A group of helicopter instructors at a north Shropshire airbase have completed a challenge that saw them travel across Europe in old bangers.
The six men from RAF Shawbury covered more than 1,700 miles over the five days in their cars, on a journey which took them from Shawbury to Rome via France and Switzerland.
The group managed to raise more than £6,000 for the County Air Ambulance.
The group, from the 60 R Squadron of the Defence Helicopter Flying School, which is based at RAF Shawbury, were taking part in the Stapes2Naples Banger Rally, which was held in September.
The team completed the challenge last year, and wanted to beat its previous fundraising total of £6,500.The rules of the rally, which actually starts in Calais and was diverted to finish in Rome this year, are that all cars must be bought for less than £100 and then decorated.
Nick Stephens, who took part in the rally, said covering more than 1,700 miles in five days was tiring but fun.
He said his team, Team Orange, which competed in a 1995 Ford Escort and a Proton, took third place beating off competition from almost 80 other competitors.
He said: “It was decided to take the cars on one final challenge and that was to have the cars parked outside the Vatican and the Colosseum before being chopped to bits at the scrap yard. “Both aims were achieved and much, much more. How many people can claim to have parked a 1995 Ford Escort painted like a Spitfire and an Orange Proton with 147,000 miles on the clock outside the Vatican whilst the Pope is addressing a crowd of 350,000 people. Yep, we did!
“On the last day, much to our surprise and delight, Team Orange came in a very proud third and won £150 which was added to our funds for the Air Ambulance. The celebrations went on into the wee small hours as we weren’t planning any driving the next morning.”
Along the journey, the team was also challenged to complete several tasks, including getting themselves pictured outside a local pub, taking photographs of every German car they spotted and dressing up as characters from the Beastie Boys.
The team has raised more than £6,500 for the charity so far, and is still collecting donations.
For more details about the trip or to make a donation please visit www.thewrong waydown.org
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