Conceived in 2003 on a half-hearted whim, Staples2Naples was the first European banger rally of its kind. The first event was more of a casual gathering of happy-go-lucky types. Fun and frustration were about equally proportioned. It was an interesting concept, but something was missing: long-term commitment.

S2N2004 launched with a small team of core participants from the original 2003. Under the leadership of Internet entrepreneur -- and certifiable motorhead -- Justin Clements, the 2004 event transformed into a bit of a friendly monster. Over 100 teams signed up for the seemingly simple mission of finding a £100.00 road-legal car and piloting it across the Swiss Alps and into Italy.

Like all evolutionary truths, things change based on the forces of nature and environment. It's not hard to imagine the forces at work when hundreds of people, most of them English, are convoyed together across foreign borders. Long days of driving a car of questionable merit led to long evenings and nights of story swapping, eating and drinking, and not necessarily in that order. Occasionally, some even returned to their hotel rooms for a few hours sleep before starting all over again.

It didn't take long to realise that by the launch of S2N2005, Staples2Naples had gained something else that 2003 could never have foreseen: an identity.

With its new cult status, Staples2Naples booked its third year in short order. European infrastructure and other organizational logistics assured that the field would remain limited. There were only so many spaces available and it seemed that everybody wanted them. With relentless inquiries and mind-boggling ingenuity, it is the efforts of those who wrote such things as "It was my mother's dying wish that I go on Staples2Naples!" that convinced Clements that another rally was the only way to get peace. What is that old saying? No good deed goes unpunished?

Home2Rome was the answer. There was, however, no way of knowing at the time that it would end up with its own following, booking to capacity just like its big brother Staples2Naples.

The similarities between the two events were intentionally limited. Aside from the Calais starting point, the events were to take on different routes, different daily challenges, and have a decidedly more relaxed atmosphere. At least that's what Clements and his American partner, Karin Ransdell, thought when they opted for a single Marshal team for Home2Rome, as opposed to the 6+ teams that wrangle Staples2Naples. Nothing could have been farther from the truth.

Clements was never entirely sure at what point his quirky weekend outing concept asserted itself as a bona fide business venture. Maybe it was the point when the bills took up more space on his desk than the photo albums. Maybe it was the sixth, seventh, or even eighth meeting with business solicitors, advisors, and accountants. When the decision was made to create a European banger rally trifecta with CzechWrecks, it was obvious that the concept, the execution, and the model created a brand.

Clements and Ransdell had spent over two years casually referring to their projects as "street safaris". These little motoring adventures brought together people from all walks of life, from the entire socio-economic strata, gave them a one-of-a-kind road trip and sent them home with tall tales of their success against the odds. All right, so there was really no danger involved, no life-threatening moments, and the only wild animals were the ones who showed up driving the cars. But the name truly fit.

By the time the Clements-Ransdell team exported the very English concept of the European banger rally across the pond to America, the Street Safari brand was set in stone. The timing proved ironic as a handful of similar motoring events began to appear here and there, each heralding itself as the inventor of a crisp, new concept, that of taking an insanely cheap car from Calais across Europe, with "daily challenges" along the way.

With a tried and true formula in hand, the Staples2Naples team realized that it was important that consumers know without doubt that a particular event enjoyed the same critically acclaimed characteristics they had read in magazines or seen on television.

Hopeful teams may not make it into a coveted position on Staples2Naples or Home2Rome, but they could still participate in a quality event in the same family. The StreetSafari formula, like all concepts that capture the imagination, may be borrowed, but quite simply, there is no substitute for the original.

The name "StreetSafari" may have become perfectly synonymous with "banger rally", but remember, while a Street Safari may be a banger rally, not every banger rally is a Street Safari!

The banger rally is a very British concept. Banger is a British word. In fact, just about everything about banger rallies can be blamed on the British. Except, of course, for the fact that regardless of country, culture or creed, whatever you choose to call it, the banger rally has an oddly universal appeal.

Bangers go by different names in different places: beaters, junkers, jalopies, rustbuckets.... You get the idea. Think of the first car you ever had as a new driver, especially if you had to buy it with your own money. Then add about another ten years' worth of abuse and subtract any sentimental value whatsoever. Imagine yourself begging, pleading, cursing, or cajoling it into just one more mile so that you are not stranded on the side of the road... again. Just for fun, imagine it without a few of the things you might otherwise take for granted: shock absorbers, upholstery, windows that go up and down, various and sundry optional bolts...

To get a true feel for some of these beasts, don't forget the rattles, squeaks, rust, gaffer tape, and baling wire that are as intrinsic a part of the car as are the wheels.

Now you have a banger. Which brings us to another lovely British word: knackered. Is it all starting to make sense now? Probably not.

Make no mistake - the car must be road legal to participate in a StreetSafari event! While the car itself has a monetary limit as to what it cost you to buy it, limits don't apply to costs incurred to make it safe and roadworthy. The car just has to be really bad, not really dangerous.

Teams of people (we used to call them friends, but that's usually before the event, not always after!) agree to procure an appropriately dismal car with the hopes of getting it to the end of the route. These decisions generally seem to take place over the weekends, at the team's local pub, and usually after several pints are consumed. While this has not been scientifically proven, this is generally the story we get.

As is normal in any sociological subgroup like the typical banger rally field, the individual teams seem to find it necessary to assert their individuality. That might explain why H2R2005 had its own "Pope" in costume every day, a gorilla here and there, or why cars arrive in theme livery, with appropriately attired drivers to match. After all, what's an old -- very old -- limousine without a team of chauffeurs in jacket and tie the entire way, or The A Team without Hannibal, Face, & B.A Baracus, mohawk and all?

