The Final Secret Uncovered

Now that we are home, safe in the knowledge that all our fellow Barcelona Bangers should by now have left Spain, we are able to release details of our final day's route. Up until now the route has had to remain a closely guarded secret for fear of an "ambush" by the Spanish authorities, who we believe were keeping a close watch on this website for any clues.

Click on the red button to the left to open the tracking window and see where we have been.

The final couple of miles took us along the front of the port in Barcelona before heading inland along Carrer de la Marina towards our hotel. However, as soon as we turned onto this road we were awestruck by the sight of Gaudi's most famous work in the distance - la Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família.

We immediately realised that an underground hotel car park was not a fitting end to such an epic journey across Europe. For us the finishing line had suddenly become la Sagrada Familia. With Kate (Mrs TomTom) encouraging us to take a right turn at every opportunity, we opted to ignore her directions and the ensuing persistent reminders to "Make a U-turn".

Whilst making our circumnavigation of one of the most amazing examples of architecture you are ever likely to feast your eyes upon, we were conscious of the need to obtain a photographic record of the event for prosperity - and proof that we had actually made it. At the first available opportunity (a red traffic light) Paul leapt out of the car and snapped away.

That was it. Our finishing line. We had made it.

And so we set off on what was, unknowingly, to become our last few hundred metres in the trusted green goddess. We soon found our hotel for the night and eventually found the underground car park. I mention this because there are those amongst you who have been avidly watching our progress and casting aspersions on our ability to successfully locate our en route destinations at the end of each day. You know who you are! Driving round in circles allows us to get our bearings, the spatial relationship between hotel, pub and restaurant is an important one to understand.

Home At Last

After what turned into an eventful afternoon the intrepid Burly Bald Blokes landed back home safe and sound in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Our 22:25 EasyJet flight from Barcelona was delayed (what a surprise!) and eventually took off at midnight local time. We were deposited on the tarmac at Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 01:00 this morning. Mrs N very kindly provided a much welcome taxi service and we arrived back at base camp in Southport at 02:00. Paul collected his car and made a quick dash back over the Pennines to Huddersfield. I can confirm that he too is now home safe and sound but please don't do any sums based on the the time of this posting - and if you do please don't tell anyone!

And so to bed!

Green Goddess Cheats Death

A nice relaxed walk around town, a tapas and Sangria lunch and a final coffee on the harbour then back to collect the car and off to the scrap yard before 6pm.

That was the plan and the first three elements were executed with aplomb. The fourth however resulted in near disaster as the green goddess decided to have a flat battery. Numerous appeals through the concierge to local garages proved fruitless and we resorted to international breakdown.

No help for two hours was the response, meaning we would hit the scrap yard well after closing. We were facing another night in Barcelona.

Then, like a knight in shining armour came Linberg (real Spanish name) who agreed to take the car off our hands, despite the maps and the dead battery. Our new best friend signed the export papers and the green goddess got a reprieve.

Many thanks to Linberg and we hope that he has many happy days or even weeks motoring in his free BMW.

We're now at the airport and the flight is in four hours.

Journeys End

Just time to grab a few hours to unwind before taking the green goddess on her last journey to the great car park in the sky.

We believe that all bar one cars made it and the one which didn't left the rally on the first day. The border crossing warnings were over-exaggerated and the Renault which Ray got started on the mountainside in Andorra fried its engine as they pulled into their Barcelona car park.

We understand a couple of cars have been towed for being illegally parked, with a 200 Euro fine for release. We'd leave ours in the pound.

Well done to the Comeonthecoo boys who won the rally with the Cannonball Sheiks in second and the Pope Mobile a respectable third.

Thanks to all our sponsors, those of you who have been very generous with your donations and our co-directors Rob and Nick for their unerring support of our crazy fundraising adventure.

We are the Champions

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, that really is the Barcelona Banger parked in front of La Sagrada Familia.

Our quest is over, our nirvana reached, our holy grail raised aloft. Fourteen hundred miles across four countries (yes we are counting Andorra) without a single speeding ticket...that we know of.

