The Plymouth-Banjul Challenge is run by 'Dakar Challenge' and self described as 'The original Banger Challenge’ and previously known as the Plymouth-Dakar Challenge , is an annual car event for charity . Established in 2002, the first rally went to Dakar in 2003, and then on to Banjul from 2005. It very roughly follows the route of the more famous Dakar Rally , visiting many of the same countries.
27-632: Starting in Plymouth (Devon), participants travel through France and onto Tarifa in Southern Spain . Then the course runs through Morocco , Western Sahara , Mauritania , Senegal and finally into the Gambia - a distance of approximately 4,400 Miles. Participants were previously told to be driving a left hand drive cars worth approximately £100 , although there are now no formal rules on value and right hand drive cars of any value can be used, on
54-487: A hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa), bordering a warm-summer (Csb) Mediterranean climate according to the Köppen climate classification . The influence of the ocean creates a very small annual variation in temperatures. The average daily high in the hottest month, August, is only 9.3°C above the average lowest temperature during the month of January, and more than 10°C cooler than temperatures experienced further inland in
81-618: Is derived from the name of the Umayyad Caliphate military commander, Tarif ibn Malik . At exactly 36 degrees latitude, the Punta de Tarifa is the southernmost point of continental Europe . (The only parts of Europe farther south are islands - including the Greek island of Gavdos , which is the southernmost point of Europe.) The North African capitals of Algiers and Tunis actually lie farther north than Tarifa. Tarifa features
108-479: Is renowned for its African Film Festival , whose first edition took place in 2004. Tarifa is popular for its placement in The Alchemist . There are regular ferry services connecting Tarifa with Tangier (40 minutes) and Ceuta (1 hour) from the ferry port. Bus services run from the bus station on Calle Batalla de Salado. There are regular services between Tarifa and Algeciras , about 20 km to
135-555: The Guadalquivir valley. Thus Tarifa features a unique microclimate . Summers are strongly moderated by the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean much more so than neighbouring cities along Spain's Mediterranean and Atlantic coast. Likewise, winters are some of the mildest in continental Europe. Rain falls primarily during the winter, with summer being largely dry as is the norm in this type of climate. Historical landmarks of
162-573: The Iberian Peninsula , it is primarily known as one of the world's most popular destinations for windsports . Tarifa lies on the Costa de la Luz (" coast of light ") and across the Strait of Gibraltar facing Morocco . Besides the city proper, the municipality also comprises several villages, including Tahivilla , Facinas , and Bolonia . It was thought that Tarifa was once the site of
189-547: The Kingdom of Granada . In 1292 it was conquered by Sancho IV of Castile , and two years later it resisted a siege by North African Islamic troops. The town resisted another siege in 1340 from Marinid , eventually leading to the Battle of Río Salado . Despite its formidable defenses, Tarifa remained sparsely populated for the rest of the middle ages. The destruction of Algeciras after the 1369 Nasrid conquest turned Tarifa into
216-459: The Portuguese across the strait. After 1492, Tarifa lost part of its military value. Owing to its good pastures, husbandry played a notable role in the economy. It however lacked land dedicated to cereal crops. Already since the conquest and increasingly in the late middle ages, fishing activity provided riches to Tarifa, and an industry of the almadraba around tuna had developed in
243-568: The Puerto de Jerez (the main entrance to the old town) at the junction of Avenida Andalucía and Calle Batalla de Salado. The intentional community "Molino de Guadalmesi", which is part of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), is located about 13 km north-east from Tarifa. Tarif ibn Malik Tarif ibn Malik ( Arabic : طريف بن مالك ) was an Arab commander under Tariq ibn Ziyad , Arab and Umayyad general who led
270-625: The Roman settlement of Julia Transducta (also known as Julia Joza, or just Transducta). However, that settlement is now thought to have been where Algeciras now stands, while there is strong evidence that Casas de Porro, Valdevaqueros (Tarifa) was the site of the settlement of Mellaria . Tarifa was given its present name after the Islamic conquest of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a military commander of Musa bin Nusayr . The village of Bolonia near Tarifa
297-513: The UK. The 2006 rally included a 1983 BMW 732i which appeared to be incapable of making it out of England but in fact did complete the course; a Fiat Uno which performed fantastically and even pushed the previously mentioned BMW up a mountain; some Renault 19s and a VW Beetle . In addition a number of 4x4 vehicles regularly enter ranging from quite reasonable vehicles that 'bend' the entry rules to vehicles over 40 years old rebuilt from wrecks just for
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#1732775931970324-523: The basis they are donated to the Rotary Club of The Gambia on arrival. Participants in the challenge are on their own, meaning that no assistance is rendered to motorists in case of a car breakdown or even if they become stranded. Mechanical reliability is the main obstacle to completing the course given that such vehicles are ordinary road cars and are mostly at the end of their useful lifetimes. Many cars cope very well until they have to go through
351-400: The challenge. The 2004 event had one team, The Idiots Abroad , tow a trailer with two motorbikes on it through the desert - the challenge has now been laid down for another team to get a trailer through the desert and in 2006 two ambulances made it across. In the 2004/2005 event, a Swiss Team (Team Pintpullers) drove a Mercedes Van and a 125cc motorbike from Switzerland to Banjul. The Bike
