5 weeks to go

It's been a non stop few weeks, which has not been helped by the fact I dropped my van keys down a drain and have no spares! At the moment Richard is busy concentrating on finishing the car, while I tie up loose ends and work on promoting the project through press, companies and friends.

We successfully made it to Belgium for the training weekend and met our fellow team members. The weekend consisted of GPS and medical training. Also visa application completion and car assessment. This years navigation will include garmin gps and territrip rally navigation. Medical training covered items such as dealing with crash victims, scorpion bits and serious dehydration cases. All visa forms were filled in successfully and included the addition of tropical Togo to the list! We have also been informed we will be seeing lots of elephants which is quite exciting.

A thorough inspection of the car was made by the technical team. We have been sent away with a reasonably large list of work to be completed before departure. A list did not come as a surprise as we already had a 'still to do' list of our own.

As of tomorrow we leave in 31 days.
A small selection of tasks still to complete include .....

• more welding of roll cage and shell to prevent leaking.
• Oil leak repair and general check to engine from Richard's Dad (a 2cv engine expert).
• rebuilt gearbox to be fitted
• re conditioned steering rack thanks to Rick Pembro the Gear box Guru.
• painting some good wheel rims and alternator from Louie Barbour
• Fitting Inner tubes and brake pipes from 2cvparts.com
• Fitting some new mabour tyres from 2cv city
• Cutting and fitting poly carbonate windows - Richard from Lotus
• Fitting of Disks, break pads and clutch from Nigel and the team at NDB autos
• Fitting of roof from Matts Soft Tops
• Wiring in of Territrip equipment to gearbox
  
• Large box of paint from Morelli Paints

We are both very confident all will be completed and well prepared in good time for trip. Especially with the hands on support from friends and family as well as pledges of sponsorship and well wish messages. Please help keep it coming! Will try and pop in more regular mini updates as and when they happen. Eleanor.