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London To Cape Town 2010

Mac Mackenney - Leader

Mac Mackenney
At 19 Mac joined the British Army as a helicopter technician, specialising in Arctic Warfare as part of a rapid-deployment unit. Exercises in northern Norway and eastern Turkey gave him his first taste of extreme environments.

Always wanting to be an RAF pilot, but failing the initial medical with suspected heart disease when applying at 17, he was re-tested at 20 and given the all-clear. A 2 1/2 year battle to get himself released from his Army contract saw him join the RAF just after his 24th birthday. 2 years of training followed, but Defence cuts of the early 90's meant that the goal-posts had moved. If not good enough to make the grade as a single-seat fast jet pilot, there were no other options to fly helicopters or transport aircraft. Mac was offered a ground job, but this was never going to do, it was always 'pilot or nothing' as far as he was concerned.

Having longed to be a military pilot for 20 years, Mac wasn't going to rush into the first job he could find, so opted to travel the world. He joined Dragoman Overland, an adventure travel company, as an expedition leader and mechanic, where he spent 6 months touring Africa. It was fun, but lacked any real sense of adventure and challenge.

Returning to the UK, he applied to participate in the arduous Camel Trophy competition, sponsored by Land Rover and from 10,000 hopefuls, represented the UK at the international selections in Spain. He finally had found his new passion in life - adventure motoring.

Mac Mackenney 4
He started work as a freelance off-road driving instructor and was soon discovered by the renowned explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Following a gruelling selection process, Mac was chosen to join an elite 7-man team in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe by amphibious Land Rover, to celebrate the company's 50th year. The most demanding part of the expedition would be crossing the Bering Strait, so the team spent 10 weeks on the edge of the Alaskan peninsula, just 55 miles from the Russian mainland, where they tested their equipment to the limit.

Budgets within Land Rover were cut and this meant an end to the planned expedition, but Mac's abilities had caught the eye of both Ranulph Fiennes and Land Rover. He was soon appointed Ran's right-hand man for his forthcoming North Pole expedition and was taken on as an expedition consultant to Land Rover. Vehicle expeditions to the former Soviet country of Georgia, three long-distance driving records, a humanitarian mission to Albania during the Kosovan war, testing new clothing and launching new vehicles all followed.

In 2003, Mac decided to swing his efforts towards a more environmental cause, using Land Rovers to access areas difficult to reach in order to clear abandoned cars and other waste. Although an outstanding success and in great demand, sponsorship support was not forthcoming, so the project was reluctantly put on hold. Maybe Mac was ahead of his time?

An expedition across the Sahara in an MOT failed Rover 200 saloon car returned Mac to his true passion of adventure motoring, in whatever form. He was called to Canada and the US where he worked launching new cars with one of his idols, Garry Sowerby, holder of three long-distance driving records, including the world circumnavigation record.

Mac Mackenney 3
In 2006 he was dragged away from motoring to help a team of doctors wanting to climb Everest while undertaking medical studies on themselves and over 200 volunteers trekking to Base Camp. It was the largest ever medical research expedition at high altitude and one of the largest ever expeditions to the mountain, involving over 400 people and 120,000 items of equipment in 1,000 containers, each one having to reach it's correct destination at one of 7 pre-designated camps between Kathmandu and the summit.

Through acting as a consultant to the Royal Geographical Society, he was contracted to work for the London 2012 Olympics. Their plan was to drive a double-decker bus from London to Beijing as part of the closing ceremony.

Mac has visited 60 countries, driven across continents, across deserts, over mountains and in the Arctic. His next challenge to lead a team in an attempt at the London to Cape Town endurance driving record is a culmination of a lifetime of adventure.

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Expedition Progress::

Blogs

Blogs by Mac Mackenney

Nairobi city, congested with traffic.
1st Jul 2011    Mac Mackenney
An apology to Tony in Nairobi.

I've finally completed the last article about our record-breaking drive from London to Cape Town.
TRF002
24th Jun 2011    Mac Mackenney
Mac and his Big Banger!

A weekend off-road motorcycling in Devon makes the pages of Trail magazine.
Wolseley 18/85 in Cape Town
9th Nov 2010    Mac Mackenney
Piecing Together History

I'm keen to hear from anyone who knows about the previous London to Cape Town driving records.
Ethiopia - 1500
8th Nov 2010    Mac Mackenney
Gossip 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?!
IMGP1618
5th Nov 2010    Mac Mackenney
Heading Home

The joy of vehicles compared to airliners - discuss.
Team with Defence Attache South Africa
3rd Nov 2010    Mac Mackenney
The 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.
IMG_1232
2nd Nov 2010    Mac Mackenney
Unaccustomed 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
IMG_1207
1st Nov 2010    Mac Mackenney
It 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.
Atmosphere-MaxAdventure-OverlandWorldRecord-28102010-MW007
30th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Mac'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.
IMG_1232
28th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Mac'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.
Tunduma Border between Tanzania and Zambia closed - 3 in back of Landy for night
26th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Mac'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.
Kenyan border welcome.
25th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Frustration

2 messages

After dropping off our two Police guards yesterday morning in Isiolo, we made great progress driving to Nairobi.
Mac blogging in Sudan
25th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Darkest Africa

11 messages

Yesterday was filled with a variety of emotion - worry, elation and then frustration, all in just a few hours.
Mac on 22nd - someone has stolen his hair while he was on a sleeping shift.
23rd Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Road Sense

20 messages

We're currently racing down a narrow and twisty road, packed with people, cars, trucks, goats and cows!
Countering the bio-hazard.
A pair of dangly, fragrant union-jack dice. They will have their work cut out after a few days of living in the vehicle.
22nd Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Africa Hits Back

9 messages

Fun, games and rule changes getting into Ethiopia
And modelling this season's 'Intrepid Explorer Range'.
20th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Mac Hits Africa

4 messages

The elation of entering Saudi Arabia soon turned to nervousness about our ferry passage to Sudan
Anyone for a game of 'I Spy'?
19th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Stiff 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.
Poweeerrr!
19th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Through 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!
The moment of truth.
The team pull away from the RAC Club in Pall Mall.
17th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
We 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.
Boarding Eurotunnel
16th Oct 2010    Mac Mackenney
Finally, 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!
Musbury School
5th May 2010    Mac Mackenney
Inspirational Talk to Kids

Mac visited a Devon primary school to talk about his adventures
'Sergeant Major' Steve Holland
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!
Left hand drive Discovery 2 Td5
8th Apr 2010    Mac Mackenney
The 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!
Helping a Ukranian at Calais Port
6th Apr 2010    Mac Mackenney
Land Rover World offer to Help

I had an email from the Editor of Land Rover World magazine today with an offer to help us .
Outdoor Show at the NEC - 26 Mar 2010
26th Mar 2010    Mac Mackenney
New sponsors at the Outdoor Show?

The 'Sergeant Major' and I attended the Outdoor Show looking for new sponsors.
Loctite Demo 01
23rd Mar 2010    Mac Mackenney
How Strong?!

Loctite Glue - I have never seen glue as strong as this before, it was absolutely amazing.
Aftermath: Emergency workers examine the wreck of the car
8th Mar 2010    Mac Mackenney
Max Adventure Patrons hurt

Both Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Stirling Moss injured on the same day
BBC Radio Oxford
26th Feb 2010    Mac Mackenney
Time of My Life

1 message

Picking 8 songs that have real meaning in my life is harder than I thought!
Return ferry
19th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
The 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
photo2
18th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
Am I dead?!

I come to. As I prise my weary eyes open I can see nothing, hear nothing and feel nothing.
Mac chuffed to have made it to the top of the pass
14th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
What a pratt!

1 message

Had I had more time to plan I would have remembered that Austria was to be visited after Liechtenstein.
Jim Allen completes final checks
13th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
Rain 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.
Stenaline Denmark to Oslo ferry
11th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
A 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.
Stenaline ferry loading
10th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
From Reading to Oslo

The drive to Harwich for the ferry across to Holland was relaxing and uncomplicated.
Stenaline Denmark to Oslo ferry
9th Oct 2009    Mac Mackenney
We'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.
Eric Jackson
13th Jul 2009    Mac Mackenney
Top Bloke

Will and I drove up to meet with Eric Jackson, the current record holder for the London to Cape Town run.
Stirling Moss
20th Jun 2009    Mac Mackenney
What 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'.
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