OUTBACK CHALLENGE

[DAZ]

I have changed the copy ones for you they are the same i have a lot of photos here but i have to do some work here is one last one just for now it is a nother nissan . Our trip leaders son

[antt]

fark they liked the DEEP water this year

[antt]

and the first two

[bundyrum4x4]

That water depth is beyond funny. What is this, a boat race or a 4wd comp?

[DAZ]

That water depth is beyond funny. What is this, a boat race or a 4wd comp?

many would agree but it is meant to be the tuffest event of each year . Plus you are in cotrol of your own car you have the option to DNF , DNS or even walk it first as you would in the bush on a club trip only one car used a safty line and that was the French team after they saw the GU and it worked well .

[grimbo]

I was about to say didn't they walk it first. Did they have to drive through that spot or could you take a wider line through a shallower section? Did the organisers realise it was that deep or was there heavy rain prior to the event?

In events like this do the competitors find that in the spur of the moment the first step is just hit it rather than getting out and walking/checking an obstacle or is that just too impractical in the whole timed event scenario?

[DAZ]

I was about to say didn't they walk it first. Did they have to drive through that spot or could you take a wider line through a shallower section? Did the organisers realise it was that deep or was there heavy rain prior to the event?

In events like this do the competitors find that in the spur of the moment the first step is just hit it rather than getting out and walking/checking an obstacle or is that just too impractical in the whole timed event scenario?

you only had to pass through markers either end of dam do what you like between some did this but it ment whinching

[antt]

[Gordo]

What an "interesting" comp...

care to elaborate?

How did you go - better/worse than expected? Any changes to the vehicle you would make in hindsight? What vehicle and setup did you run?

Would be great if any competitors on here could comment

Hey Grimbo, sure no probs

FYI - my first time at TOC , navi was in the 1st TOC in 99.

We came 40/49. Worse than expected. Changes - pointless using a low-mount, bout +200hp more, truck running gear, ute config, swags not tent.
Vehicle specs : 97 TJ Wrangler softtop - 4" teraflex susp, 1" body, xd9000 winch, stock 4.0L motor (TBS + exhaust only), dual detroits, 4.56 gearing, DC rear shaft, beefed front.34"x9.5" beadlocked TSL s swampers

good points : most of the stages were plenty fun - sand of Denian, nav stages, gorge run, etc . It was all the ancilliary shyte that was below par...

<soapbox mode on>

Gripes : I believe their points system needs serious work. We drove every stage bar the night one of day 1 as we had alternator and fan repairs in broken hill at Silver City 4wd (top blokes! very helpful, skilled and really well priced).

The system fails where people can voluntarily DNF to avoid damage to their vehicle and/or penalities and receive the same of more points as competitors who give everything a go.

eg we drove the winch wall (with painfully slow xd9000 slow-mount), got to the gps point, got to the finish and DNF'ed by 1 min. Our score - 20 points - others who voluntarily dnf'd - 20 points

eg we drove that f#@$ dam WATER course - not much mud but a bloody deep dam BOTH days to DNF both times. Our score 20 points each. Voluntary DNFers-20 points each

eg make it to night camp before the curfew - 100 points same as WINNING an event ..WTF ?!?!

Please explain ???

Also the "survival of the fittest" mentality as people piss off to other stages leaving those busted behind shitted us bad. Poor celia and eugene suffered a cactus fuel pump in the zook after the last event of the week had finished while their group abandoned them. There was no more stages or time penalites but still they PO'd - this was slack.

We hung round till the 1 vehicle of their group (nice couple in a blue FJ shorty) towed them back to HQ.

I expected more comaradiery (like at other events).

Also no convoy procedure on transports with people getting lost. Too much race face and not enough fun.

The speed camping and OutPack Challenge wasn't real enjoyable either - just a personal dislike there. Compared to other comps where you can break the car in half during the day but have a laugh over a beer at night with your mates. If you break and are last ion the list you are clearly disadvantaged over competitors who ran first who have plenty of time to finx problems and get ot the next stage.

