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Arctic rally bid - in £200 banger
Drivers take on epic adventure to raise £48,000 for charity
A 4,000-mile rally across the Arctic Circle in a 200 banger may not be everyone's idea of fun, but a group of car fanatics plan to complete this epic adventure to raise 48,000 for charity.
Markus Denton-Masih, 28, of Stanbridge Way, Houghton Conquest, will be one of the drivers hoping his ageing banger holds together and makes it from the starting gate in Hyde Park, London, on Saturday, April 11, to the finishing line in Moldova.
Getting behind the wheel of a 16-year-old Vauxhall Frontera, which he bought with his co-driver and event organiser Jon Farley, the pair will be one of six teams navigating the Snowdodgers Rally course.
Mr Denton-Masih said: "I like a bit of adventure and thought this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"My wife was not too happy about it but I twisted her arm and she grudgingly agreed to let me go for the three weeks we reckon it will take us to get to Moldova.
"Hopefully we will all get there in one piece."
The Snowdodgers Rally will take the bangers through northern Scandinavia, into Ukraine, Russia and the Arctic Circle, before heading south for a quick spin around Germany's famous Nurburgring race track and on to Moldova, Europe's poorest country.
But the rally is not just fun and games, as the team plan to take essential medical supplies to Chisinau, the country's capital, and raise 48,000 for two Moldovan charities, Children On The Edge and Moldovan Ministries, which supports orphans, vulnerable children and pensioners.
All the cars involved in the challenge, which include a Nissan Bluebird, Saab 9000, Volvo 740, Citroen AX and a three-wheeled Reliant Robin, cost less than 200 to buy, and many required substantial maintenance and repairs to get them through an MOT before the rally plans could proceed.
Mr Denton-Masih added: "We're currently applying for visas to take the cars into Russia, which is a bit of a nightmare, but for the most part everything is on track.
"We've kind of got a contingency plan if we get to the Arctic Circle and break down. We've got a lot of mechanics with us and hopefully enough spare parts to fix anything, but we have no support vehicle with us so the tough terrain around Ukraine and Russia could be interesting."
Before they leave, the Snowdodgers Rally team will be attempting to raise money and break a Guinness world record for cramming the most number of people into their chosen vehicles.
The record attempt takes place at Clapham Junction, London, on Saturday, March 21.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the Snowdodgers team, or donating to the two chosen charities, can visit www.snowdodgers.co.uk
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Monday 06 February 2012
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