8.14.2009

Around the World in 80 Clays


Two guys traveling driving 1/3 of the way around the world, with a potter's wheel on top of their car.

Wow you guys, just wow. This is the story of Alasdair Bremner & Dave Binns. Two University Ceramics lecturers who are currently driving across Eurasia in a Fiat Punto, with a potters wheel on their roof. They are participating in the Mongol Rally. Traveling from UK to Mongolia, all in the name of charity and adventure. They are currently in Kazakhstan having recently made it across Iran.



They are documenting the whole thing at their Blog. You can see their Route and follow them on Twitter. If you can give them a Donation to help them on their way and to help their charities.

From their site.

Welcome to Team Around the World in 80 Days Mongol Rally Website

This coming July we are embarking on a 10,000 mile mad-capped overland journey, driving a third of the way round the world, from the UK to Mongolia, as part of the Mongol Rally -

It may sound a little crazy, but the challenge is to drive from London to Ulaanbaatar, in a 1 litre car, in order to raise a significant amount of money for charity.

The Rally, now in its 6th year involves 300 vehicles simultaneously setting off from the motoring mecca of Goodwood racetrack in the UK, Milan and Barcelona. Devoid of any back-up support, we will travel through some incredibly difficult and challenging terrain, following as close as possible the traditional 12th century Silk Road trading route from Europe to China. We will be passing through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and finally (hopefully) onto the Mongolian Steppes, before arriving at the finishing post in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.

Apart from the adventure itself, the main purpose of the Rally is to raise as much money as possible for charity. All teams are required to raise at least £1,000 for a Mongolian children’s charity (Mercy Corps). Teams can also opt to select further charities. We are intending raising funds for Medecins Sans Frontieres, The Tartan Army Children’s Charity and the Harris Bursary, a fund to assist disadvantaged students at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, where we both work.

As we both lecture in ceramics, at the University, we have decided to theme our trip around clay, hence our team name – ‘Round the World in 80 Clay’s’ - a pun on the Jules Verne mythical Victorian adventure.

We will be taking a potters wheel on the roof of our vehicle and our intention is to prospect clay during our journey and make pots en-route – throwing on the roof of the car!

We will also be collecting ‘gritty’ material from many of the places we pass through and on our return will be making a series of art-works that have the gravel of Uzbekistan or other countries embedded in it – telling a story of our journey! We will be auctioning these off on our return, in order to further bump up our charitable fund-raising.

Lexus of Chester are generously providing us with a car for the rally and Northern Kilns have kindly given us the potters wheel .

Visit our website, check out our route and please if possible give generously to one or other of our nominated charities by simply clicking ‘DONATE’ through the Just Giving links.

You can also add your comments to the blog, but first you have to sign up by clicking in the top left corner.

Thank You (Alasdair & Dave)



Link


2 comments:

Unknown said...

this is just great. i hope you'll keep us posted on your merry way!

Matthew Katz said...

I'll do my best.
I hope that car holds out.