It’s me, Mark Stone, and in this episode of the Backseat Driver Podcast, I’m once again joined by Bran DeMan for Part 2 of our adventure on the Lord of the Isles Rally, a journey that proves the best road trips rarely go according to plan.

As we travel through the stunning landscapes of Cumbria, Bran and I reflect on the mechanical dramas that have already become part of the story. From a broken spring on Hardknott Pass to punctures, roadside repairs, and the constant uncertainty that comes with driving ageing vehicles, the rally delivers exactly the kind of unpredictable adventure its participants embrace.

We discuss the eclectic mix of machinery tackling the route, including everything from a Moskvich to a Volkswagen Golf, each bringing its own personality and mechanical quirks to the expedition. Along the way, the conversation highlights the camaraderie that develops when drivers face challenges together, turning every setback into another story to share.

Beyond the breakdowns and repairs, we celebrate the incredible roads and scenery of the Lake District, where twisting mountain passes, dramatic valleys, and breathtaking views provide a fitting backdrop to the adventure. As the rally continues towards Scotland and Ireland, the anticipation grows for whatever lies around the next corner.

This episode is a reminder that the true spirit of motoring is not about reaching the destination, but about the people, places, and stories collected along the way.

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Once again I'm joined by Bram Diman on the Lord of the Isles.

If you remember, Bram was a guest a couple of weeks ago on the backseat driver and he kindly invited me to their overnight halt in Cumbria.

Bram, welcome back.

Hi Mark, how are you?

Not so bad.

How's it going?

Well, we expected to arrive here a few hours ago, but.

But we drive shit boxes so you.

Never know what's going to happen.

So breaking down on hard not pass with the ladder, there was a spring broken of the Rover and then a flat tire on the gulf.

And you already heard Nancy who.

Yes, the Moskvich has been somewhat troublesome.

Yes, it's ticking time bomb.

Like we say, you never know when.

It's going to crushing.

You never know when it's going to go off, do you?

Indeed, indeed.

That's completely, completely right.

Yeah.

So yeah, that's.

That's stuff that can happen.

How many days will Lord of the Isles take?

In total, 13 days.

Yeah, in total 13 days.

And then we're back in Belgium.

Right.

And how many miles or kilometers you guys working?

Kilometers.

Yeah, kilometers.

And better than kilometers.

It's about 5,500 kilometers, but obviously for the Moskvich it's 4,200 more.

Is this your first time bringing shipbox to England?

Yes, indeed, indeed.

But I did drove my Lada already to Ireland once for a work trip and instead of flying, thought driving to Ireland is more convenient or fun.

Not convenient, but more fun, definitely.

So that's what I did.

A lot of roads already then and a lot of the roads that we are doing now are in Lord of the eyes.

So how are you finding the roads?

Actually, as soon as we came off the boat in Hull and we got off the highway, about five miles, the scenery is absolutely magnificent.

The roads are like Belgian roads, but in a beautiful scenery.

So yeah, I really liked it.

From every kilometer that we did today, we did about 400km on any roads today.

It was absolutely magnificent.

And how do you like Cumbria?

Yeah, well, Cumbria.

We arrived in Cumbria about four hours ago.

We came in to another pass which I didn't remember the name, and then we did Kirkstone and Hard Knot.

Yeah, it's absolutely beautiful.

The hills, the scenery, the small hedges, the small roads, small bridges, the rivers floating around next to you while you're climbing and stalling.

That's what we called breaking down in style.

Yeah.

And how apart from the Moskvic, how are the other shit boxes coping?

Actually, quite good.

So we have the Volkswagen Golf 2 diesel, 1.6 diesel, completely overloaded and lowered and it manages quite fine.

Only one flat tire.

And then the Rover is also a very low car.

He had some problem with the suspension so we fixed that with the hammer and some.

And a stone which he found in the field.

Yeah.

So where do the shipboxes go next?

Tomorrow we will go into the south of Scotland and we will be driving along the English Scottish border which is a fine line through a national park.

It's actually a very nice part of the world.

Yes, indeed.

And that's we are actually here to drive the most beautiful roads.

And England and Scotland and Northern Ireland.

And Ireland.

