World's Longest Drive
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World's Longest Drive
I recently stumbled upon this video on YouTube which discusses the possibilities for the world's longest continuous drive:
The longest possible drive starts in Sagres in Portugal and ends in Khasan in the Russian Far East, a distance of 14043km (8726 miles) which would theoretically take 163 hours to drive from end to end.
EDIT: If the video does not work, try this link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o1bIKvHDNWI
The longest possible drive starts in Sagres in Portugal and ends in Khasan in the Russian Far East, a distance of 14043km (8726 miles) which would theoretically take 163 hours to drive from end to end.
EDIT: If the video does not work, try this link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o1bIKvHDNWI
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- Alderpoint
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Re: World's Longest Drive
Cape Town (S.Africa) to Vladivostok is 22,632km according to google maps.
Let it snow.
Re: World's Longest Drive
Ah, but the route cannot include ferries according to the criteria - it has to be continuous. A direct route is disqualified if it uses a ferry, even if the two locations can be linked by an indirect route that is entirely on land. The sparseness of the road network in Sudan and Egypt means that the quickest routes to Asia from the south almost invariably require a short ferry crossing at some point. The Cape Town - Vladivostok route could still be driven without a ferry, but not without taking a detour. It's also worth pointing out that direct routes to Russia from West Africa cross over to Europe first rather than going via Cairo thus requiring a ferry as well.Alderpoint wrote: ↑Mon Nov 26, 2018 13:40 Cape Town (S.Africa) to Vladivostok is 22,632km according to google maps.
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- multiraider2
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Re: World's Longest Drive
Several war or near war zones there. I would not fancy getting through the whole of Africa, Syria and Russia etc. alive.
- Alderpoint
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Re: World's Longest Drive
Friends drove 2 cars from UK to Mongolia last year. It was, ahem, an adventure.
And I say drove to as they flew back as the cars were only fit for scrapping by the time they (almost) got there.
And I say drove to as they flew back as the cars were only fit for scrapping by the time they (almost) got there.
Let it snow.
Re: World's Longest Drive
Indeed. It should be stressed that this "longest drive" is purely theoretical and does not take into account issues such as political turmoil, dodgy borders, civil war and so on. But luckily the longest drive as stated in the video is relatively free from much of this.multiraider2 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 26, 2018 15:48 Several war or near war zones there. I would not fancy getting through the whole of Africa, Syria and Russia etc. alive.
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Re: World's Longest Drive
I've posted this before, but my uncle drove from Colombo, Sri Lanka to the UK 40 years ago, in 1979, in an Austin Allegro. Here's the description of the journey
http://rcdening.co.uk/overland_trip/firstleg.htm
The Allegro then lasted with him, on the road all the time, for another 30 years until his death, when we sold it in about 2006.
He had also driven across Canada in the 1930s, when the road system was even less complete than he found going across Asia.
These posts above about getting across Russia will not work, the road system is not complete across Siberia and it's necessary to put cars on the train, where a service is provided for this.
http://rcdening.co.uk/overland_trip/firstleg.htm
The Allegro then lasted with him, on the road all the time, for another 30 years until his death, when we sold it in about 2006.
He had also driven across Canada in the 1930s, when the road system was even less complete than he found going across Asia.
These posts above about getting across Russia will not work, the road system is not complete across Siberia and it's necessary to put cars on the train, where a service is provided for this.
Last edited by WHBM on Mon Nov 26, 2018 19:20, edited 1 time in total.
- roadtester
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Re: World's Longest Drive
I follow this bloke on Twitter who is driving his electric car around the world:
https://rac.com.au/car-motoring/info/fu ... d-in-an-ev
He's been crossing Oz for several months now!
https://rac.com.au/car-motoring/info/fu ... d-in-an-ev
He's been crossing Oz for several months now!
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Re: World's Longest Drive
At least one driver went all the way to Mongolia in a 41 year old Land Rover Defender.Alderpoint wrote: ↑Mon Nov 26, 2018 18:51 Friends drove 2 cars from UK to Mongolia last year. It was, ahem, an adventure.
And I say drove to as they flew back as the cars were only fit for scrapping by the time they (almost) got there.
