AntonUK
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| posted on 1/9/15 at 08:25 PM |
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Banger Rallies
Me and the wife want to do a banger rally next year. Having had a look on google there appears to be loads of organisers with varying
budget/styles/routes etc.
Have any of you locost'ers had a go? any Tips/Tricks/recommendations?
Budget wise we would be happy playing up to £500 for the car, and distance wise we think Eastern Europe would be a plenty big enough challenge for a
pair of newbies...
Build Photos Here
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twybrow
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| posted on 1/9/15 at 10:25 PM |
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We did Czech Wrecks a few years back - Calais, via Switzerland, Italy, Germany etc to Prague. We bought a long wheel bases Volvo 960, which we
promptly wrapped very badly in zebra print vinyl - it was awesome! Sadly, the A/C pump seizing half way up a mountain meant some rather intriguing
bodging was needed. We had just completed the bungee jump from the opening scenes of Goldeneye, and walked back to the car ready to continue our
journey with huge grins. Sadly, the car was dead, as the dead pump had stopped the car would not start with the seized pump (despite clearly running
with it before). We used the webbing strap from a sleeping bag, a needle and thread to make a new bodge-it-belt to bypass the A/C. It just about got
us to our overnight stay, where we also noted the bunk bed slats were made from similar webbing. We sat up until 3am sewing more belts (being careful
not to move too much on the beds!). Sadly, they only got us 50 miles or so to a lovely town called Bellinzola, in Switzerland. As it was a weekend and
everything was shut, we were stuck until we could get a belt on the Monday morning. We drove from there to Prague in one hit, won the best bodge
award, and then drive all the way back to the UK via the 'ring (a dodgy Volvo, on even dodgier tyres, in torrential rain is rather fun to hustle
around the ring!). Overall, it was a great experience!
Some tips:
- you need to throw yourself into it. Outfits, decorating your car, partying etc, are all part and parcel
- always service your car before you go. I did, but my comrades didn't want me to replace the slightly rumbly brake discs. Good god was that
annoying for 3000 miles and certainly didn't give confidence when going for vmax on the autobahns (130mph, and it felt about 70mph too
fast!!)
- pick a car you can easily work on, and you know the ins and outs of - ideally, drive it for a week or two before you go
- dont under estimate the total costs. We were 4 up, and it cost us £800 each by the time it was all added up (travel, fuel, accommodation, food,
beer!)
- pack a tent and sleeping bags, just in case - we didn't and had to draw straws as to who got to sleep in the car vs the ditch
I cant resit posting a photo of one of the cars that has now completed the rally about 4 times. It is owned by a mechanic who lives in Prague - it
started out as a 2CV. The first year, he removed the rear wheels and fitted a single central wheel. It overturned when a lorry over took him on his
2nd rally. On his 3rd (the one we did), he reinstated the 4th wheel, but narrowed the entire vehicle (a 1.5CV?!). It has gone on to complete a load
more - each time driving from Prague to the start point in Calais, and then the 1800 miles back to Prague - unbelievable!
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hkp57
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| posted on 2/9/15 at 12:31 PM |
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We are planning on doing Rust2Rome next summer.
Got myself a bargin of a Mercedes E320
www.rust2rome.com
Fleet
SKC Raptor R - Hayabusa
Toyota C-HR Hybrid Limited Edition
Honda VFR1200 CrossTourer
DCT
Marlin Roadster 1800
Mercedes Vito 116 Sport
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loggyboy
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| posted on 2/9/15 at 12:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by twybrow
Calais, via Switzerland,
Thats a funny route!
Mistral Motorsport
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AntonUK
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| posted on 2/9/15 at 07:50 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by hkp57
We are planning on doing Rust2Rome next summer.
Got myself a bargin of a Mercedes E320
www.rust2rome.com
That looks pretty good, plenty included in the joining fee too. Which one are you doing?
Build Photos Here
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hkp57
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| posted on 2/9/15 at 07:57 PM |
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August one, via the French Alps
Fleet
SKC Raptor R - Hayabusa
Toyota C-HR Hybrid Limited Edition
Honda VFR1200 CrossTourer
DCT
Marlin Roadster 1800
Mercedes Vito 116 Sport
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