378-596: The city include: Tarifa is located within the Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve , a renowned place to watch migrating birds , in particular the storks which cross the Straits of Gibraltar in spring and autumn. Also whale and dolphin watching can be done as there are several species living on the 14 kilometre-wide Straits, for instance the common dolphin , Pilot whale , sperm whale and orca . Tarifa
405-413: The conquest of Visigothic Hispania in 711. Historical sources say he was of Arab origin. In July 710 CE, Tariq sent Tarif on a raid to test the southern coastline of the Iberian Peninsula . According to legend he was aided by Julian, count of Ceuta , as a guide and emissary. Of this raid, Edward Gibbon writes: "500 hundred Soldiers of Berbers origins passed over, in four vessels, from Tangier or Ceuta;
432-403: The desert and then almost all suffer a great deal due to high temperatures and dust. Once the cars make it to Banjul in Gambia they are auctioned for, or donated to, charity. Amongst the many cars that have taken part in the challenge was the fine Peugeot 505 family estate that went on to be auctioned at the end of the rally for several times the amount of money it would have commanded back in
459-535: The early 16th century. In the early 16th century, the city became part of the seigneurial land of the Adelantado Mayor de Andalucía. Population increased in the 16th century, with around 3,500–4,000 inhabitants by 1587. In 1514 it became the seat of a marquisate ( Marquiss of Tarifa ), including also Bornos , Espera and Alcalá de los Gazules . In the course of the Peninsular War , Tarifa
486-532: The name of the Green Island, from a verdant cape that advances into the sea". There they were hospitably received by supportive Christians—perhaps Count Julian's kinsmen, friends, and supporters. The end result was a successful raid into an unguarded portion of Andalusia , followed by the safe return of the raiders with plunder and captives. This convinced Tariq that Iberia could be successfully conquered. Tarif subsequently accompanied Tariq ibn-Ziyad , when
513-526: The northeast, and Seville about 200 km to the north. Direct buses also run to Málaga and Cádiz . In high summer a special kitesurfing bus runs along the A7 between Tarifa bus station and Camping Jardin de las Dunas, stopping at popular hotels and campsites along the route. There is a taxi rank on the Avenida Andalucía. It is about 5 minutes walk from the bus station and is located just outside
540-402: The place of their descent on the opposite shore of the strait is marked by the name of Tarif their chief" which today is the city of Tarifa . They proceeded from there to reconnoiter the terrain along the coast as a possible entry point for a larger attack, traversing "eighteen miles through a hilly country to the castle and town of Julian; on which (it is still called Algeciras ) they bestowed
567-416: The place's social structure in the early 15th century. The town was donated to Fadrique Enríquez , Admiral of Castile, in 1447. The seigneuralization was fiercely opposed by the inhabitants. Occupied by Gonzalo de Saavedra, Tarifa returned to the nominal status of realengo [ es ] , while largely controlled by the former. The mid-15th century saw the fostering of positive collaboration with
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#1732775931970594-579: The sole power base for the Castilian navy in the Strait area, and the influence of the Admiralcy of Castile increased thereafter. Tarifa enjoyed a great deal of privileges confirmed by the Castilian monarchs, while being simultaneously threatened by Muslim raids that resulted into frequent killings and kidnappings. Owing to its largely military function after 1292, military activity weighted heavily in
621-465: The town was attacked again by General Laval, who bombarded the town over Christmas to the point where surrender was demanded on 30 December. Both the British and Spanish commanders refused to comply and their defiance was rewarded by rain that started the next day. By 5 January the attacking force realised that their powder was wet and their guns were bogged down in mud, and retreated. The name "Tarifa"
648-511: Was also populated in Roman times (called Baelo Claudia ). Roman ruins still exist near the village today. After the Islamic conquest of southern Spain , the city was fortified starting from the 10th century. Later Tarifa was held by the taifa of Algeciras (1031) and by that of Seville (1057), and subsequently by the Almoravids . After the latter's fall, it lived a short period under another taifa of Algeciras (1231), until becoming part of
675-555: Was besieged by French troops on 20 December 1810, and again on 18 December 1811. In both of these cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. During the 1811–12 Siege of Tarifa there were 3,000 defending troops with 1,200 of those British, including Colonel Charles Holloway who as commanding Royal Engineer made improvements to Tarifa's defences. On 19 December
702-405: Was called off by its organiser Julian Nowill due to Mauritanian security concerns (French tourist murders and Spanish aid workers kidnappings), but two teams from group 1 and three teams from group 3 pushed on regardless. Tarifa Tarifa ( Spanish pronunciation: [taˈɾifa] ) is a Spanish municipality in the province of Cádiz , Andalusia . Located at the southernmost end of
729-528: Was ridden the entire time and reached Banjul where it was donated to the local police. There are even people who cannot drive taking part with one half of a Fiat Uno team learning to drive in the desert where he managed to crash it into a Welsh Ambulance and two Canadians who bought a manual car in France and spent the next few weeks learning to drive it. Since 2007, the rally also has a group of cars continuing on to Bamako , Mali . The 2009/2010 Banjul Challenge
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