Złombol


Złombol is a charity car rally racing 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.
The 2015 event has been called the largest charity car rally in Europe.

History

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.
YearTeamsTeams finishedDestinationGathered fundsDate
200722Monte Carlo12 792.77
20081311Monte Carlo37 631.55 zł 04.09.2008 - 07.09.2008
20092117Arctic Circle43 989.08 zł 04.07.2009 - 08.07.2009
2010121107Istanbul172 328.33 zł 04.09.2010 - 07.09.2010
2011134102Loch Ness231 791.42 zł 23.07.2011 - 27.07.2011
2012206167Archaia Olympia346 584.42 zł 15.09.2012 - 19.09.2012
2013147110Nordkapp302 738.73 zł 10.08.2013 - 14.08.2013
2014401310Lloret de Mar676 736,97 zł 13.09.2014 - 17.09.2014
2015392n/aStelvio Pass734 868,06 zł 15.08.2015 - 18.08.2015
2016510n/aTunisia via Palermo1 070 953,16 zł 25.09.2016 - 29/30.09.2016
2017530n/aNoja1 128 845,63 zł 02.09.2017 - 06.09.2017
2018836700Sithonia1 866 050,13 zł 01.09.2018 - 05.09.2018
2019450?Dublin1 322 255,64 zł 28.06.2019 - 03.07.2019

1 EUR = 4 zł

Charity

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

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 are allowed to take part in the competition. The car should be bought for less than 1000 zł, 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.