Latest news with #ShitboxRally
ABC News
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Road weary Sh**box Rally drivers roll into Darwin for charity auction finale
After eight days on the road, a fleet of cheap and cheerful clunkers pulls into the Darwin Showgrounds covered in rust, dust, flags and fur. The weary and relieved drivers honk their horns and rev their engines as they roll to a stop — but the fun isn't over yet. Saturday is auction day, and some of these beloved "shitboxes" are about to find their forever homes. "I'm not going to say too much about her because she's got to be auctioned off," said Nicole from Coffs Harbour on the NSW Mid-North Coast, patting the boot of her Ford Focus. Organisers estimate over 500 drivers took part in the winter 2025 edition of the Shitbox Rally, driving from Perth to Darwin in cars worth less than $1,500 apiece. "We've built a really unique community. We've put strangers together only eight days ago, and now they're lifelong friends," founder James Freeman said. But while the showgrounds are bursting with pride and camaraderie, the fundraiser was born from tragedy. The latest event brought in more than $2.6 million for cancer research, taking the overall amount raised by Shitbox Rally events to nearly $57 million over the past 15 years. "The motivation is a heartbreaking personal story — I lost both of my parents to cancer within 12 months," Mr Freeman said. For Carmen and Brendan from Werribee in Victoria, the cause is close to home in more ways than one. "I was affected by cancer; 14 years ago I had breast cancer," Carmen said. "We've had family and friends who were all affected by cancer. If we can help support cancer researchers, then this is going to a very good cause." Their car, a repurposed taxi named Olaf the Shitbox, had seen them through four rallies before it died coming into Darwin on Friday night. "It's served us well over the past four years," Brendan said. Also among the rally's entrants was Finnish ambassador to Australia Arto Haapea, driving The Happiest Car in the World, a blue Toyota Camry adorned with flags, rainbows, and Finnish cartoons. "The fact that we can do something like this for a common cause is the biggest inspiration for me to take part," he said. "I've got my own history of cancer in my early twenties, so I know what it means to have first-class research." As the auction begins, buyers gather to bid for cars, and Darwin local Michael ends up taking home two. "I'm pretty stoked; the first one has got a set of golf clubs on top, which is probably worth more than the car, so that's nice," he said. While some of the cars might be on the brink of collapse, many entrants are already turning their minds to the next event — a spring rally from Alice Springs to Brisbane. "Being Australians, we have a tendency to want a challenge and also to self-deprecate, to laugh at ourselves and the situation," Mr Freeman said. "All of that is moulded together with this particular challenge — this particular rally."
West Australian
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Shitbox Rally 2025: Party time for the humble Toyota Corolla Conquest with a mighty 4313km journey ahead
Newcastle's Jason Percival and his partner Kate Christensen are transporting a giant disco ball 4313km from Perth to Darwin via the Gibb River Road all in the name of charity. They will form Team Shaft Punk and will be driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla Conquest hatchback, one of 516 teams aiming to raise a collective $2.5 million in Shitbox Rally 2025. Launched 16 years ago by James Freeman as a tribute after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other, the Shitbox Rally, Mystery Box Rally and Lunchbox Rally form the leading individual annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council, with more than $56 million donated to research. Cars must be roadworthy and registered and worth no more than $1500 with no 4WD or AWD allowed and teams need to raise a minimum of $5000 to participate. Dress-up themes are encouraged and the reward of making camp each night is an evening spent under the stars in rural and remote locations. 'One of the best Toyotas every built. This is the first rally for this car but the second rally for our disco ball,' Mr Percival said. 'It has already gone from Melbourne to Alice Spirngs last winter and now it is going from Perth to Darwin. 'It is a massive pump up disco ball that hopefully stays on the whole way.' The adventurers departed Langley Park on Friday morning. 'We have three spare tyres in the back and I think we are going to need them for the Gibb River Road,' Ms Christensen said. 'We also have an amazing functioning snorkel that we have built ourselves for the river crossings.' Jason said the rally was a tribue to his mum who passed away from melanoma when he was 15. 'I've always wanted to give back to research to find out why it happens,' he said. 'We have a couple of friends fighting it as well. 'We do it four friends and family and the energy and the vibe on this rally is amazing. 'It's great fun at night time. Really inclusive.' 'When you say a certain word, which I am not going to say, you have to do 10 push ups.' They have just hit their goal of $30,000. For more information go to
Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Shitbox Rally: Corolla's mighty conquest Perth to Darwin
