Team Blogs
1st Jul 2011 
Mac MackenneyAn apology to Tony in Nairobi.
I’ve finally completed the last article about our record-breaking drive from London to Cape Town.
24th Jun 2011 Mac MackenneyMac and his Big Banger!
A weekend off-road motorcycling in Devon makes the pages of Trail magazine.
9th Nov 2010 Mac MackenneyPiecing Together History
I'm keen to hear from anyone who knows about the previous London to Cape Town driving records.
8th Nov 2010 Mac MackenneyGossip on the internet!
I've had great fun reading all the gossip on the internet - apparently the vehicle fell apart and we 'dicked' around too much at the borders - really?!
3rd Nov 2010 Mac MackenneyThe Art of Travel
Some art I can get, others just don’t do it for me, but the one piece that I really liked was a solid stone ‘map’ of Africa with a chess board built into it.
2nd Nov 2010 Mac MackenneyUnaccustomed as I am to Public Speaking....
2 messages
It's almost midnight and Chris and I have just come back from the McCarthy Land Rover dealership on the outskirts of Cape Town
1st Nov 2010 Mac MackenneyIt could have easily gone so wrong...
Now that the hectic planning for this trip is over, with time to relax and reflect on what we've achieved.
30th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyMac's Blog - Cape Town Part 2
2 messages
The reception when we arrived was amazing and we didn’t stop for the whole day, being ushered from one interview and reception to another.
28th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyMac's Blog - Arrival in Cape Town
I can’t believe that we are actually here, it still hasn’t sunk in yet. Looking at a map of Africa makes it even more unbelievable.
28th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsWelcome to Cape Town
In the nav seat for the final countdown, through the mountains bordering the famous city with the sun in our faces.
28th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsThe Final Frontier
29 messages
Sorry, I am a bit delirious at the moment. I woke from a deep, sweaty sleep. Wanting to put my head back down and drift off again.
28th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneyThe Lorry
7 messages
As we drove down the road at 0200hrs me and Chris were quite happily going along when "QUICK BRAKE!" was screamed.
27th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsChris' Blog Botswana
16 messages
A quick kip and back to driving at 3am. I was on autopilot for the first 10 mins, not able to shake off the sleep for a long while.
26th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyMac's blog - Zambian Border
10 messages
The youths following us closed in tighter as we marched passed everyone and towards a darkened door that seemed to lead down into a cellar.
26th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsChris' Blog Zambia
4 messages
The friendly smiles meant no harm, they were just curious to see our magnificent Landy parked up at their border.
26th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneyPants, dumplings and spotted dick
7 messages
The trip so far from London to Cape Town well all I can say is boy it’s a long way and if you ever decide to do the journey I suggest you take more than 1 pair of pants.
26th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsChris' Blog Tanzania
6 messages
It was pouring with rain, the type that gets you wet quickly. The temperature had dropped and we were tired. Now the misery of a closed border in our faces.
26th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsEast African Highway - Moyale to Nairobi
3 messages
It wasn't long before the excitement began, Adam the front seated guard shouted to stop. Both Guards jumped out, cocking their weapons as they went.
25th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsChris' Kenyan Border Blog
3 messages
The Ethiopian and Kenyan boarders were tackled with military precision.
25th Oct 2010 Steve Mackenneytoday i have learnt to do puntuation...
5 messages
tommorrow i will learn speling
25th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyFrustration
2 messages
After dropping off our two Police guards yesterday morning in Isiolo, we made great progress driving to Nairobi.
25th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyDarkest Africa
11 messages
Yesterday was filled with a variety of emotion - worry, elation and then frustration, all in just a few hours.
24th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneyThe Smell of Africa
14 messages
Been a bit busy driving and looking after the other two but got moaned at, as I always do.
23rd Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsHigh Lights and Highlands
8 messages
Finally through the Ethiopian customs and much relieved
23rd Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyRoad Sense
20 messages
We're currently racing down a narrow and twisty road, packed with people, cars, trucks, goats and cows!
22nd Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyAfrica Hits Back
9 messages
Fun, games and rule changes getting into Ethiopia
22nd Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsGallabat - Early O'Clock.
15 messages
Waking up clammy, dry mouthed and unaware of where I was, it took me a few minutes to get my bearings
21st Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsA slow boat to Sudan
7 messages
My chance to sleep in a full length comfortable bed and I'm wide awake listening to Steve tossing and turning in the bunk above.
20th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyMac Hits Africa
4 messages
The elation of entering Saudi Arabia soon turned to nervousness about our ferry passage to Sudan
20th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneyOur Cultural Ambassador Speaks
1 message
Today I ate my first malaria tablet yum yum - apart from the chronic pain in my guts and wanting to throw up
20th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsJeddah nights
We were elated to get into Saudi with relative ease. Mac was so overwhelmed that he even splashed out on a bottle of coke for us each.
19th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyStiff Upper Lip Wobbles
17 messages
Ok, I'll admit it, I did have a little grizzle in the back of the land rover as we drove out of the Halat Ammar border crossing.
