History

How Clemo Met Julian

Crap Car Svengali Julian Nowill created the first banger challenge in 2002 and his career as a stockbroker was simply a cover for his love for all things Soviet. He took multiple Ladas on the challenges. In 2003/4 Lada Niva owner Dakar Dave Clemo Clement was sitting in the cafe Sunday morning nursing a hangover and saw the Dakar Challenge in Nuts magazine and thought he would take part in that. He then scoured his (then very fashionable) Filofax and sent out messages on his pager to all friends to find a team mate. With only one reply it was game on (Thank you Mark Austin) He converted his woefully inappropriate ford transit van into a mobile rooftop decked bar which turned to a very heavy ice block through the Atlas mountain sections but gave delightful roof top dining in the desert. And from this day onwards his love of driving the world ignited.

What Clemo did next

He then went back to run the Dakar challenge in 2004/5 and the Tashkent rally. From here he continued to come up with other yearly daft plans. Including The Northern lights challenge, My house to Monaco ,The Grecian 3000 all in cars. Then a switch to mopeds to host – the top gear Vietnam challenge, the Cambodia challenge, The Laos Challenge, The ho chi min Trail tour, Myanmar on motocrossers Then a switch up to 3 wheels for the Tuk Tuk challenge of Sri Lanka and finally with a serendipity moment and blessing of Julian and Hilary. He was most honoured to take the reins and now runs the Dakar challenge. All of the above would not have been possible or even a though If he hadn’t have taken part in the initial Dakar challenge and met Julian Nowill all those years ago.

Dakar Challenge 2026

Wow what a run that was.32 cars 73 people 11 nationalities.  NOW 3 person teams permitted giving more fun, more pushing opportunities and the unintended consequences of more rear suspension failure. However EVERY yes EVERY car made it to the new super orange inflatable finish line in Banjul The Gambia. This is the first time EVER that every car has made it. What an incredible achievement. Is this down to the excellent driving skills of everyone or that old bangers are becoming more reliable? only time will tell. This years Dakar Challenge trophy car was the mighty Fiat 500 that endured everything the desert could throw at it. With a little / lot of help from the most excellent 2026 crew. When the going gets tough we all muck in. Nobody gets left behind. Nightly cheers and celebrations at the Desert BBQ watching all cars park up. Special mention to the Renault Megane convertible team Gamborgini that drove from Latvia in the snow all the way through the baking heat of The Gambia with the roof down.

Fancy being part of the adventure for 2027 in a woefully under powered shopping car ? The challenge awaits you,  

The Sand job 4×4 Challenge 2026

Another superb run taking in the deepest depths of the Mauritanian desert.  Finally got to ride the top of iron ore train into the night. Watching the shooting stars in absolute light pollution free environment is something unique and quite special. The eye of the Sahara was rugged and hard going again. We took a slightly different route this time into what looked like the grand canyon. This year we introduced a B&B every other night to help keep our sanity, though some did camp all the way. I cannot begin to explain the feeling of driving up and down smooth untrodden sand dunes and the peaceful grand emptiness of the desert. Probably going to run this once more in 2027 and then alternate the years between it and the Tuk Tuk Challenge.

Some vehicle drove home others donated in the Gambia. I chose to put my Pajero into a shipping container and sent it home.

Tuk Tuk Challenge 2026

On hold until 2027.

The fuel crisis hits Sri Lanka hard. I was there in 2022 when they booted out the president and he stole all the money. It made the challenge more like the Mad Max tuk tuk challenge as all we did was search for fuel. I could not knowingly take you all on a tour that would be fraught with issues , Starting with the planes being cancelled.

 

 Challenges 2027

Dakar challenge 21 teams signed up at present. Will close it at 30 but generally let another few in as i am not a killjoy.

4×4 need another 4 teams . Closes at 10.

Tuk Tuk in the making.

 

Hope to see you on something fun in the future.

Regards Dakar Dave

 

Dakar Challenge 2025

Going strong! 11 nationalities represented, 38 teams, 82 people.

Well when i say going strong that is unless you were driving a Skoda or a Lexus or a Citreon c15.  Sadly the C15 totally expired in the desert and stayed in Mauritania.. Then the mighty painted cow transit and CRV came to the rescue for the other 2. The Lexus towed from the desert to the final destination of The Gambia. The Skoda put on a low loader from the Zebrabar and sent 700 miles in the wrong direction to the incorrect border crossing. I do advise getting a local sim in every country !. Car eventually found and repatriated to The Gambia. 35 running cars successfully sold at the Dakar Challenge / Rotary club auction, over £50000 raised. We shouldn’t have favourites but ….. The Suzuki Alto . What a car.

