Two friends from Fife are embarking on a 10,000-mile motoring adventure across the mountains, desert and steppe of Europe and Asia.
Kay Simpson, 70, and Anne MacAskill, 67, believe they are the oldest participants preparing for the madcap Mongol Rally.
The high octane challenge sets off from various points across Europe, with the winner being the fastest to arrive at Ulan in Russia, by whatever route.
Organisers have billed the rally as the greatest motoring adventure on the planet, adding that participants can expect to scrape to the finish line “with your vehicle in tatters and a wild grin smeared across your grubby face”.
On July 17, the pair from Kennoway will leave from Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex in a 23-year-old green Renault Trafic.
“We think we might be the oldest on the rally,” said Mrs MacAskill.
“But it’s mind over matter.
“My husband has ignored the fact that I’m doing this. He’s a worrier.”
Mrs Simpson initially planned to take part in this year’s rally with her partner Duncan, to celebrate their 70th birthdays.
But three years ago, Mr Simpson was tragically killed in an accident on the couple’s almond farm in Spain.
Determined to complete the challenge in his honour, Mrs Simpson asked her friend to step in.
“I can’t say no to a friend,” said Mrs MacAskill.
The women grew up on neighbouring farms in Kennoway and went on to share a flat as students in Edinburgh.
While Mrs Simpson went on to become a vet and live in Australia for a while, Mrs MacAskill bought a hotel on Skye and settled in Dunvegan on the island.
Mrs Simpson still runs the almond farm and splits her time between Spain and Oban.
Mrs MacAskill now works for a building firm. She has two grown-up children, Margaret and Daniel, the stunt cyclist famous for taking his bike up the Cuillin Ridgeline.
No stranger to adventure, Mrs Simpson has motorcycled around Australia and travelled the Trans-Siberian Highway.
Mrs Simpson added: “We might be the oldest competitors but hopefully not the slowest.
“My late husband and I had planned to do it to celebrate our 70th year.
“Anne stepped in. She is also a good cook so she can look after me and I will look after the van. We used to travel a lot together in our 20s so we are a good team.”
The adventurers are raising money for charity. For more information see their Facebook page The Gallivanting Quines – Mongol Rally 2016.
