154 BIBLE STUDIES...

Things got a bit more real last week as the Bust Rallies organisers emailed a copy of the Pre-Rally Bible. It has sections covering Accommodation, Transport, Car, Insurance & Breakdown Cover, Rules & Driving laws, Shopping List, Supporters & Sponsors, Car Disposal and the Final Checklist.

Accommodation: Provides a list of suggestions, broken down by budget: Camping/Hostel/Budget Hotel/Mid-range Hotel/Deluxe Hotel. Richie and I had a very brief look at some of the places available over the weekend, but I suggested we all sit together to plan where we are getting our head down each night.

Transport: Includes links to the ferry and the Chunnel, and notes that prices fluctuate, so it's worth shopping around. A vital nugget they included was "It’s worth noting that if you’re to make it in time for the Thursday night rendezvous in Namur, you should be aiming to leave UK soil at 17:00hrs at the very latest."

Car: Suggest sites to purchase a vehicle (eBay/Gumtree/Auto Trader/BCA Auction). Not much use as we already have our might steeds!!! One thing that did stand out was the section about Car Decoration:

• Avoid anything that your insurer may consider a “modification”. Cutting the roof off, attaching a sidecar or adding extra wheels are all classed as this!  

• Painting your car is not modifying it, nor is fitting musical horns.

• The multicultural make-up of continental Europe, combined with the increased levels of security in major towns, means that we strongly recommend that our teams avoid decorating their cars in any way that may offend, and avoid themes linked to Police, Military, anything of a sexual nature and any theme that may make the vehicle appear vandalised or abandoned.

Insurance & Breakdown Cover: Some interesting info in this section about what to tell our UK insurance companies to prevent us falling foul of any fine print shenanigans: 

"If you intend to use an existing UK policy, then it may be helpful to inform your insurer that Bust Rallies are operated in accordance with the British Motorsport Association guidance on Navigational Scatter Events, meaning that:

• We do not record mileage

• There are no tests

• There is no set route

• There is no timing

• Competitors are not required to visit all the same places

• There is no set finish time"

There are also links to specialist insurers who should cover us while taking part in the rally - this might be a wise choice. They also strongly recommend travel insurance and specialist breakdown insurance if our regular cover doesn't stretch to Europe.

Rules & Driving Laws: There are 10 Bust Rallies golden rules, the first three are pretty self-explanatory:

1. No Racing.

2. No Racing.

3. No Racing.

4. No Racing. Refer to the first three rules if in any doubt. Any kind of racing will not be tolerated. There’s no need to do it, and it puts your life and others' lives at risk.

Elsewhere, all cars need a full MOT, insurance, and the original V5 to prove ownership. There is a link to the AA Touring Tips page, which highlights the different speed limits, required documentation, and essential kit for driving in each country.

Shopping List: A list of what you legally require in/on your vehicle to visit the countries on our route, including motorway tax (Switzerland), GB sticker, warning triangle, reflective jacket/waistcoat (Italy), headlamp converter, breathalyser, and Low Emission Zone sticker (Freiburg).

There is also a list of 'nice to haves', including a roadmap, satnav, (transmitter to FM Radio & car charger for iPhone – lets you listen to your tunes through a banger stereo and charges your phone at the same time), first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and a fuel can.

Supporters & Sponsors: Details on how to promote our team, including Facebook and Instagram hashtags, and confirmation of exposure for any companies willing to pay to have their name on our vehicles.

Car Disposal: Advice on how to scrap your car (perish the thought!) and a warning that the relevant authorities between France and the UK have become incredibly “efficient” in recent years when tracking down the owners of abandoned cars.

Final Checklist: A nice breakdown of the essentials to take part:

• Check the latest Brexit requirements

• Car

• Driving Licences

• Passports

• Money/ Bank cards

• MOT Cert

• V5 document (The original! – usually takes the DVLA 5 weeks to process)

• Car insurance certificate

• Emissions Sticker (Freiburg)

• Motorway tax (Switzerland)

• GB sticker

• Warning triangle

• Reflective jacket/waistcoat

• Headlamp Convertors

• Breathalyser

• Ferry/ Eurotunnel to France

• Accommodation – Namur

• Accommodation – Freiburg

• Accommodation – Menaggio

• Accommodation – Nice