Guidelines
RULES
Not really rules to live by, but certainly ones you should take into consideration; and a couple that are a must:
1. JUST YOU AND YOUR TEAM
That's right. This is your adventure and while we will do everything we can to help you plan your journey we will not be there to hold your hand every step of the way. This means if you break down, you fix it, or find someone else to. If you get yourself into a jam, you get yourself out. This is very important, as this trek is not for the faint of heart.
Upon sign up every member of your team will be required to sign our company's Trek waiver so you're not coming back to sue us for every penny we don't make because you spilled a hot coffee on yourself.
2. US$2000 CASH FOR CHARITY
This is the second and only other rule. Your team MUST raise the US$2000 by July 1st, 2010. It should be easy enough though, especially with our advice and support. You can rest assured that the buckets of cash you raise will be put to good use by the charities.
That's it - not so painful really! Just the two simple rules; everything else is up to you.
MOTORS
The more inventive the better; though we would recommend against taking a Trabant unless you have a few months to kill.
Un-Restrictive
World Cup Trek places no restrictions on the vehicle you choose - save for one. If you plan to take our suggested route it has to be a left-hand drive. Blame it on the Cameroon government not us! This should really only hinder the lovely lads and ladies residing in the cloudy isle of Britain, but even there it isn't hard to find that dreaded leftie.
Whether it's a Fiat Punto, an ancient Skoda, a golf cart, Vespa or double-decker bus.... the choice is yours. The worse the car the better! What's the fun or the challenge in driving a Land Rover or Hummer? Plus, in these tough economic times better to keep it cheap. In a pinch a 125cc scooter with a homemade sidecar would easily do the trick, or perhaps an old ice cream truck to keep your beverages cold through the Sahara.
Preparations
While we like our participants as under-prepared as possible (disaster stories are always the best stories) we would tell you to consider customizing your vehicle to suit your team. Whether this means shag carpeting all the way around or a giant pink flamingo adorning the roof it's your decision. Naturally, the colors of your national team will camouflage you in the jungle and the desert. So it might be worth stocking up on a few flags and t-shirts while getting support from your own National Football Association.
It might be worth bringing a spare tire or two; elephant droppings will do some serious damage from what we have heard. A wrench, screwdriver or other random tool may help with breakdowns. Pushing a car for miles is never fun and does not make a good story so do remember a gas can or two, preferably filled with petrol. Just remember that wild hand signals might get you to the nearest garage for a fix, or incite a wild pack of hyenas to descend on your well-packed lunches.
Eco-Friendly
We acknowledge that having hundreds of teams meandering across an entire continent does not exactly help to ease Global Warming. So we have decided to pay for a carbon offset for your entire trip. This means that all the pollution you spew into the air will be rendered neutral. It is one more reason we urge you to avoid taking a Hummer; plus who wants to pay for the gas in such an eco-hostile beast?
Donate your wreck
We are currently working with the South African Government to allow you to donate your car, which will either go directly to the charity or be auctioned off (sorry but this does not count towards your individual charity goal).