A FAMILY from Chester are taking a £100 banger on a 1,000 mile rally around Ireland next month to raise money for the Hospice Of The Good Shepherd.
Motor racing enthusiasts Philip Mannion, 52, and sons Daniel, 25, Paul, 23, and Stephen, 17, of Plas Newton Lane, Upton, are competing in the Scally Rally and will be driving from Belfast, in Northern Ireland, before averaging more than 200 miles a day to reach Cork, South-East Ireland, in just four days.
Paul, a Chronicle reporter, said: “We’ve been planning for the rally for about six months, but the most difficult thing was finding a car for under £100.
“Luckily a friend was moving to London and was selling her Renault Clio, it’s not exactly what we had in mind but it has four wheels and an engine which is the best we could hope for at that price!
“I heard about the Scally Rally through working at the paper and thought it would be a lot of fun and a great way to raise money for a Chester charity.”
Manor Garage, Lightfoot Street, Hoole, Chester’s independent Renault and Peugeot specialist, thoroughly looked over the car to make sure it was roadworthy.
The team, called Sat Nav Superstars, is just one of about 100 entries that will be contesting the endurance rally but the family hope their Irish roots will help them.
“We have family in Ireland and have driven most of the roads on holidays so we think it might give us an edge,” added Paul.
Anyone who wants to sponsor them can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/scallyrallyireland.
They set off for their Irish adventure on September 4 and are travelling to Ireland courtesy of Irish Ferries, the low fares ferry company, who operate Europe’s most modern car ferry fleet with sailings on the Holyhead, Dublin, Pembroke and Rosslare routes. Fares start from as little as £59 one way for car and driver. For more information visit www.irishferries.com.
