Herald - Issue 398

v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v 19th November 2020 • The HERALD • Page 57 • Latest 4-Wheel ComputerisedWheel Tracking • FREE Wheel Alignment Check with Service • FREE Local Collection & Delivery BOOK ONLINE H Clutches H Diagnostics H Air Conditioning H 4 Wheel Alignment H H Cambelts H Service to Manufacturers Specification H BADMINSTONS HYTHE PHONE: 023 8001 9090 • EMAIL: b.hythe@hotmail.com Web: badminstonsgroup.co.uk/hythe • F badminstonsofhythe 50 SHORE ROAD, HYTHE SO45 6GJ MOT & SERVICE CENTRE for Cars, Vans and Motorhomes linked arms and sang. e locals actually thanked us for choosing their village - it was cold camping out, but the people treated us warmly. June 19th e days are rolling by, we le our camp at 9.52am. During the day four tests were completed and we did reasonably well holding our own. We are now close to the Russian border and will be re-entering at about 12noon, Kostanay is the last large town before Russia. When we arrived a crowd of people were already cheering each car. Driving into the car park was like Moses parting the Red Sea. Even at 10pm there are still many people viewing our cars. One serious note, a 1955 Sunbeam Alpine le one of the stages and went over a raised bank. Crew thankfully unhurt, but car damaged. e car may be out for a few days as it's likely to be welded in Russia. June 20th Le Kostanay at our usual time of 9.52am with loads of well wishers waving us o . Marcus and I decided we needed to make the car lighter, so we looked carefully in the boot and simply le behind anything non-essential. So our sand ladders came out, as did our emergency 10 litre petrol can. We then moved the jack and other items into the wheel base of the car. Taking weight out will hopefully help us gain some distance. People in these parts make a meal of a border crossing. At the Kazakhstan side they check all passports carefully, take photographs and check car documents. ey have already done this upon arrival - eventually we drive to the Russian side. ey check each car again, take more photographs and check the V5, passports and of course our visas. At last we are waived through, to a nal exit check before the gates are opened to Russia. I hope BREXIT is not like this otherwise we will be in trouble! Back to Russian roads and crazy driving. A er two tests on rough gravel and forest lanes we head for our destination arriving into town and a celebration – e whole town has turned out, and we have passed the continental divide. To the east is Asia and to the west we have entered the continent of Europe. Not the economic continent but the geographical continent, and we are given a certi cate to prove it. A kind gentleman gave me a bottle of water, and many people wanted photographs of us and our car. e Ural River divides Magnitogorsk into two parts of the world. Historically this mighty river has been the national geographical border between Asia and Europe. Reggie is running well all things considered. Will he get us to Paris? e jury is out but it looks possible. June 21st We le at our normal start time of 9.52am, a er a few minutes we arrived at the only test of the day, this time a lap on a small race circuit. All I needed to do was to drive round as fast as possible for one lap and then stop dead across the stop line. We managed the lap in two minutes and nineteen seconds. Not the fastest lap of the day for sure but not the worst either. e clerk of the course was kind enough to o er a “well done” which helped moral. Marcus drove the rest of the morning, until our lunch stop (a rare stop we normally grab something on the go). Eventually we arrive at Ufa, ll up with fuel and have Reggie treated to a wash – rinsing away the mud, dust and insects. e Russian roads are tricky; cars are either travelling dangerously fast or very slow. Drivers take huge risks to overtake and don’t let anyone in to any gaps in the tra c. At last we arrive at the Hilton Garden Hotel, time for a local beer. Tomorrow is a long awaited rest day and we start again on Sunday. We will give Reggie a thorough check over and top him up with some 20/50 oil, which is like gold dust in Russia. …To be continued in the next issue of The Herald on 10th December. Peking to Paris Motor Challenge – Pt. 3 Continued from page 56 Russian Border Control