| Copyright © 2008 Alex Moore |
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| AS TAKEN IN PART FROM STAPLES2NAPLES.COM Staples2Naples is the leading European banger rally. First run in 2003, it has grown to become one of the most sought after dates on the calendar. S2N2005 booked itself out in 22 days from start to finish, and S2N2006 booked itself out in less than 20 minutes! S2N2007 proved even more popular, especially as it and the Home2Rome rally are being run simultaneously. S2N was an idea conceived to address the problem in the amount of time people have to spare. A banger rally is great fun, but many people are unable to take 3 weeks out of their lives to do this for the more exotic rallies. Either work or home commitments make this impossible. So S2N was created. It lasts 4 days over a weekend and covers around 1500 miles. For Team Malex, who are the only idiots crazy enough to drive the car back, simply double it to 3000 miles and 8 days! Staples is simply short for Staples Corner, the junction of the bottom of the M1. However, like all great rallies, S2N doesn't start at Staples Corner. Plymouth Dakar doesn't start at Plymouth. And Paris Dakar doesn't start at Paris. Nor does it finish at Dakar, for that matter! |
| The S2N rally starts at Calais. The idea of starting at Staples Corner on a Friday morning at 7am is something close to a motorist nightmare. Naples is very beautiful city or a dirty hole depending on your outlook in life. Naples is only slighty spoiled by two particular natural occurances and one missing occurrance: Italians, Italian drivers and street cleaners, respectively. Drivers in Naples are also aware that there is no Italian for 'crash avoidance'. On balance, Naples is a fantastic destination for a bunch of old bangers. Quite simply, our cars will be at home in Naples. In most cases our candidate vehicles are in better shape than the local vehicles. |
| On balance, Naples is a fantastic destination for a bunch of old bangers. Quite simply, our cars will be at home in Naples. In most cases our candidate vehicles are in better shape than the local vehicles. S2N2007 will take in 6 countries this year, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The rally will spend a whole day in Switzerland on the passes once again. Quite simply, the roads in Switzerland are just stunning and great fun to drive. This year the rally will cross over La Tremola which is the old S.t Gotthard pass. It's a small windy road with cobblestones all the way. Ideal for beaten up old cars. Taking in Stelviopass in Northern Italy will be optional for any team that wants to do it. Stelvio is more or less on the way to the stopover for the night. We then get to spend two days hurtling through Italy, experiencing some of the worst driving in Europe. Remember, in Italy flashing your headlights means 'get out of the way'. And its not so much a 'flash' in Italy as 'strobing furiously'. The Team that manages to acquire the most points over 4 days of hard driving and (sometimes quirky) challenges will get £1000 in cash. The second place team will win £350 and the third place team will win £150. You must, however, make it to the end! No good breaking down 5 miles from Naples, unless you intend to push it! S2N will also give away several trophies to Teams who we feel have earned it. These will be decided throughout 2006, however, the current list is: Biggest Pile Of Rubbish , Longest Team to Hitchhike, Team Who Suffered The Most, and Best Bodge. |
