AS motors go, a 2000 Nissan Almera is a bit of a dinosaur, which makes it the ideal ride for three mates who are heading to Europe for a charity banger rally.

Andrew Thow, Kevin Phillips and Kelvin Miles face a 1,200-mile challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK behind the wheel of the banger they picked up at the beginning of the year for £150.

Much of their free-time over the last five months has been spent perfecting the Jurassic Park theme and making it fit for the road.

Andrew said: “It had surface imperfections like holes in the arches you could put your arms through.”

A few more surface imperfections were added on Sunday morning (July 8), as they were heading to Caldicot Castle to show the car to the public following online requests, when there was a prang with another car.

The trio, who have named themselves The Rapt will leave Caldicot tomorrow (Thursday) heading for the start of the Boom Banger Rally in the Belgian city of Bruges.

From there they head for Luxembourg and Germany where they will each get the chance to do a lap of the famous Nurburgring Grand Prix race track in the car they have named Ally.

Amsterdam is the final destination where an inglorious end possibly awaits Ally with a one-way trip to the scrapyard.

Kevin said: “If anyone wants to meet us in Amsterdam on the 15th (of July) to drive it back to the UK we’ll gladly sign her over. We’ll miss her because we put a lot of work into it.

Andrew explained: “We’ve decided to do the trip for a bit of fun and to raise money for Cancer Research.”

The friends have had assistance from local businesses with the green and brown paint for the bodywork coming from Car Care Caldicot in the town centre and the graphics being produced by Graphitex on the Severn Bridge industrial estate.

Kelvin added: “It’s very distinctive paintwork and we’re hoping to win best dressed car.”

Along the route they will have to complete challenges and takes photos of certain places and landmarks.

The friends are hoping Ally is up to the strain because none of them have experience as mechanics.

They are already near £600 in fund-raising, nearly £100 more than their initial target.

To find out more about the challenge visit www.justgiving.com and search for Andrew Thow.