Variety Bash: Ninja Turtles team prove heroes in a half-shell

Twenty-nine pre-1985 cars and 89 participants embarked on a week-long trip to raise money for Variety, the Children’s Charity of WA.

Yokine resident Warren Stirrat, Carine resident Phil Bailey, Brad Dean, from Secret Harbour, and Glenn Cornish, from Serpentine, have raised more than $100,000 for the charity in seven years, helping fund programs for children with special needs.

Mr Cornish said the Bash was a culmination of a year’s worth of fundraising for the entrants.

“The Bash is really a carnival on wheels with all sorts of themed cars taking part and having fun and bringing excitement to the towns we visit along the way,” he said.

“The event is absolutely not a race, but is a chance to travel to out-of-the-way places in an old car, with all sorts of mischief and shenanigans along the way,” he said.

“Every five years, there is a national event which could see us starting anywhere in Australia, but finishing in Perth.”

Mr Cornish said his team chose the Ninja Turtles theme because the costumes were widely recognised.

“We tried to find something that makes the kids excited to see and sourced costumes to help build the theme and appearance,” he said.

“After all, the most rewarding part of these trips is getting to interact with the kids and see the joy that the Bash coming past brings to them.”