Football mad friends set off on 2,100 endurance rally in an old banger covered in STICKERS
Last updated at 3:17 PM on 20th July 2011
A football-mad group of friends are taking part in a 2,100-mile endurance race in a £200 car covered in panini football stickers.
About 5,000 of the classic childhood collectors stickers entirely cover the 12-year-old Ford Escort which will be taking part in the Crumball Rally across Europe, showing how best to make use of a few spare 'swapsies'.
Friends Ryan Dugmore, 23, Kelvin Misra, 22, Liam Bull, 22, and 23-year-old Jack Orton, all from north Birminghham, will endure the six-day race for charity.
From left Kelvin Misra, Ryan Dugmore, Jack Orton and Liam Bull who will endure the six day Crumball Rally across Europe
With 86,000 miles on the clock they are keeping their fingers crossed the car will make it across the stages in France, Switzerland and Italy.
Using only the adhesive on the back of the stickers, which feature Premiership players, the lads, set about meticulously applying them to the car.
Once they had covered the whole of the vehicle, they set about applying lacquer to it to make sure it was waterproof.
Ryan Dugmore at the wheel of the car covered in about 5,000 of the classic childhood collectors stickers
Mr Dugmore, 23, from Wylde Green, West Midlands, said: 'We tested the lacquer and the water didn't go through, although we don't know what it'll be like when we're driving at 60 miles per hour.
'Hopefully it won't rain.' Ryan and friends Kelvin Misra, 22, Liam Bull, 22, and Jack Orton 23, will make the journey dressed in their favourite team's football strip.
He said: 'We're all Aston Villa fans, so we've put the whole team together on the bonnet.
'We've refused to put any Birmingham City players on there, but apart from that we aren't being too strict.
'Although we won't have any members of the same team together.'
With 86,000 miles on the clock the friends are keeping their fingers crossed the car will make it across the stages in France, Switzerland and Italy
Mr Dugmore said that the biggest challenge was ensuring that the stickers were all lined up perfectly.
He added: 'We started on the bonnet and everything was nice and square.
'The curves were a bit of an issue but we got there in the end.' The team will also use the car as a sleeping quarters throughout the six-day journey.
Starting from Birmingham, they will travel to Bolougne, France and head through Italy via Turin before returning to Paris.
Mr Dugmore said: 'We're looking forward to seeing a few sights along the way and having a few beers in the evening.
The team said that the biggest challenge was ensuring that the stickers were all lined up perfectly
'It might get a bit cosy in there but we'll manage.' Ryan said that getting the car - which has to cost less than £200 according to competition rules - from start to finish may prove to be harder work than decorating it.
He said: 'The car has no horn, no washers, questionable brakes and a vinegary aroma.' The car, which has 86,000 miles on the clock, is also badly rusted and recently required a repair to its suspension arm.
Mr Dugmore said: 'There is very little chance of us living, never mind completing the whole journey.' The 'Crumball' rally is based on the more famous 'Gumball' rally, started in 1999 by former model Maximillion Cooper.
The rally is not a 'race', and no prize is given for first place, but awards are handed out for the 'best dressed' car - which the boys are hoping to win
While the 3000-mile Gumball race often features fast, powerful cars, the 'Crumball' version insists that 'competitors' spend no more than £200 on their transport.
The rally is not a 'race', and no prize is given for first place, but awards are handed out for the 'best dressed' car.
The lads are raising money for Acorns Children's Hospice - a Midlands-based organisation offering care and support to children with life-threatening conditions and their families.
Anyone wanting to support the campaign can donate on www.justgiving.com/gibletscrumbal
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016888/Football-mad-friends-set-2-100-endurance-rally-old-banger-covered-STICKERS.html#ixzz1Sgmrf1D3
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