Great Balls of Fur - Mongol Rally - 18th July - 15th August 2009
GOODNESS GRACIOUS! GREAT BALLS NEEDED FOR FURRY ADVENTURIST
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, of course not, it is a twenty-six year old Dennis fire engine covered head-to-toe in fake red and yellow fur. For what can only be described as good old British humour, the funny thing is not the truck itself but what the owners of this vehicle intend on doing with it.
On the 18th July, a team of intrepid and optimistically minded travellers will be driving ‘Dennis’ from the historical Goodwood Race track to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. It is part of the Mongol Rally, which is now gaining infamy status as every year over 300 clapped out cars and trucks make their way through the ‘Stans and deserts of Central Asia. There are few rules, with teams having to fend for themselves, but one particular regulation states that cars are to have an engine of 1.2 Litres or less. The only exception is if the organisers deem the vehicle of sufficient comedy value. The aptly named ‘Great Balls of Fur’ team had no problems with persuading them there then.
“Package holidays have become the norm and instil no sense of adventure. This summer we wanted a challenge, the opportunity to get off the beaten track and experience some fantastic and rarely visited countries and cultures”, explains Major Tony Dickinson, the team medic, about why they have chosen to take on this challenge.
The six-man team, who are made up of serving Officers and Soldiers from across the British Army, undertook a similar journey last year when they decided to drive two Bedford Rascals from London to Cameroon in the sister rally to the Mongol event – the Africa Rally. The team decided to cover the vans in fake zebra and leopard fur, and they gained so much attention from the organisers, they were offered a chance to take part in the drive to Ulaanbaatar. Naturally, their competitive nature kicked in and they leapt at the chance.
Tony, 30 from Lancaster, who works as the Medical Officer for 24 Commando Engineer Regiment at Royal Marine Base Chivenor, talks about last years rally; “The highlight was crossing the Sahara desert, however it was also the most difficult part of the rally with no roads and constantly getting bogged down in sand. Pushing the vans in temperatures in excess of 50 degrees, I remember thinking that I never want to see sand again. This year the Gobi Desert will prove an equally formidable obstacle.”
Despite the comical act which these adventurers are going to take part in, there is a serious side to why they are undertaking this challenge of a lifetime. The team want to raise as much money as possible and will be raising money for a couple of charities, including Help for Heroes, as it is a subject close to all their hearts; “We’re all very proud of the armed forces and the sacrifices they make on behalf of the nation. With our personal experiences of operational casualties amongst friends and colleagues, it is of even greater pertinence to all of us to do our bit to help," explains Captain Matt Brockelsby, who is in charge of fundraising for the team. Matt, 30, from East Yorkshire is currently serving as an Adjutant at the Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill, which is close to the Help for Heroes HQ in Tidworth.
The team, who are all completing this adventure in their own time and out of their own pocket, will be trying to raise as much money as possible for the charities but also will seek to gain corporate sponsorship from willing companies. There will be several events where the public will be able to view Dennis the furry fire engine, including the Help for Heroes Festival and a chance to wave off the team on the start of the race at the Goodwood Race track in July. The journey will be a true adventure, with many challenges to be dealt with. Maj Dickinson adds; “Our vehicle is inevitably going to attract attention and consequently we may run into difficulty with overbearing officials. However last summer we found that a smile and a cigarette goes a long way.”
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, of course not, it is a twenty-six year old Dennis fire engine covered head-to-toe in fake red and yellow fur. For what can only be described as good old British humour, the funny thing is not the truck itself but what the owners of this vehicle intend on doing with it.
experience some fantastic and rarely visited countries and cultures”, explains Major Tony Dickinson, the team medic, about why they have chosen to take on this challenge. 
operational casualties amongst friends and colleagues, it is of even greater pertinence to all of us to do our bit to help," explains Captain Matt Brockelsby, who is in charge of fundraising for the team. Matt, 30, from East Yorkshire is currently serving as an Adjutant at the Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill, which is close to the Help for Heroes HQ in Tidworth.