Reliant Robin Survives Desert, Jungle, War In 14,000 Mile Record-breaking Journey Through Africa

A Reliant Robin doesn't typically apical anyone's list of reliable vehicles for evident reasons. Most of america person seen that infamous "Top Gear" episode wherever Jeremy Clarkson rolled nan Reliant Robin respective times, and if you haven't now is nan time. It takes a typical superb idiot, aliases possibly 2 successful this case, to see taking 1 connected a 14,000 mile journey. That and a hankering for a world record. Introducing chap car nerds and nan protagonists of this insane story: Ollie Jenks and Seth Scott, nan duo down Hold My Gear.

The full point was Scott's hair-brained idea. The Canadian sounded it to his UK friend (Jenks) arsenic a measurement to group nan grounds for nan longest travel ever made successful a three-wheeled vehicle. That record, up until these 2 had completed their journey, had been held by an Anton Gonnissen who traveled via a three-wheeled motorcycle retracing nan Peking to Paris racing way successful a 1907 Contral Mototri successful 2019. The thought was to make their Reliant Robin, dubbed "Shelia nan Three-Wheeler," into a pseudo-overlander vehicle. Then they would battalion it up pinch what they need, and prosecute a way from London traversing 22 countries to Cape Town, and bring everyone on for nan journey.

When a newsman successful 1 of their videos asked Jenks why they were doing each of...this, he replied, "I'm not really sure." The bully news is, it went mildly amended than anyone would person expected.

The bulk of nan activity required to get this 2000s-built Robin cross-country fresh looked to beryllium a batch of elemental attraction replacing rusty aliases surgery parts. Newer headlights were really nan summation of 4 LED ray clusters adhered to nan beforehand bumper, and a existent overlander ray barroom affixed to an besides caller tile rack. They replaced nan play cart-like seats pinch utilized Mazda MX-5 MkII seats, "Tombstone style" Ollie quipped, complete pinch much modern seatbelts. In nan rear they installed a large "van life" artillery and inverter setup to plug successful electrical devices, positive a monolithic alloy defender to screen nan mini 30-liter substance tank. And because aesthetics, they replaced nan 1992 Ford Fiesta mirrors pinch classical 1970s Robin mirrors.

In conscionable nan first week nan Reliant Robin's planned advancement was speedy to autumn into jeopardy. On nan first time they stopped to upgrade nan suspension because nan mediocre point was astir sagged to nan crushed from each nan cogwheel packed successful nan rear. The adjacent day, nan rear model started to autumn out. Departing Le Mans mid-week, nan motor began to misfire. 

They ended nan week successful Morocco astir having been deported owed to thing pinch obtaining car insurance, different setback successful trying to scope nan Sahara connected their planned timeline. To adhd to nan stress, they had 24 days to get to Ghana earlier their visas location expired, and astir 5,000 miles separating nan two.

At astir nan 2 period people they entered war-torn Cameroon (the Anglophone Crisis aliases Ambazonia War) wherever nan Robin joined a subject convoy to beryllium escorted done 300 miles of warfare zone. The warfare would beryllium nan slightest of their worries connected nan country's wavy roads.

And nan database of problems this small Reliant faced compounded passim nan trip: a grenaded gearbox, aggregate deaths/resurrections of nan engine, various parts rattled astir aliases wholly disconnected arsenic well. At 1 point, a man pinch a shotgun strapped astatine his broadside helped push a dormant Sheila backmost to their hotel. Another breakdown, they sewage thief loading nan Robin onto a cattle motortruck to carrier it for much repairs.

On nan flip side, location were moments for illustration Jenks getting recruited to thief fishermen connected nan Ghana coast. In nan past limb of nan travel nan Robin became a safari vehicle, cruising among nan elephants, mongooses, giraffes and a rhinoceros. By nan extremity Shelia had virtually gone places a Reliant Robin had ne'er been, which nary one, not moreover even nan designer could person imagined it going.

Asked if they'd ever do it again, Jenks replied successful a video, "Absolutely f***ing not."

Sheila's travel isn't yet vanished though. According to nan AP, aft a short limb from South Africa to Kenya, she'll beryllium loaded onto a vessel to Turkey earlier she's returned to nan UK wherever her travel tin beryllium celebrated astatine nan London Transport Museum.