Her task over, the green goddess is having her final good nights rest in the luxury of the hotels underground car park.

We've had a great adventure together and she has behaved like a dream.

More later but for now rest easy, we made it, and we're absolutely delighted about it.

A quick change and we are off to the prize giving.

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

Miles of sweeping bends and poppy fields have given way to an arid barren landscape. A true sign that we are rapidly approaching journeys end.

Chris hasn't spared the horses and Paul suspects that he's been deliberately over-revving, simply because he can.

The exhaust has sounded brilliant through the many tunnels, and has encouraged shifting down a gear the hear the full roar of the un-silenced 1.8 litre engine.

Just 20 miles left, mostly on the A2, to our destination, a shower, prize giving and a parade down the Ramblas to an excellent little seafood restaurant Paul knows.

He's just had a little snooze in readiness.

Sailing

After sailing through the border with just a couple of smiles and knowing nods we decided to stop at the first opportunity and celebrated our escape from potential incarceration with Calamares & Patatas Fritas and a nice cold, if somewhat small, San Miguel.

Now just 178km to our goal and we've opted for the scenic route avoiding any further tolls.

We left the support team way back and have sprung the 'Red Bull is illegal in Spain' ruse on them and now have visions of them trying to sell it before making the border crossing themselves.

The green goddess is living up to the bulletpoof BMW reputation and showed no signs of any overheat during the long mountain sections.

The end is in sight. Next stop Monserratt.

Viva Espana

Firstly apologies for lack of blog postings over last couple of hours. E-mails dont send from Andorra!

Well, you will be pleased to know we got through the borders with only one slight nervous moment. We got stopped going into Spain and were expecting a full search. After looking in the boot and finding only the remains of a case of Red Bull we were sent on our way. Yipeee!

Barcelona here we come.

Top of the World

Weather not too brilliant as you can see but we made it to the top of the world. We are now in Andorra and as yet are unchallenged.

The beemer banger continues to behave brillliantly. The fuel level warning light came on as we headed up but we decided it was only down to the angle of the car and opted to ignore it.

Help!

Team Cut and Shampuma to the rescue! Gladly not for us though.

At a petrol station half way up the mountains we chanced upon a broken down Renault banger and it's downhearted crew. Having stopped for petrol they had spent 45 minutes trying to get her started again.

Raymondo dived under the bonnet like a ferret up a trouser leg and within 2 minutes the engine fired into life once again. Four happy chappies are now back on their way to Barcelona.

Long and Winding Road.

We've begun our climb into the mountains. Weather is beginning to come in on us so a short stop by a stream was made to take some sponsor photos.

Onwards and upwards.

Bicycle

Seems like we are not the only ones on the road today. When the motorcycle gendarmerie pulled up alongside us and asked to pull over immediately we began to fear the worst. Fortunately it was to make way for a cycle race.

How easy can that be as a sport? Free-wheeling down a big hill. We've had to pedal over 1,000 miles to get here.

Run to the Hills

For the first time on this run we can now see big hills and mountains. Just going past Foix on N20 and about to enter a 3km tunnel.

Still have a full signal in middle of tunnel so about to post this blog entry now. Hold tight - we shall see what happens.

Road to Nowhere

A picture of the command module. This is the business end of todays operation. Walkie talkie to chat with support team members, phone to communicate with outside world, tracker keeping a log of where we are, camera to record the events of this historical expedition.

Paul is at the tiller again this morning as we head to the border with time to be made up after our delayed start.

Car running well after an un-nerving non-starting moment first thing this morning. ETA in Andorra now 2.30pm.

Car Trouble.

Not the beemer I hasten to add, but sadly there was an overnight casualty - not related to alcohol however. Our colleagues in the hairdressers car got floured and watered. They are not amused and the toothbrushes are now in use as cleaning implements. The irony is that we would have loved to receive such battle scars!

We know the tracker is out of action and is likely to remain so for the rest of today. We have been tipped off that Spanish police are monitoring this site and we need to keep our location secret.

The unit is still recording our position and we will upload the log to the map when back in the office on Tuesday.

