The Slanch Report

On July 18th thousands of eager rally drivers will depart from England on a 10,000 mile adventure ending up in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaaan Baatar. However, this is no ordinary rally road race, The Mongol Rally is a fun free-spirited affair all benefiting various charities. The vehicles involved have been selected by the entrants for comedic value and sense of adventure in order. As the Rally’s website suggests, “The more that goes wrong the better – many of the best stories come from those that didn’t quite make it.”

You can check out the entrants and their various vehicles by clicking here. I first learned of this adventure because an American, Richmond-based team is driving in a self-painted pink ice cream truck. While they won’t be selling ice cream along the way, the team is hopeful — with the help of a sponsor — to be able to distribute delicious space ice cream to children. Prior to getting my license I once saw alongside a highway an ice cream truck for sale and it remains one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t figure out some way to purchase it. If there’s a cooler way for a high schooler to travel feel free to tell me, but I find it hard to believe. So you can see why I have an affinity for this team.

Traveling across roads, “roads” and deserts where there were supposed to be roads but aren’t, the trip is fraught with danger and potential problems. Because these aren’t the most suitable cars for a 10,000 mile trek across various hard terrains, any number of problems can occur leading to breakdowns or flat out having to abandon the trip. The participants are on their own, anything that happens along the way is on them and any number of potential disasters could occur. FUN!

Anyhoo, I’m wishing this team, named the Rolling Cones lots of luck and encourage you to donate to their cause, all the money goes to charity and they get to have an adventure.

On a sidenote: who is in to make our OWN team for NEXT YEAR’S adventure? 10,000 miles of fun, funny cars, new places, Mongolia! I honestly can’t imagine a more fun 3-5 weeks. Who is coming with me?