Ashbourne brothers plan summer road trip with a difference

Two Ashbourne brothers are joining up with two of their college friends to take part in the Mongol Rally this summer. The 'Vagabonds of the Eastern World" team is made up of Ed and PJ McMahon from Kilmoon Cross, Ashbourne; James Doyle from Lucan and Colm Lauder from Clontarf. The four are attending University College, Dublin, and the Dublin Institute of Technology, and will be using their summer break to drive 10,000 miles in aid of the Christina Noble Children"s Foundation. The Mongol Rally was created by British man Tom Morgan as part of a college degree. The 'joy" of driving an entirely unsuitable car on a 10,000 mile journey with no support is the basic idea of the rally. To raise money for charities operating in countries en route makes the Mongol Rally a life-changing experience for those who not only participate, but also those who benefit by way of clean drinking water, safe orphanages and operational ambulances. The Mongol Rally is first and foremost an adventure. The 'on your own" rule - no back-up support - makes the event one of only a few remaining raw adventures in the world today. Using a small car, very little money, wits, good judgement and a compass are what is needed to take part in the rally, which starts in England and crosses Europe into the Ukraine, Russia and across to Uzbekistan, and onto the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Bataar. 'It is not a race, merely an exercise,' Ed McMahon said. 'It is said that those who reach Ulaan Baatar last have the best adventure as these are the ones who have broken down most, been locked up in jail the longest or have just taken a very scenic route. There is no defined route and teams are encouraged to deviate as much as possible from a straight line.' There are four basic rules, he explained. The 'on your own rule", with no back-up support or designated resting points/pit stops; the charity rule - each team must raise a minimum of £1,000 for an official charity of the Mongol Rally; the 1.2 litre rule - cars must have an engine displacement of no larger than 1.2 litres (£100 must be paid to their charity for every 0.1 litre over the max size), and the 10-year rule - cars must be no older than 10 years as the vehicles are given to a charity in Ulaan Baatar on arrival. 'We have acquired a VW Polo estate to participate in the rally,' James Doyle explained. 'The rally starts on 18th July from Goodwood, England. We have set up a team website www.vagabonds09.com and it has more information about the rally and our progress to date.' The Christina Noble Children"s Foundation is an international partnership of people dedicated to serving children in need of emergency and long-term medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, educational opportunities, vocational training, job placement and the protection of children at risk of economic and sexual exploitation.