So that's why we pick those roads.

Right, so you will be going over to Ireland.

Yes, that's in about the 18th of June we will be arriving in Northern Ireland for one day and then we will drive all along Ireland for three days.

Have you plotted the Ring of Kerry into it?

Because that is one beautiful part of the world.

The Ring of Kerry is in the south of Ireland.

It's in the west of Ireland.

Yes, we are there in Kerry but we will doing all the pass.

So Dunlop pass, V pass.

And we will driving all those roads which is actually along the south west coast of Ireland, which is the Ring of Kerry.

Yeah.

And when do you eventually get back to Belgium or Holland?

The 25th we will be back in Belgium.

So the last day is south of London where we stay on our campsite and meet some friends we know who live south of London which we met in Sierra Leone.

And after that we will have a barbecue when all of us are back in Belgium.

Bramley, maam, thanks very much for joining me yet again.

I mean it's very kind of you to drive all the way to England to talk to me.

But once again thanks so much for coming on the backseat drive.

Thank you.

It was an amazing trip.

Nicer talking to you.

Here in deepest Cumbria with Nancy Bishop taking part in Lord of the Isles shitbox edition on a beautiful campsite in Cumbria.

Nancy, welcome to the Backseat Driver.

Thank you sir.

You're coal driving a Moskovich.

Now most people in England will have forgotten what moskviches are.

But you came to do this in an unusual way because your driver you've only known for three days.

Yes, he was searched for co pilot.

So I thought Moskvich, I will join this guy.

So I joined the Estonian team and the Estonian team never gave up.

I can tell you you've had a few problems, haven't you?

Yes.

The first 5K the engine starts overheating and we had to stop about five times, take the car over and we offered the driver another car and he refuses.

He wants to fix the car.

And here you see it six hours later having the engine repaired and every 550, 500k we put a litre of water inside.

And now tonight he's going to repair the gasket of the car so we can continue the route.

But back in Holland, you're keen on rallying, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

I love Little Ad Neva, I love the Land Rover Defender 90s.

I love to go off road with the jeeps.

So what's the rallying scene like in Holland?

Well, it's not as fancy as it's here in the uk, I can tell you.

I love the time over here.

It's much more dirt, much more hills, mountains and roads to allow to drive than in the Netherlands.

And what's your opinion of Cumbria, where you are now?

The Lake District.

I love it.

I think we love it.

We made already a lot of lots of movies.

We couldn't find the campsite so we got from the nice lady upstairs two wines.

So yes, we love it.

Now around here are something.

Holland doesn't have hills, so it'll come as a.

Does it come as a surprise to you to find hills?

Oh no, I love hills so I do lots of mountain climbing.

So I knew when we came over here that we have to have some hill crossings.

So we have a nice, very good, interesting road book where it's described how many percentage of hills we get to expect.

And you've done some of well though you haven't.

You've got quite a few of the Lakeland passes and things like that to do yet, haven't you?

Yes, sir, definitely.

We have to go to.

But I have a very good driver so I'm looking forward to it.

How long does the rally last?

It lasts at least 12 days.

So we have about 10 days more to go.

Yeah.

So eventually you'll have driven round the coast of England, won't you?

Yes, sir, completely.

Then it's back to Holland.

Yes, first Belgium, then we have a barbecue and a party and then I will go back home to the Netherlands.

What's your next rally?

Probably the Setbox rally in Spain with the Lara Neva and I will join the Estonian guys.

So they're coming with you this time for that one.

Probably they need to bring one co pilot for me.

Darcy Bishop.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your rally as the co driver in a Moskvich.

It's unusual to see a Moskvich, I must say.

But once again, thanks very much.

Thank you very much.

Thank you indeed.

Exactly.

And it's just 30 years.

So he's just 30 years and I'm coming back to England to his home country.

Yes, indeed.

So it's an adventure, that little car.

So you're enjoying yourself?

I'm very tired right now.

This was a very, very special day.

We have a breakdown.

One of the shock absorbers failed on me.

So we have to fix that.

But all in all it was a very long trip and now it's time to go to bed.

For me, what's your opinion of Cumbria?

Cumbria, where you are.

Ah, it's a very interesting, nice landscape.

