Scott, Kieran and ray drove down from Norfolk to Dover where i met them for the train. They had put some more work in on the car, cutting a large hole in the roof which had a wooden cover that could be bolted on if needed.

The back was taken out and two extra seats were put in from an old ford escort.

Sunny day leaving Dover as we drove onto the ferry with no problems. Everyone was looking at the car due to the fact it was a hearse, but it also had pink flames up the side with coffin dodgers written on also.

On getting the ferry accross we drove straight along to Brussels and stayed in a hostel for the night, arriving around midnight.

The following morning we met up with the other 35 cars (including the dukes of hazard, the mystery machine, the blues brothers etc.). Everyone had put alot of effort into their cars to keep the whole thing light-hearted.

This event is very well organised and all authorities in the different countries are informed before hand. However, Germany changed their minds at the last minute and refused us entry meaning a longer trip round and a planned stop off in France (Mulhouse) instead! We all set off at 10am that morning after picking up our CB radios, stickers and handbooks. The convoy was lead out of Brussels by the police who were very friendly, from The Atomium (pics coming) onto the motorway.

2 hours from Brussels, our beautiful hearse started to overheat. Kieran kept his hopes up insisting that it would be fine if the thermostat was taken out of the engine to make it run alot colder. However, the head gasket blew anyway much to our dismay.

It is all part and parcel though of such a challenge and this always happens to some of the cars that enter. our team (4 cars) pulled over with us. we left the hearse on the hard shoulder, removed the stickers and contacted both the emergency services and the organisers of the event and the car was picked up. weve yet to foot the pending bill!

ray and i went in one car and scott and kieran in another. what a shame. kieran was in high hopes of buying another car further east in europe.

the journey took us 10 hours due to the change of location and avoiding Germany. We crossed through Belgium, Luxemburg and into France. it was great to spend time with the other people in our team in their cars. its all part of the Dumball spirit helping us out the way they did.

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