SmilingSouth

Less than R30 000 in value, and more than 30 years old is the kind of car you need to drive to qualify for the Jam Jar Challenge – a charity event organised by some Gqeberha friends to raise money for the Cheshire Homes.

It’s also an annual excuse for a group of men to behave incredibly badly.

Founded by Gqeberha entrepreneur Paul Engler in 2013, it started with an invitation to participate in a charity rally in KwaZulu-Natal.

“It didn’t happen and so I decided to do something in my home town,” he said.

With nine people in three cars, they set off on the first Jam Jar rally – an event that snowballed into the 30-car, 120-person event that it is now.

The Cheshire Homes, which cater for chronically physically disabled adults, is the rally’s charity of choice. Its route is along the rural backroads between Gqeberha, Makhanda and Port Alfred. In addition to donations of groceries or school clothes on the way, each team of four must complete a list of tasks, earning either points or penalties.

One of the less onerous tasks is stopping and buying a round of drinks at a local tavern, where they also braai.

The 30-plus-year-old vehicles break down a lot.

“We’ve had 13 so far,” Engler said on Saturday 13 November – Day 2 of the rally. “Last year we had 45 breakdowns in one day.”

Riaan Claasen of Gqeberha company Universal Equipment is on hand with two mechanics to see to the more complicated breakdowns.

The participants – friends, and friends of friends – come mostly from Gqeberha, but there were also teams from Durban and Gauteng. Asked how their trip had been so far, every group said “Awesome”.

They actually all did use the word, “awesome” eExcept for the apparently very out of it Hip-Ous, who answered, “We have absolutely no idea.”