Outback Challange 2008

[Clayton's Racing]

Well done Pete and Jane, excellent result.

[AdrianGQ]

I hope this works because i am an internet retard but here are some of the pics i took in between my marshaling duties at viewmont over the week.
And i must say that i thoroughly enjoyed my first year at the challenge there was alot of work and some long hours but the complements and approval of the courses from the majority of competitors makes it worthwile

http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k222/ ... mview=grid

[turps]

And when the comptitors do get home and read some of this. I would like to hear via PM or email and good or bad points about Viewmont that you would like to bring up. As it seemed to go well. But not many of us there had worked together before. So any comments would be good.

Funniest thing I remember is the station owner giving the lads some tips on where they went wrong. But I have seen how he drives the Zuks around the property. I cant see many race trucks taking that abuse.

[2dextreme]

Sure made a mess of big Al's truck. Bet he and Jason are glad the cage held up.
Dale

[turps]

Sure made a mess of big Al's truck. Bet he and Jason are glad the cage held up.
Dale

Yer but we didn't really break that one. That was a nice sandy track. With a slight right hand bend. Most of the powerfull cars seemed to be able to drift around the cnr. Al's car got stuck in the rut. And yes it would have been a big hit. The lads reckon it spent more time flipping in the air than rolling on the ground.


Oh and before any evil comments about the mud being deep. The car that test drove everything bar one puddle was a GQ ute on 35's and no turbo. That other puddle was driven by a GQ ute with 35's and a turbo.
And the three of us are sick of crab holes more than anyone.

[GOT MUD]

congrats to Pete and Jane well done

[cebarry]

Just arrived home...left BH this morning....Truck coming back with Mick H who transported it there and back for us....such a treat.
Awesome OBC .....best in the 9 yrs we've competed. V. hard on us competitors and machines......Jonathan said the worst carnage they've ever experienced @ Silvercity 4x4.

Huge congrats to all the S Stage winners and Overall winners, and a special mention to Jane & Pete. car 14 for doing so exceptionally well overall and placing first in Trophy Class. Congrata guys u so deserve it.

Needless to say there was a balls up in the classing and end results of Trophy Class.

The full 'correct' results for TROPHY CLASS has been posted as of this arvo, Monday.
Otherwise we had a ball and managed to finish the week reletively unscathed. We bent the panhard rod & drag link at the Prologue and managed to use a fencing stake binding it to the drag link..... which got us thru the week......as is!...our only other problem was Carbi related so the truck kept cutting out!....and our lap top mulfunctioned.....as did the new Magellan ....so we had to resort to the old model.


we did have the best time and the best Group B...passage controllers too in Al and Glen.
Thanks everyone, Marshals,competitors & Group B spectators lead by Jonsey (and the cheer squad) for a g8 week.
We are definately retiring on a high, having achieved our pb.....

Cheers,
Celia & Eugene
Car 9.

PS Special thanks to Aaron & Ben @ Mitchell Bros 4x4 & more of Brookvale for assisting in preps on our truck 02 99054765

pix to follow soonest

[bagsy]

well done to all the compeditors, what a week it must have been . I cant wait for the dvd . Thanks fish for all the updates , cheers shane........

[gouldy]

just letting you that the official word was re: Todd/Ivan that they lost 100pts for outside assistance in borrowing the tailshaft and then were disqualified on the motorcana stage after the protest and placed 2nd @ 1 second behind Muppet and lost 95pts. All 3 stage officials gave the OK for the tailshaft exchange but was still penalized that 195pts in total...

To Todd/Ivan 'CONGRATZ' again on your efforts and winnings!

The spare parts issue is interesting isn,t it. Considering the competitor that protested against Todd/Ivan also accepted parts from Norn. That part being a front radious arm that was sourced from Broken Hill.
So, why didn't this competitor cop a penality? Particularly when the question was raised at the time.
The results may have been totally different if the same set of rules applied to all competitors equally.

Anyway well done Todd and Ivan, a lot of people know you are true winners.

[james feeney]

So who submitted the protest? It has become confusing because no one is mentioning any names. Was it Parker/McGilvray? If so than I can understand everyone being so bitter. However if it wasn't, then remember they actually won the event and probably deserved to do so. Don't take that away from them by enforcing that Todd/Ivan are "true winners".

Just my bit.....

James

[The Fish]

While I wasn't there and don't have first hand information, I've been told by someone that has been close to group A all week that they don't believe the protest came from within the group and the Muppets are quite disappointed/upset by the inuendo (sp?) surrounding the alledged protest.

The Fish

[Big-Fella4x4]

[quote="james feeney"]So who submitted the protest? It has become confusing because no one is mentioning any names. Was it Parker/McGilvray? If so than I can understand everyone being so bitter. However if it wasn't, then remember they actually won the event and probably deserved to do so. Don't take that away from them by enforcing that Todd/Ivan are "true winners".

Just my bit.....

James[/quote

Its pretty obvious this argument will go on and on and on, until the next controversy raises up.

But my question is this, why was Todd/Ivan's car penalised twice for the same offence. ie: 100 pts for the tail-shaft and then disqualified from the next stage for the same offence 95 pts. That to me is double dipping by the rule makers.

There are so many questions and inconsistancies with no answers, so until Paul post's up some answers to all this then the 'bitterness' will remain with some fans and friends for a long time to come.

And James, by the last post from Gouldy saying they are "true winners" is totally different to saying they are "THE winners" so dont take it in the wrong context.

But if all has been above board by the organiser then congratulations to everyone.

Duncan

[Ruffy]

Its pretty obvious this argument will go on and on and on, until the next controversy raises up.

But my question is this, why was Todd/Ivan's car penalised twice for the same offence. ie: 100 pts for the tail-shaft and then disqualified from the next stage for the same offence 95 pts. That to me is double dipping by the rule makers.

Duncan

Yes it wont settle for sometime!... unfortunately.
My interpetation of the penalty would be that they recieved a 100point penalty for outside assistance (being the shaft they recieved that was later replaced) and then the next stage they would have missed if they had to go back to broken hill (under the outside assistance rule).

As i mentioned, it's a shame that this has come between friends. They're both great guys and great teams, how ever ultimately if the wrong thing has been done then it doesn't matter who protested or wether or not infact anyone protested, because they are well within there rights to do so.
Personally I can't imagine Muppet protesting, he is one of the most genuine guys out there and if he says he didn't, then he didn't.

Fingers crossed that this blows over quicker than we think. Let the winners celebrate there well deserved win.

Dan

[The Fish]

But my question is this, why was Todd/Ivan's car penalised twice for the same offence. ie: 100 pts for the tail-shaft and then disqualified from the next stage for the same offence 95 pts. That to me is double dipping by the rule makers.

x 2 for Ruffy's explaination, that's the way I understand it.

So until Paul post's up some answers

Highly doubt this will happen, hopefully it does.

The Fish

[The Fish]

Considering the competitor that protested against Todd/Ivan also accepted parts from Norn. That part being a front radious arm that was sourced from Broken Hill.
So, why didn't this competitor cop a penality? Particularly when the question was raised at the time.

Hope your sources are accurate and reliable as you have just effectively named the person that put in the alledged protest and hate for you to be wrong

The Fish

[cebarry]

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg30 ... w&start=40

as promised some of our pix............

[Britswed]

Considering the competitor that protested against Todd/Ivan also accepted parts from Norn. That part being a front radious arm that was sourced from Broken Hill.
So, why didn't this competitor cop a penality? Particularly when the question was raised at the time.

Hope your sources are accurate and reliable as you have just effectively named the person that put in the alledged protest and hate for you to be wrong

The Fish

The speculation runs riot

Being in Group A for the week and meeting Adrian i would say no way would he have logged the protest.

More along this line as explained to me.

