Testing wild – The Carbage Run as a hobby

Some people spend their weekends running marathons, building model trains, or perfecting their lawn stripes. And then there’s me – Joris — the kind of person who thinks it’s a great idea to drive a beat-up Renault Espace from 2000 across Europe, covered in a brick pattern and stuffed with duct tape, snacks, and tech gear. Carbage Run is on. In this blog I’ll go deeper into this event and how it helps my with Unboxed Rebels!

So, what is the Carbage Run?

Imagine a five-day road trip where the main rule is: your car must be worth less than a thousand bucks and over 20 years old. We drive around 5000 kilometers in a week and each day you get ridiculous challenges, to see more, check the after movie at the bottom of this blog. That’s what the organization has been doing since 2009 and I can proudly say that our team has entered almost a dozen times already.

My team is Team ZOT — short for Zomerzorg On Tour — is our proudly ridiculous crew of road-trip rebels. Every year we take a hopelessly underpowered Renault Espace, give it an over-the-top theme (this time: a brick pattern, because everyone should “add their stone” to the cause), and hit the road armed with duct tape, caffeine, and zero common sense. We’re not just in it for the fun — we drive to raise money for a good cause, turning every kilometer and every breakdown into something that actually matters.

A rolling test lab

Since I work in IT — digital workspaces, security, and all things “connected” — the Carbage Run doubles as my personal test lab. During the Carbage run, we have no power and need to rely on navigation and internet for challenges. Where else can you stress-test a Starlink connection, mobile power station, 360 cameras or solar panels better than halfway up a Slovenian mountain pass, while your teammate tries to keep a brick-wrapped Renault in second gear?

Why I do it

For me, the Carbage Run is the ultimate mix of fun, chaos, and innovation. It forces you to improvise, collaborate, and keep your sense of humor. Nothing brings you closer to the essence of problem-solving than fixing an overheated 2.5-liter engine with bubble gum and a bottle of mineral water. It’s freedom with a wink — the perfect embodiment of the Unboxed Rebels mindset!