Some inspiration from Penelope Pitstop

It's probably too late to get our Constance looking anything like Penelope Pitstop's Compact Pussycat (yes, that is what it's called).

The Compact Pussycat at Goodwood (from here).

But potentially not too late to source the costumes..?!

Cougar Penelope

Hmmmm..

Proudly SAfrican

Car flags and mirror covers are SO 2010 - if we’re going to use lovely Constance the Conquest to show off our national pride we’d like something a bit more like this.. Possibly with a Zimbabwe bird somewhere to keep Norms happy.

Piccie from here

And so the quest for an epic branding company begins..

Fursday Thursday - Insider Tips Anyone?

Now that I've realised we actually need to start thinking seriously about the rally and what we need I've started thinking about Constance and how to make her habitable for the course of 17 days! She not being very big, us not being very good at packing light we're going to have to plan how we pack our car with military precision and if Pimp My Ride can deck out cars to be entertainment systems and party vans with margarita makers, TV screens, garbage disposal units and mood lighting then I think with a few minor adjustments we could make Connie a real home-away-from-home, for the duration of the rally at least.

Basic must haves that I can think of so far are...(this list is far from exhaustive - any ideas anyone?):

1) Collection of plastic bags for rubbish. Luckily, I can fold plastic bags into neat little triangles so we can have loads of these.
2) Cooler box spot. I think this is integral to a pleasant journey in general. If we can make the cooler box part of the decor then I think we'll have not only a source for our treats (read gin) but potentially also, a table, head rest, seat for George Monkey, deadly weapon....
3) Map Spot. We need to make a little home for the map which is nice and easily accesible. Being lost is stressful, being lost and not able to find the map because someone's sitting on it or thrown out is the stuff of angry words, and no one wants that.
4) Home for loo roll. In an earlier post I made mention of peeing in the wild and how, to add a modicum of decency to an otherwise fairly distressing endeavour, a little bit of loo roll goes a long way. If we can create some sort of structure, perhaps connected to the cooler box, which would hold our loo roll out of the way but within reach at all times we'll be both happier and less likely to discover we've stood on our last bit of loo roll and there's another 10 hours to civilisation. Perhaps this structure might also be able to support other things. If we're really clever we could attach a line to it and create some sort of washing line perhapsd, or a pulley system for moving our sweets from driver to back seat without any over-arm stretching...or am I going too far now.
5) Actually, maybe this is too far, although how awesome would this be:

Any other top tips anyone?

Fursday Thursday - It's what's inside that counts

We're going to be in the car alot. Indeed, just getting from Checkpoint A to Checkpoint B sees us covering 1700kms which is at least 17 hours based on a speed, which in Africa, is probably unlikely and it'll be more like 30 hours. With this in mind then, our Fursdays shouldn't have been so much about the exterior of the car, but the interior instead. I know Robs wasn't happy with covering Connie in fur but perhaps she wouldn't mind a kitty steering wheel?

Or perhaps we should be trying to fit in with our surroundings more. Zebra anyone?

Although I can't deny that I am hugely drawn to this. Is it the colour, is it the fabric, is it the ludicrousness of it? Perhaps it's the way all those three combine to give you the wonder that is:

It's probably sweat inducing and itchy as anything but you've got to suffer for that sort of glory!

These are but a few of the awesome interiors that oddee has found. For the full selection, and I'd say it's worth a little two minute break, click here.

Fursday Thursday - Autopotamus, Ducktern & Toddler Terror

Every time I think we may have exhausted the possiblities for epically covered cars I find a new website, filled to overflowing, with cars in crazy designs and outlandish forms. This week, Amazing Data takes the cake with an incredible range of cars and floats.

This being a blog about going about Africa first up are the autopotamuses. There's a boy and a girl!

Next up is this delight which I think could be used not only as automobile but also as living space. See how nicely lit-up it is. It even appears spacious. I really think we could be on to something here. Maybe not the best camoflauge but somethings have to be sacrificed....

But perhaps my favourite is this one. I know it's absolutely not suitable for the rally but I've got to give a shout out to the parents that gave this to their toddler. How epic are they?

These are but a teensy, tiny glimpse of the awesomeness that Amazing Data contains. Other favourites, which can be seen here, are the giant open mouth, the dragon, some sort of giant insect, and the bubble car - to name but a few!

Fursday: No, we are not furries.

In the hunt for fur-car inspiration I’ve found myself coming across the fairly disturbing trend of furries. We’re all for freedom of choice but personally we prefer to keep the worlds of bodily fluids and synthetic fur far far apart. God agrees, apparently. 

We won’t deny that Robs does enjoy fur-based Halloween attire from time to time..

And yes, this anthropomorphic character does bear a striking resemblance to Laura..

But no, we are not furries.

Fursday: It's a jungle out there..

Fur wasn’t quite enough for these hippies at Burning Man who made this elephant art car - not sure the structure would survive 7000 km’s and Zambian potholes though..?

From here

Imagine the reactions you’d get from border officials with this psychedelic rhino wonder



From here



And then there’s this.. which even comes with camping chairs! and what may or not be a leopard print covered cooler box.

From here

Fursday Thursday - Pretty In Pink

I know it's a little while till Valentine's Day but I can't deny that this year the endless hearts and swathes of red and pink EVERYWHERE I LOOK is trying on my nerves. It doesn't help that part of my job is to try and get people to buy things and Valentine's Day is a really wonderfully wicked marketing tool. Just today I've set up two offers and sent out an email about Valentine's Day while a large portion of yesterday I googled images of " loved-up couples at a theatre" - kill me now. And yes, I know this sounds a bit like bitterness, oops.

All this being said, I can't not honour the rolling in of Valentine's Day with our very own Penny Puts Foot Fursday Thursday delight.

At least I'm not trying to sell you anything, yet....

The year of living dangerously!

For our first Fursday of the year we’ve found something a little different from your run-of-the-mill, garden variety animal print. Nothing says badass like “I-just-killed-this-python-with-my-bare-hands-and-used-the-skin-to-cover-my-hatchback”. Here’s to 2012 – the year of living dangerously!

Pics found here

Happy Fursday folks!

Meeeeooooowww! I’d love to see the cougar that drives this beauty..

Business on the outside, party on the inside?

It’s a long weekend for those of us who are in SA, rave safe ya’ll :)

Thursday Furday

Some fur inspiration from the 2011 Mongol rally..

Hmmmmm... Mongol rally 2013 perhaps?