They spluttered, stalled and belched out fumes, but the Carbage Rally cars captured the heart of Pembrokeshire
They roared, they spluttered, they stalled and they belched out fumes, but the 540 cars that zoomed into Pembrokeshire for The Netherlands' Carbage Rally 2024 certainly brought a smile to the faces of everyone who watched their journey.
Pure West Radio caught up with the rally drivers and their co-drivers as they prepared to set off on the penultimate day of their five-day challenge from Carew Airfield on Thursday morning.
A few engines were already running, ready for the 8 am kick-off, but the vast majority of participants were tucking into cooked breakfasts which they'd prepared on their individual camping stoves next to their vehicles. The tents, in which the 1,700 individuals taking part in the rally had spent the night, were being packed up while thoughts were slowly turning to what challenges lay ahead on the fourth day of the Carbage Rally.
"This event is all about survival," said one of Carbage participants, Ian Bos.
"All of these cars are over 20 years old, which means that anything can happen on the roads. We try and make the most amazing thing out of it, but we still don't know whether it will hold."
Carbage was established in 2007; its ground rules request that all vehicles must be at least 20 years old, and none of them must be valued at more than 1,000 Euros.
"The race isn't about speed but about the way in which drivers adapt to all the mechanical failures and challenges they encounter on the way," continued Ian.
"Two days ago we drove through Lancashire and everything was flooded. As a result we lost our rear bumper and had to drive with the bumper on the roof. We smoked the clutch, the lights went out, we had no power left and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no one to help us and no town nearby. But we repaired the car, finished the day and were able to move on to the next one.
"And this is what it's all about. Everyone is in the same mess, but we're all working together, sitting around a little stove, cooking our breakfasts and our dinners and if a car breaks down and smokes, then everyone stops to help.
"All we want to get to the finish line, so it's about how we can manage to push the limits to get back to Dover."
And it was from Dover that the rally commenced on Monday morning after the drivers caught the ferry from Dunkirk.
"Our first day took us to Leeds, then on the second day we moved to Preston and Blackburn," continued Ian. "On the third day we travelled down through Wales and today, I'm guessing that we're going to be finishing in Yeovil, although I haven't a clue which route we're going.
"As soon as we leave the site, the organisation hands us a sheet with two different route directions, one taking seven hours, the other nine hours. And we don't have a set route so can divert any way we choose. The only requirement is that we reach the next campsite by 11 pm."
The cars will reach their finish line on Friday afternoon when the prizes and awards will be handed out to the worthy winners.
"The rally isn't about speed, but originality," explained Ian. "The winner is selected by the contestants with the highest number of votes winning the value of their car, so a maximum of 1,000 Euros can be won."
This was the first time that Jan has taken part in the Carbage Rally, yet he remains certain that it won't be the last.
"Yet, it takes a lot of concentration to drive a s*** box, but when we get all these people standing at the side of the road waving to us, and everyone has their lights on, sounding their horns and their sirens, and people come up to up to ask us what it's all about, the attention we get is so positive. Yes, there's the occasional bit of negativity, but that's their problem, not ours.
"I'll absolutely do this rally again, whether it's a summer or a winter edition. This is the first time I've done it, but I'm sure that there'll be many more to come."
They spluttered, stalled and belched out fumes, but the Carbage Rally cars captured the heart of Pembrokeshire
They roared, they spluttered, they stalled and they belched out fumes, but the 540 cars that zoomed into Pembrokeshire for The Netherlands' Carbage Rally 2024 certainly brought a smile to the faces of everyone who watched their journey.
Pure West Radio caught up with the rally drivers and their co-drivers as they prepared to set off on the penultimate day of their five-day challenge from Carew Airfield on Thursday morning.
A few engines were already running, ready for the 8 am kick-off, but the vast majority of participants were tucking into cooked breakfasts which they'd prepared on their individual camping stoves next to their vehicles. The tents, in which the 1,700 individuals taking part in the rally had spent the night, were being packed up while thoughts were slowly turning to what challenges lay ahead on the fourth day of the Carbage Rally.
"This event is all about survival," said one of Carbage participants, Ian Bos.
"All of these cars are over 20 years old, which means that anything can happen on the roads. We try and make the most amazing thing out of it, but we still don't know whether it will hold."
Carbage was established in 2007; its ground rules request that all vehicles must be at least 20 years old, and none of them must be valued at more than 1,000 Euros.
"The race isn't about speed but about the way in which drivers adapt to all the mechanical failures and challenges they encounter on the way," continued Ian.
"Two days ago we drove through Lancashire and everything was flooded. As a result we lost our rear bumper and had to drive with the bumper on the roof. We smoked the clutch, the lights went out, we had no power left and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no one to help us and no town nearby. But we repaired the car, finished the day and were able to move on to the next one.
"And this is what it's all about. Everyone is in the same mess, but we're all working together, sitting around a little stove, cooking our breakfasts and our dinners and if a car breaks down and smokes, then everyone stops to help.
"All we want to get to the finish line, so it's about how we can manage to push the limits to get back to Dover."
And it was from Dover that the rally commenced on Monday morning after the drivers caught the ferry from Dunkirk.
"Our first day took us to Leeds, then on the second day we moved to Preston and Blackburn," continued Ian. "On the third day we travelled down through Wales and today, I'm guessing that we're going to be finishing in Yeovil, although I haven't a clue which route we're going.
"As soon as we leave the site, the organisation hands us a sheet with two different route directions, one taking seven hours, the other nine hours. And we don't have a set route so can divert any way we choose. The only requirement is that we reach the next campsite by 11 pm."
The cars will reach their finish line on Friday afternoon when the prizes and awards will be handed out to the worthy winners.
"The rally isn't about speed, but originality," explained Ian. "The winner is selected by the contestants with the highest number of votes winning the value of their car, so a maximum of 1,000 Euros can be won."
This was the first time that Jan has taken part in the Carbage Rally, yet he remains certain that it won't be the last.
"Yet, it takes a lot of concentration to drive a s*** box, but when we get all these people standing at the side of the road waving to us, and everyone has their lights on, sounding their horns and their sirens, and people come up to up to ask us what it's all about, the attention we get is so positive. Yes, there's the occasional bit of negativity, but that's their problem, not ours.
"I'll absolutely do this rally again, whether it's a summer or a winter edition. This is the first time I've done it, but I'm sure that there'll be many more to come."