It's very beautiful.

And to return to the car, what have you done to prepare it?

Actually there was a hydrogas suspension that was original and I changed that to springs of an mgf.

So that's what we did.

We had to alter the car to do so Freak the colleague of Ram.

But yeah, that's about it.

That's about it, yeah.

So nothing, nothing dramatic.

It's just a normal car in many ways.

That's it.

So how many other events have you done with the car?

This is my third one.

I had two weekends with Shitbox Adventures.

That was quite intensive.

The hell of the north with the cobblestones and the Belgian border bangers.

But it was nothing compared with this trip.

So this is the longest and most intense one you will have done?

Yes, absolutely.

Are you likely to go to Spain or Argentina with them?

Oh, he went to Spain.

So that's John.

Spain.

Yeah.

The car we did and I bought the car.

If it works.

If it works.

And it does.

It does.

Right, yeah.

Davey, enjoy the rest of your shipbox.

Lord of the Isles, thank you very much.

All the best.

Thank you very much.

Here with Andrew, all the way from Estonia in his Moskvich.

Andrew, how's it going?

Oh, hell.

Hello.

So it's going almost good because your.

Moskovich is something of the star of the show at the moment, isn't it?

At the moment it's quite big star because we started and after 5km it broke down totally and blew the casket and now we driving like limp mode.

But at least we are in the checkpoint and I ordered the new casket, but meanwhile I need to handle my car.

And I need to drive with the car all the time because it's a little bit overheating.

I need to 100km.

I need to put the coolant.

Yeah.

I need to check the oil level all the time.

And the white smoke is coming out.

So.

It's like a fun, fun time in paradise.

But we can manage.

And no, we have like minor, minor problems too.

But that is so easy for us.

But we cannot wait to start again.

So has come then we need to take motor totally apart and then afterwards we put it back together and start driving again.

Right.

So how do you like Cumbria?

The hills won't really be favorable for the Moskvic at the moment, will they?

For today it was quite magnificent highways, because I cannot drive in the mountains.

It was quite heavy for me even drive with highway.

Yeah.

But in the last 55km was up and down, up and down.

And I must couple of times need to break down because it's overheating and white smoke was coming out.

So.

Yeah.

How old is the car?

Yeah, yeah, something like that.

And it's Soviet car.

We have now some beatings.

If you see the car.

We was in Africa with this car and last year we were in Polkan.

Africa was much better than this year and Balkan.

Then we have the engine, what we can drive.

And we have like lots of pittings with this car.

So I cannot wait till next breakdown and opportunity what I can do next.

I mean, I have to ask the question, why a Moskovich?

Because I'm crazy.

It's better than Lada.

I mean, in many ways that could have been the Lada's chief competitor, couldn't it?

We started driving with this car Mosquitz to Sierra Leone.

And I fell in love with the exact car.

In the beginning we want to that the car stay in the Sierra Leone.

Yeah.

But I fell in love in.

In Spain.

Then I was thinking, no, I cannot send this car.

I cannot let it be that car in the Sierra Leone.

I need to send it back.

Then Bram came up.

I asked him maybe can he pick it up.

Then in the beginning he started first love for the mosquitoes.

And now I want to make every, every year new, new challenges for me and the other crew.

So.

So I cannot wait the new ones.

I need to finish this one, but I cannot wait the next ones.

What's it like getting spare parts for them in Estonia?

It's quite easy.

You know it.

And you need to know some guys, then they can give you some parts.

And it's a little bit expensive sometimes, but sometimes it's not.

Sometimes like somebody have in the garage.

I have some spare parts.

You want something?

I can give it to you three.

Okay.

Yeah.

Sometimes it's like, oh, you want to buy me something?

Ah, give me money.

I know that you need some parts.

It depends.

So it.

Last year I was.

When I started driving with this car, totally remove brand new engine.

You never knows what's going happen next.

So you need a spare part and a lot.

But you will you buy another Moskovich or is it this one all the.

Way, if I'm quite honest.

I have three muskets.

Three Sapporo.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

And I have like some guys offering me same.

Do you want more mosquits?

Yes, yes.

So my collection, I think it's going quite big.

