Outback Challenge 2007

[The Fish]

To The Fish,


you must have Joneys on speed dial, your updates are almost before they happen!


Thanks for keeping us posted albeit frustrating as it sounds like we are missing out a unique OBC... hope everyone gets a good storm!


are you going to post while you're up there?

Talk soon.

adam

Adam, I've got 5 different sources of information and the phone has been ringing hot in the last hour

Unforunately my 2 yr old daughter was rushed to hospital last night with viral infection which brought on a febril (sp?) convulsion A very scary situation but she is not too bad now. Therefore our plans of heading up to Broken Hill have been put on hold So I guess the updates will keep coming for the whole week

Back to the latest updates

News from Group A and the stages at Viewmont are -

- Viewmont area including transport roads are flooded and making transporting a challenge in itself

- Al McMullen & Henry Lefever didn't re-join their group today so assume they are still in Broken Hill

- The night stage is as deep as last year but it's all mud and not much water

- There was 4 obvious lines to take in the night stage but they are all now gone.

- Neil Cooper & Chris Hummer drove one of the night stage lines and the rest of the stage.

- One of the Thai teams did the same on a another line.

- Other Thai teams tried the same line as his team mate but didn't quite make it. But the PTO hauled them to a quick recovery.

- Peter & Jan Von Pein tried a 3rd line but had to winch and don't know whether they finished inside the DNF or not.

- Nick Mannell & Shane Eslick tried the 4th line but had to be recovered backwards and hence a DNF.

- Night mud stage now expected to take its toll on the remaining teams.

- Morning mud stage was ammended to remove the major obstacle. All teams sucessfully completed this.

- Long afternoon mud/gps stage only had 2 teams that finished. These were Neil Cooper & Chris Hummer and Ian Paltridge & Roger Humphries.

- Thai teams have absolutley no idea on navigation and were seriously geographically challeneged.

Further updates from Group D are -

- Piglet & Skiddy have been spotted in at Silver City 4WD. Apparently hit a rock which caused (info to come)

- Jeff Redman & Jason Forrsman broke down while heading back to Broken Hill to remove their busted PTO and fit a high mount.

- Al Reynolds & Gary Wardropper had selector cable issues (auto maybe??) which caused them to drop a stage.

- Teams that did well in Group D today were Lawrie Sternbeck & Sean Calcino, Todd & Verena Joyce, Max Baerlocher & Cosmo and Greg Scanlon & Robbie Calvert.

Lastly as of 1 hour ago Rohan Canavan & Wayne Smith were the last team to take a 100 point penalty and they maybe trying to repair the blown head gasket.

Also found out that it was the shaft that runs through the drum for the air free spool on Rohan's winch that broke.

Time to have a can, check on the daughter and wait for the next phone call.

Cheers

[The Fish]

This will probably be the last update for the evening

- Brett Burns & James Simmons are in Broken Hill with winch issues but should be able to fix it and return to their group.

- Piglet & Skiddy hit a rock in a sandy creek bed very hard. They've got bruises from the harnesses They damaged the front end but repairs have been completed and they should be returning to their group tonight after Skiddy gets his shoulder checked out

Time for me to

Cheers

[pigletracing]

yes it happened..we came over a rise too quick(gourge run polamicka)
this morn,hit a rock hard Bent the diff, crushed the pumpkin, stoved in the sump took out the oil filter, bent the mounts to the right hand leading arm, bent the right hand leading arm, pushed the front drive shaft through the transfer case. Skidy has been in the hospital for check ups most of the day. No broken bones luckily but all bruised with whiplash. Hit that hard that his helmet actually flew off his head. Shit happens! Skidy is resting tonight and we'll see if he is well enough to race tomorrow. Dr has advised not to do any sports for quite some weeks. The truck is now back together. I have a couple of bruises,,, nothing much to worry about but I look and feel like shit (cancel that .. I always look like shit) Tomorrow is another day. Just hope we are in the little blue beastie doing it at Nunduka! Will keep you updated with more news if we do not go out tomorrow.
New News
*Kim Bolton twisted the drive shaft off
* Mud is hard Hummer and 2 malaysian teams drove it. Everyone else DNF
* Geoff Redman at Silver City replacing crank sensor
* Noosa Forbys car at Silver City replacing thermo fans
* Big Al at Silver City tyre repairs, replacing auto select cable
* Packers at Silver City replacing springs

CHEERS ALL, Piglet

[HG]

Awesome info keep it coming.

