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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:07 pm Post subject: Just over 2 weeks to the Mac 4x4 UK Challenge
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Hi All,
well things are really happening now. Insurances are now being sorted and the last pieces of paperwork completed for the event. The Team Chaos Disco will be booked in for a service and checkover and a list of everything we need for the event compiled.
Ian is flying over from Belfast the day we leave and Bertie Bass is coming down from Aberdeen the day before that. I am really looking forward to this one....it is the 10th anniversary of the challenge and Macmillans 100th anniversary. We have been promised by the organisers that this will be the best ever...I hope so.
Ian has done a stirling job raising sponsorship and I am happy to say that I picked the right man for the job. Saying that I have never seen him read a map so that may all change yet but whatever happens you can all rest assured that we will be doing our best to try to bring a trophy back for Differs (even if we have to buy one on the way home).
Team Chaos has a very good record of achievements regards the Mac Challenge including the HIGHEST EVER TOTAL RAISED BY A SINGLE VEHICLE, a statistic I am very proud of.
My son Michael has Bertie Bass for a navigator, now Bertie has told me he is the worlds WORST map reader, not a problem, Michael is a very capable navigator and no doubt during the event will be sharing some pearls of wisdom.
I will be sharing the driving with Ian as in my mind it is not fair to expect one person to navigate all of the time, it is too stressful and tiring. I am a useless navigator but I did get better last year when on the start line my then navigator said "I have something to confess, I cant read a map and I get travel sick!" Oh how I laughed We did however finish 20th overall which considering wasnt bad at all although it was the first time I have come away without a trophy.
The last couple of weeks are the worst, I dont sleep too well as my mind is constantly buzzing and thinking of the million and one things that have to be sorted before the event. I do get very nervous, especially on the last 3-4 days before the event as I do not want to let my sponsors down or indeed all of you Differs who have supported us so well. However, as soon as we are at the start line all nerves give way and it is down to business.
Have I ever fallen out with a navigator? Not really, I do always say to them that if we do get a bit niggly then dont take it personaly, it is just the stress of the event and it will be forgotten straight away.
We will be starting from the Britpart compound
The Grove
Craven Arms
Shropshire
SY7 8DA
where there will be approx 90 4x4 vehicles of every type imaginable, it does indeed make a very impressive sight.
Ian is bringing a laptop so we should be able to keep you updated with our progress and I will be taking my new video camera mounted on the bonnet of the Team Chaos Discovery so you can see what we have been doing.
Thats all I have to report at the moment but I will keep you up to date on our preparations.
Best wishes
Colin
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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. Difflock Royalty
Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Odometer: 40007 Location: Northern Ireland's Gold Coast
2009 Land Rover 110 CSW
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:09 pm Post subject:
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2 weeks?!!!!!!
That's not a lot of time for me to learn how to read a map and/or drive
__________________________________ Bert the Defender 110 XS - because it's Cool (work it out yourself!)
Lolita the Lightweight
???? the V8 90 CSW
Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom - yes that's right, I have a Zook! |
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:25 pm Post subject:
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Oh and I forgot to mention. Unlike most teams we will not be using GPS or satnav of any kind. We will be 100% reliant on Ian Culbert and a trusty pencil, ruler, roamer and maps. No pressure there then
Last year I even saw teams programming co-ordinates into laptops etc. Although this is in the rules it doesnt really make it a challenge then. In the old days satnav and laptops were not allowed, those were the good old days, sorted the men from the boys
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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. Difflock Royalty
Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Odometer: 40007 Location: Northern Ireland's Gold Coast
2009 Land Rover 110 CSW
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:27 pm Post subject:
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So you don't want me to bring my Tom Tom then?
__________________________________ Bert the Defender 110 XS - because it's Cool (work it out yourself!)
Lolita the Lightweight
???? the V8 90 CSW
Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom - yes that's right, I have a Zook! |
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parrotveasey81 Mud Obsessed
Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Odometer: 7480 Location: bradford on avon (wiltshire)
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:32 pm Post subject:
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. wrote: | So you don't want me to bring my Tom Tom then? |
are you alloud another 2 navigator's then and they are both called tom
__________________________________ http://www.bloodredoffroad.com/
Angry parrot fabrications,check me out on Facebook |
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bertie_bas205 Mud Obsessed
Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Odometer: 4388 Location: ABERDEENSHIRE
1985 Land Rover 90nad
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:17 pm Post subject:
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I should be able to read a map, i used to do alot of orienteering events...
