The whole route will be travelled by hitch-hiking.

The initiative of this project is established by PASL, the St. Petersburg Autostop League.

1.1 This letter is mailed to you in the hope you are willing to participate in the project or forward this message to possible participants.

2.1 About PASL.

The PASL, a non-profit organization, is probably the founder of hitch-hiking as a sport. The league is training hitch-hikers to travel fast even in the most difficult terrain and circumstances. The members of the league travel in yellow suits, especially designed for hitch-hiking 24 hours a day, seven days a week, worldwide. Reflecting patches and flashlights make hitch-hiking possible through the night.In its 18 years of existence it has been organising 80 races. Twice these races covered all (East and West) Europe. This resulted in 1992-1993 in the hitch-hiking expedition 'Autocolumbus' around the world with four participants. 5000 km during the winter, 25 countries and on 4 continents. The route of this trip was travelled from St. Petersburg to Krasnojarsk, Yakustk, Kurgan, Nome, Seattle, Denver, Bogota, Recife, Monrovia, Genova, Kopenhagen, Murmansk, St. Petersburg. Yakutsk is the coldpole of the northern hemisphere and as there are no roads, travel is extremely difficult. Because most of the surface will be not suitable for cars during the summer, and rivers will flood the roads, travel is only possible during the winter. The Yakutsk to Kurgan travel took place in February. The Bering St. was crossed by small airplane. Via the Alaska highway the four reached Seattle. The travel continued with two people to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires to Barcelona was travelled by ship.

3.1 About the Project.

Invitation for the race around the world. The time has come for PASL to organize a race around the world. For development and raising popularity of hitch-hiking as a sport, everyone who supports hitch-hiking, is invited by the PASL to take part in the race around the world. This competition with an open and sportive character is possible because the chosen route is not too difficult and safe. Publicity should make it possible organising the hitch-hikers world trophy on a regular basis. Like the Regatta around the world or the rally Paris-Dakar.

3.2 Participants.

Participants always travel in pairs. Minimum age is 16. Pairs do not separate during the travel. PASL-pairs can join the race without being selected. Other pairs will take part after a check on preparation, experience and equipment according to the safety standards. Organised groups from other countries than Russia will establish their own selection proceedures, before sending their best hitch-hiking teams for the final two selection rounds, but according to PASL standards.

3.3 Route & time.

The first round for the World Trophy 1998 is supposed to take place in August 1997. This first round will be on GUS-territory. 12 winning teams (pairs) will continue to the second round. Formed teams will send their participants to the second selection in february 1998. This 3 week travel starts and ends in St. Petersburg via Budapest, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Murmansk.

3.3 Route August 1998.

St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnojarsk, Yakutsk, Kurgan, Nome, Seattle, New York, Paris, St. Petersburg. This route is a rough indication and the approximate time of travel is ca. 2 to 2,5 months. The world can be travelled the other way round or by a different route depending on the circumstances like visa regulations, sponsors, civil war.

3.4 Regulations.

The races around the world will take place according to regulations deposited by the PASL. A doctor will participate during the race and will test all participants before the start of the final race.

3.5 Finance and Visa.

PASL is not able to finance the organization and preparation of the project. The first round off all paricipants will be not so expensive. The second (arctic circumstances) and the race itself demand more financial support from the participants. To overcome this problem, all participants are welcomed to encourage sponsers to invest in the the project. If any major sponsors will be contracted, you'll notice from these pages or by email. Visa have to be obtained by the participants themselves. PASL can help in certain cases or assist.

4.1 Establishing a Team.

Because hitch-hikers clubs do hardly excist, participants can use the guestbook / forum to find other participants. Hopefully a structure to maintain this service on a larger scale will be soon available.

4.2 Linking to the Guestbook.

With the following link, you can leave any message for the worldtrophy and tips, tricks hints on hitch-hiking in the guestbook / forum.

5.1 Other organizations or unions for hitch-hikers.

These are welcome to maintain contact with the PASL to exchange further travel conditions. Send email to the PASL.

5.2 Experienced Hitch-hikers

These might be more interested to travel with others in tours (expedition character, or race) like Moscow-New York, Tokyo-London, St. Petersburg-Cape Town). These people are also invited to contact the guestbook / forum or to mail directly to the persons quoted underneath.

6.1 EMAIL

President Alexej Vorov, Autocolumbus-PASL, Russia: fil@fido.pdmi.ras.ru". President Vladas Sapranavicius, Vilnius Hitch-hiking club, Lithuania :vlasap@stud.vtu.lt". Daan Toner, author of the 'Hitch-hikers Guide to Europe': hhg@worldonline.nl".

6.2 Mailing list

This mail is sent to ca. 550 branch-offices of international student organizatons, AIESEC, AGEE & ASTEN online in Europe (530), Asia (22), and ca. 250 mountaineering and hiking student unions and selected student unions for general purposes in Europe.

Good luck,

Daan Toner, for PASL.

(visit Daan Toner's homepage at: http://www.worldonline.nl/~hhg)