Would you drive a $500 car 500 miles? Some of us wouldn’t want to drive it 50 miles, but for hundreds of car tinkering metro Detroiters, it's an adventure!
The second annual Detroit Gambler 500 takes place April 28 and 29 and this year, nearly 1,000 DIY mechanics are expected to bring their creatively repaired and decorated clunkers hoping to sputter to the end of the 500 mile on and off-road route through Michigan.
"It’s not a race, it’s not a rally, it’s just an adventure! The goal is to be brave and take these crappy cars and try to do as much as possible with them," says organizer and creative Detroit entrepreneur Tom Nardone.
Nardone provides GPS coordinates and everyone brings spare tires, zip ties, duct tape and a sense of adventure. Many drivers are prepared to help each other out along the way.
The goal is to spend no more than $500 on the car, the repairs and the decor combined! It's like the dream cruise for people on a budget who love tinkering with cars.
The event is free and open to anyone over 18, with a street legal vehicle with insurance, some guts and a willingness to risk being stranded.
"And we lose a lot of cars, like last year we started with 430 and ended with 200," says Nardone, which he adds makes it the largest road rally event in the country.
They will be turning heads along the way with some drivers showing up in costumes, many painting their vehicle bright colors and adding unique flair.
US Auto Supply has a group of nearly 30 employees who have been preparing for the Gambler 500 all year, while others will find a $500 vehicle days before the event and roll the dice.
It's an all-terrain event, in which many impractical cars will embark.
"I have a Mustang GT; it’s not off roads, but it is now, and it’s gonna be on April 28 and 29 I’m puttin the hammer down," says Nardone.
To join the Detroit Gambler 500, you can find more info here.
