Finke Desert Race 2015

[strangy]

The Alice is a hive of activity now as competitors and support crews swell the already busy town.
I'll be heading out to the start Finnish line this year instead of the usual camping down the track.
I saw a LR set up for racing which I think was the RAMUS Series2 previously raced. A visit to scrutineering tonight will confirm. The competitors and teams are not displaying correctly on the official website for now.
I'm working the afternoon/ evening shift of the down (Alice to Finke) leg so hopefully won't be needed. It's usually juiced up spectators who need the medical care....;)

[strangy]

Just popped up now,
RSL, Raemus Rover, 879 , Travis Rosewarne and Tristan Steinert, Series 3 5.7 Chev.
and
RSL, Raemus Rover, 878 Series 2a,
3.5 v8, Rod Wilkinson and Warren Stephenson.

[Ranga]

Check this out to get a good idea how fast the bikes go.

https://youtu.be/6QGKVxu1IZc

[strangy]

Couple of pics.
The S2a is still running leaves and the S3 is on a D1 chassis.



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[Landy Smurf]

They look good, I hope they do well :)

[spudboy]

We've just lobbed in Alice and yep - very busy. Staying in the "Big 4" Caravan park 5Kms out of town and heaps of competitors staying here. Lots of motorbikes.

Will head down to the start line in the morning to check out some of the cars etc.

[LandyAndy]

Neat looking toys.Let us know how they go.
Andrew

[crash]

Check this out to get a good idea how fast the bikes go.

https://youtu.be/6QGKVxu1IZc
Would love to do the Finke sometime - would prefer to do it on a quad though.
What amazes me about that video is the camera barely moves but watch the bike beneath the rider and it is going all over the place.

[Ranga]

Would love to do the Finke sometime - would prefer to do it on a quad though.
What amazes me about that video is the camera barely moves but watch the bike beneath the rider and it is going all over the place.

Reminds me of the gyro in a chicken's head https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPlkFPowCc :D

[Pedro_The_Swift]

this might help,,,,;)

Finke Live Stream (http://finkedesertrace.com.au/live-stream)

start is at 7am local

[bob10]

Double tragedy , death in the Finke, Bob


Rider's death delivers double tragedy | Toowoomba Chronicle (http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/riders-death-delivers-double-tragedy/22190/)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

oh dear god!! from 2008?!?!

its the 40th year of the Finke Bob,,
lots of history to troll through
maybe Aliens won it in '76??

[spudboy]

Have just seen the green SII Landie start! He was about the 3rd or 4th last one to set off. Waiting for the bikes to get going now....

VERY cold out here. 5 degrees to start with. Now it's up to a much better 10 degrees (8:30am).

[rick130]

this might help,,,,;)

Finke Live Stream (http://finkedesertrace.com.au/live-stream)

start is at 7am local

I just saw my Mum, camera in hand watching the Legends Prologue run :D

[strangy]

Double tragedy , death in the Finke, Bob Rider's death delivers double tragedy | Toowoomba Chronicle (http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/riders-death-delivers-double-tragedy/22190/)
Difficult times, medivaced our workmate, watching the slow recovery and then that end.
Been hard on a few at the base.

[strangy]

Got some video (iPhone) of the Series trucks leaving, they are pretty slow compared to many, but the boys are aiming to finish and promote the cause.
I haven't upload video before so I'll see how I go.

[bob10]

oh dear god!! from 2008?!?!

its the 40th year of the Finke Bob,,
lots of history to troll through
maybe Aliens won it in '76??


Yeah, my mistake. Posted the wrong link. Too much partying at Gayndah. This is the link I should have posted. Bob


Finke Desert Race 2015: Racers set off on day one, motorbike rider hospitalised with head injuries - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-07/finke-2015-desert-race-sets-off-motorbike-rider-hospitalised/6527868)

[strangy]

Unfortunately both Vehicles did not finish the first leg of the race.( don't know reasons)
They're amongst good company, more than 50 competitors are DNF or Out of time.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I'd be making my way to the finish line now Strangy---;):cool:
car 1 went through the last checkpoint at 8.37 your time,,,

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Too late!
car 1 is Home!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Buggy's beat the bikes by ten minutes...

I figure over that distance its not really enough to brag about--

[strangy]

Link to YouTube vid.
Much better than my I phone.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=05IMF3D-irg

[vnx205]

I can't quite claim to have competed in the Finke, but I have at least driven the course.

In 1999, as part of a trip in the Series III from the South East of Australia through the exact geographical centre to the North West of Australia, I drove from Finke to Alice.

I noticed a few brightly coloured markers along the route, but didn't give them a lot of thought. I was aware of the fact that there was a Finke Desert Race, but I suppose my mind was on other things.

It wasn't until I asked a ranger at Chamber's Pillar about the markers, that I learned that they were part of the early preparations for that year's race.

Even allowing for the fact that the vehicles in the event are better suited to high speed off-road travel than the Series III, I am astonished that the competitors complete that course in the times they do. I don't imagine the track has improved much since 1999.

For those who say, "It didn't happen without pictures", here is the photographic evidence. :)

[DiscoMick]

Great vid. Would be amazing to see live.

[Cobber]

A couple of my mates saw the Landy's on the way down and reckoned they didn't look like the were having a lot of fun ... but far play to them I say for having a crack! :BigThumb:

The times the top guys (cars and bikes) post now is astonishing - I remember a time when cracking 2hrs one way was considered near impossible! The track this year by most accounts was the worst it's been for years, largely due to a big amount of 'pre-running' on the lead up to the event but there was some staggering times :o

What makes Toby Price's win (bikes) more astounding was the fact a stick speared his riding boot in the days before the race and he rode it with a heavy swollen ankle and I can only imagine a hell of a lot of pain :o I saw the pictures of the boot and ankle and I take my hat off to him :cool:

Now it's all over and the madness it brings to town is gone we can all resume stations and get on with it again! :D