May 7, 2023 - Continuing our video journey through life in Croatia with the Paul Bradbury Croatia Expert YouTube channel, a Croatian journey crossing the Sahara in an electric car. Whyever not?

What happens when you combine a Tesla car, a bottle of rakija and two crazy Croats?

"Did you know that a Tesla has never crossed the Sahara Desert?"

"Why am I not surprised?" "Shall we become the first?"

And so, a few years ago, a crazy journey was conceived by Sasa Cvetojevic and Oleg Mastruko, to drive Sasa's Tesla across the Sahara Desert as part o the Budapest to Bamako Rally.

I was fortunate to join them for the start of the race, accompanying them from Zagreb to the Hungarian capital. The story of the first attempt to drive a Tesla electric car across the Sahara.

Video produced by Igor Vuk of Wolf Media.

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October 24, 2020 - Adria Business Network # 11 was held at the FORUM Congress Center in Zagreb, organized by entrepreneurs Željka Barišić, owner of Forca Digital Agency and Kristina Krstinić, owner of MIKRIS Project Management.

The event's goal is business networking in Croatia and the region, creating business opportunities, and encouraging continuous education. The event offers all participants the opportunity to get to know each other better and network better and in a targeted way.

The guest lecturer was investor and entrepreneur Saša Cvetojević, founder and owner of many companies, communicator of the year in 2014, member of the Croatian jury for the EY Award - Entrepreneur of the Year, an active promoter of e-mobility, the first owner of a Tesla electric car in the region and the first person to cross the Sahara Desert by electric car.

The organizers and hosts said the following about the atmosphere at the event:

"An extremely successful opening of the second season of our event in which our guest inspired us all with his many years of entrepreneurial experience and some anecdotes, which gave the whole conversation a special charm. This time there were mostly new faces in the audience, which makes us especially happy. In addition to loyal visitors, we always want to offer a chance for new acquaintances and quality networking. I would say that the selection of the guest was a complete success and that the three-hour gathering gave enough positive energy to prepare for the next event, which we will start today," said Željka Barišić, owner of Forca Digital Agency and one of the founders of Adria Business Network.

Kristina Krstinić, owner of MIKRIS Project Management in Zagreb and also the founder of Adria Business Network, said the following about the event:

“I am very pleased that the new season started so successfully. Entrepreneurs have recognized us as an event where they can learn a lot, and with good company and networking, make some lucrative business. Our guest Saša Cvetojević told us a little more about the challenges he faced and gave us some positive guidelines and advice for the future. The panel was also attended by those present with their questions, which contributed to the great atmosphere and the exchange of interesting views and thoughts."

The diamond partner of the event is A1. The silver sponsor is FINA and ManpowerGroup.

The event sponsors are the Bagatin Polyclinic, the FORUM Zagreb Congress Center, and Kreativ info. Partners are Vladimir Abicic Photography, Aero Print, Kupinovo vino - Kupilek, Valenta Wines, and MY MY CONCEPT.

The event's media partners are the magazine and portal Poduzetnik, magazine and portal Zaposlena, Netokracija, She.hr, Zagrebonline.hr, Rep.hr, Glas Istre, Flash.hr, Moja Domovina, Total Croatia News, Fama, ZgExpress, and Radio 92 FM.

The next Adria Business Network event will occur on November 17, 2020, at 6 pm at FORUM Zagreb, Radnička Cesta 50, on the 1st floor.  The guest of the event is Jako Andabak, owner of the hotel group Bluesun Hotels & Resorts.

To read more about business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

July 28, 2019 - They were the first people to cross the Sahara in a Tesla last year, and the Crazy Gang have reunited to take on Put Foot Rally 2019 in southern Africa. 

Early last year, two dear friends, Sasa Cvetojevic and Oleg Mastruko, picked me up for the motorway entrance near Varazdin and drove me to Budapest. A small part of me thought that I would never see them again. 

The reason for the journey was that they were attempting to become the first people ever to drive a Tesla through the Sahara Desert on the Budapest to Bamako Rally. Given that the range of a Tesla is about 400 km and the Sahara a little longer than that, I genuinely thought they were nuts. 

I decided to interview them before the trip, as I wanted to have some memories for their unborn grandchildren about what Adventurer Grandad was like. 

I went with them to Budapest for the start of the rally, then watched their journey into the Sahara and beyond. They were accompanied by a third member of the team, from Czechia, Tomas Ceh Bez-Fejsa. 

And they did it! incredible achievement. 

The crazy three guys are now back in Africa and joined by a fourth member, Marin Frcko. They are taking part in the 2019 Put Foot Rally across six countries in southern Africa. The official website describes the rally like this:

Is it a race? NO…

Is it a test of survival and endurance? MAYBE… 

Is it an EPIC African Adventure with challenges around every corner, wild animals, deserts, canyons, mountain ranges, forests, lakes, oceans and national parks… a chance to meet great people, experience different foods, cultures and traditions the most incredible opportunity to see the very best of Africa?

You can get a flavour of the rally from this great video overview from a previous participant, who looks a little more attractive than our Tesla Saharan heroes.

The four will be divided into two teams - Oleg and Marin in Fat Buryats powered by BOSCH, Sasa and Tomas in Foot Rally Africa Powered by RWE.

The rally starts in Cape Town, before heading into Namibia, Botwana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, with the possibility of ending in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) if they don't make it that far. 

There will be regular updates on the two team Facebook pages above, and you can learn more about the rally from the official rally website. 

Mate Rimac recalls the offer he received for his beloved company, which he of course turned down.

January 28, 2018 - History is made, as not only has Croatian Team Tesla - Powered by RWE become the first electric car to cross the Sahara Desert, but also the first to complete the gruelling Budapest to Bamako Rally.

After a period of radio silence,our intrepid Croatian adventurists, Sasa Cvetojevic and Oleg Mastruko, are making fantastic progress in their bid to become the first electric car to complete the Budapest to Bamako Rally. A fantastic update from Oleg on their recent travails on January 24, 2018. 

The first electric car to take part in the Budapest to Bamako Rally is at the gates of the Sahara. Tesla passenger and pioneer Oleg Mastruko filed his first progress report on Bug.hr on January 17, 2018.

The 2018 Budapest to Bamako Rally kicked off on January 12, 2018, with the usual array of crazy vehicles. And a new addition - the first electric car attempting to make it across the Sahara. TCN joined Team Tesla - RWE for the beginning of what will be a fascinating (and possibly record-breaking) 16 days. 

Welcome to Kratke Rukave TV, a new video interview feature on TCN, which launches on December 22, 2017, with a really interesting chat with two crazy Croats who are attempting to be the first (as far as we know) to cross the Sahara in a Tesla on the Budapest to Bamako rally next month. Fantastic and crazy idea - now let's take a closer look... 

Cvetojević wants to build a logistics platform for small and medium-sized companies which are increasingly turning towards e-business.