Outback Challenge 2007

[outback_lux]

21. Steven Quinn – New Competitor

New Competitior = Beretta! They musn't like me or something?

Does anone have a phone number for Robbie Mathieson by any chance?

i got robbies number, and simo's too, im great mates with them and have spent numbers of hours on both their trucks,

pm me if you want it

[turps]

Just heard that the mud isnt really there at the moment. But dont worry we will make some if we cant find it.
So remember water proof your car, phones and wallets etc. Cos the deep lagoon from the night stage is full.


So the arvo stage might have to envolve driving 4 times across the darling. Anything is possible Ian is evil.

[Ossie]

Thanks for that Jason

Dunno about Simon but the contingent from 'up north' is looking like
Neil and Patrick
Dave White and Andy Hogg (Andy taking the Nav seat this time!)
and a couple of first timers in a third motor !

Dave sends his regards and hopes to see you there next year and also "hi" to Celia et al

I'd like to see Dave and Andy turn up in a Bowler Wildcat... that would make things very interesting.

Jason

[Ossie]

Spoke to Neil breifly on the phone when i was over there a few weeks ago and they are def for 2008.

Ossie hope all is going well for you mate and getting better all the time.

My truck is up for sale so see what happens otherwise i can drive yours LOL

Mal

If the drivers seat was vacant going into an OBC, I think you would have to fight Deano for the spot...

Jaosn

[Coighty]

Well i just dropped the car to get it put on the dyno to get every little pony out of it and to make sure i don't blow it up again this year. Will pick it up tomorrow arvo and drop it of to JMac diff and gear to get a few bushes replaced and try to find the horrible knocking underneath. then all thats left is to make a new tray for the laptop and test drive it at stockton. Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

[Britswed]

Spoke to Neil breifly on the phone when i was over there a few weeks ago and they are def for 2008.

Ossie hope all is going well for you mate and getting better all the time.

My truck is up for sale so see what happens otherwise i can drive yours LOL

Mal

If the drivers seat was vacant going into an OBC, I think you would have to fight Deano for the spot...

Jaosn

Naah he is over it lol

You going to get another dirtbike mate??

Mal

[Ruffy]

Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

That is so NOT in the spirit of competition Paul.. you should be ashamed.

[cebarry]

Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

That is so NOT in the spirit of competition Paul.. you should be ashamed.

It's his lordship, King Mud drag now ....you should of seen his 80 series line up time after time and blitz the field......@ the Jamboree.
awesome! tho don't tell him I said so.

[beretta]

Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

That is so NOT in the spirit of competition Paul.. you should be ashamed.

It's his lordship, King Mud drag now ....you should of seen his 80 series line up time after time and blitz the field......@ the Jamboree.
awesome! tho don't tell him I said so.

He did get done by a patrol in one run tho I heard, but the driver then got a blood rush and lost his mind and couldn't follow it up again!

[Ruffy]

Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

That is so NOT in the spirit of competition Paul.. you should be ashamed.

It's his lordship, King Mud drag now ....you should of seen his 80 series line up time after time and blitz the field......@ the Jamboree.
awesome! tho don't tell him I said so.

He did get done by a patrol in one run tho I heard, but the driver then got a blood rush and lost his mind and couldn't follow it up again!

Most Patrol drivers have a blood rush, It's usually taken care of with there right hand...



Go the 60!

[bru21]

can i take my seatbelts out, and just leave the harnesses in? its a pita having both. I have heard no one has seatbelts?????

otherwise getting there, start posting the pics!

[turps]

Bru,
Fair number of tpt stages and some people have issues with harnesses on-road. As I am sure theres a law or rule saying factory seat belts must be used unmodded or something like that. Thats not to say its not done. As Cass had bugger all in the cab last year. So wouldnt surprise me if there was no std seat belts.
Even though it is safer if they are being worn properly. I would be ringing Paul for the best advise.

