Australasian Safari 2012

[Stagehand]

Well I went ahead and sent in my deposit and expression of interest, thought it might be about time to start a thread on it. Even though its a few months out. Already making a ton of plans and setting things in motion... its a little like standing at the top of the hill and rolling rocks down. They're hard to move at first, and seem like they go pretty slow, but I expect it will crescendo to a roar as it gets closer

Followed Seth's blog thread about it last year with enthusiasm... I've been dreaming for quite a while of participating in an overseas adventure such as this one.

I fully intend to finish this bad boy. Hopefully it will all work out successfully in the end.

Also already meeting a bunch of good folks who are very friendly and helpful, thanks everybody- you've been a great support so far, even this early on.

I figured it would be a good idea to send in the EoI and get that out of the way, and then all the details should work themselves out

Ah well, anything I can do to help, let me know.

Anybody else from the US planning on going, this year?

[crankshaft]

Great news, Looking forward to following your progress! Taking the PD I'm guessing....

[Stagehand]

welp, no... but it is an airhead

A gentleman down there named Paul Rooney offered to let me pilot his bike, down there, in exchange for gas money. He'll be doing service on it, also. I couldnt refuse.

Bike's had its share of tribulations, to be sure, but I have a really good feeling about this one

[crankshaft]

Originally Posted by Stagehand

welp, no... but it is an airhead

A gentleman down there named Paul Rooney offered to let me pilot his bike, down there, in exchange for gas money. He'll be doing service on it, also. I couldnt refuse.

Bike's had its share of tribulations, to be sure, but I have a really good feeling about this one

You+Airhead= Rally glory
It occurs to me based on what I've seen, that if you can ride smart and keep the bike upright, the natural attrition of the rally will provide you a pretty good finish! That's pretty universal with any motorsports I guess

[Stagehand]

Thanks, yes, Airhead or Burst! Keeping it upright is an integral part of my finishing strategy

out of the ditch and off the fence is the initial operating rule.. Most of the bike's prior issues