Buy some land to put my mosquitoes somewhere.

But it's.

Yeah, it is like spare parts.

If you buy like mosquits in Estonia, I buy it.

Last one.

€150 Fully mosquitoes.

But it's not registered, right?

Yeah, it's like just basically garbage.

So you can press it down and it's going to metal.

But for me it's like a gold mine.

Are you looked upon as maybe a little bit strange for liking Moskvich?

Or are they still a popular car where you are, where you are from?

We have Moskv's club over there.

When I drive, it's like a good mood car.

Because if you drive somewhere, everybody is putting your thumbs up and clapping you and put toot too.

Ah, you are the guy.

Oh, you are crazy guy.

But everybody loves this car.

Me too.

So it's totally normal.

And we have Mosquitoes club over there.

We have in Hungarian Mosquitoes Club number plate even here.

Yeah, that they gave us for the present.

And they're waiting every year for us to come and visit you.

I'd like to wish you all the best for the rest of the rally.

I hope you actually get to drive most of it with the body closed, not the body tool.

Nobody knows what's going to happen next.

So thank you very much.

Thank you very much once again.

Thanks very much indeed.

Take care and have a good time.

Here with Freak.

I hope I pronounced that correctly.

It's getting in the neighborhood.

Yeah,.

It's a difficult name for the English people.

That's why I always ask for the Dutch and the Belgians.

How do you pronounce your name?

And the other thing is, they're never spelt how you think it'll be spelt.

Yeah, it is.

Of course.

You're Bram's coal driver and fellow director of Shipbox Adventures.

True, true.

That is, you're in the la.

I mean, how's it going from the co driver's point of view?

Very good.

We switch positions every now and then.

So every time we.

I drive, he drives, it goes good.

The car is going good.

It's always crazy.

I've prepared the car really good.

So actually it's not that much of shitbox anymore.

But it still stays a lot of.

So it always goes wrong.

You've had a puncture and various things, but you decided to have them on the Hoydknot pass, didn't you, which is one of the steepest passes in Cumbria.

Yeah, yeah, it was.

And it was quite an adventure.

Because.

Did you have to push it uphill?

Well, the Lara did stop halfway the pass, so it just gave up.

But it's a known problem.

When it gets a bit too hot, it doesn't get any fuel and then it just stops.

Normally a car needs fuel.

I've heard about that, but I'm not sure, but probably it does.

And then we had to push it a bit further so we could get out of the way because they were already like 10, 10, 15 cars who were like waiting at both sides.

This was chaos, absolute chaos.

But I mean, this car does a lot.

It's been all over, hasn't it?

Yeah, it's been all over the world.

The only place we have to go is Australia and America, but we'll see about that.

Are you planning a rally out there?

We have some ideas.

We will.

There's nothing serious yet, but there will be some stuff like that in the Lada.

Of course in the Lada.

The Lada has to be everywhere.

The Lada is Shitbox Adventures.

How old is the car?

It is now more than 40 years old.

So it's already done quite a lot.

It's lived quite a good life.

What size engine is it?

It's a 1.6.

And it's pulling how much weight?

Over a ton?

Yeah, over a ton.

Yeah.

Because we have a lot of gear with us too.

We have a lot of beers.

Yes, good beers.

Our own beers.

And then some spare parts.

Not too much, but it's going over a thousand kilograms.

How do you go on getting parts for larders?

Are they easy to get?

Really easy.

And super cheap.

It's actually crazy.

We get them from Estonia and they come to us, to Belgium.

I work on cars.

I got an old timer shop, so I fix everything and it's actually quite easy.

You can get a whole lot of.

What sort of other old cars do you work on?

Actually, everything.

We do small restoration, complete restorations, and we have a lot of shit boxes like that.

Rover is also one of my clients.

So I was gonna say, do you ever find any of your clients get talked into doing this?

Yes, because you mainly.

We have.

Almost every time we have one car, one shit box car at our garage, and then everybody sees it and we start talking and, yeah, it works good.

What's the average value of a shitbox?

It depends.

We always try to keep it under a thousand euros, but you can get more.

We don't have any rules, so you can do whatever you want, but it can have consequences.

