By Carolyn Webb
In a past life it may have woven around suburban streets to the tune of Greensleeves, but soon a humble ice cream van will hurtle 3800 kilometres across the dusty Australian outback.
It may turn graziers’ heads, but co-owner Nick Diplaris has no fear of a speeding ticket while driving it in the upcoming Shitbox Rally.
Shitbox Rally drivers Andrew Holman, left, and Nick Diplaris in their restored ice cream van.Credit: Jason South
“It’s noisy and slow, but it goes,” he says of the 1977 Bedford van that he and friend Andrew Holman rescued from a wrecker’s yard and restored in Diplaris’ factory in Moorabbin, in Melbourne’s south-east.
Diplaris explains that the faster the van goes, the greater the din and heat from the motor, which lies under the front seats. So the pace will be steady but sedate.
The van sadly no longer has an ice cream machine, nor does it have power steering or air conditioning.
But the drivers’ team name, Chocdip.and.sprinkles, completely gels with the wacky high spirits of the Shitbox Rally, in which 229 cars, each worth $1500 or less, will drive from Bendigo to Townsville starting on Saturday.
They will drive on mostly dirt roads across four states, including far-west NSW and Queensland, and arrive in Townsville on October 25. It’s more of a road trip than a race.
Rallies are held during spring, autumn and winter each year – notably skipping outback Australia’s brutal summer heat.
While Diplaris and Holman aim to make friends and visit outback pubs, they love the rally’s main objective, fundraising for the Cancer Council.
Since they began 14 years ago, Shitbox Rallies – one of which recently boasted US ambassador Caroline Kennedy as a driver – have raised $50 million for the charity. This year’s Spring Shitbox Rally has so far raised more than $2 million.
Yee-ha: Sarah Olson and friend Louis Payne, aka Team Barbie and Ken, are ready for the Shitbox Rally.Credit: Jason South
It’s a cause important to Sarah Olson and friend Louis Payne, aka Team Barbie and Ken, both of whose fathers are cancer survivors.
They have raised $12,000 already. Their car, a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, is painted pink and blue and has rainbow seat covers.
Olson and Payne, both blonds, will wear cowboy, rollerblading and beach outfits, inspired by the Barbie film.
Rivalling their costume efforts will be Team Wog Boys, consisting of James Camilleri and Chris Portelli, who will depict 1990s taxi drivers with long socks, shorts and daggy wigs.
Wog Boys ahead: Chris Portelli, left, and James Camilleri ham it up on their fake taxi.Credit: Jason South
Camilleri and Portelli have raised $35,000 for the Cancer Council, helped by Camilleri being an employee of Nestle, which donated sweets for them to sell.
Both sons of Maltese immigrants, they installed a musical horn, fluffy dice and a booming stereo in their “fake taxi”.
Another rally participant, Stuart Miles, from Team Copy Copy, said his 1964 Volkswagen Beetle, named Fargus, had been “a pile of junk” that he and father Andrew Miles overhauled.
Fargus still has no air conditioning or power steering and the engine is loud. But it has armchair-like seats and a “dream” suspension. Stuart says the rally will be “a fantastic holiday” and he is trying to be optimistic about how the VW will go on the rally’s mostly dirt roads.
Garage dreams: Stuart Miles (top) and father Andrew Miles with their restored 1964 VW Beetle.Credit: Jason South
“It’ll be OK. All I’ve committed to is making it to Bendigo,” he said. “Fargus will decide whether he proceeds or not.”
The public can farewell Shitbox Rally entrants at Bendigo Showgrounds on Saturday from 7.30am to 10am.
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