First-timer in the rally, Ben Kluver, of The Oaks, said he was happy to support a good cause and have a bit of fun.

Mr Kluver said his family loved motorsports and his dad had entered the rally twice before.

``We have two cars in the rally this year,'' he said. ``One of them is a 1964 Ford Fairlane and it's an old car so a mechanic will go over it and make sure everything is running smoothly. The cars cop a real beating driving through NSW forest.''

Mr Kluver's team, the Artline Team, was named after his father's business, Artline Kitchens.

Fifty vehicles are expected to take part in the Kidney Kar Rally, in which entrants will race from Sydney to Mudgee via Mildura over eight days.

Thirlmere's Campbell Inglis is also involved with his 1996 Holden HR station wagon. ``This our first rally,'' Mr Inglis said. ``It's important to support the work of Kidney Health Australia on behalf of thousands of people suffering from kidney disease.''

More than 40 Australians die of kidney failure each day, with one in three adults at an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The rally is on from August15 to August23.

Details: kidney.org.au or 1300300544.