Some Photos and the low down

So finally, I managed to get a few moments to put up some pictures. These are what we have so far. More will be added in the future.

Digi Roll (France--Spain--Morrocco)
Roll 1 (London--Czech Out--Morrocco)
Roll 2 (Morrocco)
Roll 3 (Morrocco--Mauritania--Mali)
Roll 4 (Mali--Burkina Faso)
Roll 5 (Nigeria--Cameroon)

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In other news, we still haven't heard back as to the fate of the beloved Lady Deathwish. I'm in contact with Ants [the rally director] and she said she'd email me once it's taken care of. I guess the Lady is back on her feet, but they are awaiting customs to assign a tax value to her so she can be sold.

If you are interested here is an email from Ants about the fate of some of the other cars.

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Dear teams

After much hoo-ha and procrastination by customs, and in the midst of a tropical rainstorm, the auction of the mighty Africa Rally steeds finally went ahead on Wednesday. The crowds gathered, tensions rose, the rain hammered down and the cars girded their loins for a new life in Africa. All that was missing was the auctioneer. As time ticked on and the crowds began to shuffle their feet impatiently, it became clear that the auctioneer had taken fright and was not going to turn up. Either that or she had been bound and gagged by customs.

More heated discussions ensued and twenty minutes later the first two cars had gone under the hammer of a replacement auctioneer for 460,000 CFA and 430, 000 CFA respectively. The replacement was none other than Ed Hawkins, of the Fairbridge Car, who did a truly marvellous impression of a seasoned professional and sold all but one of the 25 cars in less than three hours. The irony is that the one car not sold was his very own trusty VW.

Despite the rain and the hold-ups the auction was a big success. The top price was fetched by Wrong Way Down’s Daihatsu Mira, which went for a whopping 1510000 CFA (£1819.23), the lowest by the Adam’s Brothers’ Nova Merit, which went for 180,000 CFA (£216.86). The total given to CWAF, our chosen beneficiary of the sales, was 7964689 CFA (£9596). They are going to use the money to build a much needed new quarantine at their forest site in Mefou, near Yaounde. So a very big thank you to all of you for not only doing the rally but for giving your cars to such a good cause.

Auction Breakdown
Team Car Sale Price (CFA)
Battlestar Africa I 1994 Blue Ford Fiesta 460,000
Battlestar Africa II 1994 Red Ford Fiesta 430,000
Adams Brothers 1990 Vauxhall Nova Merit 180,000
Fairbridge Car 1989 VW Polo 230,000
Fools from the Stix 1988 Red Vauxhall Nova 230,000
Great Balls of Fur 1988 Suzuki Supercarry 240,000
If it don’t work hit it 1989 blue vauxhall Nova 180,000
Iron Lion Zion 1993 Red Peogeot 106 200,000
Le Dahlia 1999 orange Daewoo Matiz 990,000
The Black Sheep 2000 Fiat Seicento 710,000
Risk it for a Biscuit 1995 blue fiat punto 780,000
Return of the Heroes 1994 Green ford fiesta 410,000
Sandbox Warriors 1996 spider Nissan micra 720,000
Wrong Way Down 2000 Silver Daihatsu Mira 1,510,000
M-Tak Attack 1994 blue Nissan micra 850,000
Carlops to Cameroon 1987 white Suzuki SJ 1,140,000
Camerooned 1996 Red Fiesta 385,000
Joshua Tree Motoring Club
1,020,000
Team Triumph 1981 Brown Triumph 200,000
Two men and a Micra 1993 White Nissan Micra 810,000
Team Zebra 1984 Ford Fiesta 310,000
Scaredy cats do Africa 1992 fiat panda 250,000
Speedy Gonzales 1986 black Suzuki SJ 900,000
Sandbox Savants 1988 Black Suzuki SJ 900,000
Africa Shox Blue Peugeot 106 400,000

Hope life is treating you all well and see you at the reunion on December.

Thanks

Ants