Back Fae Baku - Preparation for the big trip

http://www.backfaebaku.0catch.com/

This is where the "Back Fae Baku" team plan to keep anyone interested up to date with events surrounding our trip from Baku, Azerbaijan to Aberdeen, Scotland in two 14 year old Wranglers which have been modified for offroad use - certainly not for a 4,000 mile drive to the UK. We plan to update it daily once we set off circa 16/07/09 and now and again during the build up. Details of the team and the route can be found at the link above.

OK it is currently the 22nd May and we have less than eight weeks to go before we leave. Baz (Alan Forsyth)and Colin have their flights booked and are heading over to Baku on the 14th July ready to leave here on the 16th although if we are ready we may indeed bring the departure date forward to the 15th. We will wait and see.

We are doing a lot of work with the sponsors at the moment and with the IWC trying to get all the pledged money into bank accounts and so on which is proving to be a bit a challenge but then no-one said it would be easy. So far RBG and Swift Oil & Gas have stepped up as the main sponsors with KCA, Rutland Diesel, PSN, Hydrolink, EMM, and Red Spiders also making generous pledges. So far I can tell you that we have raised a lot more than we first expected. Best guess at the moment would be around $9,000 in total between corporate and personal sponsorship. Wow!

My car (Alans) has had a niggle for the last 14 months that has managed to totally stump us and the numerous Jeep forums which are plentiful on line. The engine check light has been light up like a xmas tree since the end of Feb-08 showing a fault in the Throttle Position Sensor (bored yet?) and we set around changing everything out on that system through to the air and fuel systems. A lot of parts were changed (ouch $) out and after emptying Alan's bank account a solution was found. It appears that the exhaust manifold was leaking at the gasket and not providing any back pressure. Although we did change the fuel injectors at the same time and Martin reckons it was that. I know he is the mechanic between us but I will never give in..... Anyway the main thing is it is good to go and is once again the best running Wrangler in Baku. All that's left to do is wire up some number plate lights and spot lights, lube change, bolt tighten and a new fan clutch, radiator and hoses.

Martins car is nearing completion with just a few bits and pieces to do like spotlights, roof rack, wiring so it does not catch fire again (will come back to that in future updates), and a service and bolt tighten.

I think all the team are just desperate to get going and to start chewing up the miles. There is a lot of competition between the two cars to see who will break down first and any breakdowns will reported in here believe me. We will probably keep a scoring system :-)

Anyway enough for now and the next entry will probably be from Martin.

Ciao
Alan