RE: Pic Of The Week: Peking-Paris VW

[K17LER]

Fresh_Clip said:

K17LER, I think the VW Beetle is the foulest conveyance ever to be set forth upon the earth but I really admire you for taking on these epic races. Regardless of the vehicle they would be a mammoth challenge. All things considered, a car as primitive as the Beetle would be an ideal choice. Got a problem? Fix it with tape or wire :-)

That was my thinking, the most used tools in my tool box are WD40 and Gaffer tape . They are also so common that you can find spares pretty much anywhere in the world. Remember the Top Gear Botswana challenge where Clarkson admitted the best car for the challenge was the bush mechanics Beetle

The orange one was ideal in Africa where corrupt officials try and fleece you at every check point and border crossing. When you roll up in a knackered beetle, half held together with gaffer tape, they take one look at you and know thjey aren't getting a bribe. The most we ever gave was the odd biro but a team in a Discovery got through hundreds in bribes!

[Nurburgsingh]

if we're in the mood for racing bugs....

here's my "Swinging Sixties" car from this year.... it's been a bit of a duff year but we think we know what the problem is and it'll hopefully be on the money for 2011.

One things for sure... there's nothing wrong with the way it looks or the way it corners!

[K17LER]

Nurburgsingh said:

if we're in the mood for racing bugs....

here's my "Swinging Sixties" car from this year.... it's been a bit of a duff year but we think we know what the problem is and it'll hopefully be on the money for 2011.

One things for sure... there's nothing wrong with the way it looks or the way it corners!

Cool car and for a good cause too. I hope you'll bring it along to the "Dad's Day Out" event in aid of the Childrens Trust next year. dates haven't been announced yet but it'll be around mid May again. Here's the thread from this years event.
http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/torque/showthread...

[Nurburgsingh]

Thanks, One of my best friends works at the Trust so I do what I can for them... It clashed with a race this year. I'd love to come and help, I dont think the Bug will appeal to many people though...

[Chris71]

K17LER said:

Here we are at Mount Everest

Such a cool car. You need to bring this down to one of the Ace Cafe meets.

I had my first drive of an original Beetle a few weeks back and I was really taken by it. Not sure I'm ready to drive one to Mongolia though - huge respect!

[offbackwards]

bencollins said:

offbackwards said:

Oops....sorry K17LER....by commenting on Ben Collins derisory comment about the P2P Beetle I have inadvertantly gone and appeared derisory of your epic.

yeah err sorry i made you say this:

offbackwards said:

touring around taking snapshots (stationary) by signposts dressed up in fat wheels and stickers. Fair play to the tourists

you do indeed appear to be derisory, albeit "inadvertantly."

You stated that the photo of K17LER's beetle 'dumped' on the Peking to Paris Beetle.
The Peking to Paris Beetle was crossed up on the dirt in an epic action photograph captured perfectly in the middle of nowhere.
I stated that the other one was stationary - but had stickers and fat wheels (I drove across Tibet on 185/70x14's BTW) which is presumably why you saw it as dumping on the other. (If not then feel free to explain why)
I didn't mean to disrespect the crew that where touring by mentioning actual facts in support of the other - I just wanted to comment on your lame post....so, yes, 'inadvertantly' is correct.

[corrugations]

Father and son in Baja VWs....daddy is in the pristine car just out of the car wash. Son is trying to see what it takes to beat a Vauxhall Viva. Answer not much - but a nice photo for the effort.

[K17LER]

Nurburgsingh said:

Thanks, One of my best friends works at the Trust so I do what I can for them... It clashed with a race this year. I'd love to come and help, I dont think the Bug will appeal to many people though...

You should definitely bring the bug. True the track side of things is more geared up for the Supercar rides but there is also a huge static display area for car clubs, including a Pistonheads area and also a Petrolhead Nirvana display. Anyone can park anything in the Pistonheads area, like a sunday service its open to all comers. The Petrolhead Nirvana area tends to stick with the sportier stuff but I'm sure your bug would be welcome there too and it's right at the heart of the action. My bug was supposed to be on their stand last year but I was driving my other car "Killer". The engineer who prepped Pedro was going to drive him along but something came up, hopefully we'll manage to get both there this year as Killer is quite popular too

My videos of this year and last year are on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rULA1MepMl0

[K17LER]

Chris71 said:

K17LER said:

Here we are at Mount Everest

Such a cool car. You need to bring this down to one of the Ace Cafe meets.

I had my first drive of an original Beetle a few weeks back and I was really taken by it. Not sure I'm ready to drive one to Mongolia though - huge respect!

Pedro's been to the Ace a few times on Petrolhead Nirvana night (2nd monday of the month) I didn't drive him to Mongolia though, that was the Micra, Pedro went all the way to Singapore, via Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia......around 21,000 miles. Mongolia was only 10,000 miles

Edited by K17LER on Monday 22 November 12:24

[K17LER]

corrugations said:

Father and son in Baja VWs....daddy is in the pristine car just out of the car wash. Son is trying to see what it takes to beat a Vauxhall Viva. Answer not much - but a nice photo for the effort.

I didn't realise they were Baja'd too, cool, got any more photos? I was really frustrated at not being able to get any action shots of Pedro, especially as I'm a TV camera Operator by trade, but it's pretty impossible when you're on your own. Even when my co-driver was with me she couldn't drive and wouldn't even try to use the camera, even if I set it up for her and all she had to do was stand next to and make sure it didn't get stolen, she just wouldn't do it. She said it was too expensive and she didn't want the responsibility. Such a wind up as it means no moving car shots on my videos or photos of the trip.

Edited by K17LER on Monday 22 November 12:21

[Vintageseekers]

Hi,

Looks like a fantastic adventure, I'm quite sure you had an amazing time? great fun, I would be really interested to hear more as I've just launched a company called Vintageseekers.com -Vintageseekers isn't just a sales platform for original vintage but also a lifestyle platform with a lifestyle ezine to bring it all to life.

Would be interesting to hear your story.

Best wishes

Rob

K17LER said:

I've done a couple of rallies in Beetle, through deserts, mud-slides, rock falls, river crossings, you name it. They make great endurance rally cars, not just for their simplicity but for their ability make even the sternest border guard smile Air-cooled was a big advantage when driving through 50 degree heat in the Middle East, no air-con wasn't!

Here we are at Mount Everest






and in Pakistan




Iran


and my first Beetle, in the Sahara desert, even in standard form they are great off-roaders!


in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco






There are full write ups of the trips in the my garage section of my profile if anyones interested.

Edited by K17LER on Friday 19th November 16:49

[Silver Smudger]

Some great pictures and cool adventure stories too - Had a Beetle once, and still have a soft spot for them - Kudos all round!

[K17LER]

Vintageseekers said:

Hi,

Looks like a fantastic adventure, I'm quite sure you had an amazing time? great fun, I would be really interested to hear more as I've just launched a company called Vintageseekers.com -Vintageseekers isn't just a sales platform for original vintage but also a lifestyle platform with a lifestyle ezine to bring it all to life.

Would be interesting to hear your story.

Best wishes

Rob

Cheers, if you take a look at the my garage section of my profile you'll find the story of the journey in the blog for my Baja.