Plymouth - Dakar Challenge
April 13, 2004 11:27 PM Subscribe
Plymouth - Dakar Challenge 2005. 3000 mile race from Britain to Senegal, Africa. The Rules: Participant cars must cost $100UK pounds or less. Maximum budget for vehicle preparation: $15UK pounds. No outside assistance during race drivers are on their own. First to finish wins, cars donated to charity.
Sounds to me that any car that finishes will have a pretty good chance of winning.
Even if it finally arrives in 2008.
posted by salmacis at 12:31 AM on April 14, 2004
Even if it finally arrives in 2008.
posted by salmacis at 12:31 AM on April 14, 2004
I want to sign my 1980 Toyota Corolla up! I got it for free! Damnit why am I in America right now?!
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:08 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:08 AM on April 14, 2004
$100UK Pounds? That'll be £100 or 100GBP thank you sir.
The other one is the Staples to Naples rally (linky) from Staples Corner in london to the heart of Naples.
I was planning on doing it this year, but it starts 1st October and my first wedding anniversary is 4th October. Probably not a good idea. ;)
posted by twine42 at 1:27 AM on April 14, 2004
The other one is the Staples to Naples rally (linky) from Staples Corner in london to the heart of Naples.
I was planning on doing it this year, but it starts 1st October and my first wedding anniversary is 4th October. Probably not a good idea. ;)
posted by twine42 at 1:27 AM on April 14, 2004
Ugh, what is this strange 'dollarpound' currency. The £ symbol is here for a reason, y'know.
posted by metaxa at 1:33 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by metaxa at 1:33 AM on April 14, 2004
Okay the idea of these rallys isn't to win (although there is a £200 prize for doing so) it's to have a good time and to raise money for charity.
They have prizes for the user with the worse car, the fastest time and the furthest distance hitch-hiked as well as daily challenges.
If you look at the Staples to Naples version, the first day you have to get to Swizerland (I think) by the end of the day, but you get bonus points for each country you drive through. The sencon day gets you to north Italy, and you get points for each mountain pass you traverse. The final two days you have to forfil currently unknown challenges, but which will probably include a treasure hunt.
Cars traditionally seem to get scrapped in Naples or auctioned off/donated in Dakar.
You have a maximum of £100 to spend on your car (which is about US$50) with a maximum allowed spend of £15 ($7) on repairs before you get started.
This could easily be the world's first travelling MeFi meetup. ;)
posted by twine42 at 3:03 AM on April 14, 2004
They have prizes for the user with the worse car, the fastest time and the furthest distance hitch-hiked as well as daily challenges.
If you look at the Staples to Naples version, the first day you have to get to Swizerland (I think) by the end of the day, but you get bonus points for each country you drive through. The sencon day gets you to north Italy, and you get points for each mountain pass you traverse. The final two days you have to forfil currently unknown challenges, but which will probably include a treasure hunt.
Cars traditionally seem to get scrapped in Naples or auctioned off/donated in Dakar.
You have a maximum of £100 to spend on your car (which is about US$50) with a maximum allowed spend of £15 ($7) on repairs before you get started.
This could easily be the world's first travelling MeFi meetup. ;)
posted by twine42 at 3:03 AM on April 14, 2004
two words : english channel.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:10 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:10 AM on April 14, 2004
Umm twine you got it backwards...£100 is about US$180...
If I had the money (for flights and not working) and the time to do this...No I still wouldnt :)
posted by stew560 at 3:52 AM on April 14, 2004
If I had the money (for flights and not working) and the time to do this...No I still wouldnt :)
posted by stew560 at 3:52 AM on April 14, 2004
Heh, I'm actually planning on doing the Staples to Naples rally in October. Still looking for the perfect banger, but surprisingly enough £100 ($180) gets you a heck of a lot more here in the UK than it would in the States. I actually had a C reg (1986) BMW 318i that I sold for £100 on eBay last year (bum alternator and a couple other small problems) and now I'm kicking myself for not keeping it!
posted by lazywhinerkid at 3:57 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by lazywhinerkid at 3:57 AM on April 14, 2004
*helps lazywhinerkid with the kicking* maaan, that car could've won silly! Quick, get another one on eBay!
posted by dabitch at 4:09 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by dabitch at 4:09 AM on April 14, 2004
D'oh! My mistake. I just had an exchange rate of 0.54 stuck in my head. ;)
I'm in the exact same position as Lazy... I recently sold a Toyota Carina II on ebay for silly money because it didn't have a chance of getting through the MOT. HoHum.
