Bad weather has held up the multi-coloured spraypainting of the rally car that 22-year-old Karina Moloney plans to drive from Canberra to Townsville next month to raise money for cancer research.
Ms Moloney with her Austrian cousin David Schwarzinger (pictured right), who arrived a month ago to help her out in the challenge, will drive their $200 VS "Bombodore" a distance of almost 3,600kms to Townsville via the Birdsville Track and the Simpson Desert.
They're part of the Shitbox Rally challenge, when 400 cars worth no more than $1000 are driven epic distances on some of the most arduous unsealed outback roads in the country.
Over the last five years the rally had raised more than $4.4 million for the Cancer Council. The 2015 route will be a tour de force of some of Australia's most iconic pubs and landscapes.
A photographer from Winmalee, Ms Moloney has had some experience in rally driving (helping out her partner as a navigator) but is still nervous to see how far the white bomb will actually go.
"I've been driving it to work [in Mt Druitt] to see how it goes," she said.
"None of the gauges work in the car except the speedo, so we are working out how much petrol we need, how far it [a tank] will get us. We had to hotwire it to make it start because the ignition was broken."
Mr Schwarzinger, 19, a university student on a gap year, said they hoped to finish the race in their own vehicle (some people end up as passengers in other cars when their own cars break down) and continue on to Cairns for a holiday together.
"We have plans to see the Barrier Reef and if the car is still alive David will bring it back," she said laughing.
Mr Schwarzinger is looking forward to seeing a lot of Australia on the journey and admits there's nothing like this event back home.
"There are cancer foundations but nothing in this dimension," he said about the epic challenge. "Only driving around Austria."
The event is officially endorsed and supported by the Cancer Council and spokesman Rodney Titovs said it would be a memorable adventure for the pair.
"This is an unbelievable event and it is great to have a Blue Mountains team enter to take the time out and raise money for cancer research."
Rally organisers say those who "don't want to get their hands dirty or spend any time away from civilisation need not apply" for the challenge.
Ms Moloney has had some experience with fundraising after participating in the World's Greatest Shave in 2012. Her dad, Wayne, said she had seen close-up the effects from cancer.
"She was hit pretty hard when some of the family died from cancer and she shaved her head and raised $4000 and wants to match it this time. I'm pretty proud of her," Mr Moloney said.
The pair need to raise $4000 to participate. Last week their tally stood at just over $2300. The event runs from May 9-15. To sponsor them go to www.shitboxrally.com.au and search under teams. their names.
