Mongol Rally sparks up trip of lifetime
"I guess our plan is to take everything as it comes." Michael Silvester
Driving thousands of kilometres across 20 countries in a beaten-up old car might not be on everybody’s holiday wishlist.
But for Michael Silvester, it’s the trip of a lifetime.
The Rongotea man is taking part in his most challenging trip to date – the Adventurist’s Mongol Rally. The 29-year-old said he just wanted to ‘‘get out there and see the world’’.
So he and two friends, from Australia and England, signed up to a car challenge that would see them drive across about 20 countries, over 45-50 days.
Although some people might prefer to holiday on an island, Silvester said he was keen for an adventure.
He was inspired to give the challenge a crack after a friend took part in another Adventuristorganised race across India, missing a spot as a groomsman at Silvester’s wedding.
Teams have to raise £1000 for the rally’s chosen charity, Cool Earth, and also a charity of their own choice.
Competitors also have to drive a vehicle with a less than one litre engine or 1000cc.
The whole idea has cost him about $8000, once flights and accommodation was paid for. On top of that, his team aimed to raise about $3000 for Men’s Health NZ, starting a Givealittle page to help their efforts.
About 345 teams were taking part in this year’s Mongol Rally – the largest number ever, he said.
The race begins in Chichester, England, on July 16, and moves to Europe.
During the trip, competitors can take different routes across Europe and Asia. Silvester’s team would probably travel to Prague, in the Czech Republic, and pass through Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran and ‘‘the other stans’’.
Going through countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan was ‘‘pretty much a once in a lifetime thing’’, he said.
Although car breakdowns and language barriers could be challenges faced along the way, he said he was ready to take the opportunity, see the world, do the challenge and ‘‘wing absolutely everything else’’.
‘‘I guess our plan is to take everything as it comes.’’