Community
9 September, 2023
Team Reboot fires up
WARRNAMBOOL mates Stan McCullagh and Greg Bos are hoping their 2007 Toyota Camry holds together long enough to take them from Adelaide to Perth in next year’s Shitbox Rally.
The rally, aptly named as all contestants must be driving a “shitbox” that, while being sturdy enough to pass a roadworthy and is registered, must be worth less than $1500. Stan and Greg will join an expected “cast of hundreds” as they make their way across some of the toughest roads in the land to raise much-needed funds for Cancer Council.
“The rally is not a race, it’s a challenge to drive cars worth $1,500 or less across Australia via some of its toughest roads to raise money,” Stan said.
This remarkable event has raised nearly $40 million since its inception in 2010.
To participate, each team must raise a minimum of $5000 and next year the event is hoping to reach a target of $2 million.
“I guess you could say we’re both tech nerds, hence our team name, Team Reboot,” Greg said. “We’re participating in honour of family members affected by cancer. I have a nephew who’s a cancer survivor, Stan lost his mother to cancer, and his wife lost both parents and her grandmother to cancer.
“So this adventure really means a lot to us both and we’re hoping to raise as much money as we can while promoting awareness of Cancer Council.”
To be held over seven days in April next year, the rally will start in Adelaide. From there, participants will start a three-day pilgrimage up the Oodnadatta Track to Uluru, then past Kata Tjuta and off towards the Gibson Desert for the journey down the Great Central Road to the southwest and their final destination, Perth.
The route has several unsealed roads which will certainly test both drivers and cars.
Teams will have red sand under their feet from night one, then bask in the glory of the Oodnadatta Track before fine dining with white tablecloths and the Field of Light dinner in Uluru.
Hospitality from indigenous communities on the Great Central Road will no doubt be one of many highlights of the trip.
“For a big section of the trip, just over 1000 kilometres, we won’t be able to get fuel so we’ll have to make sure we have plenty on board,” Stan said. “We’re pretty confident the car will make it but if we have any trouble along the way there’ll be plenty of other teams to help us out.”
Next year’s rally will be the second for Stan, while for Greg it will be his first adventure.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Greg said. “I’m sure we’ll still be great mates afterwards!”
The pair is hoping to surpass the $12,000 Stan and his team raised in the past and welcomes all donations, no matter the size, from those who are able to give.
“Greg and I are both very proud to be part of this event, raising money for Cancer Council,” Stan said. “We’re looking forward to meeting some amazing people and going past some equally amazing landmarks. We’ll be preparing the car over the coming months to ensure we cross the finish line.”
Over the coming months Stan and Greg will be approaching local businesses, running raffles and other fundraising events, along with a planned barbecue at Bunnings early in the new year.
“We’re hoping the local community really gets behind us and helps us raise as much money as possible.”
To donate to Team Reboot, visit https://autumn2024.shitboxrally.com.au/team-reboot or use the QR code on this page.