I read an article about a German driver who made the return drive to Siberia in a Landie from Hamburg. As I recall the main problem was that unfordable rivers had to be crossed by bumping along the sleepers on railway bridges. Do not try this in a Subaru Forester along the ECML. ISTR he cheated a little on the return trip by shipping the car from Vladivstok to Shanghai and making the return trip through China, India, Pakistan. Iran and Turkey.
Then there was the army team who drove 2 Range Rovers across the impassable Darien Gap in 1972 but did take over 3 months as they had to break their own trails. A lot quicker than the first crossing which started in 1928 and finished in 1938 ! Apparently covering a mile a day is really good going.
On a more prosaic note when I lived in Kent I got to know someone who drove to Kenya, worked there for 3 years at the British Embassy and drove back in a Morris 1000. He was to say the least an eccentric who on hot days would walk to the pub wearing white tropical kit and wearing a Solar Topee aka Pith Helmet.
The old Captain Howey in New Romney attracted a varied crowd including the landlord who drove a 1930's Bentley.
- roadtester
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Re: World's Longest Drive
That's a Forward Control Land Rover, not a Defender!
http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/col ... ol-chassis
Not to be compared with the later military FC which was a military-only job:
http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/col ... no-1-lhd#v
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- RichardA626
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Re: World's Longest Drive
I remember reading about that drive when you first posted it. It was quite a feat, especially as he had to drive through 4 countries with troubles going on at the time.WHBM wrote: ↑Mon Nov 26, 2018 19:17 I've posted this before, but my uncle drove from Colombo, Sri Lanka to the UK 40 years ago, in 1979, in an Austin Allegro. Here's the description of the journey
http://rcdening.co.uk/overland_trip/firstleg.htm
The Allegro then lasted with him, on the road all the time, for another 30 years until his death, when we sold it in about 2006.
He had also driven across Canada in the 1930s, when the road system was even less complete than he found going across Asia.
These posts above about getting across Russia will not work, the road system is not complete across Siberia and it's necessary to put cars on the train, where a service is provided for this.
Beware of the trickster on the roof
Re: World's Longest Drive
More than one ended up in non military hands , there are a lot of variations on that theme around.roadtester wrote: ↑Mon Nov 26, 2018 19:59
Not to be compared with the later military FC which was a military-only job:
http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/col ... no-1-lhd#v
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6fvB72 ... QvMQFXkNDY
- FosseWay
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Re: World's Longest Drive
This probably explains the chosen route of a pair of Norwegian comedians who drove a fire engine from Norway to Ulaan Bator, with the aim of donating it to the fire department there. (I have no idea whether it was in a fit state to use for firefighting afterwards.) There was a series following them on Norwegian TV a few years back. They did drive in Russia but only in the western part. Further east they were mostly in Kazakhstan. There was obviously no insuperable hurdle to driving in Russia as they did so at various points, but not for long.
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Re: World's Longest Drive
Awesome!
There is a very strong chance that I am the only person in the world to have driven both the length (Mont Blanc to Santa Maria di Leuca) and the breadth (Trieste to Ventmiglia) of Italy in a Rover 75.
- Alderpoint
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Re: World's Longest Drive
It's another 200km if you go down to the toe of Italy instead of the heel.
Let it snow.
Re: World's Longest Drive
That's for the next trip!Alderpoint wrote: ↑Tue Dec 04, 2018 22:00It's another 200km if you go down to the toe of Italy instead of the heel.
Re: World's Longest Drive
I did both those journeys in an F12 Volvo truck in the early 90s. ..almost...I was delivering to the village/town of Gagliano del Capo a few km north of Santa Maria. I have done from Mont Blanc to Reggio Calabria and then onto Sicily as well though.
Dont forget the shiny side stays UP !!!
Re: World's Longest Drive
If you could get permission to drive through North Korea, then Gibraltar to Pusan would be a very interesting drive, going via Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Russia and North Korea.
Re: World's Longest Drive
That would be some drive, but how would you reach North Korea from Russia without passing through China? On the map I see no road crossings between Russia and North Korea, only a railway line passes between the two countries. Additionally, isn't a Chinese licence specifically required for driving through China, otherwise an escort would be required? This is of course purely within the hypothetical scenario of being able to travel through North Korea in order to reach South Korea by road.
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- roadtester
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Re: World's Longest Drive
Slight variation on the theme - this is supposed to be the world’s longest walk:
https://brilliantmaps.com/longest-walk/
https://brilliantmaps.com/longest-walk/
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