Złombol (English "junkbol"; "złom" means junk) is a charity car rallying event with a starting point in Poland. The goal of the rally is to finish about 2500 km over a number of stages using a car that was built or designed during the communist era. The rally takes place each year in July, August or September. The starting point is always Katowice.

Start line in 2015
Start line in 2014
Start line in 2013
Polski Fiat 125p - Złombol 2012
Żuk - Złombol 2011

The 2015 event has been called the largest charity car rally in Europe.[1] The 2020 event has been postponed for 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

History

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The rally was conceived in 2007 by two friends as an idea to travel a very long distance in a very old car, and to use that event to gather funds for an orphanage. In the first event there were only two teams.

Year Teams Teams finished Destination Gathered funds Date
2007 2 2 Monte Carlo 12 792.77 zł[3] (3 198,19 EUR) N/A
2008 13 11 Monte Carlo 37 631.55 zł[3] (9 407,89 EUR) 04.09.2008 - 07.09.2008
2009 21 17 Arctic Circle 43 989.08 zł[3] (10 997,27 EUR) 04.07.2009 - 08.07.2009
2010 121 107 Istanbul 172 328.33 zł[3] (43 082,08 EUR) 04.09.2010 - 07.09.2010
2011 134 102 Loch Ness 231 791.42 zł[3] (57 947,86 EUR) 23.07.2011 - 27.07.2011
2012 206 167 Archaia Olympia 346 584.42 zł[3] (86 646,11 EUR) 15.09.2012 - 19.09.2012
2013 147 110 Nordkapp 302 738.73 zł[3] (75 684,68 EUR) 10.08.2013 - 14.08.2013
2014 401 310 Lloret de Mar 676 736,97 zł[3] (169 184,24 EUR) 13.09.2014 - 17.09.2014
2015 392 N/A Stelvio Pass 734 868,06 zł[3] (183 717,01 EUR) 15.08.2015 - 18.08.2015
2016 510 N/A Tunisia via Palermo 1 070 953,16 zł[3] (267 738,29 EUR) 25.09.2016 - 29/30.09.2016
2017 530 N/A Noja 1 128 845,63 zł[3] (282 211,41 EUR) 02.09.2017 - 06.09.2017
2018 836 700 Sithonia 1 866 050,13 zł[3] (466 512,53 EUR) 01.09.2018 - 05.09.2018
2019 450 N/A Dublin 1 322 255,64 zł[3] (310 351,71 EUR) 28.06.2019 - 03.07.2019
2020 Edition (20–24 June) postponed for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
2021 TBD TBD Burhaniye[2] TBD 26.06.2021–TBD[2]
2022 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
2023 487 ~300 Nazaré 2 746 654,46 zł [4] 01.07.2023-05.07.2023
2024 Unknown Unknown Atlantic Ocean Road Unknown 29.06.2024-03.07.2024

1 EUR = 4.6 zł

Charity

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Teams taking part in the rally are gathering money for orphanages by selling advertising space on their cars. Each team has to acquire donors to reach a target amount specified each year by the organisers. Teams are self-funded and no sponsorship is allowed.

Additional donations, without selling ad space, are allowed. The gathered amount of money is used for supporting orphanages.

The rally

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Złombol is an extreme rally. Teams have no support or help from the organisers. The organisers only suggest places or camping spots for a night's rest. Each team takes part at their own expense and risk.

Only cars manufactured in the former Eastern Bloc (during the communist era or after the transformation of 1989, but having roots in the former) are allowed to take part in the competition. The car should be bought for less than 1000 zł (about 320 USD), but slight alterations are allowed.

Participants drive on public roads, either travel in small groups or individually, whatever the team's preference is. For each stage starting and destination points are specified with teams free to choose the travel route between those two points.

After reaching the finish line, each team travels back to their own homes.

References

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  1. ^ "Złombol 2015: Ruszył największy rajd charytatywny w Europie". Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c Złobol Over the rainbow (in Polish). Official Złombol website. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Złombol Statystyki". Official Złombol website (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  4. ^ "Podsumowanie 2023 | Złombol - Złombol 2024" (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-05-16.
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