Thomas Watson is determined not to let the $450 he spent on a van go to waste, despite organisers pulling out of the Undie 500.
A third-year commerce student at Canterbury University, Mr Thomas (20) is planning to run an "alternative" Undie 500, after the University of Canterbury Engineering Society (Ensoc) announced on Monday it would no longer organise the event.
The new rally is being called Trek 08.
But Dunedin police say they would have as many concerns about an alternative rally as the Undie 500 event and would plan for it accordingly.
More than 400 people had expressed interest in attending Trek 08 since he set up the group, "I'm going on the Undy [sic] 500 with or without Ensoc", on the social networking site, Facebook, a month ago, Mr Thomas said.
"People are certainly keen. We will be making a decision in the next couple of weeks if we will go ahead with it.
"I think what Ensoc did with the event was amazing. We won't be as big . . . but we still want to do it."
The event involves students driving from Christchurch to Dunedin in vehicles costing less than $500.
Mr Thomas said the event was worth saving.
"The Friday was one of the best days out last year. It was only the Saturday that was a bit rubbish."
That night, more than 70 fires were lit and 69 people arrested.
"We don't want any riots, but we want to still participate in this event.
It is about having a good day, but if there are any serious risks we don't want them. We have careers and things to think about."
Trek 08 was tentatively pencilled in for August 22.
Police would be notified before the convoy left "because we would rather have them onside than offside".
Dunedin police area commander Inspector Dave Campbell said he was pleased the Undie 500 had been cancelled.
Organisers had often talked about the rally being a display of engineering, but "quite frankly, it was just a booze cruise", he said.
Police plans already in place to deal with the Undie 500 would be modified for any alternative rally and subsequent gathering, he said.
Mr Watson said it was unlikely organisers of Trek 08 would notify the Dunedin City Council.
No-one from Canterbury University had spoken to him about the plan, but he was aware several members of Ensoc and the student association had signed up to the Facebook site.
