RAISING MY SPORTS CAR

[skills4africa]

I am a retired Motivational Speaker/Comedian/Mc and turned 70 a little more than two weeks ago.
I have this 'crazy idea' of driving my Sports Car from Cape Town through Africa, across Europe to London and from New York Habour across the USA to Coos Bay, Oregon.

The reason for doing the trip is to Build a Bridge between the City of Cape Town and the city of Portland, Oregon. USA - a project that I started in Portland some years ago - To go and Train unskilled persons how to make the Best Concrete Brick in South Africa 'by hand' - to show them how they can build a house in one day (with 5 unskilled workers) and to do alot of Witnessing in the process (including Preaching/ Motivational Talks/Comedy Shows etc.)

I have had so many negative vibes from my relatives & friends that I am, literally, sitting here with 'mixed feelings'. I feel like a guy whose nagging Mother-in-Law had just died - while driving my brand new, uninsured Mercedes Benz off Chapman's Peak into the sea.

I need some help and advice. Advice on how to RAISE my car to avoid unnecessary damage to the under-carraige. Can I just change my 15" wheels to say 19 or bigger wheels?

The help I need is with the admin work required to plan this Unique Humanitarian Expedition - securing the Visas, Accommodation, Sponsorships, Meals, appointments with interested parties in the towns I'll be passing through and setting-up business meetings with Governments and Community Leaders in the various countries etc etc.

I have chosen a Beetle Chassis for this trip and the shell of a 1954 MGTB

I would also like some advice on road conditions through African countries please, best time to travel, what not to eat and where to overnight etc.

[IMPI]

Why is it that when someone wants to come and teach us something it is usually how to make damn bricks this "skill" is not needed at this moment every tom, dick, harry, moses, dlamini, and sipho already knows that. What we dont know is how to make the jobs that actually gives us the means to buy the materials for making the bricks. When you drive through africa you need a car that is not modified as finding odd and modified parts will not be fun.

[Pine]

I just checked the date, and no - it is not the 1st of April...

Anyway, welcome to AircooledVWSA!

If you are dead serious about pulling this through, you are at the best place for information, help, assitance and (constructive) criticism.

Nonetheless, let's start with the logistics - 1954 MG TB (water cooled engine in front)



Beetle chassis - (air cooled engine in back)

[CooP]

Welcome! Are you planning to travel with others in a convoy or alone? If the latter then I would advise against taking a heavily modified vehicle as I think that it will be difficult to maintain. Roads seem to be varied but many people seem to be doing the trip without 4x4 so I guess that it's possible but not always comfortable. Best time to travel is in daylight. Some countries have monsoon-like rainy seasons and some of the roads resemble rivers.

You mentioned preaching - are there members of your church / shul / group / cult / hive / coven that can assist with administration and planning? They may also put you in touch with people along the route that can give you valuable local knowledge and guidance.

I know of at least one forum member that has taken a Kombi through Africa into Europe (http://www.zebrasafari.co.za/) but this may not be the best website for advice in this regard. Do a Google search for "africa overland" to get an idea of current road conditions / civil wars etc in the various countries along the way.

It seems to me that the hardest leg of the entire trip is the one that wish to start with - is this set in stone or would you consider doing the Europe or USA leg first? This might be a more comfortable way to ease into it.

Good luck, please keep us updated

[skills4africa]

Hi IMPI,
Have not heard the saying, "It is faaaaar better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak-out and remove all doubt"?

[skills4africa]

Hi Coop,

THANKS for your advice, I appreciate your input.
Yes, I will be travelling alone. Departing Cape Town by 1st March 2013.

