The Rhino Charge is one of the most unique ways of raising money for conservation in the world.

The Rhino Ark is a truly unique charity, providing security to the environment and animals of the Aberdare Mountain Range, and now the Eburru and Mount Kenya Forests.

Car No 1, its founder (James Kelmanson) and team members Don White, Roddy Benjamin, Harry Millbank, Mike Diesbecq and new member Eddy Verbeek feel strongly about the value and importance of the cause it raises money for.

You certainly wouldn't do the charge if you didn't have a sense of humour. Our record has been...interesting. We finished a magnificent fourth in 2008 at Namunyak, but in other years have not had so much success. Perhaps the kindest way to put it is that we aim for the very top and as a result wont settle for anything less!

The comedy never ends though; in 2009 we rolled the car at Baringo, taking a day (and most of a night) to retrieve it from the bush, and winning lots of brownie points from all wives and family. In 2010 we nearly fell down a very big hill in Magadi, and were lucky to get stuck on a passing rock. In 2011 our rear axle was ripped off at the start of the day; we spent the rest of it getting to a repair area and then doing lots of welding. In 2012 we had a respectable charge at Il Ngwesi.

The 2012 Charge was one of the most brutal; with 18 from 65 competitors rolling their cars. The temptation was for everybody else to be safe and stay on the roads which were themselves pretty steep. Car No 1 not only stayed upright but completed a very good distance for the checkpoints we managed; we ran out of time but got back home in one piece; sadly though we felt we should have been more aggressive and resolved to NEVER EVER EVER go for an easy option again.

The 2012 charge ended smoothly; for the first time (apart from 2008) we were back in respectable time; but fate still had her wicked way with us. Two days after the charge a mechanic decided to do Formula 1 and our car met a tree with disastrous consequences. Sadly, the car was unrepairable, and was scrapped.

Fools are easily persuaded though and sure enough, we are back for 2013, hoping and praying for better things. One day, we will win, and in the meantime we will try our hardest and NEVER EVER give up.

The 2013 version of the Rhino Charge car will be stronger, lighter, and better; and quite frankly we have had enough practice getting it wrong, so we hope we can get it right this time!

Don & The Car No 1 Team