Hit the Road Jack

Final day started with a good hearty breakfast. Bright and sunny morning gazing across the rooftops of Toulouse from the hotel bedroom window.

Todays mission to get to Barcelona with the car in one piece and without too many questions from the local Gaurda Civil. We have 118 miles to go before we get to the Andorra border. Should be there by 2pm if all goes to plan.

Mission Impossible

Saturday night draws to a close and Team Salford GIS decide it is time to discuss strategy for the final day's push from France into Spain.

Whilst seeking a suitable venue for this important meeting they stumbled across a seedy hall in a Toulouse back-street. The hall was set out with large flat green tables that were ideal for the purpose.

Strangely, the strategy planning tables were also covered in small coloured balls, presumably left over from a previous meeting. But as coincidence would have it Team Cut and Shampuma were on hand to help us tidy up.

Six small holders were conveniently placed around the table into which we were able to push the balls with some wooden sticks we found lying around.

For some strange reason we ended up clearing the table three times between us, each team having tidied up as many balls as each other until the final black one. Paul set it up nicely for a final attempt by table-clearing virgin Chris (no pressure) to tidy the final ball. Sucess. Team Salford GIS - The Champs.

With a winning strategy planned, it was off to bed.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

You decide which of these three is which in the title.

Last blog of the night as we sit down in a beautiful square for a few beers and a hearty and well deserved feed.

We didn't take part in todays challenge, deciding instead to get to our destination. Well done to the winners who managed 122 photographs of brown cows.

We should be back on the road between 9 and 10 tomorrow on the push through Andorra and on to Barcelona.

Fugitive?

Safely parked in a nice underground car park we have made it to Toulouse city centre and are putting on our glad rags for a night on the town. Not that we're here to enjoy ourselves too much!

Thanks to everyone who has donated to our adventure and helped us to raise close to £3,000 for MapAction. This is why we are here and it is great that so many of you have got behind us and them.

A couple of bits of disturing news. firstly the green goddess has developed a nasty groan at the back end. It sounds suspension related, but with just 250 miles to the 'great car park in the sky' we have decided to turn up the stereo rather than investigate.

The second item is possibly more threatening. We've been told by the organisers that they have been warned by a Spanish TV company that the police are looking to stop every banger on the border and fine us for being part of an illegal rally. The fine is rumoured to be €400. Tomorrow could be very interesting!

Trading Places

We're making excellent time down the toll road and the lure of a shower and a cold beverage utmost in our minds we've decided to press on to Toulouse and have just passed the turn for Condom (no jokes about burst tyres please).

On the last stretch we have spotted three other Barca bound Bangers as well as our support team 'the Hairdressers' in their red escort.

Two had been pulled by the gendarmerie at a peage and looked like they were getting a top to bottom search. A 7-series BMW had sailed through and we have spent the last 50 miles playing cat & mouse and taking photos of each other.

Under an hour to go to our overnight stop.

National Treasure

This beamer of ours really is the star of the show. We're now bathed in central/southern France sunlight and to get a bit more air flowing Chris has undertaken the ceremonial cutting open of the sunroof.

Just a few stats for the record. We have now travelled 945 miles (we think, as the trip counter keeps re-setting itself) and at the last fill up she has returned 34 mpg.

The car is behaving perfectly; no temperature fluctuations, no wheel wobbles, no smells of burning, and even the clock is keeping good time.

The plan is now another 70 miles on the toll roads and then diving off onto the A roads for the last 80 miles into Toulouse.

Chris now at the helm for the first time today so Pauls turn to pick the music as we drive with the wind in our hair (well...Chris with the wind in his hair!).

Speed

Lunch is behind us. The sun has come out. The tracker is back up and running. All systems are go.

In order to make up for lost time we opted to complete the stage down to Bordeaux on the Autoroute. Should allow us to get a few more miles in the bag and with paul at the helm of the green goddess that won't take long.

The car is still behaving beautifully despite some worrying noises earlier in the day which turned out to be loose tape on the roof flapping about in the wind.

