The Rise and Fall of a Fiat

The following tragic tale will relate the memory of a Fiat named Diana, chosen to carry a team of American adventures across the globe. Although she gave up her life for three American strangers the evidence will show she wouldn't have had it any other way. Consider this tale her Memoir, her Obituary, her Memorial.

Diana was acquired the 14th of July, 2007 on a random street outside the Upton Park tube station in London from previous owner Nazeem, who was as excited about the prospect of his car going on the rally as we were about taking her. Nazeem was moving his family back to South Africa, and gave us a great deal on a great little machine.

See, pretty from all angles.

Diana remained at rest until the 21st of July when she joined 160 or so other specially selected vehicles to attempt the most difficult transeurasian trek known to man.

Smooth sailing on the first days of the rally, Diana rests at a truck stop in Germany for a breather.

Diana pulled along leading the convoy until a blown alternator at the Slovakian border cost us a night alone in a truck stop. The other car in our convoy pressed on the Bratislava, and sent a tow truck to retrieve our fallen warrior.

Because the tow truck was only large enough to carry two passengers, I was the most logical choice to leave behind. Without a phone or means to communicate with my teammates, I hitch hiked in the first of many vehicles it would require to get me to Mongolia. Certainly not the prettiest, but definitely the roomiest.

Moritz and Felix two great Danes from Copenhagen kept me company on the two hour drive to Bratislava, before continuing on to Hungary. Only Felix spoke some English so we chatted at great length about comic books and his dog Rexus.(on my return to the USA, I received a postcard from Hungary signed by Felix and Rexus)

After a random mechanic gave us a deal on an alternator repair we pressed on without issue in high spirits. Diana was running great, the weather was beautiful, and we were making good time to Odessa, through Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and the hell state of Transnistria.

This is Diana appalled at petrol prices and fuel quality in Romania

After a few days rest in Odessa, Ukraine we pushed on, taking a rare stop to enjoy the beach on the northern Black Sea, known as the Sea of Azov. Here, Diana takes in the view with the Rabbit Chaser and enjoys the cool sea breeze.

In Volgograd, Russia, Diana enjoys some site seeing including a visit to the Battle of Stalingrad WWII Memorial, which moved her into commenting on the useless loss of 1.5 million lives in the monumental battle.

Being a valuable member of Team Ironsides, and therefore having experience on the open sea, Diana fared the river crossing into Kazakhstan better than some of her companions. Alex sleeps soundly in the back, as usual.

After heading North from Atyrau, KZ, Diana finally met her match on the Road to Aqtobi. Long forgotten Soviet tarmac spread the length of the 500 mile stretch, ripping and pulling at the bottom of our cars. It wasn't a matter of hitting things, it was a matter of how hard you hit them. Shortly into the trek, Diana's rear left shock finally rusted through the trunk, severing her critical wiring.

After the wires had been reconnected with electrical tape and securely relocated, the loose shock was hose clamped to the body of the car, which unfortunately didn't stop the noise or the dust from streaming into the car.

Diana was determined however and pressed on through the blazing sun, leading the convoy she so loved. Against all odds she held her head high and plowed through the Kazakh dust, blinded, but with an inner vision of better days ahead.

Despite her determination, Diana encountered a minor flat tire from the bucking and banging she received in the absence of a shock absorber. Having had her emergency break snapped by a Kiwi back in Slovakia, she refused to cooperate on a car jack, so she had to be constrained between two other rally cars, so she wouldn't roll onto someone's head.

Back on the road heading to Kostonay, KZ, proved to be a formidable challenge for our heroine. Unidentified sounds and smokes confused even the Kiwis. After stopping at a number of garages we were disheartened about the status of our beloved Diana. The road to Kostonay was unpleasant with feelings of imminent doom surrounding the convoy. Diana took it well, whimpering to herself, but puttering on for the team. By Kostonay, or Kocknob, as it had then become, things were not looking good. A mechanic diagnosed the car as having a fried head bearing, news which came as a surprise because there appeared to be no obvious damage. The loss of oil pressure continued to baffle, and many theories were tested and put into motion. It was not until leaving Kocknob after three horrible days that the source of Diana's soon to be fatal blow was realized. On a whim only a Kiwi can possess, Chris directed us to pull her onto a lift so we could remove the oil sump and check the pump intake. The grotesque spectacle that met us bombarded us with guilt and horror at what we had done to our car.

Diana, riding low, but sitting high

The broken oil intake, which greedily prevented oil circulation back into our engine.

The culprit identified!

Tim helps...

while Fudge looks away in horror

Magician/Kiwi Chris fixes the broken oil intake.

With optimism at identifying and fixing the source of our troubles, the convoy pushes on. For thirty glorious km Diana marches on, ridiculed, defeated, she strives to prove all of us wrong. But Alas, to what will Will not stoop. In a final puff of grayish blue smoke Diana would have no more. And there on a sorry plain 60 miles east of Kostonay, Diana met her end.

with heavy hearts, we are prepared for the worst, and reorganize our vehicles so that we as a convoy can continue east.

Here, Joya cleans out the car and says her goodbyes in her own way.

A head stone is laid as a final memorial to Diana, our beloved rally car and companion. Joya pours one out for our fallen homie.

I mourn by hitting the Vod, in traditional Kazakh fashion.

A testament to how many people were touched by the memorable run of Diana, the Fiat.

The Final Resting Place of Diana, A Fiat, A Rally Car, A Trouper, A Friend.

Diana October 1994 - August 2007

An unlikely hero who took on the world in the true "Spirit of the Mongol Rally"