2007 Finke Desert Race

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:02 pm

This years event is from the 9th to the 11th of June. More info here - http://www.finkedesertrace.com.au/

Interested parties so far -

Stuart (apparently he's racing )
Dane - wants to fly
Dave - wants to fly hire a getz and race
Will
Brett
Me.

So, that's 5. Flights are roughly $280 each way from brisbane to alice. We would need a car or two to get around in.

Brumbyrunner has done a search and posted in the other thread

"I just did a quick search.
Thrifty have 100 Series for $140
Europecar have 100s for $115 and a compact 4wd for $60
Thrifty have 100s for $132 and Challenger for $107
oh but carhire.com have Impreza and Forester from $38 and $59
Look here http://www.carhire.com.au/book/Defau...prings#results "

So thats getting there and getting around. What about sleeping and eating ? We should try book accomodation now if you blokes don't want to camp.

I can do either fly or drive from bris. I'm not fussed. Both have good points for me.

So whats everyone else keen on ?

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:33 pm

See as i'm taking a fair bit of time of various other trips this year flyimg looks like the go for me.Sleeping in hire car good too.Group booking maybe?

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 9:42 pm

flying in is really the only option for me.

how long are we thinking about staying? I sort of thought make it a week, 3 days racing and 3-4 days cruising round alice. Its been 21 years since i was at ayres rock, would love to go back

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:12 am

A week is good for me. So is heading back monday night or tuesday morning better for you ? Keeping in mind the presentations are monday night if your interested.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:33 am

I dont care what days, but try and minimise the days off work if possible.

My suggestion for a rough itinerary:

Friday 8th June:
Fly in to Alice in the morning. It is only scrutineering day, and even that only starts at 5pm. We could get in in the morning, sort our hire cars and accomodation, and then still have heaps of time to get to the scrutineering point and check out cars.

Sat 9th:
We support team "princess rental Huyundai" in his bid to take out the unmodified class.

Sun 10th:
Racing.

Monday:
Racing.
Presentation night monday night at the alice convention center. Dinner starts 6.45pm and we have to buy tickets in advance.

Tuesday: recover from drinking session. do some sightseeing

Then we can stay as long as we like doing touristy stuff, and fly home say friday? Then have the weekend to recover before work on monday.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:36 am

some stuff to do:

http://www.geocities.com/austtravel/nt/ayrerock.html

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:52 am

I'm easy. Just need dates so I can tell the boss I'm not coming in then we can also book.

You said sort out accomodation on friday....you mean find somewhere to roll the swag out, or are you intending to find a cabin or motel...if so book last week.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:55 am

with a 20KG luggage allowance i am doubting that we can get enough gear to alice for us to survive sub zero nights. So i was thinking cabin / motel / whatever

When i say sort out accomodation friday i mean check in, we need to book ASAP.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:23 am

True. So definite numbers needed ASAP.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:39 am

Or we can just book a cabin here and it should fit us all - http://www.macrange.com.au/index.php?op ... &Itemid=52

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:11 pm

onsite cabin sounds OK. will be a squeeze but we arent going to be there very much.

$ 82 / night min stay 5 nights. should be fine then do a night down at ayres rock near the end of the trip.

gees we work hard dont we wilbur

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:19 pm

Yeah, I'm flat out....looking for flights and accomdation in alice.
I'll get onto them and see if they have any left.

subiwidow · Post by **subiwidow** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:20 pm

should be fine then do a night down at ayres rock near the end of the trip.

Brett can go for as long as he needs to, BUT HE WILL NOT be going any where near the Rock. I want to go there and he is not allowed to go there without me.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:56 pm

Best book a flight then megan.
My brother is bashing my ears about doing the simpson desert, so I may be driving yet.

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:07 pm

Guys my stay will be a short one possible fly out friday and returning monday or tuesday.

Outback bloke · Post by **Outback bloke** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:43 pm

Same here if I manage to go.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:28 pm

wilbur can we manage 3 in your car for 450kms to uluru and back ??

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:00 pm

Lightning_Silver_RX wrote:Or we can just book a cabin here and it should fit us all - http://www.macrange.com.au/index.php?op ... &Itemid=52

This is where I am staying.

With regards to the presentation dinner, the best bet is to book a table otherwise it is standing room only. The trophy presentations are spaced out through the evening culminating in some excellant race footage at the end.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:17 am

vincentvega wrote:wilbur can we manage 3 in your car for 450kms to uluru and back ??

If your a legless dwarf you might fit in the extra cab part. It's usually where the fridge and clothes would be though..... and I'm not sure which day I would be turning up for. I did a brief outline of driving last night and it would appear I'd have to leave the weekend before (which is a bucks party I'm supposed to be attending).
My outlined timetable for driving goes like this -
2 days to birdsville
4 days across the desert
then either meet you blokes in finke or try to get to alice (as I'm going that way home) so maybe 2-3 days there....not sure yet
Then 2-3 days home via longreach, roma etc

I haven't added in any time for the rock, kings canyon or anything else around the area.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:25 am

no worries. I will talk to dave see if he wants to grab a hire car and go exploring. otherwise it might be an alice only trip.