Rallying for a great cause

Two friends are driving over 2000 kilometres to raise money for the Cancer Council.

Nathan Laurens and his friend Shaun Prestage have signed up for the 2022 Shitbox Rally, which will see them drive from Wollongong in NSW to Mackay in QLD. And the 2000 kilometre plus trek has to be undertaken in a car worth no more than $1000.

Each team has to raise at least $5000 and the boys – who have called themselves team Wackadoo Let’s Go Cruise, are already off to a good start.
To date, they’ve raised almost $6000, but they’ve got their sights on $10,000 and have a range of fundraising ideas to help get there.

On Saturday, January 29 the pair will be holding a sausage sizzle outside Bunnings in Wonthaggi from 9am to 4pm.
Supported by friends and family, Shaun and Nathan will be on barbeque duty and they’re hoping everyone will come down to support the cause and get a tasty snack.

“A Slice of Paradise Bakery in Inverloch is donating the bread and San Remo Butchery has donated 10 kilos of sausages,” Nathan said.

Bluey

Their Shitbox Rally car will also be there – a BA Falcon proudly sporting a Bluey cartoon theme.
The two men say their kids (the pair have six children between them) love Bluey, and it attracts plenty of attention.

“It definitely appeals to kids and most people who have kids know Bluey,” said Nathan. “Bluey is good.”

He’s hoping the colourful and much-loved character will catch people’s eye and help with their fundraising efforts and their team name – “Wackadoo Let’s Go Cruise” is also Bluey inspired.

“Wackadoo is a word they use in Bluey, and we added ‘let’s go cruise’ because we’re going on a rally.”

Alongside the official fundraising page, the pair have a Facebook page where they sell team-themed stubbies and hold regular raffles.

Raffle prizes have been donated by local businesses and Nathan is hoping other businesses might join in and provide prizes for upcoming raffles. The opportunity to sponsor the team, including having signage on the car, is also available.

“A big supporter of ours is Auto Pro in Wonthaggi. They are doing all the major mechanical work that needs to be done and giving us a sizeable discount,” Nathan said.

Any business interested in helping the Wackadoo team, can contact them through their Facebook page.

Rally

The Shitbox Rally starts on May 7 in Wollongong, travels to Tibooburra and finishes in Mackay on May 13, heading off the highway and onto dirt roads.

While the rally itself is only a week, Nathan said he and Shaun will be on the road for a fortnight.

“We are driving to the start line, and if the car makes it, we’re driving it home,” he laughed.

Organisers warn the trip is not about creature comforts, describing it as a “dirty, dusty, maybe muddy and tough” adventure. Although neither have driven a rally before, Nathan reckons cars are in his blood.

“Dad was a mechanic, and I grew up around cars.”

Taking part in the Shitbox Rally was something he toyed with for years before throwing his hat into the ring this year.

“This is one of the Cancer Council’s biggest fundraisers and this rally alone will raise around $2.5 million. I always wanted to do it for the cause in general, but more recently I lost my uncle to cancer, so I decided to put the team in.

“I love the fact that you have to buy a cheap car and make it go the whole way. There’s a lot of bush mechanics on the way.”

Despite this being his first rally, Nathan said he’s feeling “pretty confident” about taking his shitbox on the road.

“As part of the event, you get put into a buddy group – and every group has a mechanic with them.

“If you break down, everyone in the group has to stop. If the car can’t be fixed on the side of the road, it gets trailered into camp and then you have all night to fix it. So there are a few chances.”

Preparations

With less than three months to go, the team are working hard to make sure they have all the gear they need.

After its Bunnings appearance, the car is heading to Auto Pro, while Nathan and Shaun tackle some outstanding issues: finding a car fridge and sorting the electricals so they can charge their phones and GoPro.

There’s also camping equipment to be purchased. Anyone interested in helping them out with these final preparations can contact Nathan through the Facebook page.

The team has also picked up a few tips from a Wonthaggi local who has done the rally.

“He came and saw us and gave us a few pointers, telling us the spare parts we’d need and what to expect. He said it’s long days and a lot of driving.

“But it’s not really something you can train for, so we’ve got to just hope for the best.”

You can follow Nathan and Shaun’s journey on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WackadooLetsGoCruise

To donate: autumn2022.shitboxrally.com.au/wackadoo-lets-go-cruise