07/02/07

Mike England

One of few to know that BRG means British Racing Green; runs Woodleigh School; plays cricket for Thixendale; plays sousaphone in the on-board band ‘Mr Swing’; expects a trouble-free European tour; trusts everyone else’s judgment more than his own; knows when to hide.

Daimohk is an outstanding group of immensely talented young Chechens whose dance tour of North Yorkshire prompted me to support this venture. Please give your help by supporting them further through the www.justgiving.com links from this site to their UK Charity CPCD.

Ben Shaw
York,  England

Ben Shaw runs a company with Brother-in-law and mate, Gunny. Together at www.elevenforty.com they design, manufacture and retail luxury football tables for the well heeled. A keen sailor, adventurer and mechanic Ben’s personal interests tie in ideally with the challenge he and Mike fell into. He did the Plymouth-Dakar rally in 2004/2005 with friend Sarah and has just come back from doing the Cresta run in St. Moritz.

A slight eccentric at heart, his hobbies include winging around the North Yorkshire lanes in a 1950’s BMW motorbike, with not so keen companion Presley, a 4 year old black Labrador in the sidecar.

Having completed the round Britain and Ireland sailing race with his father, in the race’s worst weather year since it started and living in a survival suit for weeks, sustaining concentration and strength whilst eating only boiled sweets, makes Ben in no way shy of a challenge.

He’s lived across the world too, getting as far as New Zealand and has also enjoyed living in Malaysia and the USA. Ben is going to have a birthday on this trip!

Mark (Harry) Harrison
Got into this caper by my association with old English eccentric public school head master (Mike England), who asked me if my wagon would transport an old Bedford Dominant bus from Lincolnshire back home that he and another old English eccentric (Ben Shaw) had bought off Ebay. He sent me some small pic’s taken on Bens mobile including a rather amusing recording (which ought to be on the web site) of the Bedford 6 cylinder ‘power’ (contradiction in terms !) plant. After some puzzling, decided it would just fit on wagon, so set off with a few railway sleepers and flashing beacons for good luck ! Despite a flat tyre and sticking front brake yours truly was first of the ‘busman’ to drive this fine piece of British engineering (easy to see why we are no longer a major player in commercial vehicle manufacture), in a high speed dash up onto the wagon with millimetres to spare. Return journey festooned with beacons, Mike managed to con-vince me to tag along with him on this mad journey. Don’t tell any one I know one end of a spanner from the other please. P.S. Photo of me studying odds of us making it, not sure why I’m smiling ?

Dan Clemens
Seattle, WA USA
Dan has done a lot of adventure traveling over the years. From river rafting/kayaking in the US, Canada, Central America, and South America to motorcycling thru Europe and all over the US/Canada/Mexico. He developed a love of traveling early on and has been to over 50 countries and conducted business in most of Western Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Columbia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Honduras and of course the US.

He also developed a passion for "all things mechanical" a little too early - he took everything in the house apart (much to the dismay of Mom) and usually put it back together. Sometimes there were a few parts left over but the thing usually worked just fine when he was done. He quickly moved on to riding mini-bikes, motorcycles, go carts, and when he could drive, to cars, dune buggies and other things with wheels and engines. In Late 2004 - Dan and his brother John drove an Ice Cream Van from Plymouth England across the Sahara Desert to Gambia in Africa - check it out at: www.creamytreats.com. He's hoping to mostly be riding in the bus and not working on it too much!

Emily Horgan
Washington, DC, USA
World Bank consultant, loves the moobs, hates kidney pie.

Driving the original Bluesmobile from the movie down in Clarksdale Mississippi. they wrecked the other 12 doing stunts.

Marie Korpi
Washington, DC, USA

Me like big bus. Sleep time on bus good sleep. Cookies!

I don't know if this trip can be anywhere near as great as the spring break I spent chaperoning three eighty-year-old women around Vegas.

Fun fact about me: I can pick up pencils with my toes.

Aileen Meehan
New York City, New York, USA

I’m part of the US contingent (living in NYC at the moment), but if we get into any sort of trouble, I’m claiming Norwegian citizenship.

I’m here to take pictures, lots of pictures, real pictures, and… I suppose I’ll take some digital ones too. Also have a small DV camera that I’m bringing along. Sometimes it’s a hard choice, choosing between still or moving images, but I’m sure there will be plenty of hands to help out with the filming.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Paul Richards (Aka: Snapper)
West Coker, Somerset, England

Hey, I just want to continue my "streak" of riding the top of vans and busses while "neked". The spirits are with you - Peace!

J.P. Cullen (Aka: The Judge)
Syracuse, NY, USA

I wanna drive da big bus!!!

Nicky Matsukis, London, England

Although now living in London, I grew up in South Africa, so really looking forward to leaving the big smoke for awhile and enjoying the open spaces and scenery. My last challenge was the egg & spoon race at our agency sports day, so when Ben mentioned the bus trip, I knew I had to be part of the 'busman' experience. I've got into the habit of collecting match boxes from various bars, so hoping to add a few more to the collection! Looking forward to catching up with everyone in Nice. Are girls allowed to drive da big bus??!