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360° Eye-Data® System Through Africa
How far would you go to help someone else?
In September of 2010, Silvie and Neil from the Rambling Rat team are
to travel from London through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania,
Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda,
Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana to Cape Town South Africa
Their mission, to help marginalised children and raise awareness of a
global children's charity, 'Street Kids International'
On the left image, Dave from Pro-Edge installing the CCTV system,
Neil from RamblingRat and Paul from Footloose 4x4
The right image, Silvie from RamblingRat (with a big smile)
Pro-Edge have installed a a Professional Mobile Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
connected to two miniature High Definition Cameras, one at the front facing
forward and one at the rear of the vehicle, plus an LCD Colour
Screen for rear view monitoring and safe reversing.
A Telematics Tracking Unit, kindly loaned by ISOTRAK™ is also to be
connected to the system.
The DVR will record live images from both cameras, plus embed data
it has extracted from the Telematics unit into the images, such as:
GPS coordinates, speed date and time. The vehicle will be 'live tracked' by
Monitor screen inside cab, plus Silvie holding the small rear facing camera
The cameras are high resolution, 520TVL units and will operate down to 0.0014 Lux.
For those that don't know, 1 Lux is equal to the power of 1 candle.
This system will certainly produce quality images and 'live'
memorable footage of their journey.
Before their departure Neil and Silvie are planning some pre-publicity
events, if you wish to be involved or have ideas please email them on
There is a remarkable story line evolving here for televison coverage!
TV Producers out there, here is an excellent opportunity not to be missed!!
Silvie and Neil will be able to record, down-load and save
the many exciting events that are sure to take place.
PUNCTURE SAFE
As a distributor of the product, Pro-Edge has installed Puncture Safe
into the tyres of their Land Cruiser, safety is paramount.
One application will protect the Toyota's tyres from punctures and blowouts
Well done Silvie and Neil for your commitment to help others!
The story of Rambling Rat and achievements so far.
How far would you go to help someone less fortunate than yourself?
Hand on heart, when did you last go out of your way to carry out a meaningful ‘good turn’?
Alas I have to own up, I have been left behind under ‘starter’s orders’, by the Rambling Rat team.
Never heard of ‘Rambling Rat’ Tim Dennis, or perhaps you have, please read on?
This is a truly remarkable story and still evolving as I type and even as you read and pass on this article.
Tim Dennis just loves people, he is quietly spoken, has a calm aura, oozes modesty, he is slight in build,
has no aggression or malice, he suffers from dyslexia, it stops there! He in fact towers above most of us.
 
In a moment of inspiration and with a burning need to put something back into the World, (wait for it)…
sold his house in Scotland to fund a ‘Round-The-World’ overland expedition
to raise awareness to the issues faced by disadvantaged children.
Tim has a deep passion to help children at risk, so much so that he went further than anyone else
I have ever known and gave up his security, his home.
Tim quickly saw that Street Kids International, a global Charity dedicated to empowering youth around the world
to build better futures for themselves was the key and he has since then been flying their banner wherever he goes.
Some amazing facts about Tim:
Sold his home to fund the awareness expedition and set off in June 2008
He has so far travelled over 50,000 miles (no punctures)
Solo and unsupported circumnavigation of the World
Has visited over 12 Countries (and more)
Has appeared in numerous publicity media including magazines and television
In Russia his Toyota Land Cruiser crashed into a 4 feet deep hole.
This snapped the ratchet straps holding items on the roof and bent his front axle and suspension.
The roof rack survived unscathed, so thankfully did Tim.
He has sustained and lived in temperatures down to minus 49°
Driven across frozen lakes
Traversed three Continents and Three Oceans
He has given motivational talks in schools and youth centres in 4 countries
Has motivated youngsters to organ ise and set up 3 skateboarding centres overseas (perhaps more by now)
Provided inspiration and drive for overseas youth projects
Moved his Toyota from Country to Country on 7 plus ships
 Tim with Alex Tilley
Has stayed with Mr Alex Tilley (Tilley Hats) at his home in Canada.
He has completed all this single handed from the funds of selling his home
After presenting a talk at the Apple Store London in October 2009,
he has been requested to give presentations at any Apple Store, anywhere in the World
(see ramblingrat.com for link)
Tim never asks anyone to personally finance him. He just says that he is raising awareness
for marginalised youth and Street Kids International.
No one can put a price on the life changing experiences he has catalysed
and what he has raised in motivation, kindness, inspiration and finances,
whilst raising the profile and awareness of Street Kids International.
Tim is the type of person that when you interact, has a profound affect on your thought patterns and mind set.
My wife Dani and I, like others, are proud to say that we know Tim.
Since our first meeting when he spotted our Storm Roof rack at a Donnington 4x4 Show,
he has touched our lives in such a profound way.
He has graciously stayed with us at our Northamptonshire home a couple of times.
Tim’s drive and enthusiasm has recently resulted in motivating and inspiring a lovely husband and wife team
and so the RamblingRat Overland Project was born.