Gibraltar film crew on board for the entire duration.

Chaotic Mauritanian E visa now in the pipeline just to add more fun.

In other news. New 4×4 Challenge created!

Complete rip off of the sand job by the old top gear boys . Will probably last a year or 2 depending on take up. Was awesome. 8 4x4s entered. Range rover died daily , Hyundai Terracan limped into Banjul on a tow rope.

We made it to the eye of the Sahara  !!!!!!! ohhhh yes.

Dakar Challenge 2024

 We’re back! Hello world . You are open. Let’s get back to the fun filled adventures that we yearned for. 32 teams can’t be wrong. And off we went. This time with border guards and customs officials pleased to see us. I guess they were missing their little extras but at least they did it with a smile. Shops, restaurants, B&Bs all back to the usually happy welcomes that we had become used to. The Rotary club host a welcome meal and £32000 is raised for good causes via the vehicle auction. 

Dakar Challenge 2023

COVID! Oh blinking heck/ Little did we know what was about to hit but the borders were closing our wings were being clipped , could this last for ever? 4 teams threw caution to the wind and pushed on. The got as far as Morocco and then had to get the last flights out the country back to their respective countries. Cars parked up fully emblazoned with Dakar challenge stickers. We assume they are still there now but don’t really want to ask. 4 teams made it out. 

Dakar Challenge 2021/22

The batton is being handed over. The most amazing human being Julian is taking a back seat for a while. He and the most magnificent Hilary asked me to continue the madness and ethos of the Dakar challenge, something of which i took part in back in the early years as a group leader of has now gone full circle. If your love for travelling the world with like minded people is your thing then please come and join me for your next awesome adventure. 

Dakar Challenge 2018/19

Dahid assumes responsibility for liason within Mauritania.

Dakar Challenge 2017

First Baghdad Basra challenge completed and first push south from Banjul with teams flying home from Sierra Leone, Ghana and beyond.

Dakar Challenge 2016

RHD cars permitted to Gambia for the first time. Runs to Chernobyl twice a year with a max of 14 travellers proving popular.

Dakar Challenge 2015

New routes tested with Mauritania enjoying better security. Terjit oasis and Atar will be added to the runs for 2016 within a one week St Louis Challenge for those who want a full on African experience without the need to drive there. We offer you a car off the finishing line at Nouakchott for you to explore Mauritania with your journey ending in Dakar, Senegal, before flying home. It has taken us 12 years to reach Dakar and we have finally done it!

DAKAR CHALLENGES 2014

Another year of trouble free (relatively) passages to W Africa with the first Nouakchott Challenge being launched, now that Mauritania can accept rally cars which are sold for good causes. This runs at the same time as the runs to Banjul and Bamako. Facebook page prospers with around 1500 likes.

DAKAR CHALLENGES 2013

The 10th anniversary of the worlds longest running banger challenge and great timing as the French sent troops and aircraft to Mali to take out the Islamist rebels in January 2013 just as teams were due to arrive. However this bodes well for future peace in one of Africa’s most lovely spots. I hope that we get a good number of teams in Dec 2013 when Mali may be safer than it has been for years, thanks to French help. The Dakhla challenge is proving popular as teams can now sell their vehicles to Mauritanians at the border before flying home.

DAKAR CHALLENGES 2012

Another trouble free start to the year with teams making it to Mali and the Gambia. We can now source cars for teams from outside Europe on a not for profit basis so they can compete.

DAKAR CHALLENGES 2011

The runs to Mali and Gambia successfully completed in January as did the Morocco run around Easter. One team was arrested for spying on the Murmansk Challenge but released by the Russians. Must remember not to take photos in a military zone! We launched a free of charge run to Petra in Jordan and received a warm welcome in Syria from both government and opposition forces. We were after all, the only tourists. This year saw the re-launch of the website and a new logo but still featuring the much loved Lada Niva.

