By Derek Schlennstedt
Like an episode of bush mechanics, The 2017 Shitbox Rally mixed cheap cars, isolated bumpy roads and of course various unorthodox techniques to fix mechanical problems.
The Mail spoke with Paul Van De Ven, who reflected on the rally that saw him and his son Bradley travel over 4652kms, from Melbourne to Adelaide, and then to Cairns.
“It’s idiocy and lunacy all put together that somehow works in the shitbox rally … I can only say it was an amazing adventure,” he said.
From bulldust, to potholes, to ruined tyres, although the pairs’ Ford Falcon only suffered a smashed muffler in the first stages of the event, various other vehicles in their ‘buddy group’ suffered mechanical problems.
A one for all, and all for one type concept, the buddy groups consisted of seven vehicles. If one stopped, then all the others did too.
Paul said that while their buddy group suffered occasional problems, including having to put tennis balls in a car’s suspension to stop it from bottoming out, it was a Hillman Hunter that took the award for the most unusual mechanical fix.
“There was a 1968 Hillman Hunter which from the very start had a few fuelling issues,” he said.
“On the second day, we had to strap a 20-litre plastic drum to the roof with a hose that ran from it to the carburettor – he did around 2000 kilometres like that.”
For Paul it was more than just a cross-country trek across the state in a beat-up car, it was an emotional journey in honour of his best friend, Bryce Crow, who passed away in 2014 from melanoma and was initially meant to accompany Paul.
“For me personally it was a very emotional journey – every day I was thinking of Bryce.”
“I think an event like that attracts a certain type of person – people are doing it for a cause and everyone on the rally had a similar story to ours.”
BradandDad raised $8958 in total, smashing the $4,000 that was required, and the event as a whole raised $1.67 million for cancer research.
Paul thanked everyone who was involved in helping them fund-raise the money, including all the businesses and residents who donated and also the Yarra Ranges Radiators, Clint Rose tyres and Anvil Angus who sponsored the car.
“I think the event struck a chord with a lot of people and it was great to have that support even if it wasn’t financial, it was emotional support, and that was possibly more important to me than the financial side of it,” he said.
“It was an amazing adventure, and an absolute blessing to be able to do it with my son.”
