Trio are whacky racers on the road to Mongolia (From Elmbridge Guardian)

Trio are whacky racers on the road to Mongolia

5:00am Friday 23rd July 2010

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Three old schoolmates are about to set out on a near-10,000 mile trip by car in a nine-year-old 1.2 Fiat Punto.

Will Berry, Ben Jarman and Nick Halewood, all 23, who are calling themselves the Gobi Gadabouts, leave London for Mongolia tomorrow alongside a host of other competitors in unsuitable cars in the Mongol Rally.

Barnes-based Berry said: “It will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Normally only 40 per cent of competitors finish and it will take us about three weeks.

“We will go to different countries on our route such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

“It is not every day you visit those countries so this is a great experience.

“With the race being more of a fun type, we have tried to make the journey a little more uncomfortable and have taken out the air-conditioning and the power-steering.

“We wanted to spend as little as possible on the car and, in total, it cost us £800.”

In addition to raising £1,000 for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in Mongolia, which is part of the entry requirements, the trio hope to raise a further £1,500 for Help for Heroes.

The event is organised by The Eventurists as a students’ alternative for the Gumball 3000 – dubbed ‘the fight to make the world less boring’.

“Participants take part in order to enjoy themselves rather then the usual idea of wanting to finish the race in first place,” added Will.

“The organisers make the race more of a fun challenge my setting car requirements, such as ensuring that the car is no older then 2001 and it doesn't exceed an engine size of 1200cc.”

The Gadabouts are aiming to finish the race, with Berry, Putney-based Halewood and Jarman ready to share driving shifts of four or five hours a day hours a day.

Jarman, a student at the Royal Geographical Society, is no stranger to expeditions, having participated in a charity cricket match at Mount Everest’s North Base Camp.

Follow the boys at gobi-gadabouts.com

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