Afritrex - The Team
Since this page of the website was written there have been some major changes to the content and dynamics of the team who set out to make Afritrex possible. Owen Thompson Dredge was originally one of the two man party who would take on this challenge but due to other commitments within the UK involving his business which is in its infancy he will not be able to join me to complete the Afritrex project.
I have decided to continue alone as I have committed nearly 5 years of my life to planning and funding this expedition and am not ready to see it fail. This throws up an entirely new set of challenges relating to safety, training and funding, all of which are surmountable. Once I take on a project of this magnitude I will see it through to fruition, mark my words.
Ben Southall
Two very good friends who’ve spent many of the last 12 years masterminding and taking on, what seem at the time of their creation, ridiculous and far-fetched ideas but once they’ve been completed, just another way to pass the time before starting the next one!
We met in ‘95 at Alton College, Hampshire and since then have worked together on a number of projects including masterminding a huge millennium party for 500 of our closest friends, witnessing total eclipses around the world and travelling throughout Southern Africa.
All it seems to take is for one of us to suggest an idea which sparks the imagination of the other and before we know it….the next challenge has started!
Our journey to Cornwall in 1999 to view the solar eclipse was so inspiring it became the starting block for the next chapter and challenge…to view the next eclipse wherever in the world that may be. So like a couple of crazy umbraphiles we chased the shadow to the southern hemisphere on not one but two trips into Africa equipped with a 4x4, some maps and the determination to explore!
The sheer fulfilment that these trips had left us with had already planted the seeds for the next adventure so it was only a matter of time before we were pouring over maps again and the inevitable question was asked…..so what’s next then!
Afritrex was already in its infancy.
There is however another member of the team who we couldn’t do without; our home, transport and workshop…my very trusty Landrover which was built in 1986 but refined in 2007 with the expert help of Ben’s father.
D.O.B: 6th March 1975
Home: Ropley, Hampshire, UK
Job Title: Event/Project Manager
Strengths: Determination in adversity, meticulous in planning, works hard; plays far too hard, energetic
Weaknesses: musical ability zero, artistic ability less than zero, can’t say no, never reads instructions, erratic
Likes: Summer, challenges, working on cars, meeting people, feeling scared, loyal friends, festivals, Friday 5 o’clock, planning projects, all sport, fitness
Dislikes: selfishness, giving up, arrogance,/egos, hangovers, Landrover heaters, Oct - Mar in the uk
Name: C79 JOA “The Colonel”
D.O.B: 20th march 1986
Home: Anywhere she stops
Job Title: Workhorse / Home
Strengths: Off road, river wading, tough, resilient, attitude, reliable
Weaknesses: Noisy, thirsty, uncomfortable, speed,
Likes: Drinking heavily, sand, mud, water, inclines, helping jeeps that get stuck
Dislikes: Chelsea, the London Emission Zone (LEZ), cleanliness
The principal expedition partners are Owen Thompson Dredge and Ben Southall, good friends who have often, over of the last 12 years, cooperated on projects that would fail were it not for their combined enthusiasm. The success comes from a healthy division of skills and labour. With the help of The Colonel, a 1986 Land Rover Defender 110, they will be completing all the marathons and mountain ascents while circumnavigating Africa. The Colonel is home, transport and workshop, built in 1986 but refined in 2007 under the supervision of the resident expert and engineer, Ben’s father, Duncan Southall.
Ben and Owen met in ‘95 at college and since then have worked together on a number of projects usually on a shoestring. Afritrex has been at the planning stage for over three years and with good reason; with the VC180 Challenge, the 5Marathons 5Mountains Challenge and The Trail Blazer Project, we have taken on three major challenges at the same time, all while trying to circumnavigating the most challenging continent on earth bar Antarctica.
Ben’s skills in Engineering and logistics, Owen’s skills in media and languages, and the colonel’s never-say-die attitude should get us round in one piece. However, without the help of others little would be achieved.
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