Cirencester lads play Russian roulette (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester lads play Russian roulette

IT WILL be Vladivostok or bust when three car-mad Cirencester students play Russian Roulette on a 13,000-mile, eight-week charity rally.

Sam Glover, Tom Lewindon, and Dan Beames, all aged 21, are among the six organisers of The July 2006 Russian Roulette Rally (RRR) that will see people from all over the UK driving cars, worth about #100 each, from Swindon to Vladivostok in South East Russia.

A strict banger policy will be operated, with emphasis on novelty and decrepitude.

If the car is worth more than #100, significant parts must be removed until it meets the criteria. All cars must be road legal, even if on their last MOT.

'Rouletteers' must travel light, survival gear and other equipment being scrounged or fashioned from household items.

The rally is being organised by Slightly Clive Racing (SCR), which comprises the three Cirencester lads and their London friends, Steve Horley, Ranj Dhillon, and Tony Johnston.

The six, who will drive a rusty FX4 London Taxi, dreamed up the idea while lying beside a Gambian swimming pool following Slightly Clive's 2005 Plymouth-Dakar rally, which saw themselves and other drivers nursing sub-#100 bangers between England and The Gambia.

It will be in-aid of 'Clive Aid', SCR's charitable project that supports Tarud and Gunjur Upper Basic school in The Gambia.

The Tarud undertake education, sanitation, agricultural and medical projects in the Gunjur region.

SCR also hope to adopt a charity local to their route and participating teams can support other needy causes of their own choosing.

SCR is seeking companies willing to sponsor teams or the event.

Starting on Friday, July 14, the rally will traverse 14 countries: England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia.

Those who make it to Vladivostok will return home by air or the Trans-Siberian Railway.

SCR's spokesman said: "It is hoped that the RRR will attract a diverse range of teams from all over the UK. It is open for entree to anyone who thinks that taking on the world's ultimate road trip in a poorly equipped banger is a good idea." For details visit www.slightlycliveracing.com