The time has almost come for Michael White from Diggers Rest to drive a $500 Holden Commodore from Rockhampton to Hobart as part of the Summer Shitbox Rally 2023.
Raising money for the Cancer Council, the rallies challenge participants to drive a car worth $1500 or less across Australia from March 18 to 26.
On Friday, February 17, he and his companion Reece Brown begin the trip from Diggers Rest north to the Gold Coast – he said he was “super excited” despite the fact he is heading off on a hot day in a car without air conditioning.
“We have raised exactly $6000 … we’re pretty stoked. I’m going to start bullying people into giving more money, but it’s going pretty well at the moment,” he said.
The pair are aiming to raise $10,000 – Sunbury signage specialists Epic Visuals even wrapped the car in flames off their own bat to help turn heads to the cause.
Mr White has also been completing a list of various ridiculous challenges to raise money, including a dare to eat 1000 dumplings.
“I’ve knocked over 330 so far,” he said.
Other than its exterior, not a lot has been done to the car to improve its comfort.
“It’s even retained its previous owner’s smell – there were still cigarettes in the ashtray,” he said.
He said he was keen to raise awareness about what the Cancer Council does.
“We’ve had family members pass from cancer, we’ve had mates pass from cancer, we’ve got mates with cancer and mates who have beaten cancer… [Cancer Council] put a lot of money into supporting people who have cancer currently,” he said.
Details: summer2023.shitboxrally.com.au/the-tape-deck-of-destiny
Elsie Lange
