Phuket Lifestyle: Rally round the family

PHUKET: Gentlemen, start your engines. A family event dedicated to making a positive difference is racing back to Phuket for the third straight year.

The Phuket Invitational Car Rally is a family day out like no other. You won’t need to pack a food hamper or fix the ski rack, just fill up with fuel, bring the family and make your way down to Chalong Pier Beer Garden on March 10, where you’ll start a journey through parts of Phuket you never knew existed.

This is no Formula 1 race, but a journey of adventure – a family treasure hunt of a different kind. All you need is a driver, a navigator and some back seat drivers following the action.

The navigator doesn’t even need map-reading skills, just follow the route card.

However, the driver should be skilled. The day’s course includes an off-road portion of the track.

Don’t worry – your car can make the trip – but the planned route will take you places that can only be found on the most accurate maps, and you’ll get one of these free when you join the event.

The cost of entry is 2,000 baht per car, and for that you get car stickers, route card and instructions, special commemorative t-shirts for the driver and navigator, a lunchtime buffet and a special treat at the lunchtime stop – a game of mini golf. Also included is an evening buffet dinner at the awards presentation dinner.

Bring along the whole family, additional passengers are just 100 baht for kids up to 12-years-old and 350 baht for adults, which includes the two buffet meals – not bad value.

Commemorative t-shirts are available to buy for family and friends at check-in. The event has been made possible in partnership with sponsors who will help participants enjoy the day. What’s more, all money raised goes to charity.

Prizes will be handed out at the awards presentation dinner to scavenger hunt winners.

If you’re interested visit the website: phuketinvitational.com and glimpse the smiling faces of families having fun last year.

The course has been arranged by a rally car professional with many years of experience organizing rallies across the desert sands of the Middle East as well as Phuket, so you’re in very good hands.

Just check the fuel, oil and tyre pressures, load the family and join in. Book soon, as the rally is limited to the first 50 cars with paid entry forms.

This event is supported by the British Business Association, International Business Association Phuket (IBAP), Grumpy Old Men’s Society (GOMS), Lions Club & Rotary Club of Patong Beach and AustCham Thailand.

Media sponsors include the Phuket Gazette – Phuket Today, PGTV, Window on Phuket magazine and mydestination.com/Phuket powered by IMAGE Asia.

This year’s official sponsors will include autoexpress.com, DaVinci Restaurant and Yacht Charters, Kan Eang @ Pier with VSET Restaurant, Flying Hanuman, who held the very successful lunchtime stop at last year’s event, and Phuket Adventure Mini Golf in Bangtao.

To enter the rally, please visit: phuketinvitational.com, download the entry form and follow the on-screen instructions.