Newcastle's Jason Percival and his partner Kate Christensen are transporting a giant disco ball 4313km from Perth to Darwin via the Gibb River Road all in the name of charity. They will form Team Shaft Punk and will be driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla Conquest hatchback, one of 516 teams aiming to raise a collective $2.5 million in Shitbox Rally 2025. Launched 16 years ago by James Freeman as a tribute after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other, the Shitbox Rally, Mystery Box Rally and Lunchbox Rally form the leading individual annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council, with more than $56 million donated to research. Cars must be roadworthy and registered and worth no more than $1500 with no 4WD or AWD allowed and teams need to raise a minimum of $5000 to participate. Dress-up themes are encouraged and the reward of making camp each night is an evening spent under the stars in rural and remote locations. The Shit Box car rally from Perth to Darwin has departed from Langley Park in Perth. PIctured are drivers Jason Percival and Kate Christensen Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'One of the best Toyotas every built. This is the first rally for this car but the second rally for our disco ball,' Mr Percival said. 'It has already gone from Melbourne to Alice Spirngs last winter and now it is going from Perth to Darwin. 'It is a massive pump up disco ball that hopefully stays on the whole way.' The adventurers departed Langley Park on Friday morning. 'We have three spare tyres in the back and I think we are going to need them for the Gibb River Road,' Ms Christensen said. 'We also have an amazing functioning snorkel that we have built ourselves for the river crossings.' SHIT BOX RALLY Credit: SHIT BOX RALLY Jason said the rally was a tribue to his mum who passed away from melanoma when he was 15. 'I've always wanted to give back to research to find out why it happens,' he said. 'We have a couple of friends fighting it as well. 'We do it four friends and family and the energy and the vibe on this rally is amazing. 'It's great fun at night time. Really inclusive.' 'When you say a certain word, which I am not going to say, you have to do 10 push ups.' They have just hit their goal of $30,000. For more information go to
Sydney Morning Herald
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why the Finnish ambassador is driving a Camry from Perth to Darwin
Driving a cheap car across the vast Australian outback is becoming a rite of passage for ambassadors living in Perth, with Finland's Ambassador to Australia Arto Haapea the latest diplomat to take part in the Shitbox Rally. More than a year after former USA Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy drove her beaten-up BA Falcon 'Moonshot' from South Australia to Perth, Haapea will later this week drive a blue 2004 Toyota Camry dubbed the 'Happiest Car in the World' through the WA outback from Perth to Darwin. The car is covered in decals evocative of Finland, such as homages to Santa (much of the country is encompassed by the Arctic Circle), the white hippo-like Moomins characters and a big smile on the front bumper. The Shitbox Rally encourages entrants to raise money for the Cancer Council by purchasing a car worth less than $1500 and driving it huge distances from one corner of the country to the next. Haapea, who was appointed to the role in March last year, said he was hooked on the thought of driving through the outback with a sense of purpose after seeing Kennedy's trip. 'As I have gone through cancer in my early 20s, this challenge seemed like the most natural way to bring together our fun-loving countries,' he said. 'I have always been a big fan of road trips, so the Shitbox Rally really ticks all the boxes for me. 'I have to confess I know very little about cars, so I'm putting all my hope into skilled and experienced fellow shitboxers. If there's one thing that I am slightly worried about, it has to do with the deadly fauna and sleeping in a swag. 'The car is all about bringing the famous Finnish happiness to the outback.'
The Age
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
Why the Finnish ambassador is driving a Camry from Perth to Darwin
Driving a cheap car across the vast Australian outback is becoming a rite of passage for ambassadors living in Perth, with Finland's Ambassador to Australia Arto Haapea the latest diplomat to take part in the Shitbox Rally. More than a year after former USA Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy drove her beaten-up BA Falcon 'Moonshot' from South Australia to Perth, Haapea will later this week drive a blue 2004 Toyota Camry dubbed the 'Happiest Car in the World' through the WA outback from Perth to Darwin. The car is covered in decals evocative of Finland, such as homages to Santa (much of the country is encompassed by the Arctic Circle), the white hippo-like Moomins characters and a big smile on the front bumper. The Shitbox Rally encourages entrants to raise money for the Cancer Council by purchasing a car worth less than $1500 and driving it huge distances from one corner of the country to the next. Haapea, who was appointed to the role in March last year, said he was hooked on the thought of driving through the outback with a sense of purpose after seeing Kennedy's trip. 'As I have gone through cancer in my early 20s, this challenge seemed like the most natural way to bring together our fun-loving countries,' he said. 'I have always been a big fan of road trips, so the Shitbox Rally really ticks all the boxes for me. 'I have to confess I know very little about cars, so I'm putting all my hope into skilled and experienced fellow shitboxers. If there's one thing that I am slightly worried about, it has to do with the deadly fauna and sleeping in a swag. 'The car is all about bringing the famous Finnish happiness to the outback.'
