Hopefully this helps answer some questions you may have. If you have any other questions not answered here, please feel free to email me.
What do I get if I win?
A homemade trophy to be brought back in subsequent years, and the admiration of your peers. Maybe a bit of light disgust from the general population. All in all, we’re here to have fun, don’t take it too seriously.
I’ve owned this car for years, and I’d like to run it in the event. I paid more than $700 for it years ago, but it’s definitely not worth that now. Am I still eligible?
Yes, you are still eligible. Get a hold of me via email, and we can discuss what your vehicle would be valued at. Good places to start to get an idea would be: What would you sell it for in it’s current condition? What is a similar one in similar shape selling for?. I judge values on a case to case basis.
I’ve owned this car for years, and I’d like to run it in the event. I paid less than $700 for it when I bought it, but I don’t have any paperwork to support it anymore. Am I still eligible?
Yes, you are still eligible. If you remember what you paid, we could go off that, or base it off of similar vehicles like listed above. I judge this on a case to case basis, feel free to contact me.
I traded my ______ for this car, and I’d like to enter it in the challenge. My old vehicle was only worth $x, would that make this one valued the same?
Long story short: no. If you indeed traded for a car, just contact me, and we can come up with a value for it based on fair market values of similar condition vehicles (usually researched through Kijiji/Craigslist).
I got this car for free from my friend, can I use it at a value of $1?
Sorry, no. See above.
What items are considered safety, and therefore budget exempt?
Tires, Brakes, Windshield, Fixing flammable fuel leaks, etc. Essentially unreliability and discomfort is acceptable, but we don’t want you hurting yourself or others.
I have ______ parts lying around at home I’d like to use on my vehicle. what do I count it as toward the budget?
Lots of us are hopeless hoarders, I get it. Likely you’ve chosen a vehicle you are a fan of, and you have a stockpile of old parts you’d like to use on it. But what to count them as for the budget? Have a look at this link here. This is what said part would be worth if you were pulling it off a car at the junkyard (include core values). Use these values, and I’m happy.
The 2019 entry fee seems a little higher than last year. Is this true?
Yes, unfortunately. The entry fee for 2018 was $50 pre-deadline, and $75 for late entries. I’ve had to raise the base rate a little this year to $60 and $100 respectively. This is to help cover the cost of our event insurance now, something which protects me as an organizer legally, just on the off chance something were to happen on the event. Yes your vehicle will still need it’s own insurance, and anything you do is still at your own risk. The higher rate for late entries is to try and get people to enter sooner, before the deadline, as it makes planning venues and campgrounds much easier.
I don’t have my vehicle yet, can I still enter?
Yes, you can. However, if you want to secure your spot (entries capped to 60 this year), you’ll need to pay the entry fee ahead of time. If it winds up looking like you’re not going to make the event, please let me know ASAP, and I’ll gladly refund you, and make your spot available to another entry. If you still want to tag along for the trip, you’re more than welcome to join our volunteer sweep crew, or scoring/judging, or in other ways.
I wish to raise money for this charity, rather than the one that has been chosen as the official one this year, is that OK?
Yes! You are free to raise money for whatever charity you feel does work that is most important to you. Please save receipts of any donations raised, and we’ll gladly give your team the associated points.
How can I get involved with helping out running the GBC?
I am on the lookout for Sweep crews (especially those with trucks & trailers capable of moving a vehicle, and those with mechanical knowledge), as well as a group of people willing to be unbiased judges at the start, as well as scorers at the finish. Please get a hold of me if you’d like to help out! It’d be greatly appreciated.
This FAQ is a continued work in progress. I will be adding to it as I come across things I get asked, or realize I’ve forgotten.
The Great Beater Challenge 