Mary goes across the Simpson!

[VK3UTE]

G'day All. Its been some time since I've posted... Have been busy getting the old girl ready for a trip with LROCV across the Simpson Desert! Just got home yesterday after 4 weeks on the road. Needless to say we had a fantastic trip, 16 cars in total with 11 series vehicles:D
We did around 5500km and the route for me was as follows
Melbourne to
Overland corner
Bendelby ranges
Maree
William Creek
Oodnadatta
Mt Dare
Dalhousie Springs
Purni Bore
French Line
WAA Line
Rig Rd
Knowles
and back to the French line
then the QAA line to Big red and into Birdsville
Home via Innamincka, Camerons cnr, White Cliffs.
A bloody long way to drive an old car:eek:


Thought you might like to see a few pics of the old girl.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1279.jpg
The back of the old girl all set up
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1280.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1281.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1282.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1283.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1251.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1284.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1285.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1286.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1287.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1288.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1289.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1290.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1291.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1292.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1293.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1294.jpg
On top of Big Red
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1295.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1296.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1297.jpg

[reachjatt]

Hi Mate,

I must say Mary has done well, in-fact very well. Those pic's look awesome. Can't wait to get mine on road 1960 SWB Series2 pickup.

But whatever said and done i don't think i have courage to dare 5000k's.

Nav.

[reachjatt]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1251.jpg


Is it me or this thing is actually hovering. But on another thought, i suppose Landy's can do anything.

[debruiser]

That is just AWESOME! Great pics, and I bet it's been a great adventure. Wish I could get in on that sort of action.

[Chops]

An epic trip VK, nice one.

Would be cool to travel in an old girl for a long trip. Top pics too mate, thanks for posting.

Where are you off to next time?

[VK3UTE]

An epic trip VK, nice one.

Would be cool to travel in an old girl for a long trip. Top pics too mate, thanks for posting.

Where are you off to next time?


Thanks All. Next trip might be up to Cape York in 2015!

Once you get on the dirt its awesome:cool: but sitting on 75kph with the old diesel screaming up the bitumen is hard work, not to mention my ears will never be the same;)

Cheers Simon

[Cobber]

Absolutely fantastic!! :BigThumb: Don't suppose you have any shots of the other Landy's that went across? :)

Once my 2a is back on the road, I'm looking to do the Simpson in it with a few mates of mine - all in old 4WDs of various makes - I'll likely be the only one flying the LR flag though! :D

[Ozdunc]

Simon, that is just fantastic!
Gives me real confidence to push Bill a bit further than his usual runs.

Did you have any mechanicals?

[Cannon]

that is awesome. :D

[VK3UTE]

Hi All.

Had very few problems with the old girl. 3 bolts rattled loose, 2 of which I forgot to tighten;) and the "prince of darkness struck" with a faulty ignition switch(6 months old, NOS that is) they were the only problems encountered.
It's interesting to note that not one Rover made part broke or failed, a few Lucas problems along the way but, as expected...

By far the majority of problems were fuel related, mainly dirty fuel tanks, leaking fuel tanks x 3(two on one car, talk about unlucky!), fuel pump problems x 5 and fuel tank change over tap issues. A few carby problems and vaporising issues too.
Having enough fuel was a challenge

Photos of the crew. I have heaps of good photos of the cars but best I don't post too many without the owners permissions.:nazilock:



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1195.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1196.jpg

[harry]

thanks for the trip info and photo's,
not sure I would be game to sit in my 2a for that long.
and I couldn't carry enough petrol I suspect.

[Dinty]

Quite a few of us that have owned Series Land Rovers over a considerable period of time all knew that what this chap has done is easily achieved in a well maintained Series vehicle. You don't have to have the latest Solihull vehicle equipped with everything that opens n shuts, electronic devices etc etc.
We went in our 88" S2A way back in the early 70's up through Central Australia, and if I could find my way to go across the Simpson again I would like to do it in one of my S2A's, good story and images VK3UTE, thanks for sharing cheers Dennis:angel:

[Cobber]

Yeah enough fuel is a major consideration I've had too ... how much did you use or L/km if you know? :confused:

I reckon if I take mine across I'd be inclined to strap a 44 in there ... being a 109 I've got extra room ... but then you weigh up the fuel used lugging the extra weight ... the mind boggles!! :blink:

[Cobber]

You don't have to have the latest Solihull vehicle equipped with everything that opens n shuts, electronic devices etc etc.exactly, Series cars helped open this country up, so it stands to reason that they can do the same in 2013 :BigThumb: as we get soft the cars remain tough! :D

[scarry]

Fantastic trip report and pics.:)

Did you have any luck with the Paj at Poeppels?

[Defender Mike]

Im currently Prepping Borumbah Series 1 109 for the Canning Stock Route good to see other old landy owners gewtting out there .:)

[Johnno1969]

Brilliant photos and a great trip. Thanks for the posts, Very inspiring.

John

[VK3UTE]

Well put Dinty and Cobber.
I feel more comfortable going bush in the 2a than my defender most of the time(mentally that is:D) Good preparation and maintenance is the key.
And you cant beat driving in the desert with the door tops off

[Chops]

Well put Dinty and Cobber.
I feel more comfortable going bush in the 2a than my defender most of the time(mentally that is:D) Good preparation and maintenance is the key.
And you cant beat driving in the desert with the door tops off

Couldn't agree more with that. I'd love to be able to run with the door tops off in the Puma :cool:

[VK3UTE]

Fuel usage was interesting and varied considerably. My old girl averaged 10L/100 on the dirt and made roads. In the sand 12.5L/100
The others in the sand
Series 1 around 20L/100
Series 3 rover 6 28L/100
Holden 6 cars around 32-40L/100

It was also interesting to note that the series 1's probably performed best in the sand and were near on unstopable.

