The 18th annual West End Outback Odyssey will commence tonight, with cars departing from the Torrens Parade Ground from 7pm.

The eight-day Odyssey – this year featuring 40 pre-1979 vehicles and a large support cast – will wind its way through rugged, remote and spectacular areas of Outback SA and into Victoria and NSW before finishing up back in the Barossa Valley the following Friday.

Over-nighting at one-pub towns and outback stations, the cars generally travel 350 to 400 km per day, but the focus is not on driving but on country hospitality, the scenery, good natured rivalry and above all the experience.

Port Adelaide legend Russell Ebert is an event official and ‘face’ of the Odyssey, and will report from the road for portadelaidefc.com.au

Organised by the Port Adelaide Football Club, the Odyssey raises funds for the Power, while the club in turn will also generate funds through its charity arm, Power of Dreams, for Novita Children’s Services during the event.

The 2009 West End Outback Odyssey route is as follows:

• Friday 24 July (evening) – Adelaide to Mannum
• Saturday 25 July – Mannum to Turlee Station (NSW)
• Sunday 26 July – Turlee Station to Tilpa, Kalla Station
• Monday 27 July – Tilpa, Kalla Station to Hungerford (NSW-QLD Border)
• Tuesday 28 July – Hungerford (NSW-QLD Border) to Tibooburra (corner of north western NSW)
• Wednesday 29 July – Tibooburra to Silverton (Near Broken Hill)
• Thursday 30 July – Silverton to Morgan (SA’s Riverland)
• Friday 31 July – Morgan to the Barossa Valley