Gumball

[volospian]

If you guys seriously just want to do a Europe roadtrip, I'd suggest you just get a few mates together, book a few hotels or whatever and do it yourselves.

The trouble with a lot of these banger rally things is that you can end up paying out a sizeable sum to enter (that one is £200 entry fee, then a car that costs less than £250 and getting that ready, etc.) and then still regretting it all. A mate went on the Scumball Rally a couple of years ago and said that the antics of some of the other entrants made him ashamed to be British.

At least with mates you can pretty much guarentee a good time, and you won't have to pay entrance fees, or have to buy cars specifically for the event, etc.

[Pheebs]

I couldn't do a banger one because if my car broke down the only way I could get it moving again would be to push it

I'd be stuck on one spot! Hahaha!

[divine]

Originally Posted by volospian

Well, Calais to Messina is slightly longer than 455 miles. Besides, if the race was only 455 miles, and you were cruising at 100mph, why would you need 3 guys? I can drive on my own for more than 4.5 hours straight without needing a kip.

I know that

The 455 miles i'm talking about is getting onto the highway in Italy, which you then do not come off of until you are at the south of Italy, it's just 455 miles on one single road.

I just thought things may be a bit more interesting if certain checkpoints were added with proof, such as a photograph of the town clock in X or something along those lines. Just thought it would spice things up a little.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by volospian

Providing your banger doesn't break down. Then it becomes extremely tedious extremely quickly. I know that from experience too (although it wasn't my car that broke down, it was a mates. They did get home eventually, mind).

European breakdown cover is inexpensive and takes care of everything. The only worry is caused bu not taking out said insurance.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by volospian

A mate went on the Scumball Rally a couple of years ago and said that the antics of some of the other entrants made him ashamed to be British.

At least with mates you can pretty much guarentee a good time, and you won't have to pay entrance fees, or have to buy cars specifically for the event..

I know the organiser of Scumball and it was promoted that way, and all of the rallies are far more professional now.
Taking a banger allows the team to do the event, have a few days at the destination then scrap it and fly home. Driving there and back isn't tor everyone. It's cheaper to fly home and also it takes up less of your hard earned holiday entitlement.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by Kitten

That. Looks. AMAZING!

If you're interested, feel free to PM/email me and I can give you more information and advice on taking part.

[IainB]

Originally Posted by Burble

That's what I'm planning to do.

And me.... (subject to finances come D Day)
Honk it down, slow back up (and let the car recover!)

[volospian]

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

European breakdown cover is inexpensive and takes care of everything. The only worry is caused bu not taking out said insurance.

They had breakdown cover. You make it sound like some big fairy with a magic wand who will instantly make everything alright. They waited for 2 hours on the side of a 2 lane autoroute for the breakdown truck to arrive, which took them to a German garage, where no-one spoke English. The garage then closed for lunch for 2 hours. The mechanic then decided he needed to ascertain the damage before they could continue. an hour or so later he then presented them with a bill for 1200 euros to repair it, or they could pay to scrap it, and get a recovery back to Calais, then travel over on the train as passengers, then wait in Folkestone for a driver to take them home. I believe they got home around 3am.

Going home a couple of hours out of Calais, after forking out all that cash to enter, isn't all that much fun. Your breakdown cover won't reimburse you your entry fees, hotel cancellations and so on. You may be able to claim some of those expenses on holiday insurance, I suppose, but I doubt they'd cover the purchase cost of the scrapped vehicle, the entry fees and so on...

[A Place of Light]

^
Who did they get their breakdown insurance from, because it certainly wasn't any of the majors. I've got personal experience of the AA's service and It's nothing like you describe.

[Pheebs]

BUMP! Any more thoughts on this...!?!?

I might be a two wheeler now! O_o!!