IT'S flower power for Cornwall's Air Ambulance as the fearless crew of the Yellow Peril embark on a £1,000 mission to Croatia.

That's the fund-raising target set by train driver Iain Bassett and businessman Spencer Ham as they head from Cornwall to the Balkans in the annual Banger Rally Challenge, organised by St Austell and District Round Table.

Iain and Spencer, from Linkinhorne, were taking their inspiration from the 1960s as they pointed their £300 Renault Megane Convertible towards the Tamar at the event's start yesterday evening.

'We're determined to beat our effort last year and raise £1,000 for the Cornwall Air Ambulance,' said Iain, 'not least because my son Oliver recently had need of its help and it would be wonderful to pay something back to such a fantastic service.'

St Austell and District Round Table is organising the 2014 Charity Banger Rally Challenge from Cornwall to Pula in Croatia.

It's not a race – it's a navigational test and a challenge in nursing your £350-or-less banger to the finish line.

Last year's event, to Rome, in which Iain and Spencer also took part, raised an extraordinary £92,000 for Cornish charities.

Teams are invited to raise money for four main causes: Cornwall Hospice Care (Mount Edgcumbe Hospice), Bosom Buddies (the local breast cancer charity), Marie Curie Cancer Care in Cornwall, and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Spencer and Iain are dedicating their justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/">www.justgiving.com/

drinkinhorners to air ambulance funds, while any other money they raise will go towards the Round Table's general pot.

The rally was due to start yesterday, leaving The Cornwall Hotel in St Austell at 6pm and finishing in Pula, Croatia, on Monday, October 6.

Spencer's and Iain's team name, The Drinkinhorners, comes from their home village and their local – Linkinhorne, near Callington, and the Church House Inn.

Many businesses have donated prizes for a grand prize draw in aid of their effort, including first-class rail tickets, gift packs from businesses including Skinner's Brewery and Healey's Cornish Cider, tickets to St Austell Brewery, dining out vouchers and more.

A fund-raising quiz took place at the pub on September 25.

Iain said: 'The Church House has supported the air ambulance for many years, and my own experience when Oliver injured his arm underlined for our local community once again what a superb service it provides to the people of Cornwall.

'We're determined to raise as much as we can to help out.'

You'll be able to follow the Yellow Peril in blogs linked through 'The Drinkinhorners Pula or Bust' on Facebook, and on Twitter through @bassettiain.

Spencer and Iain say that any support in sponsorship or raffle prizes would be gratefully received.