lars

Day 9/10

We have had no internet connection the past four days…..and a lot happened since my last report.
We had the worst road conditions we ever experienced, but at the same time it was the most epic drive and it is just amazing where you can actually go with a car! There are time trials every day, average speeds are high and only the fastest cars can make it. In several instances we decided to slow down in order not to destroy the car. Rubber bushings on front shock absorbers are worn out and the noise of metal on metal for hours is annoying. Bolts and nuts are coming loose. On top of that there is dust everywhere, in the car, in the tent in the sleeping bag and you can feel it in your teeth…..
We are in the car for 7 to 10 hours, with no break for anything – tough but manageable.
The last days we have experienced the most beautiful nature, wild life, but what has been disappointing are some of the Mongolians we have encountered.
There have been incidents where local people have been violent, asked for money, thrown stones at the cars while we were driving.
In 2013 we only met very friendly people – such a sad change!
Yesterday on the way to the Mongolian-Russian border, the engine started backfiring on cylinder 5. Hopefully it is only an inlet valve which burned. We got a tow to the border by the Petrolicious film crew. We were determined to cross the border, as there is absolutely nothing on the Mongolian side. The border control closed at 18.00 and would remain so for 36 hours, we passed at 17.45. Several crews got stuck in Mongolia. We removed the plug to the injector valve on cylinder 5 and drove the car across. We immediately got the car loaded on a trailer towed by a Toyota Landcruiser – which is a flashback to P2P 2013. We are heading for Novosibirsk where we shall be arriving at 08.00 after a 14 hour drive. We have an appointment at Porsche, where Brian Løkke will be arriving this morning.
Hopefully the problem can be solved….

Day 8

This has been the toughest day of the rally so far. Road conditions, if you can call it roads at all… I would rather call it dirt tracks. Every night the car is checked and bolts and nuts tightened. Today the bolt holding the catch strap in the rear left wheel got loose and finally disappeared. The rest LT was that the shock absorber broke apart.
There was a hammering noise for 10 km until the finish of the special test. We managed to get in just in time. Fortunately,we carry an additional real shock absorber, it was replaced within 50 minutes.
We have never been driving in such conditions and all the cars are suffering!

Day 6/7
On day 6 we left Ulaanbaatar after a large parade in the main square of the city.Traffic in Ulaanbaatar is terrible and driving 5 km out of the city took an hour, happy to drive an air cooled 911. After a couple of hours driving through a green hilly landscape we went off road and had two special tests – again high average speeds, but it went ok. It is taking its toll on the cars, virtually everybody is having problems and every day another car is out of the rally. Our rubber bushings on the shock absorber mounts are torn apart, it’s making a squeaking noise, but apart from that no problems.
Day 7 started with about 230 km tarmac road and then we went off road again. Road conditions went from bad to worse and the speeds are mad. We decided to go fast, but not to try to reach the set times. The surface is full of rocks and holes. We have never driven in such bad conditions and even with set average speeds of more than 70 km/h. Unfortunately, there was no time to make photos as the driving needs full attention.

Day 6
day 6 was a “rest” day, and I spent the day at Porsche Ulaanbaatar.
We had problems with the halfshaft boots tearing and with the rough driving and the dust. Some had to be replaced immediately to avoid damage to the bearings.
I had a visit from Denmark, namely Brian Løkke who brought another type. Hopefully they will not be damaged after 800 km driving.
The car was completely checked, cleaned, half the Gobi desert was inside the car. Porsche were very friendly, we used the facilities for 8 hours, were invited to have lunch, and they serviced us throughout the day. When we asked for the bill, we got a big smile and all they wanted was a photo of the car.
Thank you so much, you are a great team!
The car is ready for tomorrow and the next days in the desert!

Day 4
Camp to Ulaanbataar
Had a late start at 10.53, total distance of the day was 314 km of which 264 km were special stages. It was off road, gravel, rocks, dried-out river beds and lakes and lots of holes. The average speeds were around 80 km/h, which means that fast driving was required. We drove fast, but kept a good reserve in order not to destroy the car. It was a very tough and intense three and a half hours drive with full attention to the road. We took off a few times and the car did well! It is the toughest drive we have ever done. One 911 rolled and looked like a write-off, the crew are fortunately ok.
A number of cars had technical issues. Unfortunately, we did not have time to make a lot of photos!
Day five is a rest day, we are going to Porsche Ulaanbataar in order to clean the car and check it thoroughly!

Day 1
Yesterday to bed at 11, up this morning at 5. Drive to the Chinese Wall to be in time for the starting ceremony at 7. The first car started 7.31, the driver is Anton Gonnisen, who together with his co-driver is driving or rather riding a trike. It is a Contal, in 1907 A Contal started but never got through Mongolia. Anton want to prove that it is possible! Second car was steam car from 1910, an amazing car and for sure it is a real challenge to drive it.  Ferry (our Porsche) did well, we had an 11 hours drive on gravel, dirt and new roads. The off road sections were just a little taste of what we can expect in the weeks to come!

today we went to pick up the car at the bonded storage in Beijing. The car started right away and we went through the dense traffic of Beijing. Thereafter scruteneering and then the car was packed with the last few bits and pieces. One more day and we start the adventure.