As i said, i will give it a bash.... I have a "Spatch" on my side.....
I'm looking forward to the event, it will be a first for me....
Colin, remind Ian to bring the TAYTO crisps or I'll stamp my feet and make alot of noise....
Roll on March....
Bertie.
P.s, I hope that Polish lassy isn't going....... I'll need new wellies again!!!
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smokeyjoe Articulating
Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Odometer: 905 Location: Kimpton
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:27 am Post subject:
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Whilst I'm with Colin on the use of laptops I do find the tomtom very useful - not as a satnav, more as a rolling roadmap showing upcoming junctions etc.
I Also run an old garmin as my speedo doesnt work to well so the garmin is used as a speedo/trip counter as well as to record ther route for posterity.
There are 2 teams based at my barn, guess which one is all serviced & ready to go? Little clue - its not me, mind you, I have fitted more toys than a tarts handbag so I should win the 'most current drained from a single battery' award if only there was one.
__________________________________ Raising money for Macmillan cancer support
Visit http://www.team32.co.uk & pledge a few ££s please |
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vtrax Off-Road Guru
Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Odometer: 1058 Location: Cambs
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:39 am Post subject:
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Good luck chaps!!
Dont worry too much about the navigating.......I've been to Craven Arms.........It's not THAT hard to find
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:39 pm Post subject:
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Hi Mark,
I use Garmin on my motorbike as a speedometer, on the Mac though in the old days satnav etc was banned, nowadays people can look up some of the answers on i phones, laptops etc...just me harking back to the old days
The Team Chaos Discovery is booked in for a service next tuesday so fingers crossed all will be well.
Be good to see you again mate and have a few beers
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject:
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Mark,
remember last year with 'How much water will it use' lol
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:32 pm Post subject:
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Well just over a week to go now and things are really hotting up. The Team Chaos Discovery is in the workshop having a service inc changing the rockershaft, greasing the swivels, props etc. Today I got the passenger door sorted out as it was very difficult to open, now it is nice and smooth to operate.
I have sent the cheque off to cover our event insurance and also filled in our next of kin forms.
Now I have to sort out what is staying in the vehicle and what I will be taking out. We really have to try to travel light and it is amazing how much unnecessary stuff we bring along.
Hopefully Ian will remember his i-pod for the drives between stages which can be quite long and tiring. If not it will be Neil Diamond followed by Slade and then loads of Glam Rock.
I actualy feel sorry for the bloke.
Best wishes
Colin
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:23 am Post subject:
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So one more sleep until we leave for the hotel where we will be staying before the Mac.
The Team Chaos Discovery is going in for new tyres today and also having loads of those little niggling jobs that you always meant to get round to doing but never did.
The list of things we have to take along is quite staggering and it is a lohistical nightmare loading everything in.
Ian has sent over his gear already along with some fancy radio comms for us to use.
Bertie lands at Luton Airport tonight so I will collect him later
Why is it that the stereo in the car now decided to develop an intermittent fault? Ipod works ok then you lose the volume, hit the top of the dash and it comes on again???? Might have to try to borrow one of Davids units as there is no way I can have a captive audience in the form of Ian and not use this time to help him develop a severe liking for Neil Diamond
We will be updating you on how we get along during the event, I will be starting another thread in the Team Chaos section. Please remember that we may be updating this at irregular intervals but we will try to do this a couple of times a day.
Best wishes
Colin
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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. Difflock Royalty
Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Odometer: 40007 Location: Northern Ireland's Gold Coast
2009 Land Rover 110 CSW
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:47 am Post subject:
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CD's packed - check
Ear plugs packed - check
Tayto cheese and onion crisps packed - check
Learn to navigate - oh ******!
__________________________________ Bert the Defender 110 XS - because it's Cool (work it out yourself!)
Lolita the Lightweight
???? the V8 90 CSW
Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom - yes that's right, I have a Zook! |
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diff22000 Neil Diamond lookalike
Joined: 30 Jun 2002 Odometer: 9291 Location: Luton Beds
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject:
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. wrote: | CD's packed - check
Ear plugs packed - check
Tayto cheese and onion crisps packed - check
Learn to navigate - oh ******! |
__________________________________ http://www.justgiving.com/team_chaos
co-founder of the famously feared D.C.J.C. |
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