Brassed Off

We understand mission control have sorted the gremlins and the tracker is back up and running. Many thanks to the guys back at base for their assistance on a Saturday.

We are just outside Niort stopped for the mandatory cheese and baguette again.

The overnight stop in Nantes was not without mishap. Several cars were vandalised by mindless idiots. The other Southport based team in their hairdresser-mobile had the passenger door dented. Others suffered with smashed windows. Windscreen wipers and mirrors ripped off.

Meanwhile the beemer banger rested safely in her underground car park.

Lost in Outer Space

Apologies to those of you who are trying to follow our progress this morning. We have left Nantes and we are Toulouse bound, albeit in the rain still.

However we understand from those tracker addicts amongst you that you can't see where we are.

We have messaged mission control back in Salford and await their response.

In the meantime we are on D137 heading towards Niort.

A Room with a View

Bright and sunny this morning as Paul awoke and gazed out of his bedroom window. By the time Chris surfaced the day had turned into the kind of weather we are more accustomed to in Manchester!

We are in the middle of France and after yesterday's glorious weather and 25 degrees temp we are now in the middle of a thunderstorm heading to our next destination.

The world map on the roof is about to part company with us and half of Europe from the bonnet is looking decidedly delicate.

Off to find some fuel - more updates later.

The World is Our Oyster

Time to relax and rewind with a bite to eat before a good nights rest ahead of tomorrows exploits.

Chris took the plunge, almost literally, with his first ever oyster. Just in case they live up to their reputation, Paul has booked himself into a separate room for the night.

The wine will undoubtedly flow but we'll be up bright and early in the morning ready for the days challenge.

All Tucked Up for the Night...the Car anyway!

After what turned out to be a fruitless dash to Nantes, the beamer is tucked away in an underground car park for the night. She is amongst friends as you can see from the photograph.

The 100 euro prize evaded us as our score of 122 was eclipsed by two of 147 who had to be separated by a tie-breaker.

We at least arrived unscathed and the car didn't miss a beat for todays near 400 miles. A small groan from the power steering on full lock is her only complaint.

Paul on the other hand has a badly burnt right arm, the penalty for resting on an open window frame during the mid-day sun without sunscreen.

What was it that they said about Mad Dogs?

Le Mans Detour.

The green goddess is running so smoothly and so well that we have decided to detour via Le Mans. We understand today is 'Track Day' and we fancy our chances at putting in a new lap record! Not sure whether that will be the fastest or slowest.

A quick thank you again to our corporate sponsors listed on the right of this page, without whom this fund-raising event would not have been possible.

Thanks also to all who have donated to MapAction and to those who have encouraged us through your texts (and phone call).

Watch out Le Mans we're on our way!

It's 1 o'clock and Time for Lunch

A quiet village square just outside Rouen was the venue for lunch. In true french style we loaded up with baguettes, cheese and ham and set about the feast with eagerness. Breakfast seemed such a long time ago.

Despite food getting another mention we would like to assure you that this ia not solely a gastronomic tour of France and Spain.

Paul is about to start browing the 'Nantes - Where to Eat' website.

Snooker break now at 81.

Making Good Progress

Just through the 100 miles for the day on fantastic open roads with almost zero traffic and a myriad of 'interesting' country smells.

You may have noticed a twenty minute stopover on the GPS tracker. This was next to a fantastic wooden windmill (see picture). We also took the opportunity to fill up on Red Bull and Jaffa Cakes.

Just two hundred and fifty more miles to go and seven more black cars to get us to our target of fifteen before we start the quest for a yellow.

'Bon anniversaire' to Chris's Mum and thanks to everyone sending text support.

Next Stop Abbeville

This is our world!

Chris at the wheel, sat nav programmed, fluffy dice and Barcelona Pork Banger for company.

It as a long and winding road and we have the hairdressers and a nice red MX5 for company.

The snooker break is up to 41 and we've only been on the road for an hour. It does help that we are following a red XR3i.

Hope the maps are updating our position. Text your messages to 0797 089 2513. Your support is very much appreciated.