19th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneyHow much fun can you have with cats-eyes?
6 messages
Not a good day. Got a bit dehydrated ....
19th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
6 messages
Another awesome day. I really feel the adventure now as we left Europe behind and into Arabia.
19th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyThrough Syria and into Jordan
14 messages
Yes, it was only yesterday, but I’m having real trouble remembering what happened and which country I was in!
18th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsMoose avoidance manoeuvre?
4 messages
I woke with a start, the car being thrown up and around, the suspension banging and clattering and the driver and nav bickering in the front.
18th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsTick Europe off the 'To Do' List.
3 messages
Latest news - 09:30 Monday 18 We've entered Turkey and making good speed towards Istanbul and continent number two
18th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneySteve's Blog – 17/18 Oct
5 messages
Quite surprised I don’t feel more tired, having only had no more than 4 hours kip in the last 24 hours.
17th Oct 2010 Chris RawlingsChris' first blog
10 messages
Time to reflect as I take to the nav seat for the first time and Dawn is breaking.
17th Oct 2010 Steve MackenneySteve's first blog
6 messages
Quite nice to have a few people to say goodbye at the start point, however I did feel we hung around too long. Wanted to get going.
17th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyWe seem to have settled down into a routine
7 messages
The whole key to our approach in order to try and beat this record is to just keep moving.
16th Oct 2010 Mac MackenneyFinally, we're on our way!
2 messages
So, this is it. 15 years thinking about it, 2 years planning it and we are finally on our way!
5th May 2010 Mac MackenneyInspirational Talk to Kids
Mac visited a Devon primary school to talk about his adventures
26th Apr 2010 Mac Mackenney...as long as he’s not too scary!”
'Sergeant Major' Steve Holland to join Bus to Bollywood team on one condition!
8th Apr 2010 Mac MackenneyThe Elusive Left Hand Drive
1 message
Expedition progress is going well, but what we don’t yet have is the elusive second left hand drive Land Rover!
6th Apr 2010 Mac MackenneyLand Rover World offer to Help
I had an email from the Editor of Land Rover World magazine today with an offer to help us .
1st Apr 2010 Steve MackenneyFaults worth knowing about
1 message
After our day with the Army I found out what were the most likley faults on the Discovery Td5.
28th Mar 2010 Chris RawlingsBDR on my new Land Rover..maybe!
I wasn't sure what to expect of the day really, or what the Army would think of us and our expedition.
28th Mar 2010 Steve MackenneyTV Chef keen to help
I had a chat with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Wednesday and he said he's keen to help.
26th Mar 2010 Mac MackenneyNew sponsors at the Outdoor Show?
The 'Sergeant Major' and I attended the Outdoor Show looking for new sponsors.
25th Mar 2010 Steve MackenneyGood to be on the team
I really enjoyed the day with the Army Vehicle Mechanics and learned loads of useful things that we will probably need on the trip to Cape Town.
23rd Mar 2010 Mac MackenneyHow Strong?!
Loctite Glue - I have never seen glue as strong as this before, it was absolutely amazing.
22nd Mar 2010 Jim AllenThe tricks, the tools and a very can do practical approach.
We started the day with tea and cakes, so I knew we were onto a winner!
22nd Mar 2010 Jack BurnfordLuckily I'm not there to fix engines!
Turning up late in an un-ironed shirt to meet the guys at REME for the BDR course probably didn't get me off to the best start!
8th Mar 2010 Mac MackenneyMax Adventure Patrons hurt
Both Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Stirling Moss injured on the same day
26th Feb 2010 Mac MackenneyTime of My Life
1 message
Picking 8 songs that have real meaning in my life is harder than I thought!
20th Oct 2009 Jim AllenGoing home courtesy of P&O
On the P&O ferry on the way home – Bilbao to Portsmouth.
19th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyThe final leg of the 'Moss Marathon' is underway.
2 messages
At precisely 12:30 the P&O ferry 'Pride of Bilbao' smoothly steamed out of Bilbao port on its way to Portsmouth
18th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyAm I dead?!
I come to. As I prise my weary eyes open I can see nothing, hear nothing and feel nothing.
18th Oct 2009 Jack BurnfordHeading north again
We've just crossed the border from Portugal to Spain heading north. It's the same border we were at a couple of days ago, the finish line.
17th Oct 2009 Jim AllenA true honour
With sore heads we set off to meet our Patron, Sir Stirling Moss.
16th Oct 2009 Jim AllenWe've Arrived
The guys woke me up just before the border to say that we had made it in time.
15th Oct 2009 Jim AllenSweeping roads and big boats.
Will really loved the drive south to the French coast, with its beautiful Italian sweeping roads that we had to ourselves and ideal for his powerful motorbike.
15th Oct 2009 Andy GrievesChemical warfare!
2 messages
Apart from the almost continuous noxious gas emanating from Chris' anus, things are going OK in the car
14th Oct 2009 Jim AllenWhere the flippen eck is Lichtenstein?!
