South Pole Expedition. on Econoline

[Hawk Thor]

I know I would not want to work on a Ford in any temperature!

But I´m sure that Gunni will get that thing running right.

[Dejomo]

Originally Posted by icepony

Little trouble in the day one, (BIV)fly with broken steering and the other truck with engine trouble
Hevy snow -20°F a bit cold to do motor repair in such weather

Well that is crappy to hear...

I hope things get sorted out

[camo]

Bummer on the rough start, but something tells me they will overcome the challenges

[redpitbull44]

I hope to hell they've at least got an EZ-Up shelter and a salamander to keep the dude warm while he's gotta work on that thing...

[icepony]

SUNDAY 28 November, 10am

From Expedition team.!!!!!
We faced another incredibly tough day yesterday in the thick snow conditions as SSV2 continued to suffer mechanically. We awoke yesterday morning after a short night’s sleep hoping for a more successful day of progress, Gunni, Valdi and Pete continued to work on SSV2, having slept in the trucks for just a short few hours. Once the tents were loaded we rolled out of the campsite and headed the final 6 miles to the Patriot Hills fuel cache, the plan for the day being to refuel and head to our next major waypoint at Institute, a further 170 mile from there. The SSV engines had been running all night and it seemed like all problems had been fixed, however, the concern now was that SSV2 would not have enough fuel to reach the cache. The fuel economy had already been significantly reduced by the heavy loads and thick snow, and the mechanical fault on SSV2 had burnt a lot of fuel. Once again it turned out luck was not on our side as the engine spluttered to a stop just 1 mile short of the cache. We radioed the other vehicle just up ahead and they agreed to part refuel and return with enough to re-supply, the advantage and necessity of the second vehicle proving itself. By the time the vehicles arrived at the fuel cache it was already about 3pm, the plan was to load enough fuel drums to travel to Institute. The BIV was now fixed and had proved itself to be the best vehicle by far. The re-fuelling process meant digging out the 52 gallon drums of Jet A1 fuel and using the vehicle fuel tanks and pumping system to fill the 500 gallon onboard tanks. The fuel strategy in the conditions had become increasingly important as we needed to balance the weight of more fuel and reduced efficiency, against the risk of running out or running into more mechanical problems in the desolate environment.
We finally left the Patriot Hills fuel cache at 6pm, having invested some time fully preparing to drive the 170 mile to Institute, expected to be completed in 10-14 hours overnight. As we left the fuel cache, all was well with the vehicles, travelling a steady 12-15 mph through the heavy snow.
This strong progress was quickly hindered by thick snow, as we engaged the low range gearboxes on the SSVs. The speedometers began to read over 100mph, confused by the specially fitted gearboxes and we agreed how great it would be if we were going that speed, the reality on the GPS being less than 6 mph

. SSV2 failed to co-operate, as the engine fault code illuminated once again and power was reduced. Gunni and Pete decided that the fault lay with the fuelling system, perhaps a feature of mixing Jet A1 with oil and antifreeze as a diesel substitute, or perhaps masking a bigger problem. The solution, as we lay exposed and in temperatures of -35 Celsius, turned out to be turning the engine off and re-starting the ignition and fooling the engine to stop it switching to limp mode. This problem, which meant the vehicle had to keep stopping and re-starting, coupled with the thick snow meant progress was once again particularly slow.
By 5am,eleven hours after departure from the Patriot Hills fuel cache we had covered 84miles and though we continued to journey on, a combination the slow progress, lack of sleep and mechanical problems made life difficult and the mood amongst the team struggled to remain as positive as the morning had promised.
The expedition relies on careful fuel calculations and a meticulous strategy of re-fuelling to ensure we make the crossing. At each waypoint we cross re-calculations are made – the risk of running out of fuel needs to be foreseen as soon as possible to ensure we can change the strategy, potentially having to set up camp and once again sending one vehicle in advance to re-fuel. A strategy everyone was desperate to avoid because of the damage to our timetable and inherent risk of separating the team. The clear skies and sunshine over the snow and ice mask the bitterly cold conditions when we have to get out of the vehicles and into the wind, the BIV pilots opting for a thermal jumpsuit over their polar gear.
The Expedition continues to roll on, dinner consisting of an extension of lunch, with the team on driver rotation and sleeping where possible. We continue at 5-6 mph, hoping for a break in the heavy snow surface and keen to make progress to Institute, albeit at an excruciatingly slow rate, where we hope we can re-fuel and depart from there on the next leg to the South Pole.
---------------------------

[Dejomo]

Kinda reminds me of working out in the Coal-bed Methane fields in Wyoming. Sitting in the cab of the truck, it's sunny and clear outside, open the door and you are reminded what -35F ,before the 30-40mph wind hits you ,feels like...

If the boys in the SSV's carried an OBDII code reader they could clear the check engine light on the fly...this is first hand experience speaking.

I realize that tid bit of information is a bit late...but next time...

