An Introduction

For those who aren’t familiar with the purpose of this blog, it’s a simple concept: chronicle the adventures and exploits of Charlie Nordstrom and Scott Brady (aka “The Great Roadway Bazaar”) as they attempt to complete the Mongol Rally and do some good along the way.

What is the Mongol Rally? It’s a trans-continental auto race (I use that term loosely as there are no prizes for winning – in fact it’s a point of pride to finish last) across Europe and Asia. Teams start in Western Europe (this year starting points are located in Spain, Italy and the UK) and finish in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Each team travels about 8-10,000 miles depending the route selected.

The Rally also has a charitable component. There is really only one hard and fast rule: each team must raise £1000 and donate it to a charity. However, the vast majority of Rally participants donate their vehicles to charity. Here’s what happens: a third party collects the vehicles and auctions them off to Mongolian families. This serves two purposes: it provides automobile ownership to Mongolians who may not be able to afford it and gets us around needing a carnet.

The Mongol Rally has three rules:

1. The “On Your Own” Rule. There is absolutely no race support. Each team is entirely on self-reliant after leaving the starting point. No route is comfortable or safe. Damage to vehicles, robberies, and minor injuries are quite common. As the race becomes more and more popular, a corresponding increase in car accidents has been observed. Each team is entirely responsible for providing their vehicles, visas, airfare, accommodations, etc.

2. The “Charity Money” Rule. Each team is responsible for raising £1000. If they fail, it must be paid out of pocket. Pretty simple.

3. The “Vehicle” Rule. Each team’s vehicle must be old and it must be small. Engine size is capped at 1.2L and the car must be ten years old or younger. Due to cost concerns, vehicles tend to be on the older side of the spectrum.

That should give everyone a rough idea of what the Mongol Rally is. Be sure to check out the Mongol Rally homepage for all sorts of cool information and media: http://mongolrally.theadventurists.com/

- Chuck