June survey trip

June 17, 2014 SteveH

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.

Bob and Derryn are our hosts on Viewmont.

A new stage for COT2014 – Viewmont.

The wheat was sewn 4 weeks ago… will make the tracks much better defined by COT time.

We spent lots of the day dodging road hazards…

The 2014 Classic Outback Trial presentation dinner will be at the Renmark Club.

Lex is our host on Pine Avenue on day 2.

Biiiig day checking over day 2 of the Classic Outback Trial… it was a beautiful sunset out there.

Leonie and Loraine with Philip at Angove Family Winemakers, sorting arrangements for the end of the 2014 COT.

Day 5 will be short, ending at the Silverton Hotel.

Trish and Phil (not the one on the picture) are our hosts on El Dorado and Limby

Broadmeadows, an amazing new stage for COT 2014

We’ve found two good short stages between the Broken Hill speedway and Silverton.

Fencing wire can be a problem… you really do need to stay on the road!

The 2014 Classic Outback Trial presentation dinner will be at the Renmark Club.

Getting advice from the locals on Wonganong.

Finish of the 2014 Classic Outback Trial will be at the Angove Family Winemakers Cellar door.

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.

Another beautiful evening on the track – end of Morning Side, just before Ivanhoe.

Bill, station owner of Broadmeadows with Julie, and Philip.

They were yarding goats when we were at Broadmeadows station.

News

COT March survey – days 1 and 2

March 26, 2014 SteveH

We have had a good start to the COT 2014 March survey – we have sorted some important arrangements in Parkes at the same time, we’ve managed to do what we need to do without weather impact.

Continue reading →

galleries

COT 2014 March survey – pics from days 1 and 2

March 26, 2014 SteveH

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.

Survey car at Utes in the Paddock, Ootha

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.

Philip and Linda at the Comfort Inn Bushman's, Rally HQ in Parkes.

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.

Mercedes Benzes at the Bushman's in Parkes.

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.

spillway at lake endeavour, showing significant water erosion.

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…

A letter box made out of scrap to look like a miniature tractor

There are some great farm gate letter boxes our here…

See the report on days 1 & 2 here.

News

Vale Kevin Shaw

January 3, 2014 SteveH 1 Comment

It is with great sadness we advise that Kevin Shaw, Competitor Relations Officer for the 2008 Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial and all three Classic Outback Trials, passed away on 2 January. Aged 70 he had a short illness resulting from cancer.

A Tasmanian, Kevin was very involved in all forms of the sport throughout his adult life in that state, including being a member of the CAMS State Council for many years. On a national level he was a CAMS Director for 12 years.

Kevin was greatly respected for his honesty and integrity in any dealings he had with people, these being issues in which he placed the highest value. His wisdom, much sought after, and passion for the sport will be missed by many.

He was a gentle man, but firm when required to be so, and very few people ever heard him say a cross word, or raise his voice.

Over the past 20 years Kevin acted as Clerk of Course Tom Snooks’ right-hand and left-hand man in many events – Targa Tasmania, 1995 Mobil and 1998 Playstation Round Australia Trials, Australian Safaris and Grand Prix Rallies conducted under Octagon, Bega Valley Rally, the Classic Outback Trials and other events. Together, they established and conducted the headquarters for these events, which involved the administration and rally control, and his contribution ensured smoothly run activities.

Kevin also assisted numerous others in the conduct of their events.

Our thoughts are with Kevin’s family and friends at this difficult time.

Kevin will be missed.

galleries

Sydney to London route check, Sept 2013

October 11, 2013 SteveH

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.

Silverton Hotel – this is Mad Max country… The SLM crews wont get out here unfortunately.

We missed this bloke – just. Lots of emus, kangaroos and goats on Coombah Station this trip.

Interesting geological outcrop on Farmcote.

Roadside letter boix near Condoboilin

The whole family gets involved in mustering at Comarto…

AN old outstation on Farmcote, near Broken Hill.

Forest stage, Mt Canobolas State Forest, near Orange. — at Mt Canobolas.

He wouldn’t turn off – and was doing 43 kph…

A fantastic 23k section on Nullogoola starts day 3 for SLM crews.

A dash through the native pines on Hillview.

We discovered a new outback wildlife hazard today… when it rains the cattle come out of the bush to drink from the puddles.

Setting out timing markers; Mt Canolbolas SF.

Great 57 km stage on Avondale and Farmcote to end day 3 of the SLM.

Joe at Belvedere is restoring an old dozer. We have a great 18 k stage on his station.

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.

Slow start to the day… a flat on the way into Avondale, near Broken Hill.

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.

“Gardening” in Back Yamma State Forest, near Forbes

KR at shearing shed… on Burrawang West Station.

Lunch at Eugowra – some impressive murals. — in Eugowra, New South Wales.

The overnight rain caused us some concerns today.

A 36 km stage on Emu Station. The wheat will be harvested by the time the SLM gets here.

Mustering at Comarto… those big boys are Charolais bulls.

Billabong at Burrawang West.

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.

Spring in Cowra

They were mustering when we arrived at Comarto.

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.

Our shadow for 90 km…

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.