SHITBOXES

The first ever Shitbox Rally New Zealand was a huge success, raising an impressive $380K for cancer research. Fortified by cable ties, duct tape, and courage, 75 teams took to the winding roads of the North Island in cars worth less than $1700. The event kicked off by heading to Inglewood via the scenic route, before traversing dusty dirt roads, cascading river gorges, and towering mountain passes alongside Mount Ruapehu on the way to Woodville via Taumarunui and Mangamahu on day two. Air-vent glitter bombs marked the start of day three, with a scenic drive to Hastings via Akitio and Blackhead Beach. Day four saw the emergence of 150 superheroes, as the Shitbox Rally New Zealand left Hastings for winding gravel roads through Kuripapango and on to the thermal spas and mud pools of Rotorua. Each and every small town along the route was overwhelmed with vibrant colour and eccentric characters in an effort to raise awareness of cancer prevention, though none was quite so overwhelmed as the superheroes themselves when they encountered a flock of 3947 sheep blocking the mountain range pass. Day five was the busiest day for support crews, as teams drove more than 300km over steep winding hills and gravel roads, with the first casualty of the rally being an automatic gearbox failure for team Old Bill. Waking to the earliest sunrise of the country, teams began their second to last day with Cyclone Winston clearing a path around the coast to Opotiki. A herd of 87 cattle and a fallen tree across State Highway 35 made for an extended adventure, with an additional three hours in the car and countless opportunities for some radio handset banter. The final day of the Shitbox Rally New Zealand had teams make their way from the wet and windy eastern coastline back to Auckland city. What began as a group of 150 strangers had become a tight-knit — albeit extended — family. Registrations for the 2017 event open soon. We are sure that the success of the inaugural event will guarantee its popularity, especially as all money raised by New Zealand teams goes to the Cancer Society of New Zealand. For more info or to keep up to date, check out facebook.com/shitboxrally.