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This may be a bit off song for Horne, but when our despatch and progressing queen, Judith Eglinton, told MD Angus Horne her boy, 21-year-old Jamie, and his friend, 24- year old Chris, were taking part in a charity event to drive a beat-up banger to Barcelona and back, we felt this sort of enterprise and adventure ought to be encouraged!
What better a journey for a pair of young boys to embark upon - a journey of mechanical resurrection and then a journey of vindication to Barcelona and back during a sunny bank-holiday weekend in May?
Bought for £500 via 2nd hand website, Gumtree, the 1998 V70 red Volvo Estate required a significant amount of work to get it up to a legal roadworthy condition and capable of making the round trip from Paisley in the west of Scotland to Barcelona, a total distance of around 3000 miles.
Jamie, a mechanic at Audi, had the know-how to undertake the challenge, not just to get the 17-year-old car ready for the start of the Barcelona Banger Rally, but also should there have been any mechanical failures or mishaps along the way. The refurbishment included the fitting of new brakes and callipers, coil springs, suspension arms, new exhaust and tail pipe, indicators and headlights as well as a general service and wash. A flashing light bar on the roof completed the look.
Once MOT’d, clean and shiny, the car was then decorated with Barcelona Bangers Logos alongside the brand logos of Chris and Jamie’s chosen charity beneficiaries, The Hepatitis C Trust and Help for Heroes. A host of local sponsors, including Horne, took much of the remaining space on the vehicle body.
Chris’s late uncle, Jocky Palmer, who had participated in a similar rally as a young man was their inspiration for doing the Barcelona Bangers. Jocky died from Hepatitis C two years ago and, in his memory, Chris chose to raise money for The Hepatitis C Trust. Chris is sure that Jocky would have approved heartily of their adventure.
Jamie chose Help for Heroes as he has a number of friends serving in the army and both he and Chris have huge respect for our serving men and women in the armed services.
The route for the 3 day Banger Rally took the Scottish convoy 324 miles from Calais to Tours on day 1, 340 miles from Tours to Biarritz on day 2, and 350 miles from Biarritz to Barcelona crossing the Pyrenees via Andorra. Not surprisingly, the weather along the way was superb and the scenery spectacular.
Following the event, Chris and Jamie have now raised more than 3 times their original target of £1000. Very well done!
Horne is delighted to have supported such a challenge and adventure that has undoubtedly built character, resilience and helped to grow the confidence of these young men. Chris provides a running commentary to their journey in his Banger Blog. Having returned in high spirits, with the Banger still (mostly) intact, they are already planning for next year’s adventure. Basking in the glory of their success, however, has proven infectious and it’s looking likely that not one, but a convoy of brightly decorated wrecks, could be heading out of Paisley for the Barcelona Bangers challenge in 2016.