Todd breaks front propshaft,marshalls report this to HQ in daily report(as they would)End of the day Robbo our trip leader signs Norm & Clay out to BH to guess what Replace front prop shaft.Now it doesnt take rocket science to work out that does it

On another note I had a blast Group A was fantastic with 6 cars in the top ten,well done to Muppet & Todd and to pretty much everyone that finished.

Mal

[cebarry]

Sure made a mess of big Al's truck. Bet he and Jason are glad the cage held up.
Dale

got pix of recovering him in our link... http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg30 ... w&start=40


Car 9 PS Special thanks to Aaron & Ben @ Mitchell Bros 4x4 & more of Brookvale for assisting in preps on our truck 02 99054765

[gouldy]

Considering the competitor that protested against Todd/Ivan also accepted parts from Norn. That part being a front radious arm that was sourced from Broken Hill.
So, why didn't this competitor cop a penality? Particularly when the question was raised at the time.

Hope your sources are accurate and reliable as you have just effectively named the person that put in the alledged protest and hate for you to be wrong

The Fish

Yes my sources are reliable, I organised 2x front radious arms for Norn from the local wrecker. But what is amazing is your mind reading skills,and how you can say the competitor that protested was named. maybe you know more than you are letting on? Dont read it out of context.

[The Fish]

Considering the competitor that protested against Todd/Ivan also accepted parts from Norn. That part being a front radious arm that was sourced from Broken Hill.
So, why didn't this competitor cop a penality? Particularly when the question was raised at the time.

Hope your sources are accurate and reliable as you have just effectively named the person that put in the alledged protest and hate for you to be wrong

The Fish

Yes my sources are reliable, I organised 2x front radious arms for Norn from the local wrecker. But what is amazing is your mind reading skills,and how you can say the competitor that protested was named. maybe you know more than you are letting on? Dont read it out of context.

Certainly don't know more than what I'm letting on as many would have read in the past week, and past years, I have been fairly quick to post up what news I have got and 99% of the time it has been accurate

But I don't think many competitors would have been needing a front radius arm or been unknown to others that they required one so I do believe you have narrowed the field down quite considerbly, which is ok as long as your right.

I don't believe I was reading out of context as you have clearly said the person who put in the protest also recieved a front radius arm off Wormy.

I also don't claim to be a mind reader

[Britswed]

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[Britswed]

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[Ginger Patrol]

For what it is worth, I think there too many questions reguarding the whole Tod / Ivan issues and the issue of parts in the OBC.
There may be be some who think it is the wrong thing to do and there is what can and should be enforced under the rules. The rule are there for a reason! Lets understand the complete issue before we all make judgement!
If there was a protest there should have been a formal process followed and be fully documented.
The only way we can move this forward is that the OBC launch an investigation and understand the situation an get the complete story and issue for all to see. We may not all agree with it but we all need closure for all concerned. Lets not end the event with this!
I looks to me that we need to get the CCDA to stand in and represent the competitors if the OBC are not going too.

[sniper]

This was by far the best 4by event I have ever been too

Have meet some great people there, and amazing trucks. Everyone was so forth coming and approachable from competitors, marshalls, through to spectators. Makes for a great atmosphere

Massive thanx to everyone who went for making this a great event


also I hope Jeanette from Venezuela comes back next year

[moose]

also I hope Jeanette from Venezuela comes back next year

that & i also heard it was 1 of her little crew members as well !!!

[Britswed]

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[Blue Lightning]

Wow, what a WILD week of competition.

Congratulations to Muppet & Al for taking out 1st place, you guys were definitely pushing us hard the whole time with similar results all week.

The level of competition that was out there was exceptionally high and we loved the pressure that was on us to perform well all week.

Thanks to all involved especially the Marshalls that put in many hours of their own time just for the love of the sport. You guys and gals rock.