In fact, many of the rally images circulating on the Internet today are of StreetSafari events. After all, how often do you see psychedelic paint jobs or fully outfitted pirates with English registration tooling the European motorways en masse?

Costumes and paint jobs have never been requirements of the rally. Remember that evolution and identity mentioned earlier? We merely tossed all these people together and this is what seems to have happened. It's not something we could have written into the rule book, it's just something that has taken on a life of its own.

While the teams all show up and set off at the same time, hopefully to arrive in roughly the same places every day, at roughly the same time, with the goal of ending at the same place on (usually) the fourth evening, there are no time requirements. These events are not races, after all -- not that some of these cars can meet, much less exceed the speed limit -- they are rallies!

The object is not to get anywhere first. The object is to collect a (previously undisclosed) challenge envelope each morning and complete the (often ridiculous) assignment, then report their success (or failure) to the Marshals at the evening's stopover. Challenges have point values and point values add up to (you guessed it) PRIZES!

That's right! There's actually a bit of money involved in winning. Okay, so it's not exactly a lot of money. In fact, it will absolutely not cover your expenses, or maybe not even your bar tab, but it's really not about the money, now is it? Just think... once you have made it to the end of such a trek and actually earned a prize, isn't there something really special about the knowledge that you may be just a bit more crazy than the rest of the teams? Exactly.

So the bottom line is simple: a crap car, a crack team, a crazy challenge almost every day, and cash to be won. Toss in a bit of foreign roadway, including but not limited to some of the best driving in at least two continents, limitless camaraderie and stories to last a lifetime, and you have a small idea of what it's all about.

Each event has its own set of Frequently Asked Questions, and more specific questions and answers are found elsewhere on this site. However, here are a few of the most basic things we get asked regarding StreetSafari and our events in general.

Of course, if you don't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact us.

What is a banger rally?

Tsk tsk tsk. Lose 100 points for not paying attention. See long, drawn-out explanation above.

I see the term Street Safari written as both "Street Safari" and "StreetSafari". Why is that and which is right?

Rather than bore you with the technicalities of the name, just know that both are right and which is used depends on where and how it is used. Street Safari LLC is a legitimate, registered, legally formed business entity. When referring to the underlying organization, we use this form of the word. When referring to the event structure, the event brand, or the experience in general, the form StreetSafari is used. Like any good puppy, however, we answer to either name.

Where can I find a list of StreetSafari events?

That's an easy one. A current list of official StreetSafari events can always be found on this web site. Specifically, you can check here.

How often are new events added?

We didn't start out with a list of events and then tease the public until the events eventually gained enough steam to be scheduled. We have allowed the demand to dictate the number of events we run. This assures that while we have obvious quantity, we maintain quality as well. Generally, however, we have added one event each year, as well as adding an inaugural American event in 2006. Each event plans to continue into the foreseen future. It is highly likely that new events will continue to be added, with a definite addition planned for 2007. But we're not telling where...

How do I sign up for a StreetSafari event?

Each event has its own web site with complete event details. A sign up page is prominently accessible from every page. Events are "re-launched" every year on a pre-announced date and registration closes when all available spaces are filled. Some events fill quicker than others. Newly established events typically fill slower than events that have taken place for several years.

I or my organization would love to put on an event like this! Can you offer advice, insight, or help?

It is hard to believe how many times we are asked this. While it seems like a simple enough thing to do, there have been those who took up a similar event, only to find out in the worst possible way just how draining and disappointing it can be, financially and otherwise. We have put many years and countless miles behind us to learn what works and what doesn't, what people do and do not expect from such an event. Going into foreign cultures can be a difficult, even risky thing to do. Too often, we have seen people or organizations take shortcuts, literally chipping pieces off our own hard work and passing it off as theirs. After all, there are more places to start a rally than Calais, France, and there are other price points for cars besides £100, but some people would rather copy someone else's plan than adopt their own. After a while, it's tiresome to begin to see even your own web sites being duplicated. Quite simply, the answer to the question is no.

I or my organization are a charity and would love to put on an event like this.... etc etc etc

This is a seemingly similar, but very different question to the one above. We are always in search of legitimate, worthy charities interested in working with us for our mutual benefit. The 2006 rally season saw the introduction of the Rally Charity Challenge, wherein teams were awarded their first set of challenge points based on money raised for charity. If you are decision making personnel, or would like to point decision making personnel from your own favorite charity to us, please feel free to contact us for more information.

I am a journalist or a member of press. Where can I get more information? Is it possible to attend a StreetSafari event?

Journalists and videographers are nothing new to StreetSafari events. Every event seems to pick up at least one team from the press or creative media. Likewise, we are approached by press all along our routes. This is not a boast, it's a documented truth. We've always thought it was all a little weird. Which probably also explains the interest. The only thing that seems to explain it is that eccentricity and unusual ventures strike the popular fancy. By all means, feel free to contact us. Our dedicated, professional press department will be more than happy to assist.

Can I sign up somewhere to get updates?

Of course you can. Simply use any mailing list signup form found on any StreetSafari site.

I still have questions, where do I find them?

Encyclopedias are good. We especially like Wiki, but the all-time winner has got to be Google. However, for questions about StreetSafari or StreetSafari events, you can always read the complete FAQ. If you still don't find your answer, you can contact us or better yet, visit our Rally Forum. The sheer volume of forum denizens and rally mavens assures that your question will be answered in the quickest time possible. And the answer may even be close to correct! At the very least, you will meet some interesting people and get a special insight into what StreetSafari is really all about.

See the complete list of Frequently Asked Questions