[beretta]

can i take my seatbelts out, and just leave the harnesses in? its a pita having both. I have heard no one has seatbelts?????

otherwise getting there, start posting the pics!

We've got both, no biggy they dont get in the way at all.

[bru21]

thanks fellas. might cable tie them out of the way. just worried about water and mud etc getting in the mechanism for nothing (if i won't use them) - had to replace them for the dot a few years back errgh!

beretta think mine are a pain as they hook on the bucket seat sholder "wings" at the top. I always seem to grab them instead of the harness.

thanks fellas

[Lepar]

Howdy guy's and girls Troy here from sunny bris-vegas,
any of you people need spare gu axles and c.v's i have genuine nissan NTN new ones available for $225.00 incl gst each plus freight.
Give me a call 0421155870 Troy(aka Lepar)

[turps]

Bru
For actually racing. Before you jump in just pull the seat forward jam the factory seat belt behind the seat. That should keep them out of the way. And for the navis seat. Get some elastic and tie it around the harness about a 1/3 (cant remember the good distance but you will work it out) down. Then tie the other end to the roof bars of the cage. This should make live much easier for the navi. And the elastic should be in the way or interfer with the option of the harness when done up.

[CruiserCruising]

Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

That is so NOT in the spirit of competition Paul.. you should be ashamed.

It's his lordship, King Mud drag now ....you should of seen his 80 series line up time after time and blitz the field......@ the Jamboree.
awesome! tho don't tell him I said so.

He did get done by a patrol in one run tho I heard, but the driver then got a blood rush and lost his mind and couldn't follow it up again!

I believe it was only a rocky he beat woulda been shameful to lose to a rocky now

[beretta]

Hopfully all will go well and i will be ready early again.

That is so NOT in the spirit of competition Paul.. you should be ashamed.

It's his lordship, King Mud drag now ....you should of seen his 80 series line up time after time and blitz the field......@ the Jamboree.
awesome! tho don't tell him I said so.

He did get done by a patrol in one run tho I heard, but the driver then got a blood rush and lost his mind and couldn't follow it up again!

I believe it was only a rocky he beat woulda been shameful to lose to a rocky now

Nah he and Paul were having a play and he beat Paul the first time but couldn't back it up! Pussy!

[bru21]

Bru
For actually racing. Before you jump in just pull the seat forward jam the factory seat belt behind the seat. That should keep them out of the way. And for the navis seat. Get some elastic and tie it around the harness about a 1/3 (cant remember the good distance but you will work it out) down. Then tie the other end to the roof bars of the cage. This should make live much easier for the navi. And the elastic should be in the way or interfer with the option of the harness when done up.

cheers mate! I fitted the elastic last week. cannot imagine not having it now. stops that clammy trapped feeling too lol, less chaff must be good too!

had a practice session last night, at about 1am realized that the passenger door was pretty well stoved in, lucky the window still winds down! must be those damn panel fairies at it again.

[turps]

Good to here it works.

There was a training day for the Marshalls at ARB Bendigo on sat. Some had already done the training just went for a refresher. Had some interesting discussion about a number rules etc.
One rule that Paul V is makeing his mind up about is window nets. Currently, those without window nets have to have windows up for anything other than water crossings. But due to controlling the teams, to keep them up. It looks like nets will be mandatory (unconfirmed). Only thing I say about them is they need to be attached to the metal of the door frame. Not like Trent Leens that where attached to the plastic trim, Wazza pulled the trim off when he had to get out the window.

There was also discussion about the use of shackles joining tree trunk protecters together. With the shackle being against the tree. So in this case the protecters would have to be joined without shackles or use a longer strap.
Also all metal objects need a dampener on them.
Was also talk of making those with steel cable having to have a dampner attached to the hook like those with synthetic rope. So depending how much mud we find. Some teams are going to need more than 3 dampners. Last year at Viewmont for example there where some pulls that where approx 100m long. And about 4-5 would have been needed.
While on Dampeners. There was also discussion on teams stopping winching at places like Pollamica while on the Rock ledge. Have dangerous shock loading and potential to snap cables. So the center 1/3 rule for those with steel cable will have abit of leeway.

