From Tanger to Casablanca

Morrocans can't give decent directions, that's for sure. There are no signs and no streetnames in the towns, the people are all extremely friendly and helpfull, but they really don't know the difference between left and right (we think both are "chouff and chouff" in Morrocan, because that's what the kept telling us). We took the scenic route to Casablanca (the one with donkeys and stray dogs) going through small villages and a typical local market where our siren appeared to be very helpful. We made it to Casablanca by the end of the day and enjoyed a good beer by the swimming pool!

From Murcia to Tanger

A very hot day in Southern Spain, a refreshing ferry trip to Ceuta, an impressively chaotic bordercrossing, beautiful Morrocan scenery and sunset, small potholes, large potholes and a few craters on the road to Tanger, getting lost in the center of Tanger, finding out there is a difference between the Continental Hotel and the Intercontinental Hotel the hard way.

From Andorra to Murcia

Once in Andorra, we had to pass the Pyrenees to Spain. Speed, curves, some british mooning on the way, three cars in convoy, some carsickness (or something else)... the perfect mix to get into Murcia by time.

From Calais to Andorra

No time for text, but here are a few pictures. More will follow!

The Black Marshal is ready to reign!

Yesterday, we took care of the last preparations for the rally.
Everything was checked and rechecked: electrics, sounds, lights, seating positions...
We also figured out a genius task-changing-system, thanks to a cookingtimer. Details don't matter right now. :)
Further, a last electrical MOD: a switch was placed to manually get our radiator-fan going, in case of overheating. (Great tip from my father).
We also got our racing-outfit together. Pictures and movies will speak for theirselves, but I can allready confirm that a system of textile-rewards and -punishments is in order.

Now that de Black Marshal only needs a good washing, we can sum up the could-become-a-problem and the no-worries-for-this-piece-it-will-hold:

Could-become-a-problem:
- we're still leaking huge amounts of transmission-oil
- all our electrical MODS have been set up by somebody who doesn't know sh*t of electrics (Me...).
- it is possible that our stickers will come off during rain
- the three of us sat yesterday on the boot of the car, and one thing's for sure: we don't have ANY suspension left with that weight.
- it might be possible that our battery is going to burn up, due to the amount of electrical power we purge out of the poor thing (a big thx to Jamie's father for this tip).
- the fact that we have two beacons will catch the attention of the local police.
- apparently 3 million Moroccons will migrate by car next week to Morocco and will try to get the same ferries as us.
- it is possible that someone is going to get really angry towards our task-changing-system... and it might be possible it will find a lonely death somewhere next to a spanisch road.
- due to our blackened windows... it might be impossible to drive during nighttime.
- in fact we haven't driven the Black Marshal any longer than one hour non-stop... this, in a whole, might become our biggest problem: the fact that we don't know our biggest problem.


No-worries-because:
- we have a GPS
- we have an electrical coolbox
- !!!WE DRIVE A VOLVO!!!



Next blog will be one from the road.

See ya all!

Interview for management training course

Just for fun... the better interview!

Nicholas Morley handed suspended jail sentence

Ohrid /08/06/ 13:09

Struga District Court sentenced Nicholas Morley (Britain) to a suspended two-year suspended prison term for causing a fatal crash on the Struga-Qafasan road that left Cepuljoski couple dead.

Makfax Ohrid correspondent said the verdict was announced by Trial Chamber within Struga District Court. Judge Ace Petrevski chaired the Trial Chamber.

Defendant Morley was found guilty of dangerous driving causing a fatal crash on the Struga-Qafasan road on 2 May.

He was driving a Porsche in the Gumball 300 rally, a 3.000-mile race across Europe. The fatal crash happened near petrol station KMP Petrol. Morley was driving 161 kilometers per hour i.e. 101 kilometers more than the allowed speed, when he crashed into Golf. Both passengers aboard the Golf died of severe injuries.

Struga's courthouse ruled a two-year suspended prison sentence if he repeats the act within next three years.

Once the verdict was passed, Morley is no longer in police custody and he was freed on Friday.

Slippers

Personally, I can't drive with slippers. There just too "flexible".
However, I recently found out that when you're in a car, wearing slippers, not driving it because you can't, feeling a little hot, being a little bored, you can always step out for some fresh air & skating.