Cheers Simon.

[VK3UTE]

Fantastic trip report and pics.:)

Did you have any luck with the Paj at Poeppels?

No luck, dead starter motor. We saw him in Birdsville after the recovery truck bought him in... Poor bugger

[scarry]

Fantastic trip report and pics.:)

Did you have any luck with the Paj at Poeppels?


No luck, dead starter motor. We saw him in Birdsville after the recovery truck bought him in... Poor bugger

Yer,he was a really nice guy,we thought it was the starter as well.They had done heaps of remote travel in that vehicle and never had an issue ever.

Hope he got it sorted,and it didn't lighten his bank balance to much.

[justinc]

Couldn't agree more with that. I'd love to be able to run with the door tops off in the Puma :cool:

....You do know that series doors can be fitted to the Puma:D:D:D


JC

[VK3UTE]

Hi All. Live action replay of the old girl attacking a dune.
The last 30 seconds is cool:eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA9fHqRkJ5o

Set your computer volume to max to get the real experience!

Cheers

[scarry]

What a great vid:)

How good is the sound

Bit different than my vid of the D4 hooting up big red;):D

[Chops]

Cool vid Simon,

Just a quick question for you, although the last section looks quite rugged/rough, but rather cool :cool:, did you tackle any of those at a slower speed, or was it better to go faster? You looked like you were hooking in a bit.
The reason I ask is when we tackled the same kind of hills on the Border Tk (Vic,SA), I was able to just crawl up some of them, basically just idling up, which I found to be a bit easier on my back. I know obviously, there's a huge difference between your beautiful old girl and my rather young coil sprung Puma. But it looks like your getting thrown around a fair bit. Unfortunately I don't remember doing anything similar in my old Series3 many years ago, so I cant really compare from my own experience. But I do remember getting a very rough ride compared to coil sprung vehicles.

[JDNSW]

exactly, Series cars helped open this country up, so it stands to reason that they can do the same in 2013 :BigThumb: as we get soft the cars remain tough! :D

In 1966 I spent a year driving a Serie 2a 109 round the Simpson - only problem was a broken clutch plate. The difference is that then it was only five years old!

John

[debruiser]

In 1966 I spent a year driving a Serie 2a 109 round the Simpson - only problem was a broken clutch plate. The difference is that then it was only five years old!

John

Wow a 5 yr old Series 2.... that would be a nice ride. Pity I'm not even old enough to have seen it :( That car would be ummmm.... 21 yrs older than me :D

[VK3UTE]

Cool vid Simon,

Just a quick question for you, although the last section looks quite rugged/rough, but rather cool :cool:, did you tackle any of those at a slower speed, or was it better to go faster? You looked like you were hooking in a bit.
The reason I ask is when we tackled the same kind of hills on the Border Tk (Vic,SA), I was able to just crawl up some of them, basically just idling up, which I found to be a bit easier on my back. I know obviously, there's a huge difference between your beautiful old girl and my rather young coil sprung Puma. But it looks like your getting thrown around a fair bit. Unfortunately I don't remember doing anything similar in my old Series3 many years ago, so I cant really compare from my own experience. But I do remember getting a very rough ride compared to coil sprung vehicles.

It really depended on the condition of the dune, the tracks were very chopped up. When the sand was very soft momentum was the key. Most you could just crawl up but some had to be tackled as per the video so as not to loose momentum. This was the same for all vehicles regardless of HP and suspension type. It was quite surprising how good the leafers ride quality was.

Saying that there is a little bit of Hollywood in the vid:cool:

[Cannon]

I just showed my wife your video & while I was grinning like a cheshire cat thinking how cool that would be SWMBO was grimacing & saying how noisy & uncomfortable it looked. :)

Each to his own I guess;)

[debruiser]

I just showed my wife your video & while I was grinning like a cheshire cat thinking how cool that would be SWMBO was grimacing & saying how noisy & uncomfortable it looked. :)

Each to his own I guess;)

I know how you feel. BUT I think I'm am making progress converting my MRS.

[Johnno1969]

Loved the video!

Thanks.

[Pilbara130]

Well done mate. Looks like a great trip.

[Ozdunc]

I made the mistake of showing my missus the video the morning after the night before. It didn't go down too well :D

Was it really that noisy in the cab? Makes my petrol lump seem like a Rolls Royce:eek:

[Larry]

It really is a great feeling doing the desert in a Series.:banana:

Going by the sound a lot of the replies, I'm very lucky that my wife enjoys travelling in the 80". :TakeABow::TakeABow:

[debruiser]

It really is a great feeling doing the desert in a Series.:banana:

Going by the sound a lot of the replies, I'm very lucky that my wife enjoys travelling in the 80". :TakeABow::TakeABow:

Hi Larry, I like your 80' looks great out in the sand getting dirty.

[justinc]

It's easy to see why the 80" is so good in the desert, it must only weigh about 80Kg!:wasntme::D

Great pic Larry:)

JC

[Chops]

Hi Larry, I like your 80' looks great out in the sand getting dirty.

X 2,, what a way to travel,,,