[Goutman]

Lovin the updates Fish

[GQ TROL]

Fantastic updates guys, keep em coming!!!

* Noosa Forbys car at Silver City replacing thermo fans

This is Bru isn't it??

- Darren Green & Bruce Hughes also busted their winch and DNF'd.

Any word if Krim and Bruce have been able to repair and get back into it??

[beally]

yeah bru just called me he had to replace his thermos after the mud stage

he rekons the suzis are off their chops

[The Fish]

Hey there Piglet,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune but thanks for giving us the first hand account of what happened and hope Skiddy is ok and you get back amongst it

That's an awesome effort to have that list of carnage repaired and ready to race

Good to see you also thinking of the Outers crew and getting news to us when possible to



I havn't heard how Greeny and Bruce are going with their winch repairs but I doubt that would keep them out for too long.

[The Fish]

Have just spoken to Jonesy. It's still raining and himself and his spectator group are still in Broken Hill/Silverton. They have been advised by organiser's to stay in town fo the day as if they head out to Nundooka may get stuck out there indefinately He believes this may also be the case for teams that are in town getting repairs.

He said if the rain keeps up it may leave all teams, organisers, marshals, press and spectators stranded where they are as the main roads leading to the competition properties will get get closed

From memory it's a $1,000 fine per wheel, including spare for driving on a closed road so being stranded is real possibility

I wouldn't be suprised if tomorrows joint day of competition at Poolamacca is cancelled so everyone can wait it out where ever they are tomorrow and have a rest day.

This is very quickly changing from the Outback Challenge to our own version of the Malaysian Rainforest Challenge

Will hear from Jonesy later on as he was going HQ to find out the latest details

Cheers

[AutoBalanceMan]

Thommo
Lset me say that the "never say die" attitude is the way this event is ran and the rain is only a little hiccup. It keeps it a challenge for all involved. There is blue sky on the horizon and it looks like clearing which would mean we will be moving soon.
I believe the teams were at their comp areas last night and will be strutting their stuff as I type. Meanwhile our group will prolly go to The Silverton Pub and watch "The Best Of The OBC" DVD till we get the OK to move!!
Cheers
Jonesy

[adam kenny]

G'day fish,

first and foremost we trust your little one is on the improve and the worry is easing...family first!



back to the OBC,
cant get enough of the updates, keep up the great work.

short of being there (still regreting that point)Can anyone send some photos of the latest conditions? i am struggling to grasp how much rain they have had!!?? anyone running on Simex's will be pleased with their choice! ( subtle plug!)

Hope everyone can get back into competing and remain part of the most bizzare OBC yet!


send us unfortunates stuck in Melbourne anything!

Thanks

A

[grimbo]

gotta love the outers communication network for all the updates.

Any pics of the Thai Suzukis?

[The Shack]

Has anyone got an update on Bill & Wally???

[pigletracing]

#all roads out ofB/hill tocomps shut(for now)
#cheesys old gq (black ute) towd into Sil/cit on flat bed,front wheel
& hub had come off
#pro comp jeep ALLEN power steer probs.pump been off several
times & repaird still not good
#all competitors in town 4 repairs last night are now stranded!
# all those who made it 2 there areas are still competing 2day,
but unless weather lifts they will be stranded as well.
#2 to 3inches of water flowing through shering shed at Deneen

##MOST OF THIS INFO IS 2ND HAND,,SO IT MIGHT NOT BE 100%
CORRECT !! I will give you whatever i here untll we roll out
#Skidy feelin a bit beta 2day got all exrays from hospital,just tryin to
con the docs to give him the all clear to race.he has lost movement
& stregnth from tits up..i will drive the SS tothe winch spot,Skid will
jump the drivers seat untill weare winched up, then ill drive again.
just gotta get out there 1st

still luvin it PIGLET..forsale 1slightly 2nd hand co-criver hardly used

[GQ4.8coilcab]

sounds like a tuff event this year, wish i was there
im watching the 2006 dvd now to get my fix
lets hope it drys up so the comp can still get moving
does anyone know what happened to cass jones, i cant see him in the competitor listing this year?

