Musical vehicles

Not a good day today. Having conversed with the other teams, it seems that there are problems with vehicles, carnets and visas. After much hair tearing out, we appear to have resolved the issues at hand, however - it now means that ALL teams are taking the Western route, Team PSM are now taking a Nissan Micra, and I’m now taking my KTM 525 (that’s a motorcycle, incase you didn’t know).

As this is my blog entry, I’m going to talk about the changes to my plans. After the decision was made to take the western route, I decided to switch vehicles to the KTM. Reason being that early next year I’ll be doing the same route in the B2 Rally (in the SJ), and didn’t want to be doing it twice. The KTM is designed for desert racing, so it should be a real hoot - especially safe in the knowledge that I have 2 mechanics to hand should it decide to misbehave. It realy was the chance to grab an opportunity that won’t come along too many times.

BUT…

It now means I’ve got only about a week to get the KTM road worthy and prepared. Luckily, it’s not in too bad a shape. It needs indicators wiring in, a horn, mirrors and a few other things bolting back on that I’ve stripped off. It also needs the race exhaust changing for a road legal one. Once the MOT is done, I can then go about finishing my prep work - fitting the ASV F3 levers, rotator clamps, pivot pegz, etc etc. Still, shouldn’t take longer than a day or two.

With the prospect of 6 weeks in the saddle, I just hope that Renazco seat is worth what I paid for it