A RISKY MOTOR TRIP

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5289, 30 December 1946, Page 3

A RISKY MOTOR TRIP

TO SEEK TO DRIVE FROM LONDON TO CAPE On the 11,000-mile land route to South Africa, the motorist must expect many hazards. Wild animals, disease, floods and drought are a few. Yet dozens of people, frustrated by the long wait for shipping herths, want to drive* from London to Capetown. Mere than 70 have asked the Automobile Association for help. Many have jobs waiting for them, but there are 20,000 in the queue for l'iners. But even if the motorist gsts as far as North Africa, here are some reasona, listed by the A.A., why he should not go any farther: — 1. — On the Western route across the Sahara and on the Eastern route between Khartoum and Juha, in the Sudan, roads are virtually non-exist-ent, and the motorist must find his way by compass over sandy, rockstrewn wastes in temperatures which at certain seasons are among the highest recorded anywhere. On either route a minimum of two vehicles is stxc/ngly xecommended, prei'erably more, to cover the risk of breakdown in uninhabited country. 2. — Supplies of food, petrol, water and spare parts are unobtainable in many territories. 3. — Large and powerful cars with big tyres are essential. 4. — Much speeial equipment must bc- carried, including extra petrol and water tanks and medical supplies, in case floods hold up the car, perhaps ior months. So the A.A. does nct recommend individual motorists to tackle the trip.