Rally Dos Sertoes

[Crazyswede]

So Mongo is working out the details and trying to determine if he can go down to Brazil in August to race in the Rally Dos Sertoes. Entry fee at the moment is about $3500 USD but I may be able to negotiate the early bird entry. There are 4 other guys going at this point which makes splitting the cost of a shipping container a lot more reasonable. Aside from a small aux fuel tank and some navigation equipment my race bike doesnt need much.

So don't be surprised if you see some stuff up for sale soon.

[paulh]

Sounds like an awesome time, after watching the Top Gear Bolivia special I've got a hankerin' for a trip to South America. What does a container cost to get to Brazil? Would be neat to roam around South America in a c900

Paul

[Crazyswede]

Sounds like an awesome time, after watching the Top Gear Bolivia special I've got a hankerin' for a trip to South America. What does a container cost to get to Brazil? Would be neat to roam around South America in a c900

Paul

Well we don't have official numbers nailed down yet but some preliminary web research points to about $8000 for a 20 foot container (thats to and from). Now I know you used to be able to get a full shipping container from the UK for about $3000 to the USA.....so given todays price rates and fuel costs this may be accurate. Not as bad when split across 4 or 5 people. We still have to determine mechanic costs, service truck support etc. I will probable budget for a minimum of $10,000...maybe $15000.

[Geoff]

Would be neat to roam around South America in a c900

You can drive to South America too

[paulh]

Would be neat to roam around South America in a c900

You can drive to South America too

Well...not all the way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_gap

Paul

[max]

Gosh... I would love to do that drive... someday..

[Geoff]

Doh, you must be able to get some sort of transport around (boat) without getting a whole container from the US....

[airsweden]

Yeah, there's a ferry but I don't think Mongo has the kind of vacation time that method would require. Plus... they'll cook you and eat you!!!!!

[Crazyswede]

Driving to Brazil is not in the budget or time frame....Darien Gap aside. I may look into shipping directly from the East coast.

[Geoff]

I wasn't thinking about Mongo but about Paul driving a C900 around

Plus... they'll cook you and eat you!!!!!

[paulh]

Yeah, there's a ferry but I don't think Mongo has the kind of vacation time that method would require. Plus... they'll cook you and eat you!!!!!

From what I can tell its a fair bit shadier than that, there are boats you can charter and things like that, customs can be a real pain, seems like it would probably be simpler to just ship directly from the US in the long run. $8k is high, but probably about right, it is pretty damn far away!

Paul

[airsweden]

A friend of mine drove a dodge dart to Peru and back to VT a few years ago. "No big deal" according to him. Of course, if he could drive a dodge dart to Peru..... he must not be too picky. He said the key is to keep a low profile, blend in and remain inconspicuous. I guess at that time a car like that fit right in south of Brownsville, TX.

Paul, when are you heading out? Can you pick me up on the way?

[paulh]

Paul, when are you heading out? Can you pick me up on the way?

not anytime soon unfortunately, this year's trip is going to be up the James Bay road http://jamesbayroad.com/index.html

Paul

[Crazyswede]

Yeah, there's a ferry but I don't think Mongo has the kind of vacation time that method would require. Plus... they'll cook you and eat you!!!!!

From what I can tell its a fair bit shadier than that, there are boats you can charter and things like that, customs can be a real pain, seems like it would probably be simpler to just ship directly from the US in the long run. $8k is high, but probably about right, it is pretty damn far away!

Paul

that was $8000 to ship a 20' container down and back. Given todays fuel prices and that its probably not as common as a route its not too bad....plus split 5 ways is manageable....its also not set in stone yet so we might find a better deal or a worse one.

I haven't even paid my entry fee yet...so lots of stuff to work out still.

[paulh]

Oh allright, if thats including the return trip thats probably pretty damn reasonable, you're probably right, not a whole lot of crazy people that want to ship their vehicles to Brazil

Paul