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You are in: Isle of Man > Features > Do you know the way to Timbuktu?

Team Traa Dy Liooar

Do you know the way to Timbuktu?

Lets hope that Manx based team, Traa Dy Liooar do, as they embark on the trip of a lifetime. Driving all the way to Mali.

Have you heard of the Paris to Dakar rally? Highly paid professional rally drivers, power through West Africa in unbelievably expensive, highly modified rally cars, a trip of speed, excess and money.

Team Traa Dy Liooar (Day Out)

Well the Timbuktu Challenge is nothing like that!

Team Traa Dy Liooar is made up of three Manxmen, Juan McGuinness, (that’s me) Ben Watterson and James Jones.

The ethos for the trip is simple, raise as much money as possible for charity, whilst having the adventure of a life time in our £300 Land Rover Discovery.

We set sail from Douglas on the 9th January 2008 in our 1990 Land Rover Discovery.

The route to Timbuktu in Mali is around 4500 miles and we will hopefully make it in three weeks.

The Route

The planned route will take us through the UK, France, Spain, Morocco, The Islamic Republic of Mauritania and hopefully we will end up in Mali.

We will travel across numerous surfaces and terrains including dirt tracks, gravel and sandy desert. This terrain should test our driving skills and endurance to the limit.

We will cross the Sahara Desert, an unmarked minefield between Morocco and Mauritania and partake in three ferry journeys.

Team Traa Dy Liooar (Training)

The whole trip is completely unsupported, if we break down, we have to repair it ourselves, we won’t have a film crew or support vehicles following us!

While this may sound like fun (or not as the case may be) the aim of the challenge is to raise money for various charities in Mali.

All the vehicles that make it to Bamako will be auctioned off.

Team Names

Last year the event raised a total of £12,750, which was presented to the Rotary Club Bamako Amitié and has since been distributed to a number of projects in Mali.

We will also be raising money for the, Make A Wish Foundation by selling advertising space on the Land Rover. We feel their work holds considerable relevance to our challenge and the money we raise will give families affected by disability the opportunity to go on a holiday together.

last updated: 14/12/2007 at 13:08
created: 12/12/2007

Have Your Say

The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

The Vulgar Fraction
Feel the force Brother

martyn
good luck guys. see you soon :)

Millie & Team COPS pers
Please take care(nutters!!) we will be following your progress & raising more funds.

Ann Walton
If you want to visit Traa Dy Liooar in France en route to Africa for a cuppa you are very welcome. Just email me at annwalton@manx.net

Jo
Best of luck!

Jane
Wish you luck in your long Journey :-)

Carlton
All the best. Make sure that you all come back in one piece to tell the tale.

Bernie & Magda
"Be careful out there", remember its not a squad car. Best of luck , and enjoy!!

Roz
I thought you were mad when you did the Plymouth-Gambia run, now I know you are. Good Luck anyway.

Jeff
All the best guys - you're either brave or stupid to be doing that!

Lin
Good Luck Guys, I hope you've read "To Timbuktu" by Mark Jenkins 1998- it makes your trip sound like a walk in the park!

Mike Jelski
Best of luck guys. Sounds like you're in for one heck of a journey!!

Mark
Good luck for the journey ahead.

You are in: Isle of Man > Features > Do you know the way to Timbuktu?

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