A Bendy Bus to cross the Sahara

Released on: October 23, 2007, 4:36 am

Press Release Author: Padmavathy

Industry: Automotive

Press Release Summary: An adventurous team of international travelers will attempt
to set a new record this coming January. The team, known as Bus Number 7, is
piloting an old, soviet-style articulated bus right across Europe before making a
daring crossing of the Sahara Desert into the heart of Africa.

Press Release Body: The team will start their epic journey from Budapest, Hungary
and travel to the southern-tip of Spain, crossing into Morocco and ending up in
Mali, covering well over 7000 km in the process, all the while living completely
self-contained onboard the specially converted bus.
Bus Number 7\'s, the team\'s journey to Africa will join up with the Budapest-Bamako
(B2) Rally, which brings hundreds of amateur adventure enthusiasts from around the
world for a daring two week race to Bamako, the capital of Mali. Open to anyone with
a working vehicle, the rally is billed as a low-cost and rougher version of the
Paris-Dakar Rally that has taken off in recent years. Along the way the teams have
to tackle every obstacle from sand storms, mine-fields, impenetrable Saharan
sand-dunes to the daunting African border control, all with only their wits and a
good slice of luck to rely on.
Bus Number 7 is taking this challenge to a whole other level, by driving this 16.5
metre long, 12 ton monster of a machine to Africa and back in what will surely be
the first time such a vehicle has crossed the Sahara. The organizers of the project
are hoping to push their endurance to the limit while at the same time promoting
cultural awareness and the image of Africa back home in their native countries. \"All
of us involved in the project have a passion for exploration, about getting out of
our daily routines and challenging the limits of what we can achieve\" remarked
Aravind, an Indian entrepreneur who is helping to organize the project. \"Bus Number
7 is all about the going for the extraordinary and we hope that this will be just
the first of our adventures onboard the bus, as we try to show people that the world
is closer to their doorstep than they think.\"
Not just about adventure however, the team are also hoping their journey will be
able to make a difference to the lives of some of the children they meet along the
way. Veterans of the two previous Budapest-Bamako rallies, the organizers have seen
first hand how even seemingly insignificant improvements can make a difference to
children\'s lives. \"For us, it\'s incomprehensible how much even a football can mean
to a child in Mali. Last year some local kids came up to us in Bamako and explained
that they were collecting donations for their football team. We gave them some money
and promised them if they came over to our hotel next morning, we would give them a
ball. The next morning at 8 o\'clock about 20 kids were waiting for us and when we
gave them our ball, I\'ve never seen so happy faces.\" recollected Attila, a Hungarian
on the team. In preparation for this year, Bus Number 7 have already established
links with a school in Bamako that they visited the year before, and for which they
aim to raise funds to buy sports equipment and teaching supplies.

To prepare for the arduous journey across the Sahara and back, the organizers are
well underway with fitting out their 1986 Hungarian Ikarus 280 articulated bus. The
team plans to carry seven crew members along with two drivers, and is fitting four
bunk-beds, a kitchenette with lounge and a small shower on board to make the journey
a little bit more comfortable. There is also going to be a fully feature
sound-system with loudspeakers built into an open-air rooftop balcony, to ensure
that Bus Number 7 becomes the unofficial party bus along the way, bringing fellow
teams on the rally together with any curious locals looking for a free open-air
disco!
Bus Number 7 still have two places left on the crew for suitable candidates looking
for the journey of a lifetime. The team are also interested to hear from sponsors
wanting to learn more about the project.


Web Site: http://www.busnumber7.com

Contact Details: Contact: Aravind Bremanandam
aravind@busnumber7.com
Ph: + 91-44-42143343

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