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Finke 2012
I FINKE I’m sore. Well Finke this year was an extremely dusty affair. The weather gods in particular the rain god has been away for a few months. After arriving and unpacking the bikes we had 5 days to pre-run the track. Buttsy and Jason had 2 days pre-running on us as they drove across in $1000 ute as an adventure.
We did a 90km run on Monday arvo just to get a bit of a look at the track, not to bad I thought at first but the track surface was very hard with plenty of square edge bumps and the buggies had not been on it yet. After all the bikes are loaded we find out that Jason’s Honda has no more electric start. Back at the camp we all do some maintenance and we discover that the brushes in the starter are totalled, on the phone and some parts are ordered. Go do some shopping and prep for the next day. Up early on Tuesday morning, Imparja TV wants to interview us. Jason doesn’t wan’t his bike to be seen in bits so he quickly assembles it, after the interview we do some running around get fuel and off to the track to run up to the 60km mark and back. We all got to 60 but Splat had a stack and hurt his neck on the way and was too sore to ride back down the track. Go get all our registration done, unload the bikes and off to good old Alice Hospital which isn’t that bad at all. The utes starter is now playing up. Wednesday morning the bodies are starting to hurt, Buttsy and Jason want to pre-run more, so off they go. I get Splat off to the chyro and can only get in the next day. Go do all the necessary shopping, get fire wood sorted out and all general stuff done. The Honda parts have arrived so I go collect them for Jason. Well the brushes are supplied with no springs and none available for another 2 days at least, so we seem to have a small problem. Not to worry I go to the KTM dealer get some 300 brushes as I know they are exactly the same but are supplied with springs. The banter has now been upped a level as the Honda will have KTM parts fitted. Locktite is a must on every nut and bolt replaced on the bikes as the Honda has now lost a steg peg, with more parts everything is back together and going. Thursday we can’t find an auto electrician to repair the Ute starter so we push start it and plan not to switch it off. Splat, a mate Peter (racing a pram/quad/dust mite) go off to the 60km mark, Buttsy and Jason head off to get some bike fuel. While there they realise the ute needs fuel and have no choice but to switch it off as they need the key to open the fuel cap. Ever tried to push start a diesel, well they got it going and met us at 60km. About 15km in Jason comes flying up alongside me and gives the BIRD. I’ve started slowing down as I know there are some big whoops there. Well he gets it all out of shape, into the scrub but stays on. I’m laughing at from inside my helmet but he isn’t hurt so all seems good. Belt down the track some more catch up to Buttsy. A little further along I pull up and Buttsy does the same. NO Jason, we wait a while and then decide to get on the road and go see if he is OK. As we get onto the road we see Splat who tells us the good old Honda has blown the gearbox. Bike off to the dealer for a rebuild. Friday is a pretty relaxing day with final bike prep carried out, bikes washed and rechecked. All the gear for the trip down to the Finke camp is sorted out (spares, swags, food, fuel etc.) It’s scrutineering today all the flash new gear is pulled out. The Honda should be ready this arvo we are told. Well we get the other 3 bikes and all our gear checked. No Honda by 2100 and arrangements are made for it to be scrutineered the following day. Prologue Day: The Honda passes scrutineering thank goodness. Splat is first up as he the oldest and in class 8 (over 45 and needs a medical certificate much to the amusement of the rest of us). He goes pretty well and gets the job done taking the hole shot for a while. Buttsy and Seano on the same start grid with another 570 Berg. Well all I can you is that there is no substitute for cubic inches as far as engine size is concerned. With a 570 either side of me I was properly dusted off the line on the 300. I managed to gain 1 place through the dust though. Jason had a pretty good run too so we were all happy. RACE DAY 1: Well we are all a little nervous/anxious. On our respective grids and it’s all go. Everyone wanting just to get to the Finke end in time. The dust is terrible but is the same for everyone except Toby Price who was past the first check point (60km away) before we even left. We all got there in time, sore battered and wondering what the hell we were doing to ourselves knowing we had to do it all again tomorrow. Some pain killing drugs, a feed and bit of bench racing around the fire and off to bed. Race Day 2: We all start getting ready. Ute is packed up for the return to Alice. Bikes are fuelled up, AND THEN IT STARTS. The Honda is coughing, and backfiring like mad. First up we blame the fuel. Drain the carb, check filters, drain and replace all the fuel. No joy. A true test of Jason’s character is shown. He is upset but never loses it. Runs the bike up and down but it just won’t clear. 2 choices here, put it on a trailer back to Alice, which is not a real option, or ride it back popping and farting along. Second option taken we are all on the start grid after riders briefing. As the lights go green the Honda stalls. Jason pushes it out of the way of the next grid lining up. Off they go, the old girl fires up and Jason is off. We all get started after several last minute nervous toilet runs. I pass Jason on the side of the track about 25km in. He waves me on. The other 2 are still all good. When I eventually arrive at the finish Jason was just ahead of me. I’m happy to be at the end as my body is now hurting all over but I’m happier Jason has made it. The other 2 also arrive all of us are back in time and in one piece. Sore hell ye. Will we do it again? Pretty much the same response from all “ASK ME IN WEEK OR TWO.” I no longer FINKE I’m sore I know I’m sore. Seano Got back from Alice Springs driving through the great central road on saturday and let me tell you a $1000 toyota hilux diesel 2wd ute can make it to alice springs back to perth . Great trip with all the boys SEANO,SPLAT AND JASON ,glad we made it to Finke and Back . Ive done 6 of them now and it was definetly the hardest out of all of them ,could not see for at least half of the race ,slowed all of our times down by atleast 15min each way .The dust was thick and it hung around as there was not a breathe of wind the whole race weekend .Plenty of carnage but not from us . I think this is the lowest percentage of finishes possibly on record 550 starters and 374 finishes i think ,so we all did well to get to finish . Had the local tv station follow our journey from start to finish so it will be a laugh to watch as the banter was constant between us the whole weekend and imparja documented it all ,so will be a memorable dvd they produce . Thanks to all the boys on the trip for all your help and support during the whole trip and thanks to the crustys for chalking up a ride for us all. Buttsy WELL DONE TO ALL THOSE THAT FINISHED. |
