We clearly need speed, but we also need to maintain it for four hours. View gallery "There used to be a pub at Finke," long-time race president Antony Yoffa says. Soft grips help. D ay 1 of the Tatts Finke Desert Race is underway, as more than 700 competitors race their way down the sandy track for 228 kilometres from Alice Springs to the community of Aputula on the ancient Finke River. Australia's ULTIMATE Desert Race 9th - 12th. Oversized fuel tank On a conventional off-road or motocross bike, you would only get one lap before having to refuel. Maybe Im kidding myself? 5:30 am Driver's Sign On. We have flowed heads and altered cams, but steer away from increasing compression or increasing rev limits on the ECU as that only adds strain to the motor. Contact us at admin@finkedesertrace.com.au Mr Yoffa, who is serving in his 23rd year on the Finke committee, acknowledged the importance of maintaining local interest in the event for the next generation of revheads. Its just so beautiful. Engine Protection: Protecting your engine in the outback is a must, to keep the sand out we recommend picking up the PC Racing Filterskins as theyre designed to catch up to 90% of dirt, theyre easy to install and available in several sizes. The choice of vehicle will give a different aesthetic and challenge to the player which . Well be tackling this years race together so Im hoping he can instil some speed, confidence and skill into my feeble body and mind. I thought about roadbike foam grips but my hands are too small to grip them, leaving me with arm pump. Alice Springs local Shane Garfath is competing in his first Finke Desert Race in 2023. Do not think you need to ride fast. It sounds straight forward but the race is brutal. I hadnt lost any weight but I didnt take that important step to cut out the beer to shed some kilos. By reducing the number of stops means the less time wasted in the pits and more racing. Australia's Desert King, Ben Grabham, shows you how to prepare and set up your dirtbike for desert racing.We have chosen a Yamaha WR450F to demonstrate Grabbo's bike set up tips and tricks, which for this video is fitted with a full Akrapovi exhaust system, Steg Pegz, Dunlop MX33 tyres, GYTR baseplate, GYTR rear disc protector, GYTR brake snake, GYTR clutch and brake levers and GYTR clutch cover. Supermarket shelves are stripped bare, while those in the know collect their "Finke packs" from the local butcher, which they've ordered a month in advance. 5: The big guns burn through plenty of fuel but I reckon I might be right to run the standard tank, which holds 8.5 litres. The race is held each year on the Queens Birthday long weekend in June. 66 hours on it. Rick phoned me and said: Guess who youre lining up against for the prologue? To get it desert ready this is what I'm planning to do with it. the job. While entry numbers have dipped slightly this year,President Antony Yoffa believes it will be a near-full field once again come June. "I'vecamped out and watched it for a long time now, but youget a bit itchy just watching.". Finke as it is commonly known, is one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory and has the reputation of being one of the most difficult offroad courses in one of the most remote places in the world. If in doubt, stay off the track. The race affectionately known as The granddaddy of all desert races is certainly old enough to lay claim to that title. www.offroadaction.com. 7:30 am Cars Start. "It's not just the motorbike industry, it's everything around it,and it'ssimply a great event for the town.". Also, any mods you do to the motor must be durable as bolting up a performance part that cant handle four hours of abuse with no maintenance isnt going to cut it. TATTERSALL'S. FINKE DESERT RACE. Ill need a clean air filter, selection of spare parts, tools, a spare tyre, food, drinks, toilet paper, something to cook on and anything else Ill need to survive. My food intake isnt too bad thanks to my wife being a gun in the kitchen. We stock the full range of Motul oil from base ATV to the full race spec 300V! Its a cheap and simple thing to do that has a significant effect on the track. Sherpa are world famous for their work, which is synonymous with their name. If you do have any further information you'd like to provide that you think might be helpful to us, please include this in the final comments section. It can be a long ride. "Eventually, that will have an effect on those that can do the race.". (FINKE DESERT RACE TOUR) Date Will return in 2024 Cost: $5,950 Bike: Provided Accomodation: