THE ADVENTURE AHEAD…
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WELCOME TO THE GREAT RALLY
This year we plan on driving through 9 European countries, covering 2,453 miles and all in 7 days… making the ultimate European rally! And being a charity rally we can hopefully raise a huge amount of cash and awareness for some very deserving charities!
The Great Rally was originally a Charity Banger Rally, all teams would have to purchase a car worth no more than £350! And it had to be roadworthy too! But last year, due to an increasing demand, we made changes to the rally to open the doors for all cars, vans and motorcycles.
This gives our teams the freedom to choose to take part in pratically any vehicle they desired, from classic cars to modern day supercars… Or from bangers to their daily run-abouts. Ultimately the choice is yours and you can enjoy the adventure without limitations. It also makes taking part more affordable without the need to purchase a vehicle especially for the rally.
As a charity rally, we encourage all teams to raise money for their chosen charities and the biggest earners will be awarded by us too! So it’s win-win! Furthermore, we donate a healthy percentage of all registration fees to the charity you select during the registration process.
The Great Rally 2013 covers 2,453 miles of fantastic European roads winding through 9 countries including Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and The Netherlands.
We meet in Europe’s largest car museum in Brussels on the morning of Saturday the 20th July and finish in Amsterdam for a big bash on Friday the 26th. On Saturday the 27th we have a day to recover, debrief and relax, leaving the remainder of the weekend in this amazing city for those of us not in a rush to head back to the UK!
Also, if for any reason the full rally is a tad too long, we have cunningly split the rally in to two stages. So there are now two choices, the full rally ending in Amsterdam for the weekend or a 4 day event ending in Venice! Venice is also a fantastic location to end up as flights are very cheap and it’s easier to dispose of your vehicle if needs be. The 4 day event is discounted accordingly too so you’re not out of pocket!
This rally really does have something for everyone… For the drivers we have the best roads in Europe including the stunning Swiss and Italian mountain passes, and of course lets not forget the unforgettable Nurburgring in Germany. For the travellers we have Europes finest destination list and for the boozers and socialites we have some fantastic venues lined up!
We’re a team of highly motivated and rather exceptional people with the goal to break free from the realms of the norm and venture out in the most spectacular way possible.
For The Great Rally 2013 we’ve kept the same route as our previous rallies, proving to be a truely fantastic route winding through Europe. Added to the mix are some great challenges for everyone to take part in and we’ve organised some amazing venues to finish each day off with.
A lot of planning has gone in to The Great Rally before it was made public as we wanted to be sure it would be an adventure to remember, the ultimate European rally. We’re proud to say we were the first rally to offer this route and our rally is like no other!
We hope you can take part and enjoy this epic adventure with us, but if for any reason you can’t, we’d love you to tell your friends about us!
Why not like us on Facebook to get fantastic offers and breaking news, direct from The Great Rally headquarters.
There’s a whole bunch of questions we’re always asked, we’ll post a load here for all to see just in case others are wondering the same thing but have a fear of looking a bit daft…
How much will it cost?
It depends… The entry fee for the full European rally is £589 for a car with 4 team members and any additional members are £75 extra. The entry fee is reduced to £389 for the 4 day event parting in Venice, Italy. A deposit of £100 can be made to secure your place and 12 weeks before the rally we will issue invoices by e-mail to the team leaders.
Everything else is in your hands, including the cost of the car, crossings, tolls, fuel consumption, food & drink and accommodation etc. It can be a very cheap experience and you won’t find anything like it for less.
Also make sure you take advantage of our Like us on Facebook discount to save up to £40 off of your registration fee.
Is a rally through Europe hard?
It depends, driving through Europe is pretty easy, the roads are well maintained, the miles are reasonable and there will be plenty of support from us and others to help you along the way… On the other hand, if you’re driving something very heavy that you’ll end up pushing for 2,453 miles… Then yes, it will be hard!
What do I need to take with me?
Well how much you take is your choice and the only limiting factor would be the size of your chosen chariot. As a bare minimum we would suggest you take the correct number of hi-viz vests, a first aid kit and a warning triangle.
These items are required by law in at least 3 of the countries we are visiting and there’s a good chance you’ll have to produce these items at border control points. All can be purchased through us at competitive prices and it’s a lot cheaper than the fine you’ll end up getting!
Where will I eat, drink and sleep?
After running several surveys we found that only a handful of interested parties would like accommodation to be arranged for them, everyone else wanted to sort it out themselves. Most said they would be camping or sleeping in their cars and the rest said they would book in to youth hostels, hotels and B&Bs.
When you sign up you will get an information pack which includes a long list of local campsites, youth hostels, hotels and B&Bs.
As for eating and drinking, most of that will be done in your car, at service stations, restaurants and bars at the daily finishing points. Also at the end of every day we will hold venues in the local bars and clubs etc.
What if I break down?
We strongly recommend everyone gets some sort of European break down cover, it’s cheap (from under £30) and wise.
We will have a support vehicle with us offering a tow to a safe place and minor mechanical assistance as a last resort and when possible. But it’s always best to have European cover or someone on your team that’s mechanically minded. And don’t forget, there’s going to be loads of other teams willing to help you out if you’re stuck, so don’t get your knickers in a twist!
You will find several links for discounted breakdown cover in our information pack once you’ve signed up.
Are there any prizes to be won?
Yes, there are. As well as prizes for the best car of it’s class, best costumes and best team name there will also be prizes for the winners of the daily challenges. Prizes include a 32″ Widescreen HD TV, a couple of Android Tablets, a few TomTom SatNavs and various other prizes including beer money!
Is this legal?
Yes it is. Now, at the risk of making things sound rather dull and boring…
Every team taking part will be required to produce their passports, driving licences, an insurance certificate, the MOT certificate and the V5 registration document for the vehicle (the new keepers counterpart or invoice is fine). We may keep these on record, but it’s mainly required by EU authorities.
We do not encourage racing or any other illegal activity on the public roads and any team found to be endangering others will be immediately disqualified. The event is designed in such a way that there is no need to speed etc and there will be no gain in doing so.
This is not just to protect us, it’s to protect everyone! But as we’re all ladies and gentlemen there’s not going to be an issue… We’re all out there for the same reasons, adventure and a good old laugh.
