A PRESTATYN-based veteran is to lead a three-man team on a 1,500-mile banger rally to Gibraltar in September.
John McGowan, who served 13 years in the Navy, is taking part in the Veterans Banger Rally 2022 with two friends; one from Warrington, and the other from near Aberdeen.
Teams, where at least one member must be a veteran, drive cars worth no more than £500, and start on 500 points - the older the car and the lower the engine size, the more points you get.
In cars given a special “Sheriff” design for the rally, John is looking forward to the drive across Europe, after last year’s event was limited to the UK due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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He said: “On September 12, we’ll go over from Dover to Calais, and then from there, down to Le Mans, and over the Pyrenees to Valencia, Malaga and Gibraltar. It’ll be taking us five days in total.
“My team-mates this year: one’s from Warrington, one’s from just north of Aberdeen, so it’s quite a varied team!
“The one from near Aberdeen I’ve never even met: I know him, but I’ve only spoken to him online in the last few years. Apparently, I’m the Sheriff, and the other two are deputy Sheriffs!
“There are all sorts of other teams taking part, from a car that’s been turned into a submarine, to zombie apocalypse cars.
“Some of my supporters will see me off (from Prestatyn). I’ll go to Warrington, meet the other two, then down to London first for a pre-departure party at the Ace Café (motor café) in London.
“We’ve got trophies for first, second and third place. All teams start with 500 points, but either lose or gain points depending on how old or new, or underpowered, their car is.
“Along the route, there’ll be lots of daft challenges to make points, and at the end of the rally, whoever’s in the lead gets a trophy.
“Everyone gets to vote for the best team or car on the rally as well, and there’s an overall trophy for ‘spirit of the event’. There’s lots to play for.”
The rally is also a charity event – primarily in aid of the Armed Forces charity, “SSAFA” (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association).
But individual participants can also choose their own second charity to support, with John having selected the Holywell-based North Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR).
He and the team have set a fundraising target of £2,000, with a variety of charity events to take place in advance of their September departure.
John added: “The main charity overall is SSAFA – they get a percentage of entry fees from the teams, and we do fundraising enroute for them as well.
“But each team can then raise funds individually for whoever they want, and my choice is NCAR.
“I’ve got a dog and three cats who have all come from NCAR, and I know the fantastic work they do there.
“We go up there quite regularly anyway, even to just go to the café.
“We’re going to have a bit of a launch party, probably the weekend before we go, where we’ll have fundraising.
“Probably our biggest sponsor, Smokehouse BBQ in Prestatyn, is doing raffles and a charity night for us.
“We’ve also been raising funds by getting companies to sponsor the car, and families and individuals can have their names written on the car as well.”
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