And I have to ask, what's the reaction when you get to the port to get on a ferry with these?

Always quite positive.

They're always looking, everybody's smiling, everybody giving thumbs up.

So it's always fun on the road.

You always get.

People get enthusiastic.

It's.

It's fun.

Three.

Yes.

Thank you very much for joining me on the backseat driver.

Enjoy the rest of the rally.

Will do.

I hope it runs well.

It should.

It should.

You're going up to the border country, as we call it, very spectacular, but it's not as hilly, so it should be a little bit better for you.

Oh, it will be quite beautiful, but a little less difficult.

Yeah.

The rolls tend not to point directly skywards.

Okay, that's good.

That's good.

But once again, fleek, thanks very much for joining me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Here with Yannis and Stan, both Belgium.

In fact, Stan is insistent.

He's Belgium with the Gulf.

It could also be described as the.

The beer cars.

How much beer have you got on board this vehicle?

We got eight barrels of 60 liter and a working tap between the seats.

Yeah.

So as the rally progresses, the car will get lighter.

Yes.

Every stage of every day, it will get lighter.

Do you intend replenishing the beer, adding to it again, or is it just the beer you've broken?

We're gonna start with this and then we have some nice liquor of the Estonian guys, and in Scotland, some whiskey, perhaps.

So, I mean, how's this little Volkswagen Golf going?

I mean, it's a lot of weight.

It wasn't really designed for this capacity, was it?

No, it got a rough time today.

It's not very fast.

It's just a simple diesel without a turbo, so it's quite slow.

But yeah, it's keep on running.

So it's a good car.

And how are you finding England?

Yeah, I love that.

Yeah, it's a nice country so far.

Nice view, nice roads.

And Cumbria where you are.

How do you like Cumbria?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,.

Yeah,.

I really like it.

Beautiful.

Currently sides.

But no, some of the roads you've.

Been on today tend to be a little bit vertical.

You look at the sky a lot.

And the quality is like Belgium road.

So that is that.

I didn't like to say that.

Belgium was always known for having the worst roads in Europe.

Now England has rapidly caught up Belgium.

We got one flat today, so we tried it and it was pretty bad.

So I always remember driving around the Brussels Ring road and it was like the moon's surface.

I was always happy that I was in a big Volkswagen Tuareg.

It seemed to be the most appropriate vehicle for the roads.

But which part are you looking forward to?

All of it or.

Ireland island is very spectacular where you're heading to.

I think the Scottish Highlands are really beautiful, I think.

But I never been here, so.

Not in England, not in Scotland.

So.

Yeah.

Do you think you'll come back?

Perhaps?

Yeah.

It's a nice country to be.

People are nice, everyone waves at our car, gives a thumbs up.

I mean, what's the reaction been to the car?

I mean, it's not exactly a standard Golf anymore, is it?

Oh, it's a big Belgian flag, so some people maybe doesn't like that, but.

Yeah, I mean, I noticed there's a chimney on the back.

It's not a chimney.

Go on, what is it?

It's air alarm.

Air raid alarm.

So it's from the Second World War.

Are you anticipating.

Warning for it?

Gentlemen, enjoy the rest of your rally.

Thanks very much for joining me on the backseat driver.

It's been a pleasure.

Thank you.

Have a nice evening.

Thank you.

And here is the aforementioned alarm.

Do you know, I'm positive I can see a Heinkel flying over it.

Well, there we are.

Shitbox Adventures.

Lord of the Isles, driving around England here on an absolutely beautiful night near the Cumbrian coast.

Absolutely fantastic.

These guys are determined to enjoy themselves.

The fact that the cars break down is part of it all.

The fact that the cars are old is part of it all.

The fact that the gulf is weighed down with beer is part of it all.

The fact that the Moskovich is required or will be requiring its second cylinder head gasket in the day is all part of it all.

So it's nice to see people driving cars.

They enjoy doing things they enjoy.

They're attracting other lot of very positive attention.

People think it's hysterical that they're doing this, but once again, this is, this is the shitbox in England.

They will be traveling all over the world as times goes by.

So the only thing I can say once again is thank you very much to Bram everybody else for joining.

It's me, Mark Stone on the Backseat Driver podcast.