The mud was excellent especially because it was kept sensible but still very challenging.
The sand is always fun and fast and we love going there. Try 20 points on Shifting sands next time Paul so it can be a challenge for us, Lol.
Nundooka, what a Wild property that is (Goat country with many holes just waiting to swallow a comp car) very tough and challenging.
Poolamaca, I've never seen such a big rock garden with no tracks and we had to go straight through the middle of them in the gorge run, now this was talk of the week with some of the biggest rocks ever encountered.

Awesome allround.

A Massive thankyou to Silver City 4WD (Dennis, Julie and Jonno) and all that are involved within the shop including Gouldy and Kenny for giving up their own time and putting off paying jobs for two weeks to help the competitors keep in the race. These guys have been involved from the start and always are there to help out. It's a shame they were not invited to the opening night and told to F#@K off at presentation by the Event organiser after everything they have done for the event.



I see there is quite a large debate happening about a tail shaft penalty we received. Here are the facts from our side of the fence.

We broke a front tailshaft in X-terain at Denian after flying off a caution that we did not see. It was there, we just didn't see it.
Normy also bent several parts on his front end after doing a six foot high jump in the same stage.
We asked the Competition area manager and Passage controller if we could take Norm's tailshaft and put it into our car due to the damage on both cars which was OK by both. We checked the Supplementary rules for the OBC 2008 which states;
Outside Assistance is assistance provided or organised by the Event Director through the Event Vehicle Support System, and attracts a 100 point penalty each time it is used.
Assistance, including the supply of spare parts or tools and consumables, by another competing Crew does not attract a penalty.

After looking up the dictionary to confirm the meaning of Assistance and also Including we believe we have complied to the rules 100%. It states that Including means it is not limited to the meaning of the words after it is used. If it were to state Assistance, comprising of the supply of spare parts etc then we could not do what we did.

We received a 100 point penalty and a Disqualification in the next stage where we came second so overall we received 195 penalty points.

Where in the rules does it state firstly the 100 points for what we did and secondly where does it state that we are to be disqualified from the next stage like we were. If we were to get outside assistance we would have perservered with the remainder of the days stages in two wheel drive and picked up a tailshaft in Broken Hill that night on our way through and not missed any stages and only would have recieved 100 penalty points.

We were told that if we were to protest the decision we would be instantly disqualified from the event.

We were visited by Paul Vanderhorst on Friday night with these allegations of cheating.
A protest was not officially lodged by anyone but an official complaint was lodged with HQ from a close competitor. We were told by Paul Vanderhorst that if a protest was not officially lodged with $500 then there was no problem and if it was lodged then it would have been brought to a panel of people for a decision to be made and we would be notified of the proceedings. We were greated on Saturday morning with the penalties already applied with no further discussion on our part could be entered into or we would be disqualified from the event.
The other thing that Paul Vanderhorst discussed with us on the Friday night he visited us was that if he was a competitor he would have done the same thing if he was competing. How's that for contradiction.

I hope that the CCDA gets wind of this and makes sure that Australian 4WD events run their events to the rules that have been issued to the competitors for the event and that they don't make up rules as they go.

Prize money also has not been issued due to a 21 day cooling period or something like that. Well what about Kym Boltons prizes from 3rd place last year that he still hasn't got. We only just recieved the last of our prizes from 2007 from continued pestering of Aus 4WD events. There are also plenty of prizes from previous years that have not been given but have been promised. I doubt very much that anyone will see any prize money for their efforts this year due to previous years patterns.

That is my thoughts.
Cheers
Todd.

PS. We still had a ball at OBC and can't wait for the far superior Cliffhanger..The event that was designed to be battled out on the race course while still having fun......See you all there.

[patute]

fantastic event, we had a ball. Big thanks to all involved.

[gut42]

Very well said Todd (for someone who was robbed).
Youll kill em at Cliffhanger!

Congrats to muppets for the conserversial win.

TOP EFFORT PETE & JANE,
like I said earlier in the week

GO THE WHITE WAGON!!!

[Bourbon]

i just had the best week in my life we had a ball in the go cart car 43 came 12 and birdy drove it home