[IMPI]

Hi
I have been called many things on Forums but never a fool

I was born a South African and have now been alive for 47 years my whole career has been in management in one way or another. I was the head of our congregations sunday school for 5 years and was teaching for another 5. I was the chairman of the NW VW club for another 10. I wrote two complete Mine standard books and was instrumental in changing the way standards and codes are viewed in the Mines. This makes me qualified in some way to have an opinion.
TEACHING A MAN TO FISH and all that does not mean cominig in on a flying visit teaching something YOU judge important and leaving it takes more than that. A good example would be your teaching to make bricks Cement is an extremely expensive building material here in Africa and if the person knowing how to make concrete bricks cant procure the material then your training would only add more frustration. Its no use teaching shark fishing on the banks of the Vaal river.

As for your modified car. I have been around modified cars for a very long time and have seen cobbled together cars fail around every corner. I have also seen some modified cars being betterat what they were modified to do than factory offerings. Your statement that you were thinking about fitting larger wheels showed me that you are not a very knowledgeable person when it comes to cars and my advice still stands: buy a 4x4 and kit that out either a Landrover or a Toyota You will get spares for those in Africa. Traveling alone is never a good idea. even the cleverest of us need someon to stop us from venturing where angels fear to tread.

All this said if you come past Orkney i will gladly take you on a tour of the local area and organize a trip down the mine where I work, introduce you to local people and the like.
Regards
Armand

[vw59beetle]

I did that trip in 2000. Anything is possible, all you need is a dream and the will to do it. We did it in a 1959 kombi. I have to agree with the guys, that it is better to do it in a non modified car, but as i said , anything is possible. You can even walk it backwards if you want. The best place to start is visas. we got our Norwegian Visa first. This proofed that we were going all the way. It makes the rest of the Visas easier. If you travel up the east coast, the main thing will be to miss the rainy season in Sudan.
I say go for it.
You are welcome to call me if you need advice.
082 825 4875
Wernher

[JamesD]

Hi IMPI,
Have not heard the saying, "It is faaaaar better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak-out and remove all doubt"?

I will Take offence on your behalf then IMPI, since you such a Gentleman.

Africa is Not about building Mud huts, they dont give a rats ass about building brick huts! If you go into Africa they will not thank you for teaching them to make something that they expect for FREE. If you go into africa they will pretty much expect hand outs or the wheels and tires off your car. Those that do make hand made brick buildings do know what they are doing and those buildings last for ages. But the majority are trying to survive by any legal/illegal means possible and wont stop to learn how to make a better brick, unless by stopping to learn they can also get a free hand out (and not of knowledge).

If you want to help then don't try teaching people how to make bricks, Rather teach them how to have safe sex and not have 20 children so that they wont have 20 mouths to half feed so that they can try actually have a slighly better standard of living. Teach them less children equals less starving children in africa. Teach them about conservation and the importance of not killing every animal in sight. Teach them the importance of not chopping down half the jungle. JUST DONT TRY TEACH THEM TO MAKE BRICKS.

You came on an african Forum to get opinions from africans and insult the guys trying to help you out of your day dream and point you in a better direction. So go ahead and call IMPI a fool, at least he knows what he is talking about and not living in a dream world.

And before you get all high and mighty, I have been up into africa on work, the higher you go the worse it gets barring one or two countries...

[Dam]

We in South Africa have another good use for bricks / broken bricks, together with burning tyres, to throw at police and persons we don't like! There will be ammo factories all the way up Africa!

[skills4africa]

Hi Pine,

THANKS for the welcome. Yes, I am serious. Judging by Impi's critisism he seemed rather 'cattish'. Do you think he had his milk out of a saucer last night?

[skills4africa]

Hi Pine,

THANKS for the welcome. Yes, I am serious. Judging by Impi's critisism he seemed rather 'cattish'. Do you think he had his milk out of a saucer last night?

[Golfmad]

Hi Pine,

THANKS for the welcome. Yes, I am serious. Judging by Impi's critisism he seemed rather 'cattish'. Do you think he had his milk out of a saucer last night?

WIth insults like that - DONT expect to make many friends here, nor get good advice.

[Harry Jones]

….how to make friends and influence people … Bravo old chap … Bravo

[IMPI]

http://www.skillsforafrica.co.za/script ... jectID=130