2:00pm Thursday 2nd July 2009
By Sophie Edwards
A GROUP of friends will drive 1,400 miles across rough terrain in two clapped out old bangers.
The eight adventurous lads, from Billericay and Laindon, have signed up to take part in this year’s Wacky Rally, which will see them drive from Lille, in France, to Barcelona, in Spain, in two cars they bought for less than £200 each.
Their journey, which starts tomorrow morning, will take them across the Swiss Alps, negotiating dangerous passes, steep climbs and swift descents – better suited to a hardy 4x4 than two old Ford Mondeos.
The two teams will dress up as Miami-style gangsters for the entire four-day drive.
One of the drivers, Sam Weller, 33, of Stock Road, Billericay, said: “We signed up originally thinking it will be fun, a bit of silliness.
“But then we looked into it and realised how challenging it was.
“We’ve got two really cheap cars which we bought for less than £200 each off eBay.
“They’ve both been checked over, but covering all those miles could be tricky.”
Mr Weller said there was another potential problem – none of the drivers know anything about car mechanics.
As if driving through the Alps wasn’t enough of a challenge, the organisers behind the Wacky Rally will also be setting the teams challenges to complete, such as asking locals you meet along the way to translate phrases, or looking for treasure.
Another driver, Scott Roberts, 35, of Sparkbridge, Laindon, said the teams had already raised £2,000, which would go to Billericay charity, Hamlin House, and were hoping to raise more.
He said: “We’ll be driving some of the most treacherous routes in Europe. It’s going to be a real experience. We’ll be doing online updates everyday so people can track our progress.”
Providing both teams make it to Barcelona in one piece for the after-party, the plan is to drive the cars back to Billericay and sell them off for charity.
The team called Big Nose includes 30-year-olds Rob Brown, Andrew Brown, Chay Thurlow, and Kristian Gerchen.
The team called Is Not That Good includes Scott Roberts, 35, Dean Dickens, 30, Ben Weller, 30, and Sam Weller, 33.
To follow the teams, visit www.wackyrally.co.uk and look up Big Nose or Is Not That Good.
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