Long live the Corsa!

We've found a mechanic who's agreed to do the really tricky bits for a knock-down price, so it looks like the Monkey Corsa will be going to Africa, after all. Well, better the monkey you know!

But thanks for all the advice and offers of help...it means a lot, and now we know exactly where to find a motor for the next time we do something this foolish

The Corsa is dead, long live the...?

Sadly, Monkey Corsa died today on the operating table at Evolution Engineering.

Well, it did when we found out how much it's going to cost to get it in a state to survive this trip. New water pump, shocks, wheel bearings, steering, the list goes on. We could do some of it ourselves, if we had the facilities and the time.

So we need a new motor. Matt at Evo's trying to find one, but can you help? The budget is tiny, and time is short. Email us on the address above, or call me on 07725 313409.

And if you'd like the Corsa for spares or a fixer-upper, the proceeds will go towards our fund-raising total.

Aaarrgh! But somehow we will be on the road on January 11, even if it's on mopeds

Meet the Monkey Runners logo

Wonderful art editor Carl Fleischer has created a logo for the Monkey Runners. Isn't it great?

Monkey Corsa is being tended by Evolution Engineering. A new water pump should fix the engine problem and we'll chuck some new shocks on the back as well. Anything built for London's ridiculous speed bump epidemic should cope with Africa's roads, if our trip to Kenya in May was any guide to what we can expect.

Christmas mechanics

A first proper drive for the Corsa has revealed that not only is something wrong at the back - probably shocks from the way it goes over speed bumps - but there's a massive coolant leak somewhere. Stuck in London traffic we nearly overheated for lack of water!

An emergency trip to our friendly local garage will be first on the agenda Monday morning.

To do, and not done

Look to the left, and you can now see what we've got left to do before we go, and what we still need to get hold of. If you can help, please get in touch!

Go, Garmin, Go

Lovely Garmin have offered us a nuvi 660FM GPS with Africa maps! That should make the trip a lot easier. Cheers

Now we're on Corsa

Now we really own a car for Timbuktu, an M-reg Vauxhall Corsa with 99,500 miles on the clock. The leaky head gasket will *probably* survive another 5,000 if we keep the oil flowing. Other than that it just needs a service and a new exhaust! Phew!

...and a laptop

Our friends at Panasonic have very kindly agreed to loan Monkey Runners a desert-proof Toughbook for our journey, so we can keep in touch with our blog and edit all the photos and video we'll be doing along the way. So if anyone wants to give us an HD camcorder for a few weeks...

We've got a car!

Well, almost. Quiz-mate Isabel has offered us her old Corsa for the price of a smile. We'll be checking it out next week, but hopefully it's in good order and the Monkey Runners will have some wheels. And a smile costs a lot less than £100!

Has anyone got an atlas?

Ingredients:
2 Monkeys, Alex & Sylvia
1 car for less than £100
1 map
No clue

Directions:
Ask boss for 6 weeks off work. Drive 4,500 miles from London to Bamako, Mali, for 21 days at gas mark Hot. Raise loads of money for Water Aid and auction the car for local causes if it survives. Continue to Segou for the festival if we've got time. Fly back to London. Bake for a year in the office and repeat?