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COT survey – July 2015

Our third survey trip for the 2016 Classic Outback Trial was in July 2015. Here’s some pictures from that trip…

Chris and Debra at the Central Australian Rally Sport Club.
The Rodinga siding…
At Bushy Park, north of Alice Springs
Roads get sandy as we head south and get nearer the Simpson Desert.
Undoolya Station…
We start and finish each day under the portico at the Convention Centre – except for the start of day 1.
Spectacular Rainbow Valley…
A spring in our path…
Phil with Ben and Nicole at Undoolya.
The view of the East MacDonnells from Lasseters.
Andy and Phil at The Garden – and yes, Phil’s map has been pixellated to protect the innocent.
Stuarts Well specials…
This local watched carefully as we opened a gate…
Gem Tree will be a service break.
Amazing views as we return to Alice Springs
The old Owen Springs homestead
Justin at Maryvale.
At Stuarts Well…
“I can see for miles and miles and miles…”
Spectacular country on The Garden
Hard at work on The Garden
Club night at the CARS club…
This is how they muster…
Carmel made us welcome at Gem Tree… The Gem room is very impressive.
Bill at Deep Well Station.
The might be some spares out there…
A beautiful gorge…
Shut the gate!
There’s a postcard on every stage…
mmm… this doesn’t work from this side.
Farm transport… There’s also Cessna in the shed.
Yep, we’ve been made very welcome…
Club night at the CARS club…
Phil with Sam at Bushy Park
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COT Survey – May 2015

Some pics from our event survey trip in May 2015.

On Undoolya Station, E of Alice Springs
The Central Australian Rally Sport Club in Alice Springs.
Route planning at Hamilton Downs LtoR Alister, Mary, Phil and Tony
Georgina Range, east of Alice Springs.
Our hosts at the Central Australian Rally Sport Club – Chris (L) and Phil – President and Vice-President.
Amazing landscapes… part of the MacDonnell Ranges
Near Old Ambalindum Station, NE of Alice Springs
Great roads… this one just south of Alice Springs.
At Old Ambalindum Station, making plans for the COT. LtoR: Emily and daughter, Darren. Phil and Chantal. Old Ambalindum homestead in the background.
Harts Range in the distance
An abandoned movie set appears out of nowhere…
A bit more undulating and heading towards gold country.
A bit sandy here, heading into a wide river crossing.
A great stage track past the yards…
South of Alice, getting close to the Simpson Desert.
The original Old Ambalindum homestead.
Imagine this full of floodwater!
Phil with Ken – the President of the Off Road Club.
Richie at the Grape Farm helped us with a flat.
Great service and lunch facilities at the Off Road Club.
Mordred Pound
Amazing views…
How did they get them up there?
Ever changing landscapes. And no, not Nevada, SE of Alice
Great roads, great landscapes…
Heading into Mordred Pound. Wont be a COT stage, but we enjoyed exploring it.
News, videos

The Classic Outback Trial YouTube channel is now open!

We’ve finally got out YouTube channel into a bit of shape.

You can re-live the 2014 Classic Outback Trial by re-watching all the video reports from the event by our COT roving reporters, Alan Baker and Geoff Hale. Plus there are survey clips from the current event, some clips from the Sydney to London and a playlist of fantastic COT videos put up on YouTube by others.

It’s a great way to kill a few hours… 😎

watch_us_on_youtubeCheck us out on YouTube – and subscribe so you get to know about new videos.

Here’s something to get you in the mood – a bit of spirited in-car from the 2014 event:  Matt Lee and Cathy Elliot on their way to fastest time on Murda, the last stage on day 1.

 

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Race Retro trip

In February 2015 the COT team exhibited at the Race Retro Historic Motorsport show in Coventry, England. Here are some pics from the trip. See Philip’s report on the trip.

Warren Briggs’ Mustang on the COT stand at Race Retro
Sydney to London Tuthill Porsche drew attention on the COT stand
David and Sarah Rayner’s garage wall. Wow.
It happens wherever he goes…
Quite a shed full…
Francis Tuthill (L) and Philip Bernadou on the Classic Outback Trial stand at Race Retro.
We’re the self preservation so-ci-ety…
An impressive line up…
At Race Retro…
Out of focus, but impressive nonetheless.
Complete with battle marks… and local colour.
How long are you going for?
WRC winning Focus
Thunderbirds are Go! At the Heritage Motor Centre, in Gaydon.
Ready for business
David and Sarah Rayner, competitors in the 2014 COT, with Ian and Philip
We have visitors…
Francis hard at work…
Hall 3 at Race Retro
Project underway at Tuthill’s
An important visitor…
Ari Vatenan and Ian Swan
The Tuthill Porsche was for sale at race Retro. A perfect COT car…
At Race Retro…
News

Director’s cut: A hectic start to 2015…

An update from COT 2016 Event Director, Philip Bernadou.

Work really is well under way on the 2016 event. January and February have been very busy with getting the book out and a fabulous trip to the Race Retro historic motorsport expo in the UK. There will be a report and some pics from that on the website shortly.

pic of Francis Tuthill and Philip Bernadou at Race Retro

Francis Tuthill (L) and Philip Bernadou on the Classic Outback Trial stand at Race Retro.

Our focus now is very much on how we can put together a bigger and better 2016 event. Make no mistake, the event focus is on the CLASSIC Outback Trial. But, my accountant has stipulated that the event has to be profitable, so expanding the event to include other categories will hopefully provide an increase in entries.

Steve Hollowood and I will be heading off to Alice at the end of April to put the event on the road. The trip conducted in June last year with Bob Watson and Bob Carpenter laid the groundwork by contacting all the property owners and obtaining the necessary assistance of shires, property owners etc required to run an event of this size.

As the event gets bigger and demands more time, we have added another member to our organising team, Steuart Snooks, in the role of Functions Coordinator. Steuart has navigated in the Red Centre to Gold Coast and several COT events and is the son of our Clerk of Course of course… Welcome on board Steuart.

To keep our organising team fired up it would be great to have some idea about who is going to have a run in the 2016 Classic Outback Trial.

We have 10 nominations to date but an indication of intentions will keep the aforementioned accountant and the team very happy. A quick email to me at philip@classicoutbacktrial.com.au would be very welcome!

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter channels for pics from our survey. Steve and I are both looking forward to it!

Regards
Philip Bernadou