And So It Begins

After a restful nights sleep (for Chris anyway) we partook of a hearty continental breakfast and were set up for the days journey.

Half an hour spent in awe of the other competitors wierd and wonderful contraptions, constructions and costumes and we were ready for the days challenge.

The task, and we have chosen to accept it, is to photograph cars with drivers in the style of a snooker game in the correct order to try and amass a 147 break.

Task in hand, and instructions about gentlemanly driving received, an almighty scrum developed for the car park exit.

And we're off.

Safely on French Soil

After an eventless crossing of 'Le Manche' we docked bang on schedule and after successfully avoiding the gendarmerie while devoid of the mandatory beam benders we made it to the Ibis.

It took little time to sniff out the meeting place at the John Bull pub in the most unappealing shopping centre since the Manchester Arndale.

Time to relax ahead of tomorrows 440 miles. A nice pint of Hoegarden and Moules Frites to follow. It's a hard life!

Over and out for tonight. Check back on us first thing in the morning where we intend to update here every couple of hours.

Seconds to Spare!

Phew.

Despite horrendous traffic along the front at Dover, we made it to check-in with 90 seconds to spare. Who says we don't have good timing?

We're now sat on the ferry awaiting departure, which is more than can be said for our friends from Southport in team Cut & Shampuma who broke down on the M40. Fortunately they are back on the road and will be on a later ferry.

The 330 miles down here took us 8 hours (with a 30 minute stop at MapAction) and we managed an incredible 34.4 mpg in the green goddess.

Most of the maps are still intact and we are looking forward to a dry rest of the trip.

VIP Welcome from the MapAction Team

Somewhat behind schedule due to the weather up north we eventually arrived at MapAction HQ in glorious sunshine to a VIP welcome. The team had been closely monitoring our progress on the tracking site and were waiting at the gate on our arrival.

After a photo shoot with the local press, a very welcome cup of coffee and a brief tour of the setup we are now back on the road and bound for Dover.

If you feel like sending us a text message then feel free to do so on 07970 892513.

Bugs in On-Car Navigation

Not only have we had to suffer near stationary traffic on the M6, but the relentless rain has played havoc with the on-car navigation.

The problems manifested themselves at 65mph just before Sandbach services with part of France being lost to the elements.

An emergency pit-stop and large amounts of marine tape have hopefully resolved the problem.

Bad Start as the M6 Slows Us Down

The journey has hit it's first snag. The glorious early summer weather has ground the M6 to a halt just north of the M62.

We are moving, but only just.

Already the hairdressers, in the Escort in front of us, are starting to panic about us missing the 4.25 ferry. You can hear it in their voice on the 'Pound Stretcher' walkie-talkie.

They're Off

The masses gathered outside Southport Mission HQ the wave off the green goddess.

Just 1,400 miles to go, lets just hope that the rain stops before we turn into papier mache.

Don't forget that you can follow us all the way by pressing the big button to the right of this article.

Test Track Time

We are not talking Gambon, Hammerhead or Followthrough nor do we need the services of Messrs. Clarkson, Hammond, May or even The Stig. Instead we are very grateful to our friends at Salford Electronic Consultants Ltd. In addition to providing corporate sponsorship they have kindly loaned us a vehicle tracking unit. This has now been installed into the car and, if all goes to plan, should allow you to follow our progress as we snake our way towards Barcelona.

But first there was the need to test the unit. Chris connected up the tracker at the same "secret" location used when affixing the maps to car and invited SEC Ltd to remotely activate the device and describe where they thought the beemer banger was hiding. Within a few minutes they were not only able to provide the correct house address but were also able to say whereabouts within the property the car was secreted. Clever stuff.

SEC are now in the process of configuring a simple map-based interface that will show our minute by minute progress over the next few days. The sneak preview below shows the results of a simple test carried out last night.


As well as providing added interest to our sponors and supporters, the use of the device on the run will provide a valuable testbed for SEC's low power gps/gsm vehicle tracking units. If you want to know more please click on the Salford Electronics logo on the right of this page.

We will publish the link to the proto-type "banger"tracking website before we set off on Thursday morning - so please check back here.

