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Trans Kalahari, 1977.<br />
I was somewhat worried that Iwould end<br />
up leaving my Land Rover "somewhere in<br />
the Kalahari", since J had done about one<br />
tenth of the work I felt was necessary,<br />
due to business commitments.<br />
After sorting out a blocked fuel filter<br />
in Gabs on the Thursday, we turned up<br />
for the 5km bash around the cottonfield.<br />
This left us with a 120th starting position,<br />
pretty much as expected, but slightly<br />
puzzling since the car ahead of us in the<br />
cottonfield run, which we were in fact<br />
catching, was credited with about 5 seconds<br />
faster time.<br />
At the start we just sat tight for 20 or<br />
30 seconds, and let all the collisions<br />
blow-ups and what-have-you's happen:<br />
and then joined the Lampreehts - dodging<br />
queue at the gate. Went very well until,<br />
dodging a sand-bound Mazda, swiped a<br />
tree stump - no damage, but consequences<br />
later. Progressed well, and found ourselves<br />
57th or so at about midway - we<br />
had a few good dices with Team Rufus's<br />
beautifully prepared s.w.b. Series I 4-cylinder,<br />
and nearly beat them to Mobotsane,<br />
except that said tree stump had flattened<br />
a fuel line (plastic/aluminium) preventing<br />
one of the 10 gallon underseat tanks feeding<br />
properly, which resulted in a rapid<br />
tank change 1 kilometre from Mobotsane,<br />
and a slight door mod. courtesy Team<br />
Rufus.<br />
Although cold, it was a very pleasant<br />
overnight stop, and the organisation was<br />
first class. After a rough start on Saturday,<br />
we got a fair move on, and, although<br />
slowed by soft sand and not really very<br />
fast on the 3 lane hoofweg, we found ourselves<br />
in 27th position with 150 ks to go.<br />
The radiator support bracket had broken<br />
and the front bodywork was threatening<br />
to go left when the car went right. Felt<br />
better. about this on seeing Gavin Riley<br />
removing prop shafts and manufacturing<br />
a Front Wheel Drive Willys. After a few<br />
final hectic kilometres, Imanaged to miss<br />
the gatepost at the entrance to the cottonfield's<br />
bush section by about 3mm (codriver's<br />
estimate), and entered the cottonfield<br />
sideways; finish position was 23rd,<br />
corrected overall 27th. Better than hoped<br />
for, since total engine preparation since<br />
'76 Roof consisted of new carb, oil<br />
change, new plugs. Chassis - new shocks<br />
and prop shaft grease-up.<br />
A pseudo-scientific analysis of the results<br />
indicates that a lightened, strengthened,<br />
turbocharged s.w.b. Land Rover<br />
would, given 180 bhp or so, stand as good<br />
a chance as anything.<br />
C. TREEN<br />
Moto X S.A. Page 35
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