Campground/Bush Camping/Hotel Group Size: Max 9 Tour Starts/Ends: "Birdsville" Flight from BNE Included - Alice Springs Total Distance: 1300km Tickets: 0 Slots Left Difficulty: 4 Birdsville - Alice Springs: Entries for the Bike section of the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race open at 9.30am (CST) Wednesday 1 February. ALICE SPRINGS. the Henley-on-Todd Regatta, the Beanie Festival and the Finke Desert Race. That said, the red Finke dust found its way into my veins and I clocked up seven starts for seven finishes until I scared myself enough to give it away after 2010. Steering Stabiliser Riding a dirt bike at speeds close to 170km/h across a shifting surface like sand can make for a very busy front-end, so we fit a steering stabiliser to their race bikes to settle the bike more to get it a more predictable feel in the sand and reduce rider fatigue.. In 2021, after a fatal collision between a race vehicle and a group of spectators,the organisers' hands were forced. Aussie brand MSC Moto makes excellent dampers and Ive got one ready to go. It also proved I needed to work harder on my training and was the kick into gear I needed. Hes fit as hell and his positive vibe rubs off. The likes of Toby Price, a eight-time Finke King of the Desertand two-time Dakar Rally champion, lines up on the same track as therest of the field. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. Aug 18, 2022 #1 Official 2006 race results for the Finke Desert Race . As entries open for another Finke, almost 50 years since its inception, the game has changed. Scotts Steering Stabiliser utilising a BRP rubber mounted sub-mount. The tight wooded and technical sections are joined by wide open fence line sprints up to a few kilometres long, and what starts out as a smooth blast in the sand can end up a minefield of bike -wallowing sand whoops that can see lap times blow out by two minutes at a Pro level and double figures for the weekend warrior. On-course race fuel stops on both days. Ive been on the rowing machine and I hate that thing. But if you are serious about winning Hattah, then there are a few steps you need to take to get to the top step. But it's a price Garfath is willing to pay. Lee and his staff have been fixing my bikes for over 1 and a 1/2 years now and they are outstanding . "Finke has just continued to grow and grow over many years, to the point now where it's more of a national event than then a local event," he said. Chris's Fitness And Health Consulting Blayney 2799 . There are a couple of questions that you may have already answered in your initial booking but please answer them again here so that we have all the details we need in the one place! Skidplates, hand guards, chain guides and sliders all offer protection against the course or the elements. The course runs through extreme desert country near Alice Springs to the small community of Finke (Aputula) in Australia's Northern Territory. 3. Desert riding takes place all over the world with a number of famous international races taking place annually - the Dakar Rally being the pinnacle of desert racing globally, which has been won by Australian legend and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Toby Price on two occasions. It's not every day the Editor of ADB magazine calls you up and says: Hey, mate, how would you like to take custody of our next long-term test bike? Taking on Hattah We get the low-down from Shop Yamahas AJ Roberts on what it takes to mount a competitive charge at the Hattah Desert Race. You also need a bit of work on the suspension to ride the whoops at speed a bit more comfortably. Now that you have your entry in the race,it is time to provide us with some general information along with your preferences in relation to the set up of your race bike. Motor sports arenot cheap. That's before the race entrance fee of $900, a jump from the 2022 price. "It's expensive simple as that. If you work on a budget of $1500 to get a bike ready, it can cost more for your first finke if you have none of these parts and a clapped out bike but its not a waste of money because remember the Tatts Finke Desert Race is an addiction so guaranteed you will use it more than once! I raced my first Finke in 1999 on a Honda XR400R. The likes of Toby Price, a eight-time Finke King of the Desertand two-time Dakar Rally champion, lines up on the same track as therest of the field. Ben Grabham tests his little brother Broc's Gas Gas EC300 race bike. We tend to work with a more traditional motocross-style setting, but take a couple of other considerations