Driving ambition raises cash from banger rallies

Oct 17 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal

TWO teams of North-East property executives have been swapping their polished company cars for £100 bangers to compete in two of Europe’s most gruelling rallies for charity.

Firstly, four North-East property professionals from Vardy Property Group (VPG) and DTZ took part in the Czech-Wreck Banger Rally last month, helping to raise £2,000 in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance.

Greg Davison, from Durham-based VPG, and Richard Turner, Simon Harland and Colin Davidson, from the Newcastle office of DTZ, were given £100 to buy a banger which they had to drive from Newcastle to Prague in five days.

The team, which chose a 1987 Volvo 740 GLE Estate, came in 17th out of 50 teams after clocking up 1,500 miles. Despite their final position, the team were able to finish with their car intact, a feat that 10 of the teams could not manage. Five of the teams had to resort to hire cars to complete the race.

The event also included a number of other challenges to break up the long drive, including a scrabble game involving car licence plates and a water-gun fight.

Greg said: “The challenge was immensely good fun and we were proud to finish the race intact. However, we were significantly under-armed in the water-gun fight.” Meanwhile, another rally, known as the “Staples to Naples” race, saw Martin Smith, senior building surveyor at Newcastle-based property consultants King Sturge, take on a 1,400-mile drive across France and Italy in just four days.

He was able to finish the race in his souped up Volvo 940, with the £100 car transformed into a ‘Cow Moobile’ after being sprayed black and white.

As well as finishing 17th out of a field of 300, Martin was able to raise over £3,000 for North-East children’s hospice charity Grace House.

Martin said: “Participating in the race was a fantastic experience and the residents of all destinations appeared to take the ‘Cow-Moobile’ to heart.

“Fortunately, the car did not break down during the trip and made it all the way in one piece. More importantly, we managed to raise a substantial amount of money for the Grace House North-East appeal, a very worthy cause.”

Kathy Secker, appeal founder, said: “We owe a huge thank you to Martin for taking up this amazing challenge to raise funds for our children’s hospice appeal. It was a terrific effort and a marvellous donation towards Grace House.”