BABE Rally 2007 The Team, The Banger Car, and Infrequent Updates

[Cape Cod MINI]

I have put together a team for the BABE Rally 2007. The what you say?
BABE = Big Apple to Big Easy. Start in New York City and End in New Orleans.
Sounds easy...so what's so great about that? Read on:
The prime rule: The vehicle entered must be purchased for a maximum of $250- US . and be pretty much knackered.
Our Team Name: 4 Guys Do 1 BABE.
Team members are Joe Rose (all around good guy and MINI driving One Lapper), Dave Brushett (you may recall him as my copilot from MOT 2005), Me (I am the artist formerly known as Cape Cod MINI), and maybe if he can ever get off the g**d*** fence and make up his mind Old Johnnie Secco.

Having plunked down the $250- registration fee I am team Capitano and will be making all decisions regarding everything regardless of what other team members desire. In addition my highest qualification is that my nose is attuned to the smell of cheap beer and urine and I have heard that such olfactory acuity is pretty much the way one gets to the next BABE motel.

Joe, as team Procurement Officer is in charge of purchasing the team vehicle. Lucky, as our car shall be know, has not been purchased yet but we know he/she/it is out there somewhere. Joe did have a good line on a $50- Ford Fiesta with approximately 2.3 million miles on it that drove like a champ but upon inspection on a lift it was found to be a chump.
Men of my stature would most likely fall through the floor boards the moment their ass hit the seat.

Dave, being a natural lover of cheap beer and an all around happy go lucky sport will be team Morale Officer. His supply of Ice House beer and Black and Tan cigars is bottomless. He also becomes overly generous at buying rounds at bars when he gets drunk...see my intelligence shining through here...

John...well...John just is. I suppose he'll be there for comic relief and to hitch hike to the nearest town when Lucky sh*ts the bed. This of course, is If the wan-ker ever commits. I will consider changing the team name to Second Hand Smoke if he comes as I'm the only one of the crew with non-charcoaled lungs. Seriously, John will be Team Orator if he ever frigging commits!!!!!

BTW, Joe had recommended the team name of A Rose Between Thorns but that was too original and good to accept.

The approximately 1400 mile route from Staten Island/NYC to New Orleans includes driving The Dragon in our Bangers and a number of events along the way that are more fun than skill...which we sorely lack.

At some point Lucky will receive graphics in the form of permanent marker pictures and signatures and comments that will be sold by the dollar per signature or something like that. Any money gained will go to small community church or other non-profit in New Orleans

Updates will be provided when Lucky is purchased.
Check out BABERAlly.com for more information
and
www.streetsafari.com for more info on Banger Rallys and the BABE 2007 forums.

[faster,Tobias!]

An entertaining read! Best of luck with what could be a perilous ride!

[AprilWhine]

Gonna blog it? Hope so!

[yellowmininy]

Wow, this sounds like fun! I think...

[Cape Cod MINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by yellowmininy (original)

Wow, this sounds like fun! I think...

I would like to book Quack Quack Jack for a week in May if that's possible.
I think he would like the ride.
If Ed was still with us you know he would be a team member.

[yellowmininy]

Sure thing- sounds like a trip he'll remember forever!

[snid]

Commit already, Secco! Mo could use a week without you.

[rfinprc]

Let me know if Secco flops. There's lot's of fauna between nyc & N'awlean.

[LePew]

Congrats and good luck, sounds like a hoot and a half. Some advice from a One Lap / week with Joe Rose veteran:

First, pick your navigator wisely. If its Joe be sure he has ready access to a couple of 12v outlets and a Garmin and plenty of coffee. If you expect him to have to read maps you'll get lost in Arkansas at 3 am. Ask me how I know.

Second, rig up a 300 gallon thermos and fill it with Dunkin Donuts coffee. Can't find a decent cup of joe anywhere after New York.

Third, forget CB radios. We had two on One Lap and they were a big waste of time. On the other hand, have at least two radar detectors (front and rear) and laser jammers handy. Oh and a stack of hundred dollar bills in case all that electronic stuff doesn't work when you get pulled over doing 57 in a 55 in West Virginia. Where all that stuff is illegal anyway.

Fourth, plan your route to allow for stopping every hour for a smoke and a bathroom break. Either that or allow smoking in the car and bring along a case of depends.

That's all for now, will think some more.....

[holdenontoit]

what a hoot! I second the blog request.We'll all need a daily update on this while it's going on.Come on Secco , pony up, your community needs you to round out this gruesome foursome . I can't even imagine what $250 will buy anymore but a 1975 pinto comes to mind ,or any number of Ramblers (I had a 1958 Rambler American that I could not kill despite all efforts,sadly it's demise was due to nothing but water in the radiator and a very cold night up in Bennington Vermont.)

[ItHurts]

Sounds like a scream - looking forward to seeing how it goes!

[yellowmininy]

I took a look around our local Cragislist for $250 cars. Coupe of contenders in that range, including one with no title, a Geo Prizm and a Nissan Sentra. Mostly in the category of "Runs good, body fair" which I always take to mean that you can see the road through the floor boards.

Reminds me of the days my brother & I spend looking through the Swap Sheet for Dodge Darts. I think we spent $500 on our '74 Dart, though. If you can find one, I recommend the Dart.

[JR9907]

I think we we pretty much voted on a minivan type vehicle.We could add a porta/potty-smoking room in the back,that would solve the once an hour stops for the older guys with enlarged prostates.It would also have room for afternoon naps,something that is lacking in a MINI on 1 Lap of America.David is right,keep me away from maps.

[jcsinnh]

An old hearse....................The Cod might as well get used to being in one

[jwardell]

Sounds hilarious. I would want regular video updates, but only without smell-o-vision.