[Pam W]

I'd like to see Dave and Andy turn up in a Bowler Wildcat... that would make things very interesting.

Just trying to picture Andy shoe-horning himself in, then trying to make a quick exit to run with the winch..... ! ? ! Yep, that would be 'interesting' !!

The Defender is definitely undergoing a few changes though for the trip next year - the bucket seats are out for a start (see above! ). Some suspension and axle mods are on the cards too which will help everything stay together after the bigger engine is in - a 5.7 LS1 Corvette V8 on order via Patrick and due to be fitted next month !

[Ruffy]

Also all metal objects need a dampener on them.
Was also talk of making those with steel cable having to have a dampner attached to the hook like those with synthetic rope. So depending how much mud we find. Some teams are going to need more than 3 dampners.

I'm all for safety... but...

[turps]

Also all metal objects need a dampener on them.
Was also talk of making those with steel cable having to have a dampner attached to the hook like those with synthetic rope. So depending how much mud we find. Some teams are going to need more than 3 dampners.

I'm all for safety... but...

Yer all for safety to. Was also mentioned that there has been more occasion of dangerous actions near the winch cable since damdners where enforced. With people shock loading cables when stopping and starting. Than just staying on the button.

I sort of agree with putting them on all metal bits though. Have you seen how far a winch extension stretches.
With synthetic rope, I think the dampner thing was just trying to keep things even for those who couldnt afford synthetic stuff ($150 compared to $700+) in the early stages.
But now I think that unless a strap is used anywhere theres almost no need a dampner at all. As the stretch in Synthetic rope doesent have the Potential energy stored to transfer much energy to a metal shackle.
Would be good to get some old rope and do some mythbuster testing.

[The Fish]

But now I think that unless a strap is used anywhere theres almost no need a dampner at all. As the stretch in Synthetic rope doesent have the Potential energy stored to transfer much energy to a metal shackle.
Would be good to get some old rope and do some mythbuster testing.

To save you some mythbuster testing I have had a synthetic rope break during an early Nav Nite comp Unfortunately for me I put myself too close to the vehicle and was struck with the recoiling rope It was wet/muddy at the time and we were winching up a steep track. Where it hit my bare arms I ended up with welt lines and was lucky it didn't get my face.

I had the dampener approx. 10m from the hook and the rope broke right near the dampener and pulled straight through it. I had 25m of rope at my feet before I even knew what happened.

So in my experience synthetic rope does have a certain amount of recoil and still requires respect in terms of safety. In saying that I don't know what the ideal requirement for dampeners should be but they ARE a required safety item.

As for the long winches at Viewmont I don't know how I would have carried extra dampeners as well as the winch rope & hook, 2 extension ropes, 2 bow shackles, tree trunk protector and the compulsory dampener As shown by the pic below

[Ruffy]

We use SWR. I am all for dampners, especially after the cable broke at the Engel and the cable went wizzing past my head.
The theory behind the dampner on the hook is incase the TTP lets go or the anchor point fails aswell. The energy in Rope is plenty enough to cause a shackle to come hurtling at you at an undesirable velocity i can assure you.
My point with the dampners is that the rules would need clarification/change to make it fairer, easier, and more workable for teams along with maintaining the safest practices. For instance, i see it as a feasible option to have a roll type dampner more or less permanantly attatched to the ends of your extension strap thus negating the need for carrying 3 or 4 damnpers with you when you get out. What about a lanyard system on your straps?
A cure all would be to not allow winching until everyone was further away from the vehicle than the length of the cable and straps but thats not feasible. There are and always will be risk involved in what we do. the organisers need to minimise these risks as much as they can whilst still maintaining a reasonable work practise, i understand this, however it's easy to go too far.

[LOCKEE]

A theory I have, that others agree is that all marshalls should have to be exposed to the pressure that is on you as a competitor.

