Friday 6th April
After another long night of driving, the Greasers found a hotel in Corpus Christi called “El Tropical” and opened the beers. The usual banter continued in the motel corridors as the Greasers exchanged stories about friends and family back home.
They managed to set off at 9am (which is remarkable) considering there are now 12 people (including the film crew) and start the long drive towards the Mexican border. We decided on crossing at Brownsville as apparently this is a lot easier than the other crossing we were looking at – Laredo – where 4 sheriffs have been gunned down in drug battles in recent times. Also now leaving the USA, we realize that we need to adjust our driving schedule so that we are on the road early in the morning and off my dusk.
The Flying Burrito Brothers had the first blow out of the trip. With Jacko behind the wheel, the rear tire exploded with the force of a small bomb but they managed to pull over and to a tire change in 20 minutes. Safely back on the road and catching up with the girls, we all joined in convoy and headed for the border.
Once at the border, Emily needed to sell two of the cars fast...In Mexico, the owner of the vehicle has to be in the car at the border crossing, and since Emily “owned” all 3 cars that presented a slight problem. So, with a quick sale of the Slug, the white Mercedes to Ben & Jacko ($200) and the Van to Bjornar ($3500), deeds where written on the back of a serviette and deal done. Everything else went relatively smoothly although the film crew had to go back to the US side to declare all of the camera equipment. which gave the Greasers time to catch up on playing frisbee and establishing a new skipping champion, Ben.
Paperwork done, the Greasers cruised into Mexico heading south to Ciudad Victoria through spectacular rolling hills and the sunset topped off with mole chicken and bed.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Pacific biodiesel plant, Texas
Pacific Biodiesel in Texas - we had a great tour and learnt how to make biodiesel from cotton seed.
Ben, Daryl &; Andy at Austin Vee Dub
Thanks Daryl and the crew at Austin Vee Dub. And a limited edition Greaseball T-shirt.
Check out Greaseball photos at www.flickr.com
Search for Greaseball, Challenge, Rally
Check them out!
And don't forget to donate at www.greaseballchallenge.com
More news and photos tomorrow.
Check them out!
And don't forget to donate at www.greaseballchallenge.com
More news and photos tomorrow.
Repairs in Austin and new greaseballers
Thursday 5th April
The Greaseballers got an early start to take the cars to get some crucial repairs before entering Mexico. Thanks to Daryl at Austin Vee Dub, a super cool auto shop on the outskirts of Austin, the Greasers were able to use the garage as a base for the day while Daryl and his crew fixed the vacuum pump on the brakes of Grease Lightening, which had been a worry since leaving Washington. Team Zero got a dubious ball joint and steering alignment repaired andVee Dub also bolted down the driver’s seat on Old Yeller which had become somewhat of a safety issue. Lars from the film crew made it worse a few days ago after trying to recline the seat en route to Dallas not realizing it had rusted in place circa 1980. Our seats were made back in them olden times, and the green shag pile covers only serve to hide the small piles of powdered horsehair that collect beneath as the seats disintegrate one spring at a time.
Bryan and Paul, the Greaseball logisticians, flew in especially from Denver to meet the Greasers and help with some last minute preparations. Bryan and Paul were two original members of the school bus team, Quantum Heap, until the bus died. (Perhaps next year boys?). With them they brought about 100 CLIFBARS which the Greaseball crew have been munching on ever since. Theresa, Ben’s cousin, also flew in from New York to join the rally for a couple of weeks – another Spanish speaker to help us through delicate situations.
Today we have 2 new greaseballers in the crew - Theresa who just flew in from New York and JP from Belgium. That makes 12 greasy greaseballs on the road heading south to Mexico tonight.
Leaving Austin around 6pm, we waved goodbye to Daryl and set out towards the border with Bryan and Paul in the back of the greasemobiles getting the full Greaseball experience. At San Antonio, the dynamic duo reclaimed their hire car and accelerated back to Austin to fly home.. We’ll see them again in Mexico City! Here we come…
The Greaseballers got an early start to take the cars to get some crucial repairs before entering Mexico. Thanks to Daryl at Austin Vee Dub, a super cool auto shop on the outskirts of Austin, the Greasers were able to use the garage as a base for the day while Daryl and his crew fixed the vacuum pump on the brakes of Grease Lightening, which had been a worry since leaving Washington. Team Zero got a dubious ball joint and steering alignment repaired andVee Dub also bolted down the driver’s seat on Old Yeller which had become somewhat of a safety issue. Lars from the film crew made it worse a few days ago after trying to recline the seat en route to Dallas not realizing it had rusted in place circa 1980. Our seats were made back in them olden times, and the green shag pile covers only serve to hide the small piles of powdered horsehair that collect beneath as the seats disintegrate one spring at a time.
Bryan and Paul, the Greaseball logisticians, flew in especially from Denver to meet the Greasers and help with some last minute preparations. Bryan and Paul were two original members of the school bus team, Quantum Heap, until the bus died. (Perhaps next year boys?). With them they brought about 100 CLIFBARS which the Greaseball crew have been munching on ever since. Theresa, Ben’s cousin, also flew in from New York to join the rally for a couple of weeks – another Spanish speaker to help us through delicate situations.
Today we have 2 new greaseballers in the crew - Theresa who just flew in from New York and JP from Belgium. That makes 12 greasy greaseballs on the road heading south to Mexico tonight.
Leaving Austin around 6pm, we waved goodbye to Daryl and set out towards the border with Bryan and Paul in the back of the greasemobiles getting the full Greaseball experience. At San Antonio, the dynamic duo reclaimed their hire car and accelerated back to Austin to fly home.. We’ll see them again in Mexico City! Here we come…
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