[jasonjamesbarry]

cheers for the video's and updates - awesome stuff - esp. the you tubes!! keen to know if anyone has an update on celia and eugene since sunday.
cheers, jason

[chachi_70]

sounds like a tuff event this year, wish i was there
im watching the 2006 dvd now to get my fix
lets hope it drys up so the comp can still get moving
does anyone know what happened to cass jones, i cant see him in the competitor listing this year?

cass isnt competiting this year.

[GQ4.8coilcab]

sounds like a tuff event this year, wish i was there
im watching the 2006 dvd now to get my fix
lets hope it drys up so the comp can still get moving
does anyone know what happened to cass jones, i cant see him in the competitor listing this year?

cass isnt competiting this year.

what?
his car is probably one of the best set up in the competition and his not in it. what a shame.

[Hobzee]

Gees this is killing me ..

I was talking to Cass the other day - he looks like doing Cliffhanger as his car was busted up recently and not enough time to fix it. Bugger

Looks like Hummer and Coops are in with a chance if we can call a winner so early - they are smart enough to know there is a lot of race ahead of them. They are hard to beat in the nav work and kick but in the sand. From the look of all this rain I think there are a lot of people on the wrong tyre and this will also go in Hummer's favour.

Dam those suzukis are quick on the winch. Opens a whole new can of worms - imaging getting your leg stuck in the rope .. Lets hope they take a while to get the nav work sorted while we come up with something to compete against them.

Good work Fish .. dedicated to the cause .. hope the little one is OK.

Hobzee

[nicbeer]

nice. the zooks sound awesome. any vids or pics of them?

Nic

[kirragc]

Got a rundown from Wayne on Sunday and he reckoned Cooper/Hummer were going to be very competitive.
Still trying to find out about the engine issues though

Hows the turning circle on those Thai cars.

Still trying to find out about the engine issues though

[Ossie]

Fish - hope your daughter gets well soon and all is well...... your dedication to providing updates is feeding my dissapointment of not making the OBC this year.

Piglet - hope all is well, give Skiddy our regards.

Comments on the OBC in general..... this may have been a good year to sit it out... but it would surely be great to be competing with all that water around.

The fianl results will definately be interesting, with Wednesday's comps off the card, it will certainly make it tighter.

Jaosn

[The Fish]

Thanks for the well wishes for my daughter but she is improving all the time and we were starting to organise a camper trailer so we could leave tomorrow arvo and head up there

With all this rain though I don't think we will be going anywhere

To confirm what Piglet said check out this bulletin on the OBC website http://www.outback4x4challenge.com/news.php

Cheers

[Alison]

Look on the bright side, at least there's no dust!

[pigletracing]

#report from jonathon on stage at nundooka..water has now risen to a
depth that is over his bonet(johonos 3inch gu wagon) these ar creeks skidy n i have never seen water in..
# poolamaka george run is also flowing
#pgs zook at sil/city repair winch broken in1/2
#we will have official road updateafter 300pm

[The Shack]

Really wish we had of stayed now...

Good to get some rain up there though

[Hobzee]

Check out the link ... http://www.outback4x4challenge.com/news.php Paul is working out how to swap the signs around to "open a road" but alas there are no open signs... DOH!

Gotta give it to Paul and Sharon - they do run a good tight ship and that's coming form another event leader. Their experience shows in times like this. Can you imagine how hard it would be to stop all spectators, competitors and marshals from going on roads way "out there" where there are no signs..

Any more Pics, anyone?

I want to put a radar gun on the zooks winching..

[AJ]

I want to put a radar gun on the zooks winching..

The zooks were quick because of their weight but a couple of the GQ/GUs were also incredibly fast on the winch. The winch speeds were the standout shock at the quarry this year. Keep in mind too that it was harder this year to drive up onto the big tank with the relative ground level lower than last year and a couple of big dump truck tyres in the centre making it even harder.

Check my vids - I posted links back a page or so.

[nicbeer]

I want to put a radar gun on the zooks winching..

Check my vids - I posted links back a page or so.

hell yeh, just saw them on there. zooks ruling nicely, some look like they drive it but then see the rope on it.

Nic

[chunderlicious]

hows bob dunsmore and damo going?