The Event
In 2024 Mystery Box Rally will start on the 16th of August at the Pre Rally Driver Briefing in Airlie Beach, depart the following morning and then return to Airlie Beach on the 21st of August.
Teams will drive their own 25+ year old cars along a mystery route in this unique 5 day challenge, all in the name of cancer research. The route is a loop starting and finishing at the same location, but all the other details are kept under wraps, only given to the teams each morning.
This rally is for those who want to have an adventure, have fun, who crave something different, who want to make new life long friends, take part in something memorable but most importantly, it’s for those who want to raise much needed money for charity.
Many of us have been affected by cancer in one way or another. Whether it be parents, family, close friends, people we know or ourselves that have battled or are battling cancer, this awful disease has touched us all. We not only want to raise awareness and money for Cancer Council, but also want to offer support and a friendly ear to those that have suffered or are suffering.
What is the maximum number of people we can have in each car?
2 people. No more, no less.
What is the process after I register a team?
If your team is accepted, you’ll receive an email. You then need to post in some paperwork and pay the registration fee. Once we have both, we send you a confirmation email. That’s when you set up your We Give fundraising page, then a Welcome Pack from Cancer Council is posted to both drivers and you get started on fundraising.
How soon does $775 team registration fee have to be paid?
You need to pay this on acceptance of your team. We cannot confirm your teams place on the rally without it.
If I can’t go and need to pull out will my team be able to transfer the $775 to the following year as credit?
No, registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
If I sign up do I have to come up with the $4000 fundraising straight away?
No, the only thing you need to pay straight away is the registration fee ($775 inc GST per team). You will need to raise $1,000 4 months before the start of the rally, $2,000 3 months before the start of the rally, $3,000 2 months before the start of the rally and $4,000 at least 1 month before the start of the rally.
Do the cars need to be worth $1,000 or less?
No. The cars can be worth any amount you like, but keep in mind you will not know where we are travelling and how brutal the roads will be, so you may want to keep your budget low. They do have to be 25 years old or older at the time of the rally and no AWD, 4WD, buses, vintage or veteran cars are allowed.
What if my car has a major mechanical issue and cannot be repaired?
It will be disposed of at the stopover location. If you want to keep it, you will need to organise with the locals for storage and repatriation.
Can we decorate the cars?
Absolutely! Make them as crazy as you like so they really stand out.
What happens to the cars at the end of the rally?
You drive them home. From there it’s up to you. Sell it or hold onto it.
How about insurance?
You will need to make sure they are properly insured at your own cost.
Is car sponsorship allowed in exchange for putting the sponsor’s logo or branding on the car? Also can the company be supplied with the relevant documentation, so that the donation could be recorded for tax purposes?
Yes, car sponsorship is allowed and encouraged. We will give all confirmed rally participants full information about this, but here is a quick run-down.
Donations and sponsorship are different things. With donations the donor does not get anything in return such as promotion or branding (they only get a tax receipt). With sponsorship they get promotion and/or branding. The Government has very strict rules where charity donations and tax receipts are concerned.
If a company wants both the branding/promotions and a tax receipt they can split what they give into both a donation and sponsorship. There is a sponsorship fee which is retained by Box Rallies and the donation amount goes to Cancer Council with the donation amount being added to your team total, and the sponsor gets a tax receipt for the donation amount.
Does the $110 (inc GST) sponsorship fee go towards our total?
No. The sponsor fees are used to help fund the costs of the rally. Any amount a sponsor company gives over $110 (inc GST) is the donation amount, which is tax deductible for them and goes towards your team total.
Do all of the funds raised go to the Cancer Council?
80% of total funds raised will go to Cancer Council. The remaining 20% goes towards covering the costs of organising and running the rally.
Other rallies require teams to fork out more money for fundraising along the way in the form of fines etc. Is that likely or expected of teams in the Mystery Box Rally?
We do not do this. All of the teams work hard enough raising the money before we get going. One of our main principles of the rally is that it is not expensive for the participants
I don’t know much about cars can I still do the rally?
Absolutely.You don’t need any mechanical knowledge at all to do the rally – lots of people taking part are in the same position. By the end of the rally you will certainly know more than when you started. There will be people in your buddy group that you travel with, that can help you out and we have mechanical support teams that travel with us.
Can I bring my dog on the rally?
We visit many places on the rally where dogs are not allowed and with so many cars there are also safety concerns, therefore we need to prohibit dogs on the rally. If you turn up with a dog you will be unable to come along on the rally. Note: the Rally Director is a dog owner and knows how hard it is to leave your dog behind, but it is a necessity.
Are we able to generate our own media attention?
Yes of course. The rally creates a lot of media attention, but we welcome all the help we can get. Your social media networks are also very important to the rally. Confirmed teams will get hints and tips about getting media coverage and how to maximise social media exposure.
Are the teams covered under your or Cancer Council’s Public Liability Insurance for fundraising activities?
Whilst the rally has Public Liability Insurance we cannot cover all of the teams in the rally for individual activities, so this is a no. In many insurance policies (such as home contents or own business policies) there will be a clause about liability insurance, so you may be covered via your own insurance anyway. You will need to discuss this with your own insurance company.
If we have a business or an individual who provides a cheque donation which we deposit on their behalf, how do they get the tax receipt?
When your team is confirmed you will be sent a Cancer Council Welcome Pack which includes the details for requesting a tax receipt for cash or cheque donations.
I have a friend who is an avid out back traveller and wants to do the trip with us but in his own 4×4. As the roads are all public I am sure he can even if he does his own thing in the evenings. Can he join us?
No, no way. Everyone that is on the rally has worked hard to raise funds for Cancer Council. People can’t just turn up on the day of departure and expect to be a part of it. We take a very strong position on this.
HOW DID MYSTERY BOX RALLY COME INTO EXISTENCE?
Mystery Box Rally is brought to you by the same people that organise and run Shitbox Rally. We initially launched Mystery Box Rally for teams that wanted to get into Shitbox, but due to the waitlist had not been offered a place. With nine Mystery Box Rallies already completed it is evident that Mystery Box Rally is a great and unique event in its own right and it is gaining popularity every year.
Mystery Box Rally remains a great launch pad for Shitbox. It is similar, but requires less effort in both the fundraising requirements and overall distance of the route.
James’ Mum and Dad both died from cancer within 12 months of each other. The rallies are dedicated to their memory.
