Clearly heading off on the track less travelled in a single ropey MOT failure is always going to involve running some pretty long odds, and the info on the HUBB about that direct route (which is also covered in another thread - search nema), suggests that it should probably be left to those who are going to undertake some serious prep. Which, if you are a true Banger Racer you probably won't be
On the plus side, perhaps the best thing about the banger rally is the snub to big bucks desert travel snobbery and simply relying on friends and the law of averages. Which, as anyone who runs bangers on a daily basis will know, means that it is always good to have more than one. I assmue therefore that you won't be travelling on your own (at least try not to), and that one of the other routes should be do-able with a group of bangers and some dirty hard work. I've read a few personal websites and blogs from groups detouring from the official route to go via Tombouctou in Transit Vans, VW Passats, Volvo Estates, Vauxhaul Fronteras and other cube dodgers, with reasonable success rates (find the links on the official website). Clearly some don't make it, cracked sumps and blown engines are two I read, but if there are four or five other vehicles in your group you won't end up walking. You will probably have no trouble finding people who want to have a bash. If you are in a regular car a sump guard is probably worth the effort, although most make it without I have read of tree stumps, rocks and crushed rads from nose diving all finishing off bangers. Nothing fancy, just a good stong bar from chassis to below the rad and some 8mm ali chequer to cover the vulnerable bits. I've also beefed the springs a little bit and gone for max tyre size.

What are you taking and when are you heading out?
We are leaving Uk 14th Dec taking our old Merc 300D and will be going via Tombouctou then selling it in either Bamko or Ouaga.


Good luck mate, just have fun.

James.