CUK Audio’s Retail Sales Channel Manager, Steve Barton, recently completed – and won – a gruelling 2500-mile rally across Europe to raise money for the motor industry charity, BEN. A total of 28 teams took part in the event organized by Bilstein Group UK which took them through ten countries in seven days via some of Europe’s most beautiful – and challenging – driving routes.

Barton and his team-mate, Nik Edwards, drove a CUK Audio-branded 2005 MG ZT-T diesel estate (don’t be fooled, they were pretty fast, aggressive drives in their time!) to take part in the Banger Rally that left Marden in Kent on the 15th of September to cross the finish line seven days later at Bilstein’s new state-of-the-art warehouse facility in Markham Vale. Sponsored by CUK Audio, the vehicle sported logos from several manufacturers in CUK’s MI/retail portfolio, namely dB Technologies, HEDD, ADK microphone, Caymon & Procab.

The route took Team CUK through some of Europe’s most difficult and spectacular driving terrain including the Stelvio pass in Italy, the Grossglockner and Hahntennjoch passes in Austria and the Butter Tubs pass in Yorkshire. So far, the event has raised over £25,000 for BEN, a charity dedicated to the support of persons and their families who have worked or are working in the automotive industry.

“It was the most amazing experience,” recounts Barton. “Our most memorable moment was coming into Lake Geneva after 32hrs on the road. The sun was just coming up over the mountains as we stopped in Montreux to admire the Freddy Mercury memorial statue on the water’s edge. It was freezing cold, but totally quiet, calm and the most incredible scenery. Just fantastic. It was a big contrast to what was definitely our hairiest experience on the Fluela pass which we had to take from Davos on the way to the famous Stelvio pass. The Fluela pass was closed for several hours during the morning due to heavy snowfall overnight, and we were only the 5th car to be let through once it reopened – seriously tight uphill serpentine bends, ice, snow and a very heavy automatic diesel car made for some seriously nerve-wracking driving conditions! We were very glad to see the other side of that particular pass.”

The cherry on the cake for Team CUK Audio was that they actually won the rally competition that was comprised of over 20 challenges including karting at the Nurburgring, MPG economy challenges, parking skills, a quiz night and various car-related daily picture/word challenges. “We also managed to snap 58 of the 60 required photo challenges for the week,” explains Barton, “just missing out on an Oompah band and a person dressed in Lederhosen! All in all, a great week for an excellent cause!”