Banger rally

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A banger rally is a rally race in a car that is past its best in terms of condition, either mechanically or bodywork wise.

Banger rallies chiefly appears to be a UK based phenomenon and most involve driving through Europe to various destinations. Many rallies use different routes, different rules and for many different reasons. They are open to anyone willing, or mad enough, to coax an old car from one place to its destination (and most likely resting place)! A banger rally can be done to raise money for a charity, for your own achievement or just because you can!

Although the cars are supposed to be bangers they all must be legal - needed a valid MOT and Road Tax for the UK - and they should meet all legal requirements for the countries that the car will attempt to pass through.

Some events have a limit on how much a participant can spend on buying a car in the first place, normally a few hundred pounds at most. The car can then be prepared, this can also have budget restrictions, but this doesn't normally stop people from making some 'choice' improvements, such as a new paint job with a roller, brush or spraycans, musical horns, flashing lights or even customising to a theme: Knight Rider, A-team, cartoon characters, film, etc. Normally a costume is also adopted to complete the look.

These events can be utilised to raise money for worthwhile charities, but people also take part on these rallies because of the opportunity to have fun, travel, try new food, visit interesting places, see some fantastic scenery and revel in the camaraderie of fellow ralliers. And where ever you get bangers, you get breakdowns, and what better way to make friends then to go to aid of a fellow driver! It's all a challenge and a unique and memorable way to spend a week away from the dull English weather!

1 Places to search for a banger
2 The Rise of the Banger Rally
3 Banger Rallies
4 References

[edit] Places to search for a banger

Local newspaper adverts
ebay motors
Online car forums
Word of mouth
Main dealers may have part-exchange cars they are willing to part with cheaply

[edit] The Rise of the Banger Rally

The banger rally originally came from Julian Nowill in 2002 who came up with an idea of taking bangers, sub £100 vehicles to Dakar. A fairly lengthy mission, which he accomplished quite successfully over the Christmas of 2002 and the 2003 New Year. The event was called Plymouth Dakar (now called Plymouth-Banjul Challenge)^[1]

Julian Nowill also started the 2004 london - tashkent rally, which following two successful runs to Kazakhstan is now taking entries for the 2009 adventure, which will have it's grand finale watching England play Kazakhstan in the World cup qualifiers.

From the Plymouth Dakar mailing lists came and idea for a shorter banger rally, the Banger Rally for Wage Slaves. The problem with PD was that it took nearly 3 weeks to complete over Christmas and New Year, and many people are unable to take such time off, especially with family commitments over the festivities. So, a 4 day event was proposed, and that became Staples2Naples.

Staples2Naples first ran in October 2003 from CitiEurope in Calais, or more exactly Coquelles from the Port D'Angleterre entrance of the mall, and finised in Naples four days later. 18 teams took part, and nearly 18 finished. Maybe.

Plymouth Dakars second year saw a huge uptake of teams, so many that the event was split into groups to keep the numbers low. Staples2Naples also went from strength to strength with a similar uptake of teams, desperate to break down in Europe. Which they did in style.

Another banger rally event joined the pack in 2004 with Mongol Rally making an appearance. Mongol Rally truly stretched things out with a 10,000 mile route in cars with 1 litre or less. The Mongol certainly made an impression and is still going.

The 2005 was slightly different. Whilst Plymouth Dakar and Mongol went from strength to strength, Staples2Naples was joined by Home2Rome and both were branded under the StreetSafari name.

At the end of the 2005 season, Barcelona Bangers was created from a team in Staples2Naples 2005, Scally Rally 2006 was created from a team on Home2Rome 2005, and a few months later Ramshackle Rally stormed into view.

2006 saw Crumball Rally emerging from a team from Barcelona Bangers 2006.

StreetSafari added to its range of events in 2006 with CzechWrecks and also put on the first American Banger Rally ever, with BigApple2BigEasy (BABE Rally), running from New York to New Orleans. The American banger rally is different from both the Endurance and European banger rallies, however the Adventure Research League of North America's San Francisco to Shanghai Charity Drive incorporates some characteristics of the Mongol Rally and other banger rallies and is run completely for charitable purposes.

October 2007 has seen the launch of the Charity Rallies website set up by a charity called Go Help that is run by a group that includes ex-Mongol Rally organisers.

Launching in 2008 RAG Rally mantra is fun, fun and more fun and raising stacks of cash along the way for great charities. In 2009 RAG Rally will be the first to rally the Pan-American Highway, starting from Las Vegas, all the way down to Panama in a crap car, dodging bandits, snakes and bearded women.

[edit] Banger Rallies

Plymouth - Dakar Plymouth - Banjul Challenge. Started in 2002 by Julian Nowill the name was originally Plymouth to Dakar. Due to popularity of the original, an additional run called 'The Bamako Run' has been added. All vehicles must be LHD as they are given away at the end off the rally. They have a comprehensive site.

