Krasnoyar U18 rugby team playing well! This club, in the middle of Russia, issued the invitation enabling us to apply for an extended 3 month visa.
We first met the president and the vice-president nearly two years ago at Madejski stadium in Reading when Krasnoyar played London Irish. We were there with our Austin 7 roadshow to spread the word about the challenge.
The car was still a two-seater then, so Chris took turns to take them both for a ride! They were so supportive of the challenge that they kept in touch over the succeeding months leading up to the visa application. This was also the first giving of gifts that we experienced – something that we have since discovered is a very Russian trait. They gave us a Krasnoyar training shirt, and a (very prized) Vladimir Putin car air freshener…
The hospitality of the club now we are here has been fantastic. They arranged accomodation in the visitor section of the football club, a slap up lunch and supper, and garage time with one of their sponsors, the local Kia dealership.
Also including a photoshoot at the Kia garage!
Chris and Will used the garage facilities to fix the hole in the second petrol tank (that problem started in Finland) in preparation for some long distances between petrol stations. They also sorted out the front wheel bearing, and are today resolving an issue in the drive shaft – with advice from the ever-suppotive Austin 7 community back in the UK.