If you do do Staples2Naples you'll have to post about it here, or email me and I'll do the linky thing to get around the self link problem.
posted by twine42 at 4:31 AM on April 14, 2004
I'm in the exact same position as Lazy... I recently sold a Toyota Carina II on ebay for silly money because it didn't have a chance of getting through the MOT. HoHum.
If you do do Staples2Naples you'll have to post about it here, or email me and I'll do the linky thing to get around the self link problem.
posted by twine42 at 4:31 AM on April 14, 2004
come on twine, if it starts on 1 October, that means an anniversary dinner for you and your partner somewere very near the spanish alps. That could be lovely.
posted by jmgorman at 7:37 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by jmgorman at 7:37 AM on April 14, 2004
Ugh, what is this strange 'dollarpound' currency. The £ symbol is here for a reason, y'know.
Funny, I can't find it on my keyboard.
posted by Lafe at 7:53 AM on April 14, 2004
Funny, I can't find it on my keyboard.
posted by Lafe at 7:53 AM on April 14, 2004
somewere very near the spanish alps
Erm... Has Spain moved since I last checked?
posted by Singular at 7:56 AM on April 14, 2004
Erm... Has Spain moved since I last checked?
posted by Singular at 7:56 AM on April 14, 2004
This is why I come here.
Anyone know of similar events stateside?
posted by guidedbychris at 8:20 AM on April 14, 2004
Anyone know of similar events stateside?
posted by guidedbychris at 8:20 AM on April 14, 2004
Funny, I can't find it on my keyboard.
But it IS each and every font's keymap. There is more to life than the $ y'know.
posted by metaxa at 8:23 AM on April 14, 2004
But it IS each and every font's keymap. There is more to life than the $ y'know.
posted by metaxa at 8:23 AM on April 14, 2004
This is awesome. I can't believe people actually do it, but it sounds like gorgeous fun.
posted by Mars Saxman at 8:25 AM on April 14, 2004
posted by Mars Saxman at 8:25 AM on April 14, 2004
Anyone know of similar events stateside?
It seems like a very uniquely British culture invention. It will probably transfer to the USA well, but only with major corporate sponsorship and a cable TV deal for a 12-part reality series.
But it IS in each and every font's keymap
I am too lazy to look up the pound keymap or the exchange rate so I made a slang currency notation. No disrespect to the Sterling, feel free to call dollars 'Benjamins' if it makes you feel better, unless anyone objects.
posted by stbalbach at 11:03 AM on April 14, 2004
It seems like a very uniquely British culture invention. It will probably transfer to the USA well, but only with major corporate sponsorship and a cable TV deal for a 12-part reality series.
But it IS in each and every font's keymap
I am too lazy to look up the pound keymap or the exchange rate so I made a slang currency notation. No disrespect to the Sterling, feel free to call dollars 'Benjamins' if it makes you feel better, unless anyone objects.
posted by stbalbach at 11:03 AM on April 14, 2004
There's a rally that goes between circa Seattle/Vancouver and Anchorage every (few?) years.
posted by five fresh fish at 12:28 PM on April 14, 2004
posted by five fresh fish at 12:28 PM on April 14, 2004
That sounds brilliant, five fresh fish - the Alcan is still a legend among highways. Do you have *any* more information about this?
posted by Mars Saxman at 12:35 PM on April 14, 2004
posted by Mars Saxman at 12:35 PM on April 14, 2004
Well, let's call it the Alcan 5000. I'd love to do it on my KLR650.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:57 PM on April 14, 2004
posted by five fresh fish at 1:57 PM on April 14, 2004
Oh man - I'm really keen to do the Staples to Naples this year - we'll see if I can talk my friends into the idea. Ideally would love to do the Plymouth to Dakar - but who can take that long off work? Only thing dissuading me is the fact I only passed my driving test in February at 5th attempt (aged 25) . Not entirely sure if I'm ready to drive on the wrong side of the road yet. On the positive side, my 16 year old Hyundai Pony would be a perfect ride, were it not actually my car...
posted by prentiz at 4:36 PM on April 14, 2004
posted by prentiz at 4:36 PM on April 14, 2004
two words : oh aye.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:27 PM on April 14, 2004
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:27 PM on April 14, 2004
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