My Mercedes is Not for Sale

May 19, 2008
In his travel narrative, Bergeijk chronicles his three-month trip along the Trans-Sahara Highway to sell his used Mercedes 190 D. His primary goal is to turn a pretty profit, but he hopes for a little adventure in the process. And he finds it: being chased by two unknown cars in Morocco, getting his car stuck in a mine field and maneuvering through corrupt border officials. Unfortunately, while Bergeijk experiences events that would harrow the soul of any ordinary traveler, he does not fully bring the adventure to life. What propels the narrative, though, are his portrayals of desert towns where sand is everywhere—“in your bag, in your food, even in your underwear”—and where everything looks desolate. Likewise, the historical background on early explorations of Saharan Africa (by men like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Capt. James Riley and Mungo Park) and on the attempt to build a trans-Sahara railroad add texture to his own excursion. In the end, Bergeijk provides an illuminating introduction to Saharan Africa and the economic implications of its used car trade. Photos.

May 15, 2008
Dutch journalist van Bergeijk's idea for making a nice profitbuying an old used car in Amsterdam and reselling it for profit in the Third Worldturned into an adventure worth more than the few hundred dollars the transaction eventually netted him. He hatched the plot while he was attending a friend's wedding in West Africa and hailed a cab, a Mercedes 190D, sporting a Dutch soccer-team decal. Was the driver a fan? No; in fact, the cab had spent the first part of its life in the Netherlands. After purchasing a rusted-out 1988 Mercedes 190D for himself, van Bergeijk toured the Mercedes factory, sought the wisdom of drivers who had successfully crossed the Sahara, and stocked up on maps, guidebooks, and other materialsincluding a bar of soap and a pair of pantyhose. He was assured these were necessary for shepherding his car across the desert. This account of his adventures combines the musings of Robert M. Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", historic African travel writing, and the excitement of the Dakar rally. Recommended for medium to large public libraries.Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2008
Van Bergeijk decided he could make a few bucks by buying a rusted-out 1988 Mercedes 190 Diesel in Amsterdam and reselling it in a Third World country. The clunker had 220,000 kilometers on its odometer. The three-month trip takes him from Holland through Morocco, across the Sahara, and into a variety of countries in Africa. Along the way, he runs into such obstacles as minefields, banditry, and a teenage desert guide who loves Tupac lyrics. There isnt much food or water, but there is no shortage of sandstorms. He is equipped with a bar of soap, some duct tape, and a pair of womens nylons to patch up his cars many breakdowns. Theres much more, including a coup that he somehow survived. This has all the makings of a horrendous journeyand it isbut his dauntless, lighthearted style of writing makes the trip sound almost like a romp.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)