VW ACTION MOVIE PREMIERE!
Andrew Szabo, the man behind the Budapest-Bamako Rally, has set himself
a new challenge. Just for fun, he is going to travel the 2000 kilometres
from Hungary to the UK in his 1971 Beetle, to premiere the film of the
2008 rally at VW Action. Andrew's Bug is just one of the cars featured
in the movie, which will eventually be seen worldwide. The 2007 rally
documentary was shown on TV in 95 countries, and the video record of
the 2008 Budapest – Bamako Rally will be arriving with Andrew to
be aired for the first time in the UK at Europe's longest running
VW Festival.
Watch a 1971 Baja Beetle and a 1980s Polish made Polski Fiat cross
the Sahara into Africa. These unlikely vehicles are part of the annual
Budapest To Bamako rally, which travels from the Hungarian capital
to Mali. The grueling two week drive takes them across scenic towns
in Europe, rocky rmountains of Morocco, sand dunes of Mauritania and
red clay roads of Mali. Can the air cooled candidates make it to Bamako?
Meet the driver of the Beetle, Andrew Szabo and the Bamako Bug in person
at VW Action.
More about the Budapest - Bamako Rally
The rally drew significant interest from the Hungarian and International
media from the moment it was launched. In December 2005, 42 teams lined
up for the start, and the first Budapest-Bamako rally was flagged off.
In 2007 104 teams signed up, and all the 250 participants completed
the tough track to Bamako. In the summer of 2007 the International
Travel Channel started to broadcast the documentary film of the Budapest-Bamako
in 95 countries. The 4-part series movie is still on air.
It has been called the Hungarian Dakar or the low-cost Dakar; however,
it has major differences from its older brother. First of all, it's
longer. The 2008 race will be 900 kilometres longer than the total length
of the Dakar Rally.
On the Budapest Bamako teams participate in racing and touring categories.
The competitors in the racing category must complete daily stages on
time as well as solve geo-challenges. They can collect points for the
stages and the challenges.. Speed is not a deciding factor. Skill, endurance
and luck are. In the touring category there are no rules, no timing,
no scoring. The only thing that counts is the purpose and the challenge.
The participants are allowed to choose which road they take to Bamako.
The basic principles of the rally
Budapest-Bamako is a low-cost crazy race that gives the full enjoyment
of the Dakar feeling and experience for a fraction of the cost. Crossing
the Sahara, driving nearly 9000 kilometres on uncertain African roads,
being locked up with other persons in a car for two weeks and travelling
through four seasons is no small accomplishment. There are no mechanics,
no helicopter rescue teams, no catering... unlike on the Dakar, all
the teams can count only on themselves, their team mates, their creativity,
communication skills and endurance. Everyone recline upon their resources,
they need to solve problems themselves. There's only a small medical
group travelling with the rally. The specialty of the Budapest-Bamako
is that you can enter the rally with any kind of vehicle that has a
valid registration. The principle is" anyone, in anything, by
any means"... (sounds like our kind of rally!)
For details of 2009 event visit www.budapestbamako.org
For promo of movie/rally, CLICK HERE
Andrew will be presenting the film at the Fuellers Bar, from midday
on Saturday 30th August. |
