YO-HO-HO the Variety Pirates go

Australia’s largest and longest running charity motoring event – The Variety Bash – took off from Geelong on August 23 towards Townsville for a seven-day adventure.

A bevvy of decorated vehicles all 30 years and older (part of the rules) rallied at GMHBA Stadium for the launch, then drove off for a “once in a lifetime chance to experience remote and regional parts of Australia” while raising money for Variety the Children’s Charity.

Amongst the cars was local Torquay resident David Pugh and his team “Variety Pirates” taking part in their sixth bash, having raised $120,000 throughout their involvement.

“All kids deserve the same opportunities in life, no matter what life throws at them. Variety – the Children’s Charity helps children and their families with much-needed financial support,” Mr Pugh said.

“For things like specialist equipment, therapy, and medical supplies, when they can’t afford it, and when government assistance isn’t available. This year we have a team from Torquay “Variety Pirates” and have themed up our 1990 Land cruiser to be the “Black Pearl”.

Mr Pugh said the bash was not a race or rally but a chance to raise money, have a laugh and explore the countryside with mates whilst raising money for a fantastic cause.

“We’re all friends myself and team mates Ross Macintosh (The basin), Derek Foulston (Harvey Bay) and Geoff Smith (Tyabb),” he said.

“We all worked together in the carpet industry and a guy we knew said he’d done a bash before and said it was a great way to raise money and have fun on the drive.

“We generally share the driving, half a day each. We have roles that we switch everyday – first is the driver, the person who sits behind them is called lazy boy, then we have working boy that’s who has to do all the work and then the navigator next to the driver.”

Mr Pugh said everyone hangs on a little tighter and is more alert when Ross is driving.

“He’s not a great driver, so we’re all really paying attention to the road instead of the view when it’s his turn,” he said.

“This year’s car we got from Hoppers Crossing. We had an old Holden, but we had that for five years and it’d done four bashes before we bought it, so it needed to retire.

“It’s just like race horses, they just don’t go anymore.”

Mr Pugh said the bash itself sees close to 95 cars make their way through the back roads of Australia with this year’s themes, including a Storm Trooper vehicle and the Flintstones.

“There’s lots of stops planned and a beer truck that follows the convoy. Obviously, everyone but the driver gets to have some beers. We drive through farmers’ paddocks, they open their gates to let us through – it’s a massive adventure,” he said.

“There are also trucks with mechanics that patch up any of the old cars that break down along the way. The drive is a reward for the fundraising we do throughout the year, if you’re a car head and love doing the off-road stuff it’s 10 days with good mates driving on the back streets of Australia.”

Follow the adventures on Instagram @varietybashpirates.