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On Monday 21st April; Paul Bass, Dom Brione, Jim Bowen, Chris Armelin, Ben Burge and Clive Saywood left rainy Tongham for the Outback Import Competition in Morocco. They arrived in Sete in the South of France in the early hours of Tuesday morning, giving them plenty of time for their ferry to Tanger in North Africa that evening.
After 36hours on the ferry, the competition began as soon as they got off the ferry. On the first day (Thursday) Paul and Jim managed to boil a shock absorber dry, due to the heat and the distance they had to travel over the extreme terrain. They managed to replace this when they finally got back to meet up point at 2am. Paul has now altered his set up, to include double shocks on both the front and back of his vehicle.
After the first day, as a team Paul and Jim, with Dom and Chris were placed 2nd in the team event and 6th overall. Paul commented how this event was nothing like the challenge events which are held in this country and it was more like a rally event. However, they were all enjoying themselves and having great fun.
Other competitors are also finding it hard and several have already dropped out. As of day three, the team were doing very well and had edged their way up the score board to be placed first in the team event and second overall.
It has been beneficial to have the support vehicle with Ben and Clive as they have managed to carry a great deal of the equipment and assist with the repairs. They have also assisted with the recovery of other vehicles, of which one vehicle had managed to roll two and a half times – writing off the vehicle.
Up to date the competition has comprised of several different special stages each day and long stints through the desert having to pass through various checkpoints.
Please keep looking on the site over the next week for more updates as to how the guys are getting on.
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