The first ever Veterans Banger Rally will be taking place this September to raise money for charities, including SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
Ex-Forces car ‘banger’ enthusiasts will be hitting the roads around England and Wales this September in an outlandish array of colourful vehicles to raise money for charity in the first ever Veterans Banger Rally.
This Veterans Banger Rally is organised ‘by veterans, for veterans’, and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity will be the main beneficiary charity.
The event will start at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Tuesday 7 September and is set to finish at the Royal British Legion club in Halton, Runcorn, on Saturday 11 September.
As a result of the pandemic, the rally will take place across England and Wales, but the organisers hope for future events to take place in Europe.
Participants will be making up for lost time on this adventure, motoring over 1,500 miles around England and Wales in a vehicle that must be worth no more than £500.
55 crews have already signed up and it’s hoped that this figure will increase as more veterans put their hats – and their bangers – in the ring.
Sponsored by Derby based motorsport company FASTR (befastr.com), the rally has overnight stopovers in Llandudno, Torquay, Skegness and Newcastle Upon Tyne, with entertainment and activities laid on to thank the rallyists for their support to the Armed Forces.
Entry is just £175 per team of either 2,3 or 4 teammates.
John McGowan, the Rally organiser and a Royal Navy veteran, said:
“I suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after leaving the Navy and wondered what I could do to pick myself back up. This would be the same for many other service personnel as well when leaving the Forces.
“The idea for the rally came to me as a way for likeminded people to have enormous fun away from life’s daily routine and re-experience the camaraderie of Service life while raising money for military charities. The Veterans Banger Rally was born!
“We’re hoping to raise the maximum possible for our nominated charities.”
As a tribute to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised millions for the NHS before his death last year aged 100, the rally will include the ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore Memorial Taxi’ provided by the Wirral Veterans group.
A former London cab featuring images of Captain Sir Tom, it is now a private vehicle and afterwards will be used to promote the work of PTSD therapy.
For more information or to find out how to get involved, visit veteransbangerrally.co.uk or email veteransbangerrally21@gmail.com.
You can also visit their Facebook page at Veterans’ Banger Rally 2021 to find out more about the rally and see photos of Captain Sir Tom Moore Memorial Taxi.
