Finke

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » January 9th, 2011, 10:20 pm

Entries open Australia day (26th Jan for you guys that were not born in Gods country)
Anyway who's going ?
I'm in unless some major fuck up occurs and i'll be doin' it on the steely.

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » January 25th, 2011, 8:47 pm

Good Morning Paul,

Just a brief note to congratulate you on your successful entry of the 2011 Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race.

Your entry and payment have been received and is currently being processed by our office.

Further information will be forwarded and riding numbers will be advised by close of entries.

We will be updating our competitor list on a regular basis. We ask that you check www.finkedesertrace.com.au that your details are displayed correctly ie the spelling of your name, your place of origin and your bike details. Should you notice any discrepancies, please do not hesitate to contact his office, via e-mail.

Kind regards,

Giselle Greenfield
Administration Officer
Finke Desert Race Incorporated
Ph: (08) 8952 8886
Fx: (08) 8955 5456
W: www.finkedesertrace.com.au

Gravel Scratcher · February 20th, 2011, 3:04 am

Finke-a-fied and ready to go.
Just need to go 15/40 or15/37 on the day

any other Aussies going to be there ?

Tharrell · Post by **Tharrell** » February 20th, 2011, 11:04 am

I love to watch the videos of that race.
You got a helmet cam?

Gravel Scratcher · February 20th, 2011, 2:52 pm

no helmet cam, but i'm hoping to get one for the race.
The problem with having one is that i can't bullshit afterwards

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » June 19th, 2011, 6:26 pm

Finke 1 Me 0
I have taken 5 weeks off work to do the finke and a bit of site seeing around the red centre, so here are some of the pics. By the way its a 3 day drive each way for us just to get to Alice Springs

If i can't win it i might as well look half decent

Stopped at the Devils Marbles on the way over, pretty cool area when you get away from the tourist.(yeah i know i'm one of them

) Thats the mrs at 18 weeks pregnant, I can't believe i'm 41 with twins on the way

Ayres Rock
We were at Ayres rock for 3 days of which it rained for 2, Very rare to get pics of 'The Rock' with rain and waterfalls on it

The holy grail of Aussie off road racing

500+ bikes ready to go

The crew, Matty and Timmy missing from pic. Thats me on the left

Run to the flag for prologue

Keith on the gas

Me on the line Race day 1

Fuck that hurt, bit of bark missing and a couple of broken ribs.....welcome to Finke

Was going alright till the never ending whoops

at the 160 km mark they finally got the better of me
and threw me into the valley of the next whoop which was closely folllowed by my cart wheeling bike into my back and side. Couple of spectators helped me get the bike and me off the track which was great as i was totally gassed and hurting like fuck. Spent the next 20 mins changing levers and getting the bike going again.......and this all happened about 1km from my last fuel stop, oh well shit happens. Fueled up and told to 'Harden the fuck up'

by the boys at the fuel stop. Took off and realised something was wrong inside me but still managed to ride the last 65 km to finke with busted ribs over more whoops.
I was one sore and sorry camper around the fire that night not to mention crawling into my swag that night and enjoying a nice -3deg C night. I went and saw the Ambo's and was way to fucked up to start the return leg the next day but a guy on a cr500 from the other site (Dave) had a fucked radiator so i gave him mine so at least another 500 would get home.

Do it again ?
Hell yeah i'm already planning next year

It not just about the race, i had a great trip and met heaps of other guys there who just like me were there for a good time and to rip on a 500 down the Finke track

britincali · Post by **britincali** » June 19th, 2011, 10:00 pm

Tharrell · Post by **Tharrell** » June 20th, 2011, 3:17 am

Very nice.

Friggin VERY NICE bike.

That water coming off the rock was AWESOME

racein01 · Post by **racein01** » June 20th, 2011, 4:11 am

great pics mate

sabreguy · Post by **sabreguy** » June 20th, 2011, 6:09 am

britincali wrote:

X491

beekums · Post by **beekums** » June 20th, 2011, 6:18 am

Tharrell wrote:Very nice.
Friggin VERY NICE bike.
That water coming off the rock was AWESOME

x2

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » June 20th, 2011, 1:09 pm

beekums wrote:
Tharrell wrote:Very nice.
Friggin VERY NICE bike.
That water coming off the rock was AWESOME

x2

X3!!!!

Oh, and for next time, we'll be needing more shots of these:

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » June 20th, 2011, 4:34 pm

will do, or some of you guys could come over and have a run down the track and grab your own pics. The camp out at Finke is pretty casual and friendly with plenty of fun and fire works.

iggys-amsoil · Post by **iggys-amsoil** » June 20th, 2011, 5:19 pm

Tharrell wrote:That water coming off the rock was AWESOME

Right Click.... Saved

Tharrell · Post by **Tharrell** » June 20th, 2011, 5:32 pm

Yeah, I was gonna ask about the ladies.
They ALL look pretty good from that pic.
They weren't doing any high kicks or anything were they?

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » June 20th, 2011, 6:45 pm

pics of the grid girls from the Finke web page, dibs on Maddy (i wish)

http://finkedesertrace.com.au/2011-grid ... oot-2.html

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » June 20th, 2011, 7:47 pm

Heres a couple more pics around the rock since you guys seemed to like it.
Some of the area reminds me of our trip through Moab, Utah a few years back while visiting a friend and going to see world superbike race at Miller raceway

View from our room at Kings Canyon

and the last one is the pub from crocadile dundee, which is actually in a little 2 horse town in Queensland

asteroid500 · Post by **asteroid500** » June 21st, 2011, 1:26 am

Im in next yr.......it's somthing ive got to do before i die....bucket list wish

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » June 21st, 2011, 4:00 am

see ya there, the whoops are killer

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » July 12th, 2011, 4:54 am

couple more pics, big thank you to the fuel stop teams which camp out and fill the bikes between watching the race

Trenching some ruts for the fuel stop fill points

the boys at Bundooma on the pre run

kitting up for the pre run

bit of planking around fuel stop 1

I love my bikes but you should see the buggies and trophy trucks hit it, suspension just flapping around and the shell just stays rock steady

Kuma · Post by **Kuma** » July 12th, 2011, 12:33 pm

What is that Red stuff, dirt, clay or sand?

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » July 12th, 2011, 4:49 pm

452km of pure red sand hell

Kuma · Post by **Kuma** » July 12th, 2011, 6:54 pm

Why aren't you running a paddle tire?

Gravel Scratcher · Post by **Gravel Scratcher** » July 12th, 2011, 9:37 pm

its not all loose sand like in a dune, theres some of that some hard pack, gravel rocks and lots of whoops and square edged holes everywhere. I've never done anything so demanding in my life, think about riding the 500 in the 1/2 to full throttle position (running15/40) for 3+ hours. Trying to concentrate to ride at those speeds is easy for 5min at time but for race distance is fuckin' hard yacka, but i had the time of my life....even after breaking my ribs

BannedCR500Riders.com

Finke

Finke