeping case
  • Travel Towel
  • Flowtoys Poi and Baton Handles
  • Passport, driving license, misc documents
  • 1 dozen cigarette lighters that all worked on the first try …..
  • Tent
  • Contact poi
  • Practice poi
  • 1 dental splint that fixed my TMJ disorder to do this in the first place (probably worth more than the car + everything else in it .. must not lose!!)
  • Multimeter
  • 7 pairs of underwear
  • 7 pairs of socks
  • 1 pair of hiking socks
  • 1 pair of gloves
  • 1 hat
  • 2 sets of collapsible Flowtoys glow staffs
  • Fire staff
  • Coffee
  • Suntan Lotion + Aftersun + Ibuprofen
  • 1 pair of shorts
  • 1 pair of jeans + 1 pair of Flowtoys Action Trousers
  • 3 t-shirts
  • Fitness First Gym Passport .. in case we pass any gyms along the way!
  • And of course the iPhone I took the picture with!
Less Blur

Less Blur

I’ve taken another photo with the 400D, which doesn’t look completely shit and blurry ๐Ÿ™‚ Now to see if all this stuff will fit in my bag ..

Flowtoys Rock

The incredible Flow Toys sent us some collapsible and configurable glow poi and glow staffs to take with us as we travel to Mongolia so we can busk and raise money along the way!

After a quick visit to the pub, Dan and I took them out for a play to see how they worked and what they look like! They’re the transformers of the poi world, is it a staff, is it a poi, is it a baton? This trip isn’t going to be a complete success unless I teach Dan the matrix! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Pretty Ruined Sponsors Team Ronin

The beautiful International Pinup Model Kayleigh Dunne and alternative clothing brand Pretty Ruined have been totally awesome and sponsored Team Ronin!!

An Exciting Hand Written Parcel

An Exciting Hand Written Parcel

I first met Kayleigh when she came to Brighton to learn how to fire breath, since then she’s gone a little fire crazy and now performs using fire fans for her fantastic burlesque work! She also has incredibly neat hand writing ๐Ÿ˜€

Yay, t-shirt, stickers and snacks!

Yay, t-shirt, stickers and snacks!

Last year she launched the incredible Pretty Ruined clothing label, full of unique designs for the tattooed, punk-psychobilly, hotrod-rebel culture!

Pretty Ruined!

Pretty Ruined!

Rus Is 175% Sexier Now

Rus Is 175% Sexier Now

With out a doubt I am now the sexiest man on the rally, thanks so much guys for your awesome donations to both the orphans of Mongolia and our team!

Roofrack Madness

Ok so yesterday we did the whole roof rack thing, unpacking the tools, fitting the rack, sticking the box on and wearing the clothes. It was pretty cool!

OMG ROOFRACK

OMG ROOFRACK

SEE as the elegant roof rack, sits atop the car, elegantly!

OMG BOX THING

OMG BOX THING

Marvel, as the box placed on top and fitted securely doesn’t fall off!

OMG PETROL CANS IN BOOT

OMG PETROL CANS IN BOOT

Quiver as to how all the tools and stuff fit in a little shoe box in the boot!

DAN MODELLING THE LATEST STREET WEAR AND TRIANGLE ACCESSORIES

SELF APPOINTED SEXIEST MAN IN BRIGHTONDAN MODELLING THE LATEST STREET WEAR AND TRIANGLE ACCESSORIES

State in abject horror at France’s stupid legal requirements!

I’m pretty sure we’re going to give up on trying to appease every foreign countries road laws and just focus on the police chases instead.