Express & Star

Vast and curious Black Country pair nearing Siberia

Two Black Country lads are just a week out from completing their 10,000-mile charity challenge - provided their vehicle can make it that far.

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Tom Reynolds, originally from Finchfield, and Tom Cambidge, from Codsall, are driving a 1989 Bedford Rascal from London to Siberia as part of the annual Mongol Rally.

The 970cc Rascal has already had to pay a visit to a Russian mechanic after its tyres blew out, and now it needs a new carburettor.

The Vast and the Curious team vehicle.

Describing it as the toughest day so far, they updated their Vast & Curious Facebook page saying: "Within an hour of waking and driving, like a Channel 5 digital TV viewer during a freak storm, we appeared to have completely lost 5th gear from out of nowhere.

"Maxing out at a new, depressing low of 48mph, we have gradually lost speed all day, whilst still attempting to drive 400 miles of straight Russian 'roads'."

The work will put them out by two days, they say, with more than 6,000 miles already behind them after departing London on July 19.

They say: "Team 'Vast and Curious': 600 miles from the Mongolian border in a child-sized caravan powered by hope alone."

They are now in Novosibirsk, and are aiming to complete the challenge within four weeks - passing through France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia during their trip.

The pair are hoping to drive the 10,000 miles and raise £10,000 for male cancer charity Orchid - £1 for every mile - and have so far raised almost £4,000.

More information on the challenge and how to donate can be found at www.justgiving.com/vastcurious

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