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Thread: Tatts Finke Desert Race - 2017

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    Default Tatts Finke Desert Race - 2017



    When:
    Now (this weekend)

    Where to see it Live:
    On the Finke Website:
    Facebook:

    Who is entered: (you'll be surprised how many people from your area might be in it)
    Cars:
    Bike:

    Been wanting to go to this event for 20 years now
    Few friends rode Adventure Bikes up there this week to camp out along the track

    It is expected to inject $6 Million into the Alice Springs community
    Not bad for a race that is so far away for everyone!



    Thats the life!
    Last edited by ol' boy; 07-06-17 at 02:26 PM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    I've been to four of them so far, latest was 2015. And yes, it's an awesome event with over 500 bikes and quads, and a couple of hundred buggies. We usually have one or two in the bikes, and another mate who's done the buggies twice. The only problem is, you don't get to see much of the actual race, because it's over a 230Km course. And because we were the support vehicle for the bikes, we don't even get to see the start of the race, but hopefully get down to Finke before they finish. Camp overnight at Finke, then dash back up to Alice to try and get there before the bikes again. The dirt road between Kulgera and Finke is an experience, during that time. It's usually freshly graded, and in pretty good condition. But with traffic averaging 120KPH and over, it does get a bit interesting. Especially with no breeze to clear the dust off the track after preceding vehicles.

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    Sounds like a fun weekend Bob
    I've heard that camping anywhere within 60k's of Alice "Trackside" is pretty busy with young folk partying all day and night
    But further down towards Finke there are some nice spots to camp, perhaps a jump or a corner where the action is a bit more interesting.
    Often on a Landowners property
    A lot of places you are locked in for the event duration (so i have been told)
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Yes, have heard from the boys that they see quite a few great looking camps on their way down, when they actually get time to look LOL. They get the odd booby flash too I'm told. And yes, the track it'self is closed for a while before and after the legs, and in places the service road crosses or merges with the track the race is actually on. I haven't even been on the service track, unfortunately, too busy getting back and forth, and making and breaking camp. But the night down at Finke is pretty good, with lots of shenanigans going on with fireworks etc. The committee get a booze license for the night down there too, but again, don't really get to have more than a couple of beers.

    Couple of pics from past trips


    Briefing for bikes before they leave Finke, heading back to Alice


    Prologue race


    Prologue race


    Some reprobate?
    Last edited by bob_m_54; 08-06-17 at 12:10 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bob_m_54 View Post
    They get the odd booby flash too I'm told.
    I've been told the "Booby Flash" means hazard ahead!



    Especially if you take too big a look
    Last edited by ol' boy; 08-06-17 at 12:49 PM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    It's one race that I wanted to enter as a youth, never did. One of our local lads here has been mechanic for one of the teams in the past, not sure if he is there this year.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    LeroyPatrol (08-06-17)

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    I'm amazed how its grown over the years.
    Quite a few riders from my area entered this year (bikes) no idea about cars and buggys.

    Had a close friend prepare and enter the race 10 years ago
    Had a brand new CR500, then had it tuned/geared for Finke
    Travelled up, was clocked at 190ks in the Prologue, then crashed his brains out not long after.
    Broken leg, bike and him shipped home before the race even started.... That's his Finke story
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Quote Originally Posted by lsemmens View Post
    It's one race that I wanted to enter as a youth, never did. One of our local lads here has been mechanic for one of the teams in the past, not sure if he is there this year.
    Me too!!

    Leroy

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    Friends arrived in Alice last night on their adventure bikes. One of them, their rear tyres was so stuffed. Lucky to make it!

    Leroy

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    Nice one Leroy, seems to be the new form of transport for us older riders.
    There was a group of 6 Riders from Warrnambool that rode to Alice this week
    Brand new KTM1190 Adventurer for one of them.
    I've been kicking the tire of his traded in KTM690

    2000ks, a long way on a dirt bike
    They are doing the Tanami after Finke, then logging a GPS only route for KTM Australia's group ride later in the year.

    Hope you friends are having a ball Leroy
    Better than this rain and max of 13 degrees!
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Quote Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol View Post
    Friends arrived in Alice last night on their adventure bikes. One of them, their rear tyres was so stuffed. Lucky to make it!

    Leroy
    I've seen a few bikes finish the race with no rubber at all on the rear wheel.. LOL, but they came in very late....

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    Well well, some local lads won the Finke 2017 car section
    Shannon and Ian Rentsch
    Good people, run a local wreckers here in town
    Always a pleasure to deal with



    There 5th win!
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    And what you have to do to win it...


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    Quote Originally Posted by Tactile View Post
    And what you have to do to win it...

    Nah, that's what you have to do to get a decent grid position in your class. That's the 8Km prologue track, the first leg of the race is the next day. He had a good run though eh?
    Was that this years track? It didn't look too bad compared to the couple of times I've walked it. Didn't see any big whoops leading up to the back corner.

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    I was wondering when the track actually started, that looked like a nice Sunday drive. I've driven worse than that in a 2wd tin top.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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