Lorraine Hutchinson crossing continents

Lorraine Hutchinson in the driving seat with her friend Nina in Mongolia

The Mongol Rally

On 22 July 2006 150 cars, all under 1000cc, left Hyde Park in London bound for Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia. Lorraine Hutchison from our Glasgow office and friend Nina were in one such car – a 999cc 1987 Fiat Panda, which they named BoBo the Monkey Tank.

Participating in the Mongol Rally - a charity event to support and raise money for various charities - they crossed several continents covering 9,000 miles. The route was challenging, taking in Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia. “One of the highlights of the trip was the continuous-ly changing landscapes and cultures on the southern route, from the mountains of Afghanistan and the beaches of turkey to the forests of Siberia and the steppe of Kazakhstan,” says Lorraine. “The trip was riddled with a variety of car problems like brakes failing in the Hindu Kush mountains, track rod end shearing from the rest of the car twice and engine problems every other day, not to mention the car going on fire!”

Five weeks later, the Monkey Tank arrived in Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia on the 25 August. They raised around £7,000 for their chosen charities Send a Cow - helping poor African farmers be self-sufficient, providing them with livestock, training, and advice – and Mercy Corps - assisting people afflicted by conflict or disaster plus helping sustainable economic development and civil society initiatives.