Silvie and Neil Rautenbach to join the Rambling Rat project.
Silvie and Neil plan to travel from London to Cape Town South Africa in September 2010
Their prime intention, following Tim’s footsteps by raising awareness of Street Kids International
and their objective of helping less fortunate children.
They aim to create a curriculum based entrepeneurial toolkit for schools.
This toolkit will be based on toolkits used by Street Kids International to train street youth globally.
This course will culminate in an entrepreneurial day with all profits being donated to
Street Kids International.
They hope to make this project their legacy in the UK.
Well done guys!
Stay tuned to hear about their Rift Valley Birding Project in Ethiopia.
Specialist Vehicle Preparation
The 2nd Toyota vehicle has now been adorned in the distinctive Rambling Rat and Street Kids livery.
To ensure that it will be suitable and capable of the long and arduous journey ahead,
the Toyota is being carefully prepared by experienced expedition specialists in Peterborough.
For added protection from punctures and blow-outs, Puncturesafe has been injected into each wheel.
A professional mobile digital CCTV recorder system and two high resolution cameras
(one front, one back) plus colour monitor screen is being installed.
This will ensure that any remarkable images or movie shots of their journey can be
downloaded and saved, plus ensuring visibility to the rear of the vehicle.
We think a Worlds First, 360° Eye-Data, a Telematics Data Unit that is normally installed into commercial fleet vehicles,
is to be connected to the CCTV digital recorder. The tracking unit has been supplied by Isotrak
Neil and Silvie visiting Isotrak Head Office in Milton Keynes
The data will be extracted and embedded (including GPS location) from the telematics unit, into the images.
This will undoubtedly make for exciting records and/or ongoing media interest, further raising awareness.
TV companies take note, it’s here for the asking!
 
A superb Howling Moon folding roof tent is to be fitted to the roof rack donated by David Frazer.
This is where Silvie and Neil will sleep. Uncomfortable, certainly not, this roof tent is King Sized.
Help, Expertise and-or Valuable Sponsorship From:
Street Kids International for the continued support (particularly Philippa for being there),
for Tim in his awareness campaign
Carolyn Ringuette for Dylan, the excellent cartoon rat in his many guises
Cooper Avon Tyres for offering to support both Rambling Rat expeditions with tyres
Howling Moon Tents in particular David Frazer from South Africa for the roof tent
Footloose 4x4 Peterborough. Paul Marsh and his expert team for experiential advice
and carefull preparation of the Toyota for Africa
Mr Alex Tilley Tilley Endurables Canada, for his generous motivational support to Tim
and amazing financial contribution to Street Kids
Spot Tracker GPS Location tracker (Tim’s location can be located on the web)
Apple Supporting Street Kids and training Tim on his MAC.
Using Apple Regent Street London front stage October 09. Watch for future talks by Tim.
Jimmy Rankin singer songwriter, for his live contribution to Tim’s Web Site
ISOTRAK™ for the generous loan of the latest Telematics unit.
Thanks for attending the Apple Store presentation Greville.
Can I be so brash and mention us, Pro-Edge Limited for PunctureSafe tyre Gel,
Mobile Digital Video Recorder,
Cameras and 360° Eye-Data concept plus Tim’s roof rack
This list is not exhaustible so apologies to anyone not mentioned.
If the World was full of people like Tim, it would not have a troubled conscience.
The World would be an innate, self perpetuating, inspirational, kind place, helping each other,
a natural state of calm and some laughter thrown in on the way.
It is all down to people of course.
What can you do to help?
see the Rambling Rat new theme idea, M.A.D. Music, Art and Drama. Plus the Web sites many links.
Click on to www.streetkids.org to read more about the work of the charity in over 60 Countries. Make a donation to help the Rambling Rat expedition to achieve their goals of supporting Street Kids
YouTube and Google Rambling Rat - amazing coverage
Tell others about these web sites and the good cause Rambling Rat aims to support
Do you know of someone, or a company, that may offer support, or would like to get involved,
so that the Rambling Rat team can continue their mission and expand their support for Street Kids?
Do you know of potential media coverage that would help?
You may even like to commit yourself and join the Rambling Rat team?
Not ready to leave your home and head off round the world?
Why not run a local event for under one of the Rambling Rat Themes of endurance,
empowerment and awareness and help them achieve their goals of raising awareness of
Street Kids International?
There may be a special project the Rambling Rat team could help with in your area.
The team might be able to visit and give an inspirational talk. Neil is an experienced school teacher.
Remember the Rat Car leaves for Africa some time around September of this year.
Tim, well he is continuing his journey and his mission, taking in places such as the USA, Mexico, Central and South America,
all the way to Tierra del Fuego at the tip of Argentina. We may not see him for another 18 months.
You are in our thoughts and prayers Tim. A home made curry is waiting for your return!
Thank you for allowing us to be part of this unique experience and family that has been created.
Dani and David Matthews
www.pro-edge.co.uk
www.mobilevehiclerecording.co.uk
360° Eye-Data  ®
Our sincere thanks to Isotrak for their support
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