The 2011 Overlander of the Year Award.
Mac Mackenney
Opinions aside, It would be fairly easy to decide the best sports player of 2011. The people who decide that sort of thing have more statistics on points scored and completed plays than the government likely has on Botswana. This is the difficulty with saying what quantifies someone to be the best Overlander. We can’t measure that person by the amount of strike-outs they’ve achieved, nor can we ethically measure the person by the media coverage surrounding them. How would you feel if Ewan McGreggor was named the Overlander of the Year, solely by mention of Long Way Down program? It had to be someone who's philanthropical efforts were also considered alongside their expeditionionary achievements. Someone who strived to make a change in our community, and helped to educate and foster the idea that true exploration happens outside of your television set and computer screen.
The Curriculum Vitae of an Adventurer.
‘Arctic Warfare and Survival Training,’ ‘Camel Trophy,’ ‘Everest Expedition,’ ‘North Pole Expedition’. These are but a few of the things you’ll casually pick-up as you read through Mac’s nothing short of impressive CV. He’s participated or lead 19 Expeditions since 1996 with some of the biggest, and best names known throughout the world, with his company Max Adventure. [link] It was clear that Mac Mackenney was the 2011 Overlander of the Year.
Here's some excerpts from Mac's CV:
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY:
Mac joined the British Army at 19 as a helicopter technician specialising in Arctic Warfare and Survival, before transferring to the Royal Air Force as a pilot. Defence cuts meant an early end to his flying career, so he packed his rucksack and worked as an Expedition Leader driving back-packers around east and southern Africa in a 16-ton truck.
In need of greater challenges, he applied to the arduous Camel Trophy competition where he represented the UK at the international selections. This led to being selected by Sir Ranulph Fiennes [link] for the Land Rover Global Expedition to celebrate their 50th year and then to act as his right-hand man for his last North Pole expedition. Mac continues to act as an expedition consultant to Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
In 1994, Mac founded Max Adventure Ltd, a company specialising in expedition logistics, planning and leadership. Such clients include Land Rover, London 2012 Olympics, Royal Geographical Society [link] and the Caudwell Xtreme Everest expedition [link]. For the Everest expedition he was the Logistics Manager for what was the largest ever medical research expedition at high altitude, organising 150,000 items in their 1,000 containers to the 7 medical laboratories from Kathmandu to the summit.
Mac specialises in vehicle-based expeditions and has led teams in establishing four long-distance driving records and was part of the first team to swim an amphibious vehicle across the Bering Strait. He has technical training on trucks, cars and generators; broad driving experience from Arctic to desert conditions and has a background in Arctic operations, African overland and Himalayan expeditions.
He founded Ecosalvage, an organisation set up to clear rubbish from inaccessible locations around the world and Max Vehicle Training, to train Aid workers in 4x4 driving before embarking on overseas tours.
In October 2010, under the Patronage of Sir Stirling Moss [link], Mac and the Max Adventure team established a new record for driving between London and Cape Town. Dating back to the 1930’s when the first ‘high-speed’ run took place, the current record now stands at 11 days 14 hours 11 minutes, beating the previous one which stood unbeaten for 47 years.
PROFILE:
An experienced expedition leader with professional training and good interpersonal skills. A proven ability to work under both extreme physical and mental pressure in a position of leadership or as a highly motivated team member.
A professionally trained technician on helicopters; vehicles; motorbikes and various generator appliances. A qualified driver, with broad ranging experience from Arctic to Desert conditions in varying types of vehicles. Skilled, versatile, adaptable and resourceful.
Able to operate in arduous conditions, with a background in Arctic operations, Himalayan expeditions and African overland expeditions.
KEY SKILLS:
- Vehicle expeditions and endurance driving records a speciality
- Experienced in all aspects of expedition planning and operations
- Experienced in working in remote areas independently from any support
- Ability to adapt and use available resources
- Able to carry out highly technical operations, under pressure and in extreme conditions
- Skilled in leading advance parties on major expeditions
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Record holder - London to Cape Town endurance drive
- Expedition; Logistics; Base Camp & Comms Manager for Caudwell Xtreme Everest Expedition
- Arctic Base Leader & Right-Hand man on Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ North Pole Expedition
- Record Holder - 131 (UK & Eire) Counties Endurance Drive
- Record Holder - 105 (UK) Counties Endurance Drive
- Record Holder - Cape Cold to Cape Hot Endurance Drive
- Represented United Kingdom during Camel Trophy Kalimantan ’96 International Selections
EXPEDITIONS:
- 2010 - London to Cape Town - Driving Record - Leader
- 2010 Xtreme Alps - Medical Research - Logistics
- 2009 Moss Marathon - Driving Challenge - Leader
- 2008 Cape to Cape - First Amphibious Crossing of the Bering Strait - Logistics
- 2007 Caudwell Xtreme Everest - Medical Research - Logistics
- 2006 Xtreme Everest Cho Oyu II Expedition - Medical Research - Logistics
- 2003 Trans-Sahara Expedition - Vehicle Overland - Leader
- 2000 Cape Cold to Cape Hot 2000 – Driving Record - Leader
- 2000 Cape Cold to Cape Hot – Spain Reconnaissance - Leader
- 2000 Cape Cold to Cape Hot – Norway Reconnaissance - Leader
- 2000 Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ EXEL North Pole Expedition Base - Leader
- 1999 Europe’s Highest Challenge Expedition Vehicle - Leader
- 1998 131 Counties Challenge - Driving Record - Leader
- 1998 105 Counties Challenge - Driving Record Leader
- 1998 Transglobal Expedition - Canada Reconnaissance - Logistics
- 1997 Land Rover Global Expedition - France Reconnaissance - Logistics
- 1997 Land Rover Global Expedition - Alaska Reconnaissance - Logistics
- 1997 Land Rover Global Expedition - Ireland Reconnaissance - Logistics
- 1996 Camel Trophy Kalimantan - UK Team
