1,000 mile charity ‘banger’ drive to Italy

SIX local people will be joining this year’s Motoscape Rally and driving nearly 1,000 miles in cheap old cars to raise money for Westbury Lions.

Natasha Penny, owner of Busy Books accountants, will be driving one of three cars which will travel 991 miles from Saint-Omer in France to Venice in just five days. All cars in the challenge must be ‘bangers’ bought for under £333, and are decorated for the rally’s costume competition.

This will be Natasha’s second year of entering the rally and she will be sharing driving duties with Matt Rowe, director of Westbury’s Hire Standards.

The two of them will be taking part alongside local friends Kevin and Jackie Peters dressed as Cluedo characters for the ‘Naughty Vicar’s Vacation’ and Steve and Wendy Payne as ‘Wifey and the Bandit.’

Natasha said, “I’m really looking forward to the rally – I had such a brilliant time doing it last year I just had to do it again!

“We’re raising money for Westbury Lions because it’s a great local cause; it’s a not-for-profit organisation and 100% of donations are put back into the community.

“The car this year is a BMW 330 which we bought with no MOT. It’s taken a bit of work and we’ve fully resprayed it to look like the rally’s mascot. Matt and I will be dressing up as the race organisers to try and win favour in the costume competition!”

Last year Natasha completed the rally in a 1994 Toyota Celica in the style of a Wacky Races character, which she later sold on eBay for £200.

“I’m really looking forward to driving on the Nurburgring again,” she continued. “The BMW is a lot faster so it should be fun! It has a lot to live up to, though; last year’s car completed the entire journey to Prague without a hitch.

“A big thank you to KS Motors, Challenge Tyres, Elliott Motor Services and Compugraphic for getting the car ready to go!”

Having raised over £1,300 for the RUH in last year’s effort, Natasha would like to reach £1,000 this year and has already received £600 so far.

You can donate to Natasha’s rally online at www.busybookswestbury.co.uk/fundraising

The Motoscape Rally is a banger rally started in 2005, which last year saw around 180 people drive across the continent in decorated old cars.

For more information go to www.motoscape-rally.co.uk