Plymouth Dakar 2010

The 2010 Challenge was called off after a heightened threat level in Mauritania. However 10 teams decided to do it anyway lead by the maverick Dr Neil Rushden from Devon. All made it without any problems and while Ceri was tempted by an offer of marriage from a tall Mauritanian, she returned a single girl. Easter saw another Dakhla Challenge probe rarely visited corners of Morocco and thanks to the stunning Chris Scott Roadbook, both 2WD and 4WD vehicles were well catered for. The summer saw the launch of the first Murmansk challenge and a heady mix of Reindeer, the Midnight Sun and Russian Nuclear Submarines along with a Lithuanian Country & Western Festival ensured a high level of interest in the 2011 run.

Plymouth Dakar 2009

This year saw the launch of the Dakhla Challenge with a Roadbook penned by Sahara guru Chris Scott. Four French tourists (unrelated to the rally) were murdered on the road to

Mali but most teams pressed on and a small number took the chance to switch to travelling around Morocco.

Plymouth Dakar 2008

2008 about 100 cars to each finishing line. Fewer classics this year although there was a lovely round headlight Lada from Latvia.

Plymouth Dakar 2007

To relieve congestion and as Mali is unbelievably beautiful and friendly, the Bamako run is launched. Entries for Gambia totalled 190 and 27 brave souls started the first run to Bamako. Cars this year included more Trabants, a hearse, London taxis, and a Lincoln Town car limo. Sadly the GMC school bus never made it beyond Dakhla and is still there to this day. A new record high for a vehicle (Land Rover Disco at £4485) and a new low (£107 for a SAAB). £109,000 raised in Gambia and £13,000 in Mali. This year saw the arrival of uber-organisor Sunny Akuopha who handled the Mali end via the Bamako Rotary club. Bamako saw its first Icecream van which dispensed Mr Whippys on the finishing line before going on to Timbuctu.

Plymouth Dakar 2006

Up to 204 vehicles this time. Prices at the charity auction a little lower as Gambia becomes saturated with motoring icons ranging from the Citroen CX (a snip at £295..the cheapest car this year) to the leather luxury of the Rover 800. Highest prices car…a Jeep at £2755. Total raised £138,000 at the charity auction with more by the teams themselves for their own chosen causes.

Plymouth Dakar 2005

A massive 176 vehicles this time. The logistics were creaking badly with border delays and bursting campsites.The international element grew with teams from everywhere from the US to Kaliningrad. As ever, the worlds greatest travellers and Good Samaritans, the Latvians came up trumps helping other teams. The run began to attract oddballs like Chris Denham from the West Country in an icecream van along side with that bloke with a Bolton accent from Top Gear who was into motorbikes. The old ways of cars without MOT and the smell of cannabis in the campsites started to retreat as the quality and the age of teams gradually increased. With respectability brings ordinariness but as the spirits sag, along comes a smoky LDV Sherpa laden with red diesel and life looks better!

The charity auctions raised almost £150,000 in 2005 with prices ranging from almost nothing for a Citroen BX and the lovely Citroen Arcadiene to £3,650 for a Pajero. It became clear that classics fetch little in a country where the car is a beast of burden. A separate run to Central Asia saw 17 teams braving the mad bad dictarorship of Turkmenistan.

Plymouth Dakar 2004

Year 2 saw the run split into 3 groups with a total of 88 cars, with Britcrap replacing Commiecrap cars with a fleet of Montegos, a Herald, Ford Corsair, and even a Wedgie Austin Princess and Triumph Acclaim. About 75 cars made the Gambia while 4 cars died en route. What happened to the rest…we have no idea! The first Trabant made the finishing line and was promptly ignored in the charity auction.

The originality of team names is always amazing from “Four Weldings and a Funnel” to “Ministry of Sand”.

Plymouth Dakar 2003

The inaugural year with just 1 group of 55 cars although only 52 started and 48 finished. The team Unknown Hillman Hunter was the star of the show (maximum number of breakdowns) and the marque of choice was the Lada with a dozen examples of this fine rear wheel drive steed taking part.

A small article in the Daily Telegraph was followed by a piece in The Independent and soon the crap car svengali Julian Nowill found he had started something that might run and run.

Filmed by Andy Pag, the run appeared endlessly on Men & Motors. The run appeared in magazines from Top Gear to lurid wank mags, the car section of course. Many long term friends were made and Team Unknown started www.extremetrifle.com which continues to this day offering the maddest of mad capers. The term “banger rally” was coined and the 03 run has spawned hard money grabbing sites stealing our pictures and ideas to gently mocking low rent affairs such as the once only T4 where teams hit Timbuctu after 800 miles offroad in crap Volvos.