The final two days saw us pack up and leave camp at 6am to the group assembly area, unpack gear, complete days events, back to assembly area, repack, back to SAME camp, unpack gear, camp the night, in morning repack and head to broken hill for presentation.

Some thought put into logistics would be nice to avoid all this pointless stuffing around.

TOC Website - needs downloadable rules and updates for that YEAR'S comp. We received our rules via email from a fellow competitior 1 week before the event.

In future I'll stick to other shorter comps where camping is camping and when you get to the marker with the no. 7 on it - that's your score..

<Soap box mode off>

I hope everyone else who participated enjoyed it and didn't trash their vehicle too bad (ours towed our trailer full of wheels back to ACT ok)

PS If anyone wants to waste their fingers typing "it's meant to be a hard event" be my guest. This is purely my opinion (as requested) alone not my clubs nor any other competitors.

Happy thoughts now

[DAZ]

was this your jeep ? were you the one with the girl ?

[Hoonz]

HOLY SHITE!!!!! THEY WEREN'T KIDDING BOUT THE WATER DEPTH ON KOWARI!

[DAZ]

here is the forty he spoke of above they put in a exerlent effort

[Gordo]

was this your jeep ? were you the one with the girl ?

You would of course be referring to Vinyl Vera our mascot

I can happily report she survived the entire ordeal unscathed.

She's now packed away for "other" uses...

[grimbo]

Gordo thanks for the in depth reply. That is great info, nice to hear how an event goes from a competitor that places rather than wins (usually a very nice statement about the event). Shame about your thoughts on the point scoring, does seem to be a little unfair on those trying to drive and those who know how to manipulate the scoring system are obviously onto a good thing.

I suppose the lack of comaraderie happens once the comp get smore and more serious with the top runners pouring some serious $$$ intotheir entries.

Hopefully the organisers get to read this sort of constructive criticism and take it on board. i can appreciate that running an event can be hard and when you have competitors venting full steam in your face it is very hard to take in the constructive bits and ignore the questions of your parentage and what you you really should be doing with the rule books

keep it coming guys. Constructive feedback and your impressions of the event make for great reading

[DAZ]

was this your jeep ? were you the one with the girl ?

You would of course be referring to Vinyl Vera our mascot

I can happily report she survived the entire ordeal unscathed.

She's now packed away for "other" uses...

I did not see you do the whole event but it was obvious you where there to have fan first and that is what it is all about . Thank you for makeing us laugh the best for me was up the goat run and the warning that whinching is bad for your health you had to be there i was and it was funny pitty you didn't finnish in the DNF . You guys did a good job of keeping your cool and not giving up well thats what i saw any way .

[Gordo]

was this your jeep ? were you the one with the girl ?

You would of course be referring to Vinyl Vera our mascot

I can happily report she survived the entire ordeal unscathed.

She's now packed away for "other" uses...

I did not see you do the whole event but it was obvious you where there to have fan first and that is what it is all about . Thank you for makeing us laugh the best for me was up the goat run and the warning that whinching is bad for your health you had to be there i was and it was funny pitty you didn't finnish in the DNF . You guys did a good job of keeping your cool and not giving up well thats what i saw any way .

Cheers Daz,

Glad to oblige we had a week to prepare after our original vehicle and driver fell through.

With some 4am prep sessions and not even knowing if we would clear scrotineering it was a pretty draining week. Just glad the Goatsack got us home - no trailer queens here

[moose]

Ch 10 just showed some footage !!!

Darren & sandy,s roll !!
Team Kowari submarine impersination !! (FARKEN DEEP WATER !!)
Chip & Huddy

[spazbot]

[PMT]

hey congrats to laurie sternbeck & sean calcino in thier little 3 litre turbo diesel hilux. it's not how big it is , it's how you use it.
bruce

Well done to all competitors. Bad luck if you didnt finish, better luck next time.

