By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
YOU’VE got to wonder what could be fun about nursing a 26-year-old Corolla for a 3000-plus kilometre trip across Australia.
Narre Warren brothers Scott and Glenn de Jong – or team What’s A Spark Plug – had been on the waiting list for several years to enter the car on the Shitbox Rally.
The annual event pits 200 ‘shitboxes’ – each costing less than $1000 and dressed up with designs such as Thunderbirds themes and blow-up dragons.
The rally cruises south along the eastern seaboard from Mackay to Hobart between 7-13 May.
In recent weeks, the de Jongs had to slightly upgrade from a 1988 Ford Laser because it cost too much to fix.
Speaking to Star News on 10 May, the brothers said their Corolla, touched up with a navy-blue paint job and a racing stripe, was proving a stayer.
It had been driven up to Mackay and successfully made it at least half-way back down the eastern seaboard – a total of 5400km.
Some rally-goers haven’t been so lucky.
One car in their buddy group truly lived up to its shitbox billing by breaking a fan belt four kilometres into the event.
After its repair, it only lasted another 150km.
But these setbacks are all part of the fun, as is camping out during a typical tropical-Queensland drenching.
The team watched their tennis shoes literally float out their tent during the 44mm downpour.
The event has raised more than $6.3 million for the Cancer Council’s cancer research fund, with another $1.4 million hoped to be raised this year.
What’s a Sparkplug has raised $4000 for the cause through Bunnings barbecues, a raffle and a Rotary Club talk.
And they say they’re “99 per cent sure” the Corolla will make it to the finish.
To donate, go to shitboxrallyau-2016.everydayhero.com/au/whats-a-spark-plug