Pimp your steeringwheel with a child

Just to make things more interesting, I think we should hire a child to come with us to Casablanca...

The advantage...

... of the fact the Black Marshal has no suspension whatsoever, and thus practically hangs on the ground is that we'll never run into something like this!

Guys, we need some tees!!

Tiger Woods drives his huge Volvo into a garage in Cork, on his tour of Ireland.
The attendant at the pump greets him in a typical Cork manner, unaware of who the golf pro is...
"Top o' the mornin' to ya, sor"
Tiger Woods bends down to pick up the pump, but two tees fall out of his top pocket onto the ground.
"What are dey, son?" says the attendant.
"They're called tees" replies Tiger .
"What're dey fur?" enquires the Cork man.
"They're for resting my balls on while I'm drivin'" says Tiger Woods.
"Jaysus", says the Cork man, "Dem boys at Volvo tink of foockin' everyting!!!"

Piece of Candy And Go For a Ride?

One day a 12 year old boy was walking down the street when a car pulled up beside him and wound down its window.
"I'll give you some candy if you get in the car" said the driver.
"No way!" replied the boy.
"How about a bag of candy and 10 bucks" the driver asked.
"I said no way" replied the boy.
"What about a bag of candy and 50 bucks?" asked the driver.
No, I'm not getting in the car." answered the boy.
"Okay, I'll give you a bag of candy and $100" the driver offered.
"No!" replied the boy.
"What will it take to get you in the car?" asked the driver.
The boy replied: "Listen Dad, you bought the Volvo, you live with it!"

Afraid we are...

One can only hope they don't know this in Morocco... or we're in a lot of trouble.
No, really, I don't get this: as three REAL MEN, we chose a Volvo... which is, in our eyes, a REAL MEN's CAR!
And then you get this!!

There are no certainties in life...

Having a good argument

Nothing beats having a good argument! I'm looking forward to having one like this in the car on our way to Casablanca!

A job well done

We had to install a couple of gizmo's and gadgets. Some of the gizmo's and most of the gadgets required to be powered by electricity. To some of you, the word "electricity" in combination with the word "install" may sound like a challenge. We can understand this. Lucky for us we found out we have the talent and the skills to professionnaly take on that challenge. Today, we can proudly present you pictures of the installation. Sit back and watch with aw and amazement:





That last picture, as you might have noticed, has nothing to do with electricity. It's just the box we "installed" under the gearbox to scientifically measure the amount of transmission oil that is leaking during a certain period of time. This is what we lost in three days. Without leaving the garage.

Arts & Crafts for the weekend

Now that we're almost done working on the black marshal, our weekends are starting to feel empty and oh so meaningless. But fear not, because I have found a new challenge that will keep me busy for at least one more weekend. Stand back and watch this:


Now how cool is that! A papercraft Delorean! This baby is coming with us to Casablanca, I can tell you that!

Click here to download the pdf's.
(Star Wars fans should click here)

Black Marshal goes Hella

In order NOT to run over to much deer on our way to Casablanca (just enough for a BBQ for three), the Black Marshal shall be upgraded with Hella.
Shine Away!!

It's not christmas yet...

...but I believe I just saw a flying reindeer.

How the Black Marshal was born - Part 2

Well, Snef already told you how and where we found the Black Marshal, now the time has come to show you some pictures!




All in all, it's in a very decent state. We have a bit of rust on the back wheel arches, some hidden rust in the boot and more hidden rust on the exhaust. There are a couple of dents and scratches on the doors, and new life is developping in the foglight housings. As you can see the interior is in good condition, the drivers seat is a bit worn ;), but more importantly ALL electronics seem to work! (exept for the fog lights, but I already explained...).




The engine runs well, but we have a *minor* transmission oil leak. I know we have brakes, -because I've seen them- but you never have the feeling they help the car stopping. They slow you down. Gravity and air resistance do the rest.

We also have suspension. Yes, 4 springs and 4 dampers. The springs are fine. Really fine. The dampers are not. Really not. But then again, you get used to it and I don't get seasickness that easy.


Thank you ebay, and thank you Volvo!

Dancer in the dark(blue)

Are they hungarian? Are they portuguese? I don't know, the only thing I know is: A dancing cop, is a happy cop.