onboard. I wont be twisting the throttle too hard. View our, into the death of Nigel Harris will continue. Once I decided to race again I figured I should draw on the hard lessons Id learned on that fearsome mongrel track. Finke Desert Race Inc advises the details contained in this publication are presented in good faith and has sought to ensure its contents are correct and based on the best available information at the time of printing. It was punishing. Pos Class Num Competitor alicehms deepwellhms deepwellseckph rodingahms Internet Explorer is no longer updated for Windows and. PREVIEW: Who will win the 2021 Finke Desert Race. Bike, Quad, Car, Buggy, Truck and UTV past results - outright and class positions overall, day 2, day 1 and prologue. Hes awesome fun because he always goes the extra moto, the extra mile, the extra lap. For the past few years, 50 per cent of the 600-rider field at Finke has been first-time competitors. Car Prologue - Outright. I run 4km or cycle to start every session then I mix it up with some weights, concentrating on legs and back mostly. HAHAH i know that dip so well. i can just see the massive seat bounce you got there ;_).. Nice work for posting it up. Its a four-hour race so we cant go too hard, or we simply pound the rider into the ground. Bike Day 2 - Class. "As long asyoung Alice Springs riders continue to join the motorcycle club, buy motorbikes locally, and compete locally, the eventwill continue for some time to come, long after I've moved on.". Bike Day 2 - Outright. The riders will tell you its the most demanding weekend of the year a four-hour sprint on a degenerating track that leaves you exhausted, sore and with hands full of blisters. Realy should pre ride it next time!! Here you find race course maps, live tracking, and when available official qualifying results and results based on class and overall. How the Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs grew into the ultimate off-road motorsport challenge. He just loves riding more than anyone. My subconscious has been telling me to work harder, get training and go riding because it was going to hurt. Reflecting on the standout stories from the memorable Transmoto 8-Hour at Stroud in 2019 the last before Covid struck! A railway spike is the prize for Finke Desert Race finishers, Previous experience will make Finke a lot more achievable, There are plenty of Finke suspension experts out there, Make sure you've got the right rubber on your wheels, A good set of body armour will protect you from roost and rocks, Finke is hot and dusty. We have chosen a Yamaha WR450F to demonstrate Grabbo's bike set up tips and tricks, which for this video is fitted with a full Akrapovi exhaust system, Steg Pegz, Dunlop MX33 tyres, GYTR. The three cars got to the Day One finish line in . Finke is unique and the most fun you can have with a helmet on! (ABC Alice Springs: Lee Robinson) Motor sports are not cheap. We recommend the Liquid Intelligence Anti-Boil Coolant as its specifically formulated for ultimate engine protection under extreme conditions. "The competitors used to have a few ales at the end of a race and then go back the next day, and I'm sure that progressed throughout the 80s.". If you are practice riding on the race track it is extremely important to remember the track direction before midday on any day is south. Each Vehicle will have unique properties as follows. 6:00 am Driver's Briefing. Alice Springs local and two-time Finke winner David Walsh will enter the bike rice for the 15th time, hoping to hold on to his King of the Desert title. I think itll be a good mix of power and agility, which should make it a lot of fun. In other words, the overall package must be racy yet comfortable. All rights reserved. $12,750 Negotiable. The track is fast, rough, chopped-out, rocky, sandy and whopped-out. Free shipping for many products! "I'm definitely not podium-worthy,I'm an amateuras far as they come and purely in it for the fun," he said. The Tatts Finke Desert Race, Australia's biggest off-road, multi-terrain race has confirmed the entry open dates and criteria for the 2023 event. Location. The Tatts Finke Desert Race is heralded as Australias greatest desert race and its status is legendary. Racing Finke can be dangerous so make it as safe as possible. Vroom, who grew up with the desert race etched into his calendar, said despite its growth, enthusiasm for riding was waning in the younger generation. Bike entries for the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race will open on Wednesday 1st Feb 2023 at 0930 NT time (0800 WA; 1000 QLD; 1030 SA; 1100 NSW/VIC/TAS). "But at the end of the day, if it's coming out of my pocket, I'll make it work. Finke is a unique event that enables people from all walks of life to become involved. Perhaps the biggest lesson is to not listen to anyone who hasnt raced Finke. Initial application will be through the purchase of an entry from here. . That means you have at least seven stops during the race and that adds time the rider needs to find out on the course to make that back. In July each year, the rolling sand paddocks just outside of Mildura in northwest Victoria are consumed by riders from all over the country wanting a piece of the Hattah magic. That's when thePC Racing Underware Kevlar Glovecome in to play! The MSC crew know Finke and love it as much as me so they know what you need in a damper. Its essentially a 30-minute sand motocross track with some off-road flavour. https://finkedesertrace.com.au/competitors/bikes. And its the sand, whoops and constant riding at race pace (only stopping for fuel) that pushes the motor to the brink. | 23 June 2020. The bars, levers and even the density of the seat foam plays a part, especially late in the race (imagine having to sprint the last hour with a next-level case of monkey-butt or blisters). Although there is an element of sand riding there are also a lot of rocks and other harsh surfaces which destroy tyres quickly, so you need something which is going to last the distance. Access to set-up advice, local knowledge and race tips from long time locals and former race outright winner. You will have never ridden in dust like the Finke track. The race is held each year on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June. I was sore for three days. But it beats getting a flat 10ks into a 100 kilometre ride! The race format is quite simple - you race from Alice Springs 230km south to the community of Apatula on the ancient Finke River, camp the night then race back again the following day. Blisters will be your constant companion when youre at your lowest. 4. A new bike, suspension, and protective gear can run up a hefty five-figure bill. Wearing body armour offers protection from rocks being roosted at you from other riders. Comes with cover. Selected FVA varsity events will be livestreamed during the 2021-22 sports season, based on streaming capabilities and facility accommodations. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/finke-desert-race-evolution-alice-springs-motorsport/101928288, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Supplied: Northern Territory Coroners Court, Australia's biggest drug bust: $1 billion worth of cocaine linked to Mexican cartel intercepted, 'Pincers are closing': Ukrainian forces under pressure as Russians shell roads out of Bakhmut, Four in hospital after terrifying home invasion by gang armed with machetes, knives, hammer, 'We have got the balance right': PM gives Greens' super demands short shrift, Crowd laughs as Russia's foreign minister claims Ukraine war 'was launched against us', The tense, 10-minute meeting that left Russia's chief diplomat smoking outside in the blazing sun, 'Celebrity leaders': Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley take veiled jabs at Donald Trump in CPAC remarks. Cars. After submitting my preferred race number and my entry was confirmed a strange thing happened. Car Prologue - Start Times. Why would an out-of-shape dirtbike hack like me want to take on one of the worlds most fearsome races? Epoxy Flooring UAE; Floor Coating UAE; Self Leveling Floor Coating; Wood Finishes and Coating; Functional Coatings. Desert Tyres: Now that you are on the right track with a set of mousse tubes, choosing the correct tyre is the next step. 5. (ABC Alice Springs: Lee Robinson) Motor sports are not cheap. "The competitors used to have a few ales at the end of a race and then go back the next day, and I'm sure that progressed throughout the 80s.". (I am not sure what he said the gearing was Spock knows what is it mate ?). 7: A steering damper is the essential item for the high-speed and rough terrain. Make us your next stop when your oil is due for a change Hardly inspiring stuff from a close mate who was fairly handy in his day. You need solid tyres for Finke so Ill be running Pirelli Scorpion XC Mid-Hards front and rear with ultra-heavy duty tubes. Allan B could be head of electrical - both Ron's could do mechanical . Although they look simple and kind of like a door stopper bolted to the side of your bike, there is not one desert rider who doesnt swear by a set of these.