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MG MGA - Peking to Paris

Hi All
Are there any adventurerous MGA owners out there who would enjoy a slow trip with like minded people from Peking to Paris along the Silk Road route starting April 2010?
The plan is to amble along enjoying the local food and hospitality with a Chinese guide and be joined by a number of MGA drivers from UK and Europe (including Dominic!) in Istanbul for the run into Paris.
I'm aware that there is an organised rally taking place later in 2010 but do not wish to hammer along and see little of the culture of the countries we travel through.
I have just returned from a similar 3 month trip from Cape Town to Kenya in my MGA (RIP) through much of Southern and Central Africa and have the appetite to traverse China, a few Stans, Turkey,and western Europe to Paris - and on to the UK and some of the iconic events there - like Goodwood Revival etc
Anyone interested to know more or be on my Info List?
Regards, Dave Godwin, Gold Coast, Australia, murphgod@hotmail.com




David Godwin

David, Sounds very interesting, I would certainly like more info.

I lived in China for eleven years, nine of which were spent in and around the city of Xi'an, the old capital and of course the start of the silk road!

Neil
Neil McGurk

Hi Neil
Great - can you speak Mandarin? I suppose, the real question is - is Mandarin spoken throughout China?
Have you had experience crossing the border into Ubekistan? I believe we HAVE to employ an English speaking guide, obtain a drivers licence for a few of the provinces and that is that. I know it isn't that easy, but I tend to try not to complicate these things. The more questions one asks, the more one has to explain!
Anyone else interested?
Dave
David Godwin

David, to answer your questions; yes, after a fashion and yes but in addition to local dialects.

Most younger people speak english too.

A Chinese driving license covers all provinces, but the tests are quite strict (unlike a few years ago). I believe that if you have your home license only the computer (written and simulated) tests and medical check are required.

Regulations and the way they are enforced change regularly so latest information and good contacts are essential.

Neil McGurk

David, your a bugger for punishment watch out for rear enders when you next ship your car
t burnett

Hi Dave

Glad you made it from the PE Indaba to the Equator and back. I understand HY and SY suffered a bit of a mishap. Have passed "To Hell and Back" on to another appreciative reader, so who knows were it will end up.

Best wishes to you and Lauren with the P2P. Whilst Lina and I cannot join you, I am adding our email to your Info List, just to keep track!

Cheers

Joe
Joe Gates

Hi Trevor - why are you not coming... For others information, Laurel and I picked up our beloved RIP from the shippers in Durban after not seeing her for 6 weeks, only to have an admirer rear-end us at the first traffic light - 100yards from the agent!!! The tow bar saved major damage and the high-backed seats saved whiplash - so, all in all, we were lucky and able to continue on with our 16000km trip without delay!
Thanks for the info, Neil. You are welcome to join us...
Joe, PY and HY's MGA seized its diff, then seized another diff, then shattered its clutch! Major stuff, but all as a result of hitting a gigantic pot hole and cracking the axle and us not seeing the signs early enough. Up to that point - 5000km - they were powering along. For those who don't know, PY did the P2P in 1997 without any mechanical breakdown, and went on to tour UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and home - over a few years, all up! Not a bad feat in a modern car, net alone in a 1960 MGA WITHOUT A ROOF!
Dave
David Godwin

Dave, You are the envy of all! Would love to tag along BUT .......
I sincerely hope you will keep this forum up-to-date with regular bulletins as you go. I would love to follow your progress. Good luck.
Barry
BM Gannon

Hi no good for me I panic if I get more than 10 miles from home lol


Gordon
g c pugh

Neil,
If you would like to be updated regularily, please email me and I will put you "on the list".
What about you joining us, Barney? We promise not to assign the mechanics job to you...(yeh, likely)
Dave


David Godwin

OMG Dave, you Aussies are an adventurous lot - which is probably why you are in Australia in the first place and I am still here in the UK. An adventure for me is driving the 100 miles north to a show in Cumbria, or 130 miles down to the Heritage centre at Gaydon . Most of our club members are like Gordon and get panic attacks going to Tatton Park show 30 miles away. So I'm afraid I will have to decline the offer of Peking to Paris ( money in short supply - although wife would probably like to get rid of me for a while!!) Good Luck with your venture - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

I bought detailed maps of China and the 'Stans up to Istanbul on the weekend and have just finished studying details forwarded to me by the organisers of the official P2P rally in 2010 - WoW! This is going to be something... Certainly has my adrelin going...
The P2P quote "A jounney of 10 000 miles begins with the first step..." gives me hope! There are finite steps and the journey will be completed. Another one I like - Time and Money fixes everything! Diagnose the fault, order the parts (on Visa) or repair, be patient and all will be ok!
Nice one - but still one hell of a trip.
Anyone else coming?
Dave

Pic is of Mt Kilimanjaro,; highest mountain in Africa and hightest stand-alone mountain in the world at 5895m (Everest is 8500m)


David Godwin

Wow, I could not imagine such a trip, I cannot seem to get home from work without a tow. Perhaps if I were to win the lotto….

John
jjb Backman

This thread was discussed between 20/11/2008 and 25/11/2008

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