Street Safari was conceived in 2003 by Justin Clements and runs several well-known rallies: Staples2Naples, Home2Rome, CzechWrecks, Calais2Casablanca and an America based venture The BABE rally - New York to New Orleans. 2008 includes several new events including Valhalla Run, and Alpine Run. They have a comprehensive site.

London - Tashkent London - Taskent Challenge. Started in 2004 by Julian Nowill and Oren Paynton with the same Plymouth-dakar rules applying. Buy a £100 car. Drive it 5000 miles to Central Asia, to watch Kazakhstan play England in the 2010 football World Cup qualifier LEAVING 20th MAY 2009. Taking in the Nurburgring race track, Auschwitz, Chernobyl, Stalingrad, a Desert, the Aral sea (or lack of), a working space launch site, various pubs/hangovers, various countries, various cities..... donate the car for charity and fly home. 11 days of work needed. They have a comprehensive site.

Mongol Rally Started in 2004 with 6 teams on a run to Mongolia.

Barcelona Bangers Calais to Barcelona

Ramshackle Rally. Established by Greg Powell-Rees in 2005 the Ramshackle Rally has quickly become a favorite of the rally fans. They organise three events and all of their rallies run between 1st August and the 30th September each year. The PPC Magazine (Practical Performance Car) said that they ran "Britains biggest and best banger rallies" in their November 2007 issue. Their routes vary in difficulty and distance. They have an excellent website.

Scally Rally Runs a different route each year over 4 days, each day has a set of challenges issued at the start line with the idea that teams score points instead of racing each other. Scally Rally donates a portion of the entry fee directly to charity as well as encouraging entrants to raise moneyfor a charity of their own choice. Routes: 2006-Calais to Madrid 2007-Calais to Rimini 2008-Belfast to Cork [1]Calais to Rimini [2]

Sucata Run A rally set up in 2006 to raise money for UK-based education and international development charity Gemin-i.org. Taking place annually over the summer Bank Holiday weekend, teams from Rouen to Cabo da Roca in Portugal; Europe's most westerly point. The rally culminates in a sunset beach party over looking the Atlantic.

Crumball Rally The Crumball Rally themed on some favourite car and driving films. Taking in some of the best roads in Europe and visiting several of the most famous film settings, all in some of Europe's worst cars....current events are themed on "the Italian Job" and a James Bond inspired dash to Venice, "Thundercrawl".

Coyote Rally A rally set up to help the participants raise money for their preferred charity. This takes place every year at the beginning of April, starting in Calias, visiting Paris Munich, Prague and finishing in Amsterdam 4 days later.

The Motoscape Rally 7 countries, 7 days, 1500 miles, Calais to Krakow.

RAG Rally Launching in 2008 RAG Rally's mantra is fun, fun and more fun and raising stacks of cash along the way for great charities. In 2009 RAG Rally will be the first to rally the Pan-American Highway, starting from Las Vegas, all the way down to Panama in a crap car, dodging bandits, snakes and bearded women.

New Rallies for 2008:

RAG Rally Our mantra is fun, fun and more fun and raising stacks of cash along the way for great charities. In 2009 RAG Rally will be the first to rally the Pan-American Highway, starting from Las Vegas, all the way down to Panama in a crap car, dodging bandits, snakes and bearded women.

Run From The Sun - from London to Altai, Russia. Passing through Novosibirsk in Siberia to see the total eclipse of the sun on the 1st of August 2008.
Mongolia Charity Rally - 100% charitable rally to Mongolia, leaving throughout the year. Part of the Charity Rallies network.
Pyramid Rally to Egypt - London to Cairo Easter 2008. Part of the Charity Rallies network.
Road Trek Morocco Quirky road trip from Merseyside to Morocco over Easter 2008 with crazy challenges along the route.
Leicester to Athens
Routemaster Rampage A novel rally from London to Cape Town along the Eastern coast of Africa. The Routemaster rampage is carried out on traditional London Routemaster buses and will debut in 2008. Part of the Charity Rallies network
Hong Kong Rally - London to Hong Kong charity rally in aid of COCOA (Care of China's Orphaned and Abandoned children).
Rally Europe - Started in 2008 with the first run scheduled for November 08. The route starts in Calais, stopping off at Frankfurt, Prague, Bratislava and Munich on the way around to Amsterdam. This Rally takes participants on a full circle of Europe. So instead of finishing up hundreds of miles from home, you end a few hours from the boat home. Rally Europe are said to be offering many more routes by the end of 2009 that will be different to anything else done before.
Banger rally to Barcelona - Barmy to Barcelona. This rally starts in northern France, heading south to take in some high Swiss, French and Italian mountain passes. Then on to the French Rivera before finally finishing in the stylish Spanish city of Barcelona