By Derek Schlennstedt
The aptly named Shitbox Rally will see 200 cars depart from Adelaide on 27 May to travel 3800kms to Cairns.
Among the participants will be Healesville father and son Paul and Bradley Van De Ven, driving their $350 Ford Falcon wagon across Australia.
Before they leave, the pair is inviting anyone who has been affected by cancer to come and sign the car this Saturday 1 April.
Paul says the signing can be for a loved one suffering with cancer or in memory of someone who has passed away and acknowledges the huge impact that cancer has on everyone involved.
“It’s incredible how widespread cancer is, unfortunately everyone has been touched by it, and it is an illness that strikes a chord with many people,” Paul said.
“Come along and you can leave a short message or name on the car.”
The Ford Falcon has been dedicated to the memory of Healesville local and close friend of Paul’s, Bryce Crow who passed away in 2014 from melanoma.
To pay tribute to their friend, the car has a sticker of Bryce and “cruising for Crowy” along the side, and includes Shitbox Rally and Cancer Council stickers.
The rally which is runs every year helps raise funds for the cancer council and over the last seven years has raised over 10 million dollars.
Rules surrounding the rally state that cars involved are required to be less than $1000 and mustn’t be 4wd or Awd.
The 2wd 1996 Ford Falcon will carry the father-son duo from Healesville to Adelaide to Cairns along sealed and unsealed roads including the infamous 453km unsealed Oodnadatta track in South Australia – meant only for four wheel drive vehicles.
In preparation for the trip, the car has undergone some well needed R&R including a new head gasket and radiator.
Out of the three times that it’s been driven, twice it has been brought home on the back of a trailer, but Paul believes that it’s now ready for the trip.
Although, he jokes that the car still needs to drive to Adelaide first before starting the rally.
The ‘cruizin for crowy car’ can be viewed between 10am- 1pm this Saturday 1 April at the River Street car park, Healesville.
Paul and Bradley are welcoming people to come along and leave a note on the car for a cancer sufferer or someone who has been affected by it.
You can follow all the exploits of team ‘Bradandad’ on their Facebook page Bradandad -Shitbox Rally 2017, where they will provide running updates throughout their trip.
