Can I really do it as a first timer?

Sure can. On all our events at least 15% of the entry are first timers. In the Clowes Cup (Regularity) you don’t even need a competition licence. Just enthusiasm and a sense of adventure.

If you want to do the rally you will need a competition licence, but that’s not difficult. It’s issued by the motor sport governing body in your country. We’ll tell you how, what the requirements are and who to get the application form from.

What about visas for all the countries?

Which countries you need visas for depends on your nationality. We produce a Guidance Note with all the details.

What documentation do I need for my car?

You’ll need a Carnet – which is simply a permission to take it into the various countries without paying import duty. Again, easy to obtain one and one of our Guidance Notes gives all the details.

What about preparing my car for the Clowes Cup?

On the last London-Sydney 17 entrants took Nissan Pathfinder 4wds – dead standard cars off the showroom floor – on a buy-back deal. They all carried two spare wheels and apart from that they really were bog standard. One of them changed front brake pads during the event; only three of them used a spare wheel.

So if you’re doing it in a 4wd you’re not asking the car to do anything the manufacturer hadn’t designed it to do. With any other car make sure you’ve got 7 inches of ground clearance, decent heavy duty tyres, and extra spare and a sensible tool kit and spare bulbs and belts.

What will I spend on petrol?

Depends on your car and how far it goes on a litre! Petrol prices vary along the route ranging from 80 pence a litre in the UK to 40 pence a litre in Australia where the biggest mileage of the event is.

On our last event we ran Nissan Pathfinders as our Officials’ vehicles, and they weren’t hanging about, and none of them spent more that £1,000 (US$ 1,500) on petrol. Use that as a guide for this event.

What about other spending money on the event?

Breakfast comes as part of the package so you’ll need to allow for a snack in the middle of the day and your evening meal and drinks. Dining opportunities range from good and modest to slightly posh in places – your choice.

You’ll need some “panic” money to get you out trouble if something goes adrift mechanically. But with the container and air tickets as part of the package there are no major costs confronting you.

What currencies?

Quids in England, the Euro will get your through France, Italy and Greece, the Lire in Turkey, Rupees in India and the Oz Dollar in Oz.

Work from Travellers cheques or US dollars in small denominations and don’t change more that you need to go into any country.

All the countries we go through take credit cards – Visa and MasterCard are preferred. But do carry some local dosh to buy petrol in rural areas where plastic isn’t always accepted.

What about clothing?

Very casual with the exception of the Welcome Dinner in London and the Awards Dinner in Sydney. Both of which are ‘smart casual’. For ten years we ran the Awards Dinner as a traditional black tie affair but have now gone modern and casual. But during the day for 30 days you can be as casual or as scruffy as you wish.

Should I bring a mobile phone?

No reason why you shouldn’t. We log every competitor’s number so that we know how to get in touch with you during the event. You’ll find it can work through Europe, into Turkey and in India. Usual rules apply about not expecting service in remote areas. Likewise in Oz but most of route in Oz, apart from the overnight halts, is remote.

If you need reliable contact with the outside world a rented Sat phone is the way to go. All our Officials carry one as part of our communications set-up.

How do I ship my car?

Simple! We provide the container and cover the shipping costs. We tell you where to take you car on which day – and that’s it. We provide similar instructions covering collecting it at the other end.

How do I get my two plane tickets?

We send you a booking form so you can specify which date you wish to fly and the tickets will be delivered to you.

The tickets are economy class but you can upgrade to Business or First at your own expense if you wish. The booking form gives all the details.

That covers a lot of questions we are regularly asked. So I booted this over to veteran marathon man Graham Lorimer and invited him to add to it, seen from a competitor’s viewpoint in the Rally category.

Graham finished 5th on LSM ’93, had a DNF on London-Mexico ‘95 and finished 3rd on Midnight Sun to Red Sea. So he’s been there and done some of it!

Do I need to have competed in several events in my Marathon car before the event?

No, as long as the car is well prepared and has had a shake down run, no problem. Anybody that starts a marathon like this at more than an exploratory pace will probably not finish anyway. Use the first week to settle yourself and the car down, driving at less than your full speed while getting used to it, and you are setting yourself up for a great result.

How do I establish the sort of pace I need to drive at?

Drive at a pace that ensures you get to Australia without penalties or problems, and then step up to a quicker speed if you are comfortable. Invariably on these events, the winner will be someone who has not had mechanical drama and off-road excursions in the early days, and that is what you must aim for. Patience can reap huge rewards on these events.

What type of spares and tools should we carry in the car?

Consider carefully what you can fix on the roadside, and what requires garage assistance. There is no point in carrying parts you don’t have the tools to fit, or vice a versa. It is imperative that the total weight of car and contents is kept to a minimum, and tools and spares all weigh it down, sometimes contributing to breakages along the weigh (pun intended). I always go for less not more. It is sometimes amazing how many small but significant parts can be carried without taking up too much space, but will enable a remedy for a roadside breakdown.

How do I know if the specification and preparation of my car will be correct if I haven’t done an event like this before?

Contact the TWE office and find out who their nearest competitor is to you, whether he is doing this event or not. Contact him and ask will he give your car a look over and a short test drive on the road. Someone with experience of Marathon events may offer advice that will make all the difference as to you having a happy experience for 30 days, or 30 days of carrying a problem that could easily have been avoided before the start, if only you had known about it. Don’t be afraid to seek advice, we all do from time to time.

What sort of pre-event training should I do?

Be as fit as you reasonably can, if something goes terribly wrong, and you are injured, fitness is one of the things that can make a major difference. Get used to surviving on less than the normal amount of food you consume, often as the event progresses, your car and it’s condition become the centre of your concern, and regular meals seem to be missed along the way, not a bad thing if you are my size.

Here are a few more points worth remembering:

• Trust the Redshirts (the event officials), they know exactly what they are doing and are more helpful than you could ever imagine.
• Pay attention to every bulletin you receive from TWE, I know Nick well; he would not spend his money sending you things if they did not matter. If a bulletin says get a Visa, get one, you will need it.
• Don’t be afraid to ask others for help and guidance before the event, experience counts for a lot and most competitors I know will be only too pleased to assist.