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MOTOREX Magazine 2013 100 EN

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eport Photos: P. Gertsch

eport Photos: P. Gertsch Happiness shared is happiness doubled: Pascal Gertsch’s caravan spent four whole months on the road to bring medical and school supplies to Mongolia. The travelers’ reward was a wealth of unforgettable experiences. Three great passions moved Pascal Gertsch, a retired but restless physician, to cover 30,000 kilometers in his caravan: travel, distant cultures, and helping people as a doctor. Inspired by his captivating vision, a group of friends joined the trip. The convoy ultimately comprised four Citroën 2CVs and a Steyr 680 G to haul the supplies. After over 33 years as a doctor, Pascal Gertsch found leaving his family medical practice in the Swiss village of Les Diablerets far from easy. Now the long-held idea of traveling out with a consignment of medical aid could become reality. His original intent was to visit Japan, but when he came to study potential routes in detail, Mongolia emerged as a destination. Through their medical network, Pascal and his surgeon brother Philippe Gertsch had learned that the regional hospital in Khovd needed a mobile sterilization unit, surgical instruments and various medicines. That knowledge decided the destination. A further perfect fit for the project was the group’s interest in the onceenormous Mongol Empire, founded in 1206 when Genghis Khan succeeded in uniting a large number of different tribes. At its peak, the empire stretched as far as Europe, becoming the largest contiguous empire in history! 10

The well-prepared team sets out for Khovd on May 24, 2012. The Steyr 4x4 can get through anywhere – here, on the way to Dogubayazit, Turkey. PREPARATION IS EVERYTHING The convoy consisted of four Citroën 2CVs with modifications of the type used by competitors in the Paris–Peking Rally. These included a reinforced chassis and running gear, bottom shielding for the engine and fuel tank, reinforced towing and trailer hooks and enlarged rear wheel wells. Plexiglas rear windows and composite roofs helped reduce weight. A five-speed transmission with a short first gear made for easier off-road starts while saving fuel. More comfortable seats were also installed, and each vehicle carried two fuel canisters, camping equipment, maps, satellite navigation system and CB radio. The four 2CVs were accompanied by a converted eight-tonne Steyr 680 G 4x4 army truck from 1968 to carry the crew along with spare parts, fuel, tools and the cargo of medical and school supplies. FOUR MONTHS ON THE ROAD By mid-May 2012, all the visas had been issued and the 14-person team had completed their extensive preparations. On a sunny May 24, the team set out from St. Maurice in the Swiss Canton of Valais towards Italy. In On a sunny May 24, the team set out from St. Maurice in the Swiss Canton of Valais towards Italy. Ancona, Italy the convoy boarded a ferry for Igoumenitsa, Greece. From there smooth roads led to Istanbul, where one more crew member joined the group. Istanbul straddles the frontier between Europe and Asia. Here the group first encountered the torrential rains that motorex Magazine 99/50 I JULY 2013 11

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