Monday, January 28, 2008

What have I accomplished so far?

I tried hitting up the junk yards this past weekend but the Left Coast closes at 2pm. That's completely stupid. Back east they would stay open till at least 4pm. So, I ended up just buying the easy things, Brake rebuilds. When I pulled off the front tires last week I found a Black Widow spider behind the rim and proceeded to squirm and light it on fire. The beast was as big as a peanut m&m. After I torched it I flipped it over and, voila, the infamous red hourglass. So, after that experience, I am more cautious on my disassembly. When I removed the front brake drums I found another one. Nothing brake cleaner and a lighter couldn't fix. Glad I found it since there was a small grape sized nest in there. This one was a lot bigger then the last. Did I mention that I am terrified of spiders. Don't get me wrong, I will act as if nothing is wrong but inside, I am a complete wuss.

This week I am going to rebuild all four corners, brakes pads, drums, springs, wheel cylinders, brake lines, bearings and suspension. Might possibly try and lower the trailing arms in the back so I can get more ground clearance. All this stuff isn't trivial.

Other things I decided will need to be on the Manx:
1) Front and Rear Bumpers/Cages
2) Safari roof rack with a cutout over the passenger side so they can stand up and get some good shots (Camera or Gun).
3) 32gal gas tank in addition to the standard one.
4) 20gal water tank with a gravity fed filter and water bladder on the roof to feed into it. Once we find a stream we will filter the water first with a pantyhose and funnel, then with the gravity filter and then finally we will chemically treat it. No messing around with diseases.
5) Dual batteries with a toggle switch to select either one or both.
6) CB radio to talk with the other teams if need be.
7) At least a small sound system, ipod and waterproof speakers and amp.
8) Dual filter, dual ported filter. More clean air, more happy engine.
9) Extra Wheelset
10) Hi-Lift
11) Solar panel that can charge the engine while idle.
12) 12V converter for charging things.
13) Camera Mounts for driving footage.
14) Some type of tarp/bug net for when we sleep in the vehicle. It wont have windows, a roof or doors.

Other things that need to be purchased:
1) Little burner (they have ones that run off anything combustible)
2) Rice tub for a lot of rice! Not taking as many chances with local food.
3) Video Camera
4) Toys!!!! I want to bring little matchbox cars, dolls and soccer balls for the kids we meet.
5) Sat Phone for sending GPS locations back to the website.
6) Wind up flashlights and things of that nature.

There are plenty more things needed for this trip, I will sort that out later.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Almost success on the Carnet De Passage

I ended up talking to the lady who runs the CDP section of CAA (Canadian Auto Association) and sorted out the logistics of it all. Once the vehicle is built and registered I can send in a 2 page application with photos and the money and within 2 weeks of receiving the paperwork I will have the CDP. The kicker, it's $400 for the application, processing, and CDP, a $300 deposit used for delivery and etc, plus, you need to get a loan from your bank "Credit" to hold against the vehicle if you leave it in a country that requires the CDP. I will have to get a stamp when I enter and leave the country. I will also need to get it stamped by customs from another country that doesn't require a CDP so I can prove that I didn't leave it there. Since the vehicles will be auctioned off for charity after the races, I will need to get the CDP stamped elsewhere and then auctioned off in another country that doesn't require the CDP. Handful but doable. Big sigh of relief in getting that figured out. Now the only hard part is to get the vehicle built and registered as a VW specialty bug. Fun fun.

Figuring out the logistics of the Carnet de Passage

I ended up going to AAA yesterday to figure out the International Drivers Permits, Visas and Carnet De Passage. Some good and bad news. It turns out that the IDP is a quick process and that the Visas are doable in a 2-3 month period. The Carnet, on the other hand, is going to be a pain. I will need to build, register, insure and then apply for the Carnet, which takes a month or too. All this for a low price of $800 not including the money (0-300% of the vehicle sticker price) you have to put against it. WTF! I think I can get away with starting the registration process while building it and by the time I get the registration the Manx will be built and ready for an Inspection. I need to ship it out by the end of April. Then after it has shipped I can work on the Carnet in the 2.5 months following the shipping of the manx. Argh, so much to do.

On a side note, I will be visiting multiple VW graveyards for parts this weekend. Pick and pull my friends. See what I can get.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Donations!

Thanks for all who have donated so far. I have been receiving a lot of emails from people who will also be spreading the word. That's a great idea, so, if you can, pass it along!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Africa Rally 2008

So you ask yourself, how far would you go to raise money for a worthy cause? For John and I, we easily said that we would take on the Africa Rally 2008! We will be driving our VW Manx, which is currently in pieces stowed in my backyard. Given the current state of West/North Africa you might say we are a bit crazy but hey, that's the adventure. Dakar Rally has nothing on us since we don't have a multi million dollar vehicle nor a multi thousand dollar vehicle. I bought it for a grand and let me tell you, it needs a lot of work. Crazy? Possibly! So here is the plan:

  1. Raise Money - thats where my friends, families, fools and companies come into play.
  2. Start building the VW Manx "The Deathtrap" - I have it started and will need a lot of work put into it.
  3. Obtain Visas - This is going to be a pain since we need 5 visas for africa.
  4. Obtain IDP - Can't start a rally without it since the goal is to drive.
  5. Obtain Carnet de Passage - A visa for "The Deathtrap"
  6. Find a Route - This one is going to be fun.
  7. Raise more money - After we hit out mark for our Charity we will be taking personal donations to ease the load of everything else.
  8. Buy a ticket to London - Also figure out a way back into the US.
  9. Ship "The Deathtrap" to London - Hopefully it will sail nicely
  10. Say a Prayer - Africa isn't a walk in the park!

What I need from you! Support, both verbal and *cough cough* charitable.

Here is what we have so far for "The Deathtrap":

The only way I could trailer it home was to put it in the trailer crooked. It worked out fairly well.
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The front view with the shell on the bare rolling chassis.
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The night I finished my makeshift car port. Courtesy of Home Depot and Harbor Freight. I went with the spring collection of decorations.
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Here is the shell lifted using two bicycle lifts.
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When I said the frame was bare, I meant it.
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We saw the main skeleton now the guts, a conglomerate of parts. This is going to be like putting together a puzzle with no picture but it is a VW bug so no biggie.
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Count three engines, hopefully I can get one to work.
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Well thats it for now. I will post more as I get to it. Again, to the right are two donation buttons. One is for Send a Cow and the other is a personal donation to Team Deathwish. We will be placing everyones name who sends in a donation on the vehicle. The bigger the donation the bigger the name or company. I will get those details in order when I can.