I see it all the time at comps that the marshalls are trying to ping or make it hard for the competitors. Certain red coats seem to enjoy this.

Thoughts?

[Ruffy]

A theory I have, that others agree is that all marshalls should have to be exposed to the pressure that is on you as a competitor.

I see it all the time at comps that the marshalls are trying to ping or make it hard for the competitors. Certain red coats seem to enjoy this.

Thoughts?

I see where you're coming from. I had a marshal at the Engel mumbling comments to me as we were winching, apart from being off putting they were along the lines off things he was watching. To me this meant he was going to be harsh on me and it was intimidating.
Some marshals seem to be coming from the wrong direction. They should be watching for safety infringements and ensuring we abide by the rules, not looking for things to pin us on.
I'll leave it there as my opinions on the system will get me hot headed and i'll type something i'll regret later... Let's just say that after the Engel my opinions have changed, i'm taking a copy of the rules with me, and we still have a long way to come before we are 'professional'
Cheers Dan

[turps]

I see where you're coming from. I had a marshal at the Engel mumbling comments to me as we were winching, apart from being off putting they were along the lines off things he was watching. To me this meant he was going to be harsh on me and it was intimidating.
Some marshals seem to be coming from the wrong direction. They should be watching for safety infringements and ensuring we abide by the rules, not looking for things to pin us on.
I'll leave it there as my opinions on the system will get me hot headed and i'll type something i'll regret later... Let's just say that after the Engel my opinions have changed, i'm taking a copy of the rules with me, and we still have a long way to come before we are 'professional'
Cheers Dan

Carrying the rule, I think this is a good idea. I have been involved in a situation where we made a call. Driver got very upset and almost got an abuse penalty. Now as it turned out we made a wrong call. As our intial interpretation was wrong. But the navie was good and took the driver away to calm him down while we read the rules. They also showed us the clause in there copy. We farked up. We fixed corrected the sheet. All good.

As for marshal's getting abit carried away and big headed. Same could be said for competitors. We try to keep things relaxed and what ever decision we make is the same way we try to do it for all competitors. Also I think it would be good for some of the competitors to do the marshall training, I think it would help there understanding.

Theres a number of rules that need to be clarifed, not just dampners. And they need to be made before the morning brief not like some of the rules at the Engel Rd1. As that makes it hard for both parties to do the right thing.

[The Fish]

Carrying the rule, I think this is a good idea. I have been involved in a situation where we made a call. Driver got very upset and almost got an abuse penalty. Now as it turned out we made a wrong call. As our intial interpretation was wrong. But the navie was good and took the driver away to calm him down while we read the rules. They also showed us the clause in there copy. We farked up. We fixed corrected the sheet. All good.

Hey Turp's, I reckon the above situation sounds a lot like myself and Adrian Cauchi on the morning mud stage at Viewmont

To explain the situation to others we started the stage by crossing a billabong (see pic below) and then took off after some waypoints in the scrub. The finish to the stage was a winch back across the same billabong about 200m from the first location. When I jumped out to start walking the billabong I realised I had left the tree trunk protector at the first crossing anchor point. Rather than leave it there I ran back to retrieve it

When we finished the stage Shultzy gave us a penalty for "Leaving equipment on the stage". Initially we argued the point but I could see Adrian building up to breaking point so told him to wash the vehicle while I sort it out. I dragged out the rule book which we were carrying, found the rule, spoke about it with Shultzy and the penalty was removed

It's much easier to sort it out then and there rather than logging a protest and chasing it up later in the week. For this reason I think carrying a rule book should be a compulsory item

I also highly recommend all competitors get along to a marshal training day. The more competitors that know the rules well the less arguments there SHOULD be

[turps]

Hey Turp's, I reckon the above situation sounds a lot like myself and Adrian Cauchi on the morning mud stage at Viewmont

Yep that was the one. Was very well handled by you. And that was the best thing to do. And having the rules was handy for us all. And yes we where wrong.