Barcelona. Here We Come!

At last. Time to unveil the Burly Bald Blokes Beemer Banger in all her rally-prepared glory. After a frustrating weekend of dodging heavy rain showers to apply the final logos we managed to find a break in the weather to take a couple of snaps.


Our very grateful thanks go to The XYZ Digital Map Company for the supply of the maps. These were all printed to size to suit the various panels.

That's Doubly Grand!

Thanks to your amazing generosity, we have today charged through the two thousand pounds raised mark for our chosen charity 'MapAction'.

If you add in the offline donations, and the gift aid on your donations, it gives us a running total of £2,009.62. The push continues to get us up towards the £3,000 target that we set ourselves back in 2008 when Chris came up with this hair-brained plan. Hopefully we'll make it before we set off next thursday.

Mapaction have redeveoped their web-site and it is well worth a look to explain the essential work that they undertake in disaster zones around the world. You donations can really make a difference to hundreds or even thousands of lives.

Thanks again, and please keep donating, and asking everyone you know to support us. All of your donation, plus the gift-aid, goes directly to the charity.

Salford GIS Develop New "On-Car Navigation" System

Spy cameras over the weekend snapped what appears to be a new development in On-Car Navigation systems. At a secret location in Southport two characters were seen applying maps to the exterior of an old BMW. However, shortly after this photograph was taken, sources advise us that the car was driven off at high-speed (a BMW 518 at high-speed, you're having a laugh?) to a secure covered compound, where development work could continue unhindered (and in the dry!!!!).

Paul and Chris were unavailable for comment this evening, but word on the grapevine is that the new system will be unveiled before the end of the week.

Initial speculation that the system would be limited to UK coverage only has since been quashed by the release, this evening, of a series of official photographs. These latest pictures confirm that the new navigation system provides international coverage. However, the developers seem keen to keep the car under wraps until the official launch.

Experts who have since studied the above photographs are of the opinion that development work is in the final stages of completion and that the pictures indicate that the car is being prepared for the application of a waterproofing coat of cellulose lacquer. Lets hope that whoever has the task of applying this lacquer coating has taken the necessary precaution of working in a well-ventilated environment - failure to do so could result in the operator churning out spoof news articles in the mistaken belief that he had become an investigative reporter.

The Beemer Takes to the Road

"What news on the Beemer Banger?" I hear you asking. Less than two weeks to go before departure and no mention of the star of the show for quite some time. Well here she is at her first official engagement - a meeting of the West Lancs MG Owners Club (photo by club member Andrew Dickenson).

Thanks to the sterling efforts of "Dr" Keith Banks, who has generously donated his time and all required parts, the car has a clean bill of health and is now fully rally-prepared. Well almost - there are still the cosmetics to attend to but more about that later. As far as the mechanical bits go the car has new rear brakes, windscreen wipers, fan-belts and bulbs where necessary. It has also had a full oil service, wheel balancing AND the silencer has been "fixed". For those medically informed shall we say it's had a silencectomy and leave it at that? It sounds fantastic and she is running very well. Thanks Keith.

A vote of thanks is also due to WLMGOC member Martin Pagett of Lynbrook Insurance who has arranged classic car insurance for the beemer. Yes, as a 16 year-old car it counts as a classic - and so it should. Martin's car is the red E-Type Jaguar on the right in the far background. We had hoped he may be prepared to do a swap but for some reason seemed reluctant!

"Why the West Lancs MG Owners Club?". Well Chris is a member and so too is next-door neighbour Nigel, who with fellow co-driver Ray, has also entered a team into the Banger Run. Their banger - more of a hairdressers car really - is pictured alongside Paul and Chris's green beast. Nigel and Ray (or should that be Toni & Guy?) are raising money for Derian House Childrens Hospice in Lancashire.

Other members of the WLMGOC are intending to give us a send off on 21st May by escorting us from Southport to the motorway. But before then comes the task of decorating our banger - weather-permitting the official map-sticking ceremony takes place this weekend. Watch this space for an update and photos.....