don't use /etc/fstab to mount USD External MyBook HDs on ubuntu

I have had problems booting my system (HP Proliant ML110) running ubuntu 10.04.1 (64 bit). If for some reason one of the drives is not responsive the system wouldn't boot.  So instead I mount my mybook hard drives with a script:

#!/bin/sh

UUIDS="d4b57836-3897-4264-a5d3-ba0d8d21ce8c \
289af6ab-aea5-4b68-b4b1-28fd71e9ceee \
4d8df696-264f-413a-883c-92622d6d50aa \
aae0aa05-c167-4605-8ab9-6e52e4c992db \
c2ba49c4-627d-4074-9dcf-74216314f4a1 \
c6500c6e-b224-42a2-8ddc-2b8c10d8f4fa"

for uuid in $UUIDS
do
        if [ ! -e /media/$uuid/MOUNTED ]
        then
                sudo mount -t auto /dev/disk/by-uuid/$uuid /media/$uuid
                sleep 1
        else
                echo "$0 Good $uuid is mounted."
        fi
done