A head-turning car bought for just £250 is about to embark on an epic 3,000-mile rally.
The Fiat Multipla has had a makeover ahead of taking part in next month’s Scumrun, an annual five-day mystery journey across Europe, which this year is raising money for national juvenile diabetes charity JDRF.
On board the banger and taking turns behind the wheel of the 2004 model will be Paul Robinson (known as Diesel), Mahroof Choudary (Diesel’s boss at Pinchbeck firm Edison Autos) and Bradley Hueso.
JDRF is a charity close to Diesel’s heart.
His six-year-old daughter Faith – a pupil at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in West Pinchbeck – has Type 1 diabetes, and Diesel and wife Gemma are two of the organisers of the annual JDRF ball at Spalding’s Castle Sports Complex each October.
Diesel (34), Mahroof (35) and Bradley (19) hope to raise £2,000 from Scumrun, which sets off on May 14.
“Team Wild” have transformed the 108,000-mile diesel Fiat by spray painting it with a tiger design – specifically to turn heads and raise awareness of their venture and cause.
The guys are considering doing the challenge in safari animal onesies.
Diesel said: “The idea is that you buy a car for less than £500.
“You can then spend what you like on modifying it.
“We’ve spent about £400, including the paint job. There were a few suspension bits that we had to repair, a change of wiper blades and bulbs, but not too much.
“The cost of the car, doing it up and the £250 each fee to join up was all paid out of our own pockets, so everything we raise through sponsorship will go to JDRF.”
Around 100 cars are expected to take part, meeting at Dover before heading to Dunkirk.
But that’s as much as participants know about where they will be going. Each day the teams will be given instructions on where to head next.
“I’ve got no idea where we’ll go,” said Diesel. “Scumrun has been all over Europe in previous years, but I’m hoping it might be Spain.”
After the mammoth drive each day, teams will arrive at a campsite to unwind with music and a well-earned beer.
Team Wild’s vehicle has been fitted with a good sound system to keep the trio in high spirits and an on-board camera.
Diesel hopes to be able to upload some footage to a Facebook page during the challenge.
The friends’ sponsorship site is www.justgiving.com/dieseladammroof. The total is currently about £800.
