In 2001, Tom Morgan drove a Fiat 126 from the Czech Republic to Mongolia for the fun of it. It was so much fun that he got some friends to try it in 2004, and the Mongol Rally was born. This year’s rally starts in southern England on July 17th, when 900 participants will take off on a 10,000 mile quest to drive to Mongolia and back. There is no prize money. Most will not finish the race. You have to be somewhat crazy to want to try it. Here are the rules:
Rule 1) If the car looks like it would survive a trek across seven different time zones and multiple deserts, it’s probably not allowed. Specifically, cars must have an engine smaller than 1.2 liters (for reference: most modern Mini Coopers have an engine size between 1.4 and 1.6 liters).
Rule 2) Beyond occasionally posting in a Facebook group, the Adventurists offer no help. They tell where you the Rally starts and where it ends. Teams are on their own to plan a route, obtain visas, and decide what to bring.
Rule 3) Each team has to raise a £1,000 for charity. Half goes to a charity of the team’s choice and the other half supports the Rally’s official charity, The Cool Earth Foundation.
The organizers of the race, a group called The Adventurists, actively discourage any type of planning or preparation. But this year, they are embedding videographers with some of the teams, so we will get to peek into their adventures. Read more about the Mongol Rally at The Awl. -via Digg
(Image credit: Flickr user Holidayextras)