[MaxPF]

The guys in the SSV should've ditched the electronically injected diesel in favor of a p-pumped Cummins. That would eliminate the electronics, and the engine oil lubed p-pump has no problem running on straight jet A or A1...

Sometimes low tech really is best

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by maxpf

the guys in the ssv should've ditched the electronically injected diesel in favor of a p-pumped cummins. That would eliminate the electronics, and the engine oil lubed p-pump has no problem running on straight jet a or a1...

Sometimes low tech really is best

yep!

[icepony]

Latitude : 84°55'1.2" S
Longitude : 80°36'56.16" W

The snow is geting beter to drive on.And the Pole moves closer.....

[Dejomo]

Right on!!!

sometimes ya just gotta keep sluggin away

[Bansil]

very cool to hear progress

[icepony]

The firmer conditions as they passed the 84 degree mean that they are making much better progress when on the move and the fuel economy has improved dramatically.

[Dejomo]

Originally Posted by icepony

The firmer conditions as they passed the 84 degree mean that they are making much better progress when on the move and the fuel economy has improved dramatically.

Good to hear...

I was thinking of mounting two 20mm ammo cans on the drivers side in the same location as the tarped cargo in the above picture...

Unfortunately with only 37 inch tires the cans would be too wide and eventualy end up getting scrubbed of on a tree or rock...but maybe if...LOL

ah nevermind

[gemer]

Originally Posted by icepony

The expedition hopes to prove that wheeled vehicles are viable and more environmentally-friendly than air travel in this challenging environment.
and save more fule than trac vehicles

The primary sponsor is Professor Winston Wong a Taiwanese business leader and a physics alumnus of Imperial College London. Professor Wong is a generous donor to Imperial College who created the Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle


The Winston Wong Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle is the lead vehicle of the Moon Regan Transantarctic Expedition. The BIV is an agile route-finder - with a single driver - for the two Science Support Vehicles ((SSVs)E350 6x6) which carry the other ten members of the Expedition and act as mobile laboratories for the Expedition.

expedition will travel from the west coast of Antarctica at Patriot Hills, to the South Pole, retracing the steps of the famous Fuchs and Hillary crossing, and then head north to McMurdo through the Trans-Antarctic Mountain Range. The expedition is expected to spend some 40 days on the ice and travel some 3,600 miles.


http://www.transantarcticexpedition.com/

Nice, wish I could be a part of it@@

[icepony]

150 miles to go.
Unless something very unexpected happens, the Moon Regan team will arrive at the South Pole tomorrow, Thursday, and realise one of their objectives - the arrival of the Winston Wong Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle at the South Pole. This will be the first bio-fuelled vehicle at the South Pole.

[Dejomo]

Originally Posted by icepony

150 miles to go.
Unless something very unexpected happens, the Moon Regan team will arrive at the South Pole tomorrow, Thursday, and realise one of their objectives - the arrival of the Winston Wong Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle at the South Pole. This will be the first bio-fuelled vehicle at the South Pole.

Very cool!!!

[icepony]

The Team has reached Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.At 90 degree

[evilram]

best thread on pirate... those things are amazing.

[Dejomo]

Originally Posted by icepony

The Team has reached Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.At 90 degree

Congratulations!!!

[icepony]

they have had to go slowly over the cracked area last few hours.
They had to be extremely careful about crevasse, which were larger and deeper and more open than they had previously experienced (2005). Then it came in handy to have ultrasounds equipment that was attached to the car to find the best way through the crevasse area.Yes the crevasse are hidden under snow.And look like this when they crack.




They hopefully made it over. And are celebrating at the South Pole now.

[Dejomo]

Originally Posted by icepony

they have had to go slowly over the cracked area last few hours.
They had to be extremely careful about crevasse, which were larger and deeper and more open than they had previously experienced (2005). Then it came in handy to have ultrasounds equipment that was attached to the car to find the best way through the crevasse area.Yes the crevasse are hidden under snow.And look like this when they crack.




They hopefully made it over. And are celebrating at the South Pole now.

I'd like to see the recovery process for that!!!

[PAToyota]

Originally Posted by Dejomo

I'd like to see the recovery process for that!!!

Somehow I think that the first step is a change of undershorts...

[stjjames]

Originally Posted by icepony

they have had to go slowly over the cracked area last few hours.
They had to be extremely careful about crevasse, which were larger and deeper and more open than they had previously experienced (2005). Then it came in handy to have ultrasounds equipment that was attached to the car to find the best way through the crevasse area.Yes the crevasse are hidden under snow.And look like this when they crack.




They hopefully made it over. And are celebrating at the South Pole now.

Any more pics from this occasion ?

[GLADIATORFAB]

You can watch the video on you-tube
( 1955 tucker sno-cat ) It's a good video

[Hoov100]

Originally Posted by GLADIATORFAB

You can watch the video on you-tube
( 1955 tucker sno-cat ) It's a good video

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008...n-getting.html