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Czech out our racing Skoda
DRIVING 1,500 miles across Europe in a clapped-out banger may not be everyone's idea of fun but four friends from Flamborough cannot wait to get on the road.
The Czech capital of Prague is their destination at the end of the four-day wacky races style CzechWrecks rally from Calais.
Up to 100 cars, none of which are allowed to cost more than 200, battle it out for a cash prize.
Tom Waines, 25, a bricklayer from Lighthouse Road, Flamborough, said: "I doubt we will win and we hope the car makes it but we just don't know."
Sharing the driving of their 1996 Skoda Felicia – bought for just 50 – will be his brother Ben, 23, a decorator, James Ramsden, 23, a decorator, of Spring Lane, Bempton, and Kevin Wagstoffe, 27, a site manager, of School Lane, Bempton.
They describe themselves as self-taught mechanics. "We are quite handy with a spanner but we are not trained mechanics," said Tom.
Amazingly, their Skoda has only around 40,000 miles on the clock and as Skoda cars originated in the Czech Republic they are hoping there will not be any shortage of spares should the worst (or possibly the expected) happen.
"If the thing just explodes we have a contingency plan to fly back home," said Tom, who is looking forward to returning to Prague. He and Ben went there as youngsters on a family holiday.
In keeping with the wacky races theme, most of the cars will be customised.
"We have made ours look a bit like a Land Rover so we are calling it a Land Skoda," said Tom.
They left for Calais last night and should have arrived there this morning ready to start the CzechWrech run at 9am tomorrow.
It will take four days, including overnight stops en route, and the plan is to arrive in Prague next Tuesday.
Organised by Street Safari, the event to differing venues has been run for several years. It is not a race but a rally and points earned en route could mean winning the 1,000 first prize.
Their route takes in Interlaken in Switzerland, the Simplon Pass and the more gruelling – as far as the cars are concerned – Stelvio Pass on the way to Salzberg in Austria.
From there it is on to Prague.
They then plan a night and a day in the Czech city before driving back via Amsterdam and Rotterdam for the ferry home next Friday.
It is the first time any of them have done anything like it.
"Our girlfriends all think we are crackers," said Tom.
But not everyone does.
The lads thank Alan Simpkin, at MKM Builders Merchants in Bridlington, who is helping out with car stickers and T-shirts, Brad Davison, of Andy Hire Bridlington, and Peter Couzens, of Agri-Cycle UK LTD Flamborough.
Anyone else who wants to help them cover costs, estimated at 250 each, should contact Tom Waines on 07879405748.
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Weather for Bridlington
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
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