Every now and then, something comes along that’s equal parts mad, meaningful, and unmistakably Australian. For me, the Spring Shitbox Rally is exactly that.
This October, I’m proud to be backing the 2025 rally through my partnership with Ringers Western, a brand that lives and breathes mateship, resilience, and purpose. But more than that, I’m backing the people behind it—especially James Freeman, who founded Box Rallies after losing both of his parents to cancer just twelve months apart. What he built in their memory has become one of the country’s most powerful grassroots fundraising movements. And that matters.
A Rally Built on Heart (and Rust)
For those who’ve never heard of it, the Shitbox Rally isn’t your typical outback drive. It’s a seven-day journey from Alice Springs to the Gold Coast—in a car worth no more than $1,500.
Yes, you read that right.
But this rally was never about fancy rigs or perfect plans. It’s about putting yourself out there—doing something wild and slightly unhinged to help tackle something that’s hit nearly every Aussie family. Since 2009, they’ve raised over $50 million for cancer research. Not bad for a bunch of busted-up cars and people who just won’t quit.
The Magic Between the Breakdowns
What I admire most is what happens between the checkpoints. The stories. The laughs. The helping hands when the wheels literally fall off. What makes it stick with you isn’t the driving. It’s the busted radiator you fixed with someone else’s fencing wire. It’s the fire at the end of the day, when everyone’s knackered and still somehow laughing.
It’s the kind of thing I grew up with—look after your mates, make do with what you’ve got, and if it all turns to sh*t, have a laugh and get on with it.
It’s this spirit that ties the rally to Ringers Western, and to my own work on the land. Whether you’re pushing cattle through dry country or coaxing a battered Corolla through Oodnadatta, it’s the same instinct: keep going, and stick together.
Beyond the Cars
It’s worth saying—the Shitbox Rally isn’t just a feel-good event. It drives real economic impact in the small towns it passes through. Some communities receive $85,000 or more in local spending, giving regional Australia a lift when and where it’s needed most.
And the movement doesn’t stop there. Box Rallies also runs the Mystery Box Rally, where teams don’t know the route until the day of, and the Lunchbox Rally, designed for families with kids aged 7–15 to get involved in the fun and the fundraising.
Why I’m Getting Behind It
Like most Aussies, I’ve seen cancer deeply affect people I care about. It’s brutal. It doesn’t care who you are, how young or old you are, or where you were born. You could be the fittest, healthiest person on the planet and it’ll still come for you if and when it wants. It’s a disease that has affected humanity since Adam was knee-high to a grasshopper. And yet, even today, with all the advances in medical and biomolecular research, we are only now just beginning to understand what the “Big C” is all about. That’s why a cause like this hits so close to home.
So no, this isn’t just about cars that shouldn’t still be running. It’s about people who refuse to stop. People who show up, pitch in, and carry each other over the line—sometimes literally.
The Finish Line (If You Make It)
The Shitbox Rally isn’t a race in the true sense. It’s a reminder. That laughter can carry weight. That doing something utterly ridiculous can still mean something deadly serious. And that the road—however long, dusty, or full of potholes—is always better when you don’t drive it alone.
Whether you’ve faced cancer firsthand or not, I really urge you to go check out what the Shitbox Rally website and feel the weight of what this amazing event really represents. For me, it’s mateship with a mission. And that’s something I’ll always stand behind.
Co-founder, Ringers Western & Proud Sponsor of the Spring Shitbox Rally 2025