Calling all cars
Ok guys, I want to drum up support for this from you all, Matty you are in NYC so you have to be a must!!! For more details see
StreetSafari and then look under BABE RALLY - BABE 2008
About BABE2008
We leave in May! Again!
BigApple2BigEasy is a new type of event to the United States and it's very easy to join in. Just get yourself the worst looking vehicle you can for $250 or less and enter the Rally.
The rally is based around the same formula as our highly successful European rallies, Staples2Naples and Home2Rome.
What happened in 2006?
BABE2006 was a huge success. The cars were absolutely appalling - exactly what was expected. In fact, they were worse than appalling, which was definitely a bonus.
The teams enjoyed themselves immensely and created a new chapter in American history: The American Banger Rally was born.
BABE2007 doubled the field and saw America's introduction to a unique part of the StreetSafari Banger Rally recipe: Dress-Up Day. When else could you find dozens and dozens of Elvis clones in crap cars on some of the most beautiful roadways in America?
Now it's time for BABE2008. Many veteran teams have vowed to return, but now is the time for new teams to make history, make this an even better event and have the adventure of a lifetime.
The car...
The car must cost less than $250. Yep, you read right. You can either look for the most comfortable cruiser around for that $250, or you can look for a car that's on its last leg and needs coaxing to New York, let alone New Orleans.
The key to having fun is to find a car that is safe but is also utterly knackered. You will be pitching your mechanic skills in getting your heap of trash to the end. None of this cruise control, air conditioned, motorized sofa nonsense. You want raw, edgy and uncomfortable.
Just ask the Teams who managed to puff and pant their way through the American Deep South and BABE history. They'll tell you... sweat and steam are good for the soul!
If your car breaks down you have two choices: retire from the rally; or get the car disposed off and start hitch- hiking with other teams to the end!
Either way, you won't be the first team who's been-there-done-that.
The challenges...
Along the way you will be asked to participate in some challenges. These are simple challenges, they may include costume on one particular day, they may involve collecting things from particular places. Challenges, in turn, are worth points.
The challenges do not, however, involve doing anything dangerous or any sort of mechanical competition. This isn't a race, and no points will be given for arriving first, doing something fastest, etc. Safety is important at all times. Anyone caught displaying bad driving will be disqualified. Or worse.
The Prize?
The Team that manages to acquire the most points over 4 days of hard driving will get $1500 in cash.
The second place team will win $350 and the third place team will win $150. However, you must make it to the end! And that includes your Banger!
The Charities?
StreetSafari events aren't officially run for charity, but you are certainly welcome to collect sponsorships and do the event for charity.
Many of the European teams use the events for charity and an impressive amount of money is raised each time.
StreetSafari has experimented and participated in the past with 'official' charity sponsorships and points rewards for teams who made the effort to raise money for their own chosen charity, with mixed results.
StreetSafari neither encourages nor discourages teams to raise money for charity, but we do insist that money raised indeed goes to the benefit of the charity and is not used to finance the expenses of the event.
This is, of course, unless your team happens to be the charity that people are donating towards! Believe us, some of the teams look like they can use all the help they can get.
