Finke Desert Race?

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Gday guys,

not sure if this is exactly the right section.

I was watching Getaway the other night and saw something about the Finke Desert Race up in Alice Springs. It looked awesome. So now I'm basically wanting anyone's opinions on the race, if it's worth the long trip etc etc. Anything basically! Also, where to stay on the way that's any good (somewhere in SA would be a good halfway point). Anywhere worth stopping for a couple of hours along the way?

Cheers,
Rob

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

I'm basically wanting anyone's opinions on the race

I don't have an opinion, sure is something I'd like to see one day.

Have you seen their website?

http://www.finkedesertrace.com.au

Looks like a bit of fun....

Mick

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

Hi Rob,

Finke is a great weekend if you choose to take long drive. Its basically a 4 day event but most spectators head down the track to camp mid week before the event takes place. Friday is spectator night at the showground where you can see the bikes and cars. Saturday is the time trails around the Start Finnish track to see who the top riders and drivers are. Sunday the race starts early with the cars racing first then the bikes two hours after the cars are finnished. Sunday is the 200klm return leg back to the finnish line. If you choose to camp along the track, get it early as it fills up fast close to town. The track crosses the Old South Rd (Mary Vale Rd) just past Deep Well which is roughly 1/4 way line and traveling further south is not permitted unless you go via Hugh River Rd. The other alternative is to head straight to Finke via Finke Rd at Kulgera turn off just North of the South Australian border. From Finke you can head North and camp around the dunes where most of the jumps are. You will be surprized how well some campsites are setup with full functioning bars and even a pool table.
Its an iconic NT event and should be done at least once. Heres a link to the event I wrote last year- viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3428&p=47400&hilit=+finke#p474 00

[PradoBoy72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoBoy72]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

Is that the race the green pajero keeps winning in the standard 4by category??

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

Is that the race the green pajero keeps winning in the standard 4by category??

The last few years results are on the web page. It is a Pajero (NM) that has won the standard 4x4 category last few.

Mick

[PradoBoy72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoBoy72]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

ah yes thanks for the link, oh cr*p didn't realise a Pajero had won this thing 7 years in a row. Aren't there any Prado's competing in the event?

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

thanks for the info everyone!

thinking of heading up this year, might have to make it next year though as it's not that far off now...

[goanna Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close goanna]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

Myself and Speedcomm are heading up this year. We are Pit Crewing for my Mates XJ Jeep. He runs in the Class 8 Modifed 4wd Class. We can't wait, Our trip is over about 10 days.

The Pajero your Talking about is Geoff Pickering, he runs in whats called Production class, used to be called class 7. Pretty good driver but has a bloody good budget too!! Car is rebuilt pretty much after each race! Would be awesome to see a Prado in this form of racing but the cost to win is huge at that level, you would really require Factory support.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

you would really require Factory support.

...and Toyota are really tight fisted when it comes to that :roll: ... no Toyota rally team this year....

Mick

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

you would really require Factory support.

...and Toyota are really tight fisted when it comes to that :roll: ... no Toyota rally team this year....

Mick

No Toyota anything for a few years ahead, I think.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

No Toyota anything for a few years ahead, I think.

I guess not... first year in the history of Toyota that they have made a loss....

Mind you they still found enough cash to play on the F1 circuit....


Mick

[speedcomm Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close speedcomm]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

8 days, FInke here we come :wink:

[goanna Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close goanna]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

8 days, FInke here we come :wink:

Excellent! Can't wait!

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

I was all set to be a sweep car this year but I got stuck with pager duty again so that put paid to that. I hope it is a dry one this year but with the amount of black cockies flying around the last week I am beginning to think it is going to be a wet one. Usually once the black cockatoos start being seen in big numbers you can count on rain within 10 days.

[speedcomm Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close speedcomm]

Re: Finke Desert Race?

Whats Pager duty Mav ?

On a different note, what happens to roads like the Finke road from Finke to the Highway if it gets really wet ? 500 support vehicles and 2 inches of rain could make for an interetsing day :|