We eventually found Lichtenstein on a bridge! There was no border post and barely even a ‘Welcome to Lichtenstein’ sign.
14th Oct 2009 Andy GrievesAndy's first blog
2 messages
Merely ten days after my 31st birthday, I had touched down in Oslo, Norway.
14th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyWhat a pratt!
1 message
Had I had more time to plan I would have remembered that Austria was to be visited after Liechtenstein.
14th Oct 2009 Chris RawlingsBoy's Own adventures
The hairpin bends tightened and I remembered boyhood films of our man Stirling rallying up and down roads just like this.
13th Oct 2009 Jim AllenNo tea...No trip...I'm going home!
Disaster. After a good sleep, I awoke to find that the other guys had destroyed my kettle.
13th Oct 2009 Chris RawlingsNavigation nightmares!
It was all very exciting meting up at the airport, being picked up in the two white Land Rovers looking the part. There was a real team identity.
13th Oct 2009 Jack Burnford14 hours on the road
1 message
14 hours on the road:- 4 hours navigating with Jim at the wheel. 2 and a bit hours driving, then 8 hours sleep!
13th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyRain and roadworks
Our drive to Cape Town will be hard though and so if we are to succeed and more importantly keep it safe, we must start to train together.
13th Oct 2009 Will CloughPush on through 'til dawn
2 messages
As usual, pushed my brinkmanship to the limit and made the flight out to Norway by a very reasonable 1½ minutes to lockdown
12th Oct 2009 Jim AllenThe Start
We were looking through the maps, when a local Norwegian gent came over to see what we were up to.
11th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyA cold night
1 message
I didn’t sleep well last night, I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed and retrieve a second sleeping bag.
11th Oct 2009 Jim AllenGood roads, no traffic and a starry night!
After the road works and bad weather of Germany, Denmark was a dream
10th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyFrom Reading to Oslo
The drive to Harwich for the ferry across to Holland was relaxing and uncomplicated.
10th Oct 2009 Jim AllenOn the road at last
1 message
Mac and I are positioning the Land Rovers over the next fews days to Oslo
9th Oct 2009 Will CloughRadio BBC Suffolk - Lesley Dolphin
Yesterday saw the TV Producer......on radio! And most enjoyable it was too.
9th Oct 2009 Mac MackenneyWe'refinally off!
It’s not how I wanted it to be, all rushed, packing in disarray, unsure as to whether I had remembered everything and generally an air of chaos about the whole thing.
8th Oct 2009 Jack BurnfordHands on medical training
When Andy mentioned going on a medical course I had visions of sitting in a large, 18 century lecture room, overlooking an operating table many floors down like a scene out of Frankenstein.
2nd Sep 2009 Jack BurnfordWelcome aboard Jack
The first I knew of this expedition was when I got a call from Will saying he was going to be driving to South Africa in record time and was I interested?
3rd Aug 2009 Andy GrievesAndy hones driving skills in Africa
For the serious adventure overlander, I guess this is the ultimate challenge.
13th Jul 2009 Mac MackenneyTop Bloke
Will and I drove up to meet with Eric Jackson, the current record holder for the London to Cape Town run.
12th Jul 2009 Will CloughEric - you're an inspiration
Mac had found the original record holder – Eric Jackson, and he sounded like a real boys own hero!
26th Jun 2009 Chris RawlingsA huge challenge
This was the first time I met the London to Cape Town team Mac had selected.
22nd Jun 2009 Will CloughTough, but exciting
"Does that refer to me, or the London to Cape Town record attempt?"
20th Jun 2009 Mac MackenneyWhat an Honour
I was outside, under the bonnet of one of my Land Rovers when the postman turned up with a smart looking letter. On the back were clearly marked the initials 'SM'.
Past expeditions
(Showing 4 of 8) show all >
Bus to Bollywood
September 2011
London bus drivers will drive a red double-decker from London to Mumbai, India across central Asia and the Himalayas, in support of charity.
September 2011London bus drivers will drive a red double-decker from London to Mumbai, India across central Asia and the Himalayas, in support of charity.
London to Cape Town in record time!
October 2010
London to Cape Town - 10,000 miles, 20 countries in under 13 days 8 hrs 48 mins!
October 2010London to Cape Town - 10,000 miles, 20 countries in under 13 days 8 hrs 48 mins!
Oslo to Lisbon 2009 - "The Moss Marathon"
October 2009
The Max Adventure team are to recreate a historic drive by Stirling Moss as part of their ‘warm-up’ training to the London to Cape Town run.
October 2009The Max Adventure team are to recreate a historic drive by Stirling Moss as part of their ‘warm-up’ training to the London to Cape Town run.
Ranulph Fiennes' EXEL North Pole
February 2000
Mac Mackenney was appointed Sir Ranulph Fiennes 'Right-Hand Man' on his attempt at the North Pole.
February 2000Mac Mackenney was appointed Sir Ranulph Fiennes 'Right-Hand Man' on his attempt at the North Pole.