RAF Bangers and cash

PILOTS and staff from RAF Linton-on-Ouse are set to compete in a charity car rally.  But while they may be used to state of the art technology in their day jobs, competitors will have to drive a hard bargain; organisers have decreed that the journey must be made in a £250 jalopy.The Tin-Cannonball rally (a pun on the base’s Tucano trainers) will be a race from Linton to Edinburgh. But if driving old bangers won’t be enough of a challenge, the bone shaking ride will be made on August Bank holiday weekend with its traffic jams and overheating radiators.The winning team may not be the first past the post. Times will be modified according to bonus or penalty points accrued throughout the day to determine who will take the chequered flag.Organiser Captain Matt O’Sullivan already has his car – an ‘H’ registered Mazda, which he has named “The Beast.” He said: “As the battle for Cannonball glory will be fought almost entirely on public roads, bound by national laws, teams will have to rely as much on guile and cunning as outright speed in order to emerge victorious.“Points will be awarded for performance but also style, originality and for the best decorated car.  They will be deducted for anyone who fails a challenge or incurs the wrath of the Constabulary!”He said that penalty points will also be awarded to any team that spends more than £250 to buy their car.Proceeds from the rally will go to Combat Stress, which assists ex-servicemen and women who have psychological disabilities.  The cars will be sold afterwards to add to the sponsorship money raised


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