THE OFFICIAL RUST 2 ROME BANGER RALLY WEBSITE

rust 2 rome: archive welcome to the archive

history continued (2006 - 2007)

Upon returning from Rome, Marko took some time to concentrate on his Mustang which had since arrived from Mexico. Unfortunately a week after its arrival in Scotland the engine went on it. Never one to be deterred by a mechanical problem and insisting everything can be fixed Marko set about removing the engine and rebuilding it, fitting performance cylinder heads, manifolds, carburettors and numerous other parts. Marko rebuilt the engine with the care and attention that Leonardo gave the Mona Lisa. After many late nights and lots of receipts, the Mustang was back on the road with a 400hp engine under the hood!

After some time in Scotland, feeling island fever and hearing the distant call of adventure Marko travelled to China where his 3D design talents were needed and spent almost three months there. Working day and night, Marko sacrificed everything to pull off an amazing job, which when displayed in the UK won an award! Upon his return to the UK near the end of 2006, Marko began to hatch a plan for a business that would import Mexican muscle cars and sell them throughout Europe and the Middle East. Working every night until the early hours of the morning, Marko launched Don Julio. The name of his Mexican cars business.

As the year 2006 ended and 2007 began Marko started to think about Rust to Rome 2007 and how to make it better. This started with a lot of travelling, first to London, then on to Spain and Portugal and then off to Mexico again to research rallies and muscle cars. After lots of hard work and research ,Marko returned to Scotland once again to begin preparations for Rust to Rome 2007.

Now the preparations for R2R 2007 were in full swing, with the help of friends and family Marko arranged a photo shoot with R2R cars and R2R babes, this along with a well worded press release made it into the local papers who are always eager to hear of Marko’s adventures. The papers encouraged people to sign up for Rust 2 Rome and shortly after nine people were signed up for the adventure. All sorts of inventive promotions followed and R2R picked up a great momentum, helped out by his friends Marko held a raffle to win a car to take on Rust 2 Rome. Numerous events took place displaying cars and allowing people to sign up. The spirit of Rust 2 Rome was alive and growing.....

With the rally due to leave in less than two weeks a major problem occurred. Marko’s Ford Granada from Rust 2 Rome 2006 died. Marko tried frantically to revive it and took it to engine specialists, who said there was nothing could be done for it. Sadly Marko let go of it. Now every morning was spent scouring the papers and internet looking for a suitable car, with so little time left to find and prep a car, let alone make final preparations for the Rally, the pressure was starting to build on 20 year old Marko...

Looking on Ebay, Marko found a 1988 Mercedes 300SE for sale in Edinburgh, thinking this could be just the ticket Marko went off to look at it with his brother Alan. The owner though wanted £500 for it which is double the allowance for Rust 2 Rome. Nor loosing hope and with the clock ticking, Marko continued to scour the car adverts. After seeing an advert in Scot Ads, Marko with Dave and Gino headed up to Speenbridge in the raffle car, a ’93 Toyota Carina with over 200,000 miles on the clock. They viewed a BMW 525i, while Gino and Dave weren’t sure about it, Marko thought he saw some potential. After negotiating the price with the owner of the BMW a week later Marko and Alan went up to collect the BMW and paid a handsome £180 for it.

However on the way back from Speenbridge at Perth, Alan’s Saab broke down and barely made it home to Cupar. As fate would have it the next day the owner of the Mercedes had called Marko and said he was open to offers. With some clever negotiating and a sponsorship deal, Marko secured the purchase of the Mercedes for £250 for his brother Alan. Cars 01 and 02 were rolled into the workshop to get their stickers and CB radios fitted with only one day to go before the Rally... All in a days work for Marko really.

It was a fresh morning in Scotland on the 2nd of June. Marko was up the night before until 3am doing the final preparations for the rally. Across Scotland five cars and two bikes rolled out of their garages. These were special vehicles, each with a number and each with the R2R emblem on them. Their drivers were special people, people who were determined to succeed. Cars and drivers ascended upon the Rail bridge Cafe in Queensferry to have breakfast and prepare for the ten o’ clock departure for Rust 2 Rome 2007. A limo full of Rust 2 Rome supporters arrived along with numerous people to wish everyone well on their epic trip.

With an entourage as far back as the eye could see, cars gave way and pedestrians waved as the limo number 00 lead the group to the motorway where Marko took the lead in car 01 and the rally set off to Dover, then across the channel and onto Rome, the adventure had really begun...

Despite Marko having to replace his water pump in France, everyone made it to the coliseum. Rust to Rome 2007 was a success. All the participants made it and the journey was great fun. Seeing new and familiar sites along the way, Marko, Dave and Dennis participated again while the new drivers followed in their footsteps. After the triumphant arrival at the Coliseum everyone headed off their separate ways, some back up north through Europe and some headed south to Naples.

After an extended stay in Naples, visiting family and staying with his grandmother, Marko returned to Scotland in time for the R2R reunion party where he was presented with an award for organising the Rust 2 Rome rally and following his dreams all at the age of twenty.

After the success of Rust 2 Rome 2007 Marko didn’t hang around, he took his Mustang to the Big Power Meet in Vasteras, Sweden where he won the long distance award (because technically he drove it from Mexico). Then he went on to other events in Stockholm and Margaretaville where he had a whole other series of adventures. Then he drove the Mustang back through Norway and got the ferry across to Newcastle.

After returning from Sweden Marko worked full time on Don Julio after previously giving up his well paid job at FX Simulation. Starting to get enquires from contacts in Sweden he sold his first car through Don Julio and then in October headed off to Mexico, which would be his base of operations for the next few months. Marko has now got over thirty cars for sale through Don Julio, all exotic muscle cars. But as 2007 draws to a close, Marko is starting to think to Rust to Rome 2008 and how it can be bigger and better than ever...