In 2007 we flew two specially modified Toyota 4x4 cars to Resolute Airfield, Canada, in the Arctic Circle in order to try to become the first motor vehicles to reach the magnetic North Pole.
Richard Thompson, now President of ACS North America, arranged the charter: “The usual method of transport to reach the northernmost point in the world is dog-sled. But a TV documentary team wanted to become the first to take cars to the pole, so we used a Hercules aircraft to fly in a Hilux and a Land Cruiser.
“They came in from Iceland where they had been modified for the expedition by a specialist company. They had taken months to change the standard specifications - modifications included 38 inch snow-studded tyres (and therefore larger wheelarches), a 180 litre long-range diesel fuel tank, satellite phone and a shotgun holster (for potential polar bear attacks)!
“Setting off from Resolute on 25th April 2007, and despite one of the vehicles becoming trapped when it fell partly through the ice at one point (it had to be pulled free by the other vehicle), the team successfully completed the expedition and reached the magnetic pole on 2nd May 2007.”
