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Finke

Posted: January 9th, 2011, 10:20 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
Entries open Australia day (26th Jan for you guys that were not born in Gods country)
Anyway who's going ?
I'm in unless some major fuck up occurs and i'll be doin' it on the steely. :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop:

Posted: January 25th, 2011, 8:47 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
:D
Good Morning Paul,

Just a brief note to congratulate you on your successful entry of the 2011 Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race.

Your entry and payment have been received and is currently being processed by our office.

Further information will be forwarded and riding numbers will be advised by close of entries.

We will be updating our competitor list on a regular basis. We ask that you check www.finkedesertrace.com.au that your details are displayed correctly ie the spelling of your name, your place of origin and your bike details. Should you notice any discrepancies, please do not hesitate to contact his office, via e-mail.


Kind regards,

Giselle Greenfield
Administration Officer
Finke Desert Race Incorporated
Ph: (08) 8952 8886
Fx: (08) 8955 5456
W: www.finkedesertrace.com.au
:D

Posted: February 20th, 2011, 3:04 am
by Gravel Scratcher
Finke-a-fied and ready to go.
Just need to go 15/40 or15/37 on the day

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any other Aussies going to be there ?

Posted: February 20th, 2011, 11:04 am
by Tharrell
I love to watch the videos of that race.
You got a helmet cam?

Posted: February 20th, 2011, 2:52 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
no helmet cam, but i'm hoping to get one for the race.
The problem with having one is that i can't bullshit afterwards :lol: :lol:

Posted: June 19th, 2011, 6:26 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
Finke 1 Me 0
I have taken 5 weeks off work to do the finke and a bit of site seeing around the red centre, so here are some of the pics. By the way its a 3 day drive each way for us just to get to Alice Springs
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If i can't win it i might as well look half decent :lol:

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Stopped at the Devils Marbles on the way over, pretty cool area when you get away from the tourist.(yeah i know i'm one of them :roll: ) Thats the mrs at 18 weeks pregnant, I can't believe i'm 41 with twins on the way

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Ayres Rock
We were at Ayres rock for 3 days of which it rained for 2, Very rare to get pics of 'The Rock' with rain and waterfalls on it
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The holy grail of Aussie off road racing
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500+ bikes ready to go
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The crew, Matty and Timmy missing from pic. Thats me on the left
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Run to the flag for prologue
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Keith on the gas
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Me on the line Race day 1
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Fuck that hurt, bit of bark missing and a couple of broken ribs.....welcome to Finke :twisted:
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Was going alright till the never ending whoops :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: :whoop: at the 160 km mark they finally got the better of me
and threw me into the valley of the next whoop which was closely folllowed by my cart wheeling bike into my back and side. Couple of spectators helped me get the bike and me off the track which was great as i was totally gassed and hurting like fuck. Spent the next 20 mins changing levers and getting the bike going again.......and this all happened about 1km from my last fuel stop, oh well shit happens. Fueled up and told to 'Harden the fuck up' :wink: by the boys at the fuel stop. Took off and realised something was wrong inside me but still managed to ride the last 65 km to finke with busted ribs over more whoops.
I was one sore and sorry camper around the fire that night not to mention crawling into my swag that night and enjoying a nice -3deg C night. I went and saw the Ambo's and was way to fucked up to start the return leg the next day but a guy on a cr500 from the other site (Dave) had a fucked radiator so i gave him mine so at least another 500 would get home.

Do it again ?
Hell yeah i'm already planning next year :twisted:
It not just about the race, i had a great trip and met heaps of other guys there who just like me were there for a good time and to rip on a 500 down the Finke track :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Posted: June 19th, 2011, 10:00 pm
by britincali
:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 3:17 am
by Tharrell
Very nice. :D
Friggin VERY NICE bike. :D :D
That water coming off the rock was AWESOME :lol: :lol:

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 4:11 am
by racein01
great pics mate :cool:

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 6:09 am
by sabreguy
britincali wrote::cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:
X491

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 6:18 am
by beekums
Tharrell wrote:Very nice. :D
Friggin VERY NICE bike. :D :D
That water coming off the rock was AWESOME :lol: :lol:

x2

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 1:09 pm
by hoofarted
beekums wrote:
Tharrell wrote:Very nice. :D
Friggin VERY NICE bike. :D :D
That water coming off the rock was AWESOME :lol: :lol:

x2
X3!!!!

Oh, and for next time, we'll be needing more shots of these:

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:lol:

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 4:34 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
will do, or some of you guys could come over and have a run down the track and grab your own pics. The camp out at Finke is pretty casual and friendly with plenty of fun and fire works.

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 5:19 pm
by iggys-amsoil
:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:
Tharrell wrote:That water coming off the rock was AWESOME :lol: :lol:
Right Click.... Saved :lol:

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 5:32 pm
by Tharrell
Yeah, I was gonna ask about the ladies.
They ALL look pretty good from that pic.
They weren't doing any high kicks or anything were they? :lol:

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 6:45 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
pics of the grid girls from the Finke web page, dibs on Maddy (i wish)

http://finkedesertrace.com.au/2011-grid ... oot-2.html

Posted: June 20th, 2011, 7:47 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
Heres a couple more pics around the rock since you guys seemed to like it.
Some of the area reminds me of our trip through Moab, Utah a few years back while visiting a friend and going to see world superbike race at Miller raceway

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View from our room at Kings Canyon
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and the last one is the pub from crocadile dundee, which is actually in a little 2 horse town in Queensland
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Posted: June 21st, 2011, 1:26 am
by asteroid500
Im in next yr.......it's somthing ive got to do before i die....bucket list wish

Posted: June 21st, 2011, 4:00 am
by Gravel Scratcher
see ya there, the whoops are killer :twisted:

Posted: July 12th, 2011, 4:54 am
by Gravel Scratcher
couple more pics, big thank you to the fuel stop teams which camp out and fill the bikes between watching the race
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Trenching some ruts for the fuel stop fill points
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the boys at Bundooma on the pre run
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kitting up for the pre run
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bit of planking around fuel stop 1 :lol:
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I love my bikes but you should see the buggies and trophy trucks hit it, suspension just flapping around and the shell just stays rock steady
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Posted: July 12th, 2011, 12:33 pm
by Kuma
What is that Red stuff, dirt, clay or sand?

Posted: July 12th, 2011, 4:49 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
452km of pure red sand hell :twisted: :twisted:

Posted: July 12th, 2011, 6:54 pm
by Kuma
Why aren't you running a paddle tire?

Posted: July 12th, 2011, 9:37 pm
by Gravel Scratcher
its not all loose sand like in a dune, theres some of that some hard pack, gravel rocks and lots of whoops and square edged holes everywhere. I've never done anything so demanding in my life, think about riding the 500 in the 1/2 to full throttle position (running15/40) for 3+ hours. Trying to concentrate to ride at those speeds is easy for 5min at time but for race distance is fuckin' hard yacka, but i had the time of my life....even after breaking my ribs :lol: