RealBrawnGP.com does Bangers4BEN
By Phil Huff
November 3 2009
RealBrawnGP.com will be disappearing for a few days, but not for a well deserved holiday. No, instead we'll be stuck inside an old Audi 90 that cost £120, and taking on the 1,800 mile challenge of Bangers4BEN, raising money for BEN, the automotive and allied trade benevolent fund.
The car above may look in good condition, but don't be fooled. Last week it decided to shed half its radiator and hoses on to the A14 near Cambridge, so it's by no means a foregone conclusion that we'll finish the route.
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That route, incidentally, starts at BEN's head office in Ascot. From there we'll be driving northwards, stopping overnight at Inverness. We'll then head further north to the very tip of the country, John o' Groats, before turning round and heading back to Berwick-upon-Tweed. We'll visit one of BEN's residential care homes that evening, before heading to SportNetwork's head office the next morning for a breakfast and PR. Then it's off to Brooklands, where Mercedes-Benz World are kindly letting us explore their facility in a fleet of clapped out old motors.
So that's 1,800 miles followed by high speed laps of a racing circuit, in cars that cost almost nothing and may not work. Genius idea.
To make matters worse, we then have to take the Audi to BCA Auctions where it'll get sold off, with all proceeds going to BEN. We won't even get a bus fare home.
We're up against some stiff competition, notably three manufacturers and 10 car dealers. One of the manufacturers entered is Honda, who are putting two cars in. As a matter of pride, we'd like to beat them...
We've got to thank SportNetwork for the support we're getting, as well as Mitchell Signs who produced the vehicle livery. Invent Partners were kind enough to produce a new website at CimaRacing.co.uk to keep people updated, and huge thanks have to go out to Vindi's Audi in Huntingdon who are in the process of sorting the car out.
Now all we need is your support. Read about our adventures at CimaRacing.co.uk (where there's also live tracking of our location), follow us minute by minute on our Twitter feed at twitter.com/CimaRacing , and, most importantly, donate whatever you can to BEN directly at JustGiving.com/CimaRacing .
We know times are tough for many people, but anything you can spare, even just a single pound, will be greatly appreciated and make a difference to the end result.
That result? A target of £30,000 from the whole rally.
Help us contribute to that.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Live GPS tracking of our position is now working at CimaRacing.co.uk.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:05:11:34:12 by Phil Huff.
Hey I noticed that you managed to get Juliana to go along with you. Hows the internal fog at the moment.
I'm actually very sorry and have to apologise to you with regard to all the problems your having as I feel that it's my fault really.
Whilst you were off to the shops while I was putting on the vinyls, I did have to turn the car around and I did notice that it was actually a complete dog and I now feel awfull for not mentioning more than about 10 times.
Hope your having fun as you don't appear to be raising any money to talk about.
There's always next year and staples to naples.
Kind regards
I think the whole banger rally idea is a bloody good one, interested in the home to Rome one next year myself.
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Quote:Demented
Well I'm looking at the live timing and it doesn't seem to show you moving very much Phil.
We've not left yet! We'll be off on Sunday - until then it's just going to show me trundling around town a bit.
Quote:Demented
Hope your having fun as you don't appear to be raising any money to talk about. There's always next year and staples to naples.
Having plenty of fun, especially with a car that still isn't working
Not bad with less than 72 hours spare!
Quote:Adie
I'm interested Phil - and have sponsored you...
Just about the first to do so - greatly appreciated
Quote:Adie
I think the whole banger rally idea is a bloody good one, interested in the home to Rome one next year myself.
We'll see you there
Quote:Phil Huff
We've not left yet! We'll be off on Sunday - until then it's just going to show me trundling around town a bit.
Sorry Phil, I should have at least remembered when you were doing the rally. I've been in hospital for 10 days and I think it's affected my brain cells.
Hope you get the car going well enough to compete or Juliana may well be usefull for pushing as well as glamour.
Quote:Demented
Sorry Phil, I should have at least remembered when you were doing the rally. I've been in hospital for 10 days and I think it's affected my brain cells.
Ooh, I do hope you're ok. Best wishes and all that.
Quote:Hope you get the car going well enough to compete or Juliana may well be usefull for pushing as well as glamour.
I thought I was there for the glamour?
Bye!