Published: Wednesday, 29th October, 2008 12:30
Alloa team are 'A1' in African motorbike rally
By Hamish Hutchinson
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The A1 Autos team of Kevin McEwan, Fraser McEwan, Jim McEwan and George Murray celebrate completing the world's toughest rally.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
THERE was blood, sweat and tears as a team of motorbike enthusiasts took part in a 1000-mile charity trek across South Africa’s Wild Coast.
A1 Autos owner Jim McEwan, his two sons, Fraser and Kevin, and work colleague George Murray participated in Enduro Africa – a demanding eight-day bike trek along the Eastern Cape.
The Alloa team survived a lightning storm and several road accidents to complete the challenge in aid of Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale, Unicef and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
Jim told the Advertiser, “It really is the most gruelling thing I’ve ever done. I had no idea it was going to be as hard as it was.
“Coming home on the plane you were still shaking as if you were still on the bike.”
He and his team-mates flew out to Port Elizabeth on 2 October to join nearly 100 motorcyclists for the start of the journey.
There they were given a brand new AG 200 Yamaha motorcycle which were expected to be donated to doctors and nurses at the end of the rally.
The participants were then split into teams, dependent on experience, and the following day they set off on the life-changing bike ride.
From then on the routine would be the same – wake up at 6am and on the bike for 8am, covering up to 250km a day.
Jim said, “There was one day we had only a 80km drive – but this was 80km on steep rough terrain – and when nightfall came it battered down with rain and thunder and lightning.
“It was pitch black and we didn’t have a clue where we were. It really became a battle of blood and guts.”
Billed as the toughest off-road bike route in the world, the bikers had to contend with 67 river crossings, at times were 6000ft above sea level, and 60 degree mountainous climbs.
Organisers estimated that around one in 10 participants would fail to complete the route due to injury and Jim and his team were not immune to their own scrapes.
He said, “Someone had a compressed spine, there were broken femurs and broken arms.
“I had three big crashes. One time I hit a cattle grid and came off my bike and went across two burnt out cars.
“If it wasn’t for the motorcycle armour we were wearing it could have been so much worse. It really does save lives.”
George, meanwhile, had to rest for two days when he came off his bike and injured his leg.
The rally was organised to raise £300,000 for some of Africa’s poorest people of which £20,000 came from the four Alloa mechanics.
During their journey they witnessed the benefits of the money first hand when they had an emotional encounter with a local community.
Jim went on, “We visited a school which had been donated money and helped build desks and fit solar panels.
“The children sang to us and it was quite emotional seeing them in these poor conditions.”
The A1 Autos team would like to thank everyone who attended the various fundraising events they held to raise the £20,000 needed to fund the trip, as well as the generosity of A1 Autos customers.
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