By DAVID NAGEL
A REBUILT VW kombi van and a thirst for adventure are taking 71-year-old Frank Peniguel on a 12-month journey into the Guinness Book of World Records.
The retired Daylesford local visited the Willow Lodge Bowls Club in Dandenong last week, his 88th stop on a trip which began in Elsternwick, his former home-town, on 10 January.
Mr Peniguel hopes to visit between 600 and 900 bowls clubs, to set the record for the most clubs bowled at, before he finishes his journey at the same time next year.
“The only record for bowls in the Guinness Book of World Records is for the oldest bowler, a 102-year-old gentleman from England,” Mr Peniguel said.
“I was rebuilding the kombi van, and thought I could combine my passion for bowls and enjoy the travel along the way.
“Guinness set the criteria and it’s been full steam ahead ever since.”
At each club, Mr Peniguel plays 10 ends of bowls against a club member before, win, lose or draw, signing off on the day’s scorecard.
To ratify his achievement he also needs to take a photo of him and his opponent, with a club logo in the background, and also that of two witnesses.
“The kombi is my office and where I sleep and eat,” Mr Peniguel said.
“I’m travelling to Tasmania on 31 March and then start a journey to Northern Queensland all the way along the east coast. I’ll then head inland to Adelaide before heading back to Victoria to complete the trip at Daylesford.”
Mr Peniguel estimates the trip may cost him in excess of $20,000.