Hope and dreams

By the way the fact our Marshal is leaking some oil... well, doesn't matter... it's not running on oil anyway, its running on hope and dreams.

Soft suspension... now that's cruising!

If we are to expect no tarmac but rough terrain between Tangiers and Casablanca, then I'll guess we'll have to adapt the suspension a little bit, only a little bit though... We can confirm that our Marshal's suspension is at least as soft!

How the Black Marshal was born: Part 1

It all started with expressing our resolutions for 2007 : visiting our parents more often, washing our jeans inside-out, eating more vegetables, supporting WWF… and participating in our first banger-rally: Calais2Casablanca.
That last one, of course, should be the only one we actually kept…

Excited as little boys we started looking for a banger. Productivity at work crashed completely, and our inboxes filled themselves with subject as ‘Seen this one?’, ‘What about our striping?’, ‘Guys, we need a cool outfit.’…
Hundreds of C2C-mails got through cyberspace, and we hadn’t found our beast yet… yet!

That glorious tuesday, Jamie found the perfect catch: old, grey/brounish, Volvo, leaking oil, no suspension whatsoever, brakes that will kill you… PERFECT!

Once all redtape was taken care of, finally he had found his home: our pride, our BLACK MARSHAL.

Well.. at first it wasn’t worth his name, but we had plans… big plans.

Suspicious Looking Device

Lucky for us, we have no more money to spend on accessories. But if we had, this item would certainly be on our shopping list. It's called a suspicious looking device. Really. And that's exactly what it is!

The Suspicious Looking Device is a bright orange box with a countdown timer on the top. If you touch it, it lets out a loud siren and then scoots away on a set of hidden wheels. Its entire purpose is to look suspicious -- it has no other function.


Can you imagine the look on the face of Abdel-Salah, the moroccan border guard, after inspecting our booth and the finding our suspicious looking device? No? Then maybe you'll be able to imagine the look on OUR faces after Adbel-Salah confiscates our car while we are getting handcoughed by his colleagues Rashid and Ali? Ah, yes.

Offroad 460

OK, the way from Calais2Casablanca will mostly be tarmac.
Mostly...
Apparently there are woods in France and Spain.
Given the fact that the Black Marshal houses a 1.8 petrol of 90BHP, and we're competing against some V6's... it could be possible we'll have to take some shortcuts, just to be sure to get in first.

Than the question rises: is the Black Marshal capable of off-road-wood-racing?

Well... yes!

Petrol Problems

The trip from Calais to Casablanca is around 3300km. One way.
If everything goes as planned, we'll be stopping for petrol every 500km.
That's seven stops then.
Seven stops were we'll have to remember the fuel flap is on the right side.

Who are those frikkin' Belgians?

Being born in the glorious nation of Belgium we realized earlier this year we had to give something back to our glorious nation.
So here we are: Snef (advertising frikkin' freak), Jamie (graphic frikkin' freak), and U'roon (environmental frikkin' freak); bugger! Our adventure so far lead us over slippery tubes of oil, through dark and wet "fosses" and over booming sound machines. Anyway, we hope to make it to Casablanca and then GLORIOUS WE SHALL BE!

Two more "mods" arrived

Today two more very important "mods" on the Black Marshal got into our hands.
First Jamie emailed us a picture of him holding item 1, than when I got home found item 2 waiting in the hallway.
We're planning to get things installed on friday.

Small step for mankind, giant leap for Team Unagi

First of all: many thx to Jamie for getting this blog up and running.
And as usual: it looks great!!

398 Team Unagi is now ready to tune their findings/memories/worksessions/difficulties/oh-no-another-oilleak... with the internetcommunity, and other Streetsafari-members.
We're rolling!

At work right now, so not able to start any informative thread, but we're getting to that soon...

Snef

Wood-be van

This guy obviously has more time to work on his car than we have. Then again, he's an artist. And time has no meaning for real artists. Have a look at the rest of his work (including a really nice wood-be chopper!) here.

Master Blaster

This supra is more emmission friendly than 10 frikkin priusses.

VW testing

Message to VW: If you ever have a vacancy in ze durability testing department, I'm your man. Working in the weekend is not a problem.