Big congrats to Laurie and Sean from all in the GC4wd club.



also huge congrats to BIG al & clay mongan from gold coast club. finished 19th in als first obc. not bad for another 3 litre turbo diesel hilux.
bruce
p.s casino





and bruce, well done for figuring out how to use the quote button!!!
PS.. what the hell are you doing up at 4.00am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hobzee]

Man, reading this thread is like "one week of sheer hell".

Back now and GU ute cleaned up. Water in the electronic box which controls the glow plugs caused 50+ amps whenever ignition was on - resulted in 2xdead alternators. $750 for new box so we now have most up to date technology - a manual switch to turn on/off glow plugs.

Boofed a rim and fixed it today - a bit out of round but fine for comps - otherwise no tyre probs to report - Go the X-Terrains. They even drove the length of the dam.

Airbags not up to fast comps. Broke away from bottom mounts. O/wise made for fast driving in rough. Dropped a SS to get coils in front. Bags in back are greeeeaaat!

Creamed everything we stuffed last year. Stuffed everything we creamed last year. Go figure!

Hey - not even a scratch on the GU. Last year I was most wrecked - this year most un-wrecked. The new Hobzee drove most of the time this year but the old Hobzee had a crack at Denian. A v'close call in Shifting Sands with 2 seconds remaining and having to cover big ground over last few minutes. Flying finish really was a "flying finish".

Trialled prototype in-line battery unit within power line for Magellan GPS FX324. It works - No turning off or screen freezes. Am now prepared to sell these knowing we can resolve the problems. Great GPS - pitty anyone competing without one.

Very happy with over all result. Was a stack of fun.

Sorry to hear about scoring confusion. Hope it gets sorted soon but won't affect me (16th). I started out saying a top 20 is a win for me.

Harnesses not bad afterall. Feel like I can steer with my hands rather than hold on with them. Helmets got better but 2 tips. Keep the bindies out of them and don't let them get wet. Nothing worse than a wet helmet with bindies.

OBC really brings Ozzies together and Outer Limits worked a treat too. Hope to catch up with more of you at events later in the year.

BTW - had a CCDA get together and agreed upon 1 national structure with state meetings. PM me for more details on CCDA if interested.

Thanks to sponsors - Lightforce, Penrite, Denco, Pro Comp, i-com, Bag-man, FAT Hill Billy, Warn, Mal Leslie, Second Air, Dynamica, Hall 4x4, Burke & Wills swags, Magellan, Clint and my wife and family for making the greatest contributions (and MYT-TUF for his GPS and hey I got his ground anchor to work).

Glad we could help with updates

Hobzee

[HeathGQ]

also huge congrats to BIG al & clay mongan from gold coast club. finished 19th in als first obc. not bad for another 3 litre turbo diesel hilux.
bruce
p.s casino

Thats awesome. must write this stuff down for the next meeting!!!!!!!!!

[Luxy]

That was fantastic to watch Hobzee hammering to the finish line in Shifting Sands!!! Cleared it by 2 seconds as he said, then hit the anchors and continued bouncing in the air trying to pull up with the wheels hardly touching the ground with brake lights blazing and dust flying everywhere!!!!
Wish I had of got that on video!!!

[MUSS]

DAZ (and others) can you post up ya pics on www.4wdlinks.com.au keep this thred updated with info ....AWESOME pics by the way

[DAZ]

nash on rocks

[DAZ]

Michael got covered in mud and he usualy takes the photos you look at in mags here is the man Mister Off road images

[DAZ]

Mister pro comp ( nice truck )

[DAZ]

if the origional owners could see this vitara now ( they would cry )

[DAZ]

this is the only time Hally was slow enough to get a photo of

[DAZ]

the French were got to watch all the time , they were good value .

[DAZ]

I like to call this one Bolton from Bolton