Boal & Co sponsors Isle of Man Veteran’s Banger Rally Team

Boal & Co has announced its sponsorship of the 2023 Veterans Banger Rally (VBR) Isle of Man team.

Taking place from 24 September, the VBR will see 32 teams and approximately 64 veterans and serving members of the armed forces travelling more than 2,500 miles over seven days, from the UK to Gibraltar in vehicles worth less than £999 each.

Isle of Man veterans Steve Christie - now a member of the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service - Carl Underwood and Jim Quinn make up the Isle of Man team, named ‘Corolla Virus’. The only Manx team to take part (and therefore the only team travelling from the Isle of Man), they will travel to Dover from the Island before joining the other 31 teams to travel through France and Spain to Gibraltar. Their ‘banger’ car is a 1998 Toyota Corolla.

While the event is in aid of Blind Veterans (rebuilding lives after sight loss), the team will also be supporting NO-DUFF UK (mental health services for military and emergency services veterans) and The Fire Fighters Charity – all of which provide support to Island residents. Boal & Co’s sponsorship of the Corolla Virus Team will be split 50/50 between NO-DUFF UK and The Firefighters Charity.

Steve commented:

“Carl, Jim and I are incredibly thankful for the support received from Boal & Co. Thanks also goes to Eire Renewables, Bushy’s GSF Car Parts, Mark Taylor (Laxey Garage), The Shed, The Creg ny Baa, Linda at The Manx Legion, and Cannel Print. We couldn’t do this without their support.

“Being military veterans, we have a shared ethos for life and passion for supporting fellow ex service personnel and Emergency Services.

“The event will be a challenge but also an opportunity for us all to take some time out of our busy lives to reflect, regroup and enjoy some stunning scenery along the way – all in aid of some fabulous causes. The charities we have chosen to support all provide support to ex-military and emergency services personnel on the Isle of Man.

We’re currently halfway toward our fundraising target of £5,000. To support this, we will be holding a charity car wash at Laxey Fire Station on Saturday 16 September from 10am to 2pm – all vehicles welcome!”

Participants in the VBR 2023 will start with 500 points. The older the car and the lower the engine size, the more points they get and there will be challenges along the way to earn additional points.

You can follow the Corolla Virus team’s progress on Boal & Co’s facebook page.