We've managed to get two local publications to decide we're interesting enough to write about this week. First we got almost a full page in the Xpress (Dubai weekly freebie), and then a short piece with photo in Abu Dhabi Magazine. We're only apprentice media whores, but we try!
The last days have been spent to-ing and fro-ing to Abu Dhabi - Fri for documentation, Sat for scrutineering (passed with flying colours) and today (Sun) for the prologue. We are car 214, seeded 14th and that was exactly where we came in the prologue - run over a 2.1km stretch of reclaimed land near the Abu Dhabi Intl Marine Club which contained more scrap metal than Steptoes yard. How no-one got punctured on all the re-bar sticking out of the ground is a minor miracle.
So tomorrow we're back to Abu Dhabi once again for the ceremonial start at Emirates Palace. We have to be in Parc Ferme between 0730-0830, so it's yet another 0600 start - the traffic down on the island is murder in the mornings. Dave Pryce has kindly 'volunteered' to chauffeur my aged parents around on Monday, so they get to see at least one day of the event. Rick is down in the bivouac setting up our camp, and Cesar plus two mechanics on loan from Glen Reid's Icon garage should turn up at our house after we've left, to collect the pick-up and its cargo of tools and spares. We'll see them at the start, then they and Rick should be at the service point later on. This is all very well in theory - but the VW pickup is sounding a bit tired, and Cesar is as sick as a dog, so anything could happen.
Hopefully, Tim will be able to update this from the media centre in the bivouac, so watch this space!
These are the voyages of the starship 'Newtrix'. Its multi-year mission: to compete in any rally within striking distance of Dubai, and to acquire shiny trophies. To boldly go wherever this quest may take us, as long as we can be home in time for tea.
