The madcap rally is being held from 7th to 10th October in Ireland for 2023, with all participants travelling 1,500 miles over four days in their very own ‘bangers’ – all of which cost less than £750.
The UKGBE event organiser has partnered with LKQ Euro Car Parts and established aftermarket business owners Louise Baker and Rachel Murray, as they gear up for this years’ challenge, starting from Holyhead to cross the Irish Sea to Dublin, hitting the winding roads of Ireland, before completing the tour back in Dublin to board the ferry home to Blighty.
In 2019 Automechanika Birmingham put together a team 2 in Louise and Rachel with support from Messe Frankfurt on the ground with logistics and costs, the duo are back in their ‘new’ banger and will be joined by Alex Jones, marketing director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of Automechanika Birmingham and UKGBE, plus Karena Shahid, regional account manager at LKQ Euro Car Parts.
Last year saw Automechanika Birmingham support Louise and Rachel hit the roads of Europe in their ‘banger’, driving from Birmingham to Monaco and back, raising a whopping £3,000 for automotive mental health charity, Ben.
The duo are ready to hit the roads again this year and have signed up Alex and Karena for the ride, with the team purchasing a Citroen car for the trip, which will be decorated in a very on-trend Barbie theme.
Bangers4Ben was created to raise essential funds for the charity; entrants are required is to pay a £1,050 entry fee and buy a car for less than £750. Teams are encouraged to participate in fancy dress and decorate their vehicles whatever way they’d like.
All cars will then be auctioned off after the mission is complete to raise even more funds for the charity.
Baker owns independent garage, Womanic, which she opened in 2016, and has over 20 years of experience ‘on the spanners’. Murray is a 25-year-old, freelance refinisher specialising in the automotive industry, as well as having experience in marine, commercial and domestic spraying.
Both Louise and Rachel, as well as Alex and Karena, are passionate about the sector and promoting the automotive industry to the next generation, as well as breaking down the stigma against mental health in the industry.
All are also strong advocates for diversity, particularly women in the industry and are excited to don their fancy dress and go on the journey off a lifetime in their very own ‘Barbie mobile’.
Karena says: “I’m thrilled to be part of the Dublin Driving Dolls team for Bangers4Ben 2023, joining a fun bunch of ladies to raise money for charity and having a good laugh along the way – what’s not to love?”
Alex Jones comments: “Joining Bangers4Ben provides us a great opportunity to support the mental health charity community and also celebrate a more diverse workforce. Us Driving Dolls are on a mission to promote diversity in the industry”
Alex continues: “I’m so excited to be joining Louise and Rachel on board the 2023 banger as I supported from the side lines last year as the ladies enjoyed a fantastic trip across Europe. It’s going to be an incredible experience, all for a worthy cause. I can’t wait to get in the car and make a start!”
Lou and Rachel have worked tirelessly to ensure the car is ready for the trip. Lou using her skills to re-build the banger.
This year the rally will again be run by Automation Events in support of Ben.
You can donate to support the Automechanika Banger-ham team here https://giving.ben.org.uk/pf/dublindrivingdolls
ENDS
For all media enquiries, contact Impression Communications, PR agency on behalf of Messe Frankfurt UK:
Hayley Evans + 44 (0) 7540 285300
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is one of the world’s leading trade fair, congress and event organisers with their own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,200* people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2022 were around €450 million*. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
* Preliminary figures for 2022