Creator III
So, this is all about a 2 week trip that we took part in for 6 years.
Back in 2008/9, a Father and Son team dreamed up an idea to do a group overland trip, in 4x4s that would raise some money for the UKs Help for Heros.
Cutting a long planning story short, what they came up with was a trip across Europe, pretty much following the story of the TV miniseries Band of Brothers from the D Day landings in Normandy, via Arnhem, Bastogne and eventually on to Hitlers Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden in the South of Germany, for us a 3,000 mile round trip from home to home.
If you haven't watched the series, you really should do - or at least I think you should, it's eye opening and gripping.
The basic plan was that maybe they could run a charity fund raising event, non speed, but a bit competitive, for 20 vehicles and maybe raise £20,000.
What actually happened was the Help for Heros 4x4 European Rally that eventually ran for 6 years and raised over £1,000,000. In the years during and since, a very strong bond has grown up among the regulars and stalwarts of the trip - what has now become known as the "Rally Family".
We were proud to be a part of it for all 6 events, and to be one of only two teams that took part in every event using the same truck every year.
A small bit of the UKs 4x4 history, but proud to have been part of it.
More importantly, to have been part of that £1,000,000 fund raising. How many other 4x4 charity events can make that sort of claim, especially for those who have suffered because they chose to protect and defend?
Over the next few posts, I'll give an insight to the trip - the route, the challenges and the fun. One day, we'll retrace our steps and do it all again, just for the hell of it.
Watch this space.
Back in 2008/9, a Father and Son team dreamed up an idea to do a group overland trip, in 4x4s that would raise some money for the UKs Help for Heros.
Cutting a long planning story short, what they came up with was a trip across Europe, pretty much following the story of the TV miniseries Band of Brothers from the D Day landings in Normandy, via Arnhem, Bastogne and eventually on to Hitlers Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden in the South of Germany, for us a 3,000 mile round trip from home to home.
If you haven't watched the series, you really should do - or at least I think you should, it's eye opening and gripping.
The basic plan was that maybe they could run a charity fund raising event, non speed, but a bit competitive, for 20 vehicles and maybe raise £20,000.
What actually happened was the Help for Heros 4x4 European Rally that eventually ran for 6 years and raised over £1,000,000. In the years during and since, a very strong bond has grown up among the regulars and stalwarts of the trip - what has now become known as the "Rally Family".
We were proud to be a part of it for all 6 events, and to be one of only two teams that took part in every event using the same truck every year.
A small bit of the UKs 4x4 history, but proud to have been part of it.
More importantly, to have been part of that £1,000,000 fund raising. How many other 4x4 charity events can make that sort of claim, especially for those who have suffered because they chose to protect and defend?
Over the next few posts, I'll give an insight to the trip - the route, the challenges and the fun. One day, we'll retrace our steps and do it all again, just for the hell of it.
Watch this space.
