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Day 1 pics – Parkes to Condobolin

Ian and Val Swan, service at Utes in the Paddock
Graham Wallis and Brian Ward at Utes
The Mifsud Stanza at the start
Andy Crane and Dave Anderson leading their category
Chris Snell and Graham MGrath
Greg Hannah and Jacqui Collihole in Back Yamma
The Bogan Way…
Briggs/deVaus – bent front suspension
Chatting before “the off” in Parkes
It’s a beautiful morning for a rally…
Parkes papparazzi!
Utes in the Paddock
Steve Ashton and Ro Nixon
Ross Dunkerton and Lindsay Collits in Murda
Matt Swan and Paul Franklin lie second
Gerry Bashford and Ray Daniel
Mike Ward and Jenny Pollock had gearbox troubles
Arriving in Condobolin
This Mercedes 280 SL has rallied in 57 countries!
Refurbishing the electric windows…
Tony Jordan nd Richard Davidson in the Triumph
The LH drive Capri of the Rayners
Overnight leaders, Andrew and David Travis going in…
… and coming out
Service at Utes in the Paddock
Mark Pickering and Dave Boddy in Parkes
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June survey trip

In June, Philip and Steve did the last survey before the course check. They had a 10 day trip to tie down stages and arrangements for the 2014 event.  Here are some pics from their trip.

The 2014 Classic Outback Trial presentation dinner will be at the Renmark Club.
Biiiig day checking over day 2 of the Classic Outback Trial… it was a beautiful sunset out there.
A new stage for COT2014 – Viewmont.
The prologue – a 12 k forest stage near Parkes.
This is the start of the last stage of day 4, Farmcote – a challenging 60K stage. This pic explains why the old hotel on the stage is made of stone… the country really changes dramatically between Ivanhoe and Broken Hill.
Getting advice from the locals on Wonganong.
We’ve found two good short stages between the Broken Hill speedway and Silverton.
Broadmeadows, an amazing new stage for COT 2014
The wheat was sewn 4 weeks ago… will make the tracks much better defined by COT time.
Finish of the 2014 Classic Outback Trial will be at the Angove Family Winemakers Cellar door.
We spent lots of the day dodging road hazards…
Bob and Derryn are our hosts on Viewmont.
Lex is our host on Pine Avenue on day 2.
Fencing wire can be a problem… you really do need to stay on the road!
They were yarding goats when we were at Broadmeadows station.
Trish and Phil (not the one on the picture) are our hosts on El Dorado and Limby
Bill, station owner of Broadmeadows with Julie, and Philip.
Day 5 will be short, ending at the Silverton Hotel.
Leonie and Loraine with Philip at Angove Family Winemakers, sorting arrangements for the end of the 2014 COT.
Another beautiful evening on the track – end of Morning Side, just before Ivanhoe.
The 2014 Classic Outback Trial presentation dinner will be at the Renmark Club.
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COT 2014 March survey – pics from days 1 and 2

Parkes Nissan, venue for scrutiny on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
The Parkes Services Club, the venue for the briefing and our welcome function on Saturday evening.
Heugh, our host at Overland and Emu Chase, with Philip. That’s one of Heugh’s smaller tractors.
We always stop at Utes in the Paddock at Ootha – there is always something to see. This is a service location on the 2014 COT.
Main street of Parkes – this is our start location on Sunday 31 August.
Linda, our hostess at the Comfort Inn Bushman’s, Rally HQ in Parkes.
Saw this number plate on one of the Mercedes at the Bushman’s. We explained the significance of numbers 001, 002 and 003 to Keith.
About 100 Mercedes owners stopped in Parkes on their way to the Gold Coast for a National event. The car park at the Bushman’s was full of Benzes – and one dirty Nissan Patrol that attracted lots of attention.
The spillway below Lake Endeavour near Parkes – some powerful water has been down here. We found this while checking our prologue locations.
The Nissan Fleet survey Patrol at the Henry Parkes Centre – home of Parkes Tourism.
Elvis directing the way to the prologue near Parkes. Thank you very much…
There are some great farm gate letter boxes our here…

See the report on days 1 & 2 here.

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Sydney to London route check, Sept 2013

The COT team is providing the first four days of competition for the Sydney to London Classic Marathon Rally in April 2014. In September 2013 we did a route check and took these pics along the way.

“Gardening” in Back Yamma State Forest, near Forbes
We missed this bloke – just. Lots of emus, kangaroos and goats on Coombah Station this trip.
AN old outstation on Farmcote, near Broken Hill.
Goats are cleverer than sheep and mostly just run away from the road. This one didn’t… he tumbled like a gymnast after we clipped him, got up, did a “tada” and ran away.
Spring in Cowra
Joe at Belvedere is restoring an old dozer. We have a great 18 k stage on his station.
He wouldn’t turn off – and was doing 43 kph…
Slow start to the day… a flat on the way into Avondale, near Broken Hill.
The Renmark Hotel awaits crews at the end of day 4 of the Sydney to London Classic Marathon Rally 2014. It’s also the end of our part of the SLM… we hand off to Ivar and his team to take the SLM through to Perth. We’ve had a good survey week and the first four days of the SLM are shaping up really well.
A fantastic 23k section on Nullogoola starts day 3 for SLM crews.
Lunch at Eugowra – some impressive murals. — in Eugowra, New South Wales.
Coombah – a 58 km stage to start day 4 of the SLM that has everything from fast plains, lots of red sand and some large dunes. Oh yeah – and lots of animals.
Stage finish of Hilliview – with the sun setting. From here into Cobar and a well earned break.
Our shadow for 90 km…
The route runs past an amazing ruin on Farmcote – this is an abandoned hotel at The Springs, an old stage coach stop. We stopped for a beer, but the pub was delicensed in 1893.
Mustering at Comarto… those big boys are Charolais bulls.
A dash through the native pines on Hillview.
Great 57 km stage on Avondale and Farmcote to end day 3 of the SLM.
They were mustering when we arrived at Comarto.
Roadside letter boix near Condoboilin
The whole family gets involved in mustering at Comarto…
The overnight rain caused us some concerns today.
Forest stage, Mt Canobolas State Forest, near Orange. — at Mt Canobolas.
Billabong at Burrawang West.
When it rains in Broken Hill, it really rains – that why there are huuuuge gutters. But, the flooded lanes are useful for washing mud from under the car.
Setting out timing markers; Mt Canolbolas SF.
A 36 km stage on Emu Station. The wheat will be harvested by the time the SLM gets here.
KR at shearing shed… on Burrawang West Station.
We discovered a new outback wildlife hazard today… when it rains the cattle come out of the bush to drink from the puddles.
Interesting geological outcrop on Farmcote.
Silverton Hotel – this is Mad Max country… The SLM crews wont get out here unfortunately.
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2012: Images from the Sweep – Day 6

Gallery
Car 17 45.6km SS24 gearbox tow to end
Sawyers re-starting Leg 6
SS24 lada 23.4 clutch
Car 1 @ 24km in SS23 Wheel bearing noise. Still running. Now 4th last on road
SS23 Start control
Car 10 out for the rest of the event going home retired at lunch gearbox
Sawyers re-starting Leg 6
Car 6 after SS24 broken differential and tail shaft out for rest of event
Day 6 lunch
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2012: Images from the Sweep – Day 4

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Ivanhoe
Car 12 Ivanhoe
Preparing at Ivanhoe
SS17 Start
An officials gathering at the start of Farmcote today: LtoR Chris Jones (Road Crew), Andrew Reddiex (sweep), Gavin Hermann (Recovery), Bob Watson and Dave Johnson (Road Crew and self appointed Officials of the Year) and Alex Ross (Results)
Ivanhoe start
Menindee Lakes
Car 22 cracked diff @ lunch doing weld repair
Breakfast at Ivanhoe
All the mod cons at SS16 finish, Limby
Car 1 Ivanhoe
Sawyers at SS15 Start
Car 22 welding up rear end at Menindee
The tourists
SS19 Finish
Day 4 Ivanhoe Start
Menindee Lunch
Day 4 Ivanhoe Start
Car 3 after stage 17 repaired and going again – steering arm broken
Menindee Lunch
SS17 Start
Straight On
Menindee Lunch