A GROUP of madcap drivers embarked on a Wacky Races-inspired journey to the northernmost part of the UK last weekend.
But as well as trying to mastermind each other’s downfall, Dick Dastardly style, there was a far less sinister motive for the 1,000-mile voyage to John O'Groats, to raise funds for charity.
The Wacky Racers, in association with the Severn Arms Hotel, left Penybont in seven cars at 5.30am on Friday morning, May 27, in a race to John O'Groats and back.
On the way they were set tasks to complete, staying in Scarborough along the way before returning home to Penybont on Sunday, May 29 – 1,200 miles later.
The Wacky Racers celebrate with a deserved pint on their return to Penybont.
The race is a quirky take on the famous US children’s cartoon from the 1960s, which made the devious Dastardly and comical sidekick Muttley household names. The show featured a number of misfits trying to win the title of the ‘World's Wackiest Racer’, with Dastardly and Muttley, in their Mean Machine, trying to plot the downfall of their opponents, only for the evil genius’ plan to comically backfire every race.
As a result, Dastardly was the only racer who not only never won, but never even finished in the top three in any race.
The other vehicles to feature were the Slag Brothers’ Gravel Boulder Mobile, the Gruesome Twosome in their Creepy Coupe, Professor Pat Pending’s Convert-a-Car, the Red Max in the Crimson Haybaler, Penelope Pitstop in the Compact Pussycat, Sergeant Blast and Private Meekly in the Army Surplus Special, the Ant Hill Mob’s Bulletproof Bomb, Lazy Luke and Blubber Bear in the Arkansas Chuggabug, Peter Perfect in the Turbo Terrific and Rufus Ruffcut’s Buzz Wagon.
“All sponsorship and donations will be given directly to the Wales Air Ambulance charity,” said Chris Dunne, one of the race’s organisers.
“All costs of the race are being personally funded by the Wacky Racers. The Wales Air Ambulance is funded by the people of Wales and requires £8 million a year to keep its four helicopters in the sky, serving Wales and saving lives.
“The charity can be anywhere in Wales within 20 minutes, its doctors and medics fly the A&E department to the patient. It also runs the children's Wales Air Ambulance service, transferring vulnerable babies and children to the specialist hospitals across the UK.
“Your donations will help keep this vital service in Wales.”
Many mini events have already taken place from raffles, horse racing, a Christmas dinner in early May and a sponsored head shave on May 26, all to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance.
For more information, visit the WackyRacers presentsJoGON! Facebook page or JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wackyracers7.
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