Challenge on Top Gear leads duo to take on epic journey

Two Bognor Regis friends are embarking on a Top Gear-style challenge for charity.

Pete Macer and Peter Salway will be driving an old Mercedes 280E to Istanbul and back. The 3,000-mile journey in aid of the Nyodema charity for the Gambia and Help the Aged should take just over two weeks.

They are having a send-off party at Cheers Bar in Waterloo Square at 7.30pm this evening (Thursday, July 30) with some live music. They hope to pick up last-minute sponsorship to add to the 1,600 pledged to them so far.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Macer, 52, of Servite Close, said: "When I was younger, I never had the chance to do this sort of thing.

"But the time seemed right to do it now and have a bit of fun while raising money for charity. The challenges on Top Gear have inspired us as well."

The two Petes bought the early 1980s car for 250 when it was little more than a shell. Mr Salway, 48, of Annandale Avenue, spent nine weeks getting it up to scratch. Flooring has been replaced, the engine overhauled, brakes renewed and numerous holes made good.

The money for the car and the work has been paid by them to enable all their sponsorship to go to the charities which have been chosen because of links to their other halves.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The adventurers originally wanted to drive to the Gambia but were warned off by the Foreign Office for their own safety. Even going to Istanbul has seen them drop their original route through the Balkans on FO advice.

They are instead travelling from Dover to Calais and on through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and over the Alps into Italy, Greece and Turkey.

A highlight will be a visit to the Mercedes factory in Stuttgart where the firm has promised a tour of the facilities.

A different return route will end with the ferry crossing from Cherbourg to Portsmouth.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Facebook account '“ Bognor to Istanbul charity run '“ has been set up and will be updated daily with reports and photographs of their progress.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP

Related topics: