The 2006 Mongol Mongol Rally has just left London.
The basic premise of this event is to take the least prepared car with an engine with a displacement of one liter or less and attempt to drive from London to Mongolia, all the while raising money for a great organization with a silly name: "Send a Cow"
This past Saturday 200 teams left London in everything ranging from Nissan Micras to Reliant Robin 3 wheelers and Daihatsu Hi Jets (the first car ever to be pimped on MTV's "Pimp My Ride.") The key numbers for the journey: 8,000 miles, 5 mountain ranges, and 2 deserts.
If teams are able to reach the Mongolian border, via one of 5 routes (going via Finland, Turkey, the Ukraine, or Iran) they face a country with only 100km of paved roads.
Apparently only four cars made it to Ulaan Batuur in Mongolia last year, so the chances are good that things will get chaotic.
To find out more about the rally, visit: www.mongolrally.com
Visit some of the more entertaining teams this year to while away your day:
http://www.teamlandyacht.com
http://www.thedesertdashers.co.uk/
http://www.kahnitbedone.co.uk/