Coming Trips for the Desertrunner

[legacyau]

I'll bet you got lots of head snapping WTF?? looks when they saw you go past

cam

[SURTEESS]

Especially if they were still on the road going slower than you ha! ha!

[Dessertrunner]

We are off again in 6 hours, this time to the Birdsville horse races then home accross the Simpson desert. The races are a once in a year event the town population goes from around 30 people to 9,000 for the weekend. The town is 500 k from the nearest place and its on the edge of the Simpson Desert. Crossing the Simpson is a bit of a task as there are 1,200 dues to cross. They are 300 k long so you can't go around. The die hard 4Wheel drive nuts say that their is a "Mans" way and a "Womens" way to cross it. The logic is the mans way is straight upthe steep face which ranges in angle from 45 to 60 degree due to the winds from the East blowing to the West. Will try to keep you posted. Have a great day.
Tony

[svxistentialist]

Best of luck on the trip Tony.

Keep us posted!

Joe

[AUSVX]

Hey Tony

Sounds like heaps of fun, if you're travelling with someone it'd be great if they could take a video of you driving at speeds across dunes.

Are you doing this with wolf3d running?

Have a good trip! Jordan.

[Dessertrunner]

I have returned have some photos but no video. We had a briiliant time crossed the desert in pretty quick time. Nosed the car in a few times which ment sand sprayed over the bonnet. What was amazing was the comments from people about the car. When we were at Birdsville there was about 5 cars and 5,000 four wheel drive. When we left the car and went for a walk people would come up and took photos of the car.
One comment which was funny was when we were camped at the end of the trip a guy we meet told us that two days before we had passed him and some other guys camp. They were just getting organised and pretty shot for the night before to much beer. This guy saw us drive passed and wiped his eyes then walked over to one of the other guys and said
"don't think I am stupid but didn't I just see a sports car go pass", to which the other guy replied "I wasn't going to say anything because they might lock me up for being crazy, no one is going to believe a sports car just went past in the middle of the Simpson Desert"
I think this gives you a feel for how people reacted. The SVX was the most photographed car ever. My guess is on this trip about 200 different people took photos of the car so they could prove to people that what they saw was true. Here is a photo to show you what condiations were like.

Tony

[svxistentialist]

That is seriously cool Tony!

Looking at that I hope you did not venture out there without a compass or two, plenty of water and a St Christopher's medal.

We'll have to get you a new title of Roving SVX Ambassador or something.

Joe

[legacyau]

More pics please Tony !!

[Dessertrunner]

here are 4 more photos, need to work on throttle bodies so we post slowly over the next weeks.
Tony

[svxistentialist]

Fabulous pics Tony, thanks.

Have you fitted your car with an alloy sump guard or anything like that to protect from rocks?

Joe

[Dessertrunner]

Have a sump guard protecting the front of the engine and a second the full length of the gearbox. It gets a real hard time but has saved the engine etc. The funny thing is the tank is not protected and has tears in the plastic but never gets I hole(bet I regret this statement). The experts tell me a steel tank won't take the hits a plastic one does.
Tony

[svxistentialist]

Knock on wood!

Well, now that you have made the statement might be a good time to add a bash plate or two to the lower side of the tank, eh?

Just to be sure, to be sure.

[dynomatt]

Tony, you've got competition for Subaru's that'll get anywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDNLUzjkpg

[Dessertrunner]

High all,

Its that time of year we are heading to Broome and the Kimberley for a holiday. From were I live the trip will be about 14,000 k return and we have 3 weeks to cover the distance. We will cover the first 100k on black top then be on dirt roads for the next 4,000 k.
Had to service the old girl for its 600k, replaced water pump, timing belt and ilders. Swapped alternator with one that had new bearing (always carry a spare & a spare starter). Greased the struts and fixed the problem on one axles. Still have a few more jobs to go but am getting there.
Will keep you posted.
Tony

[flamestone]

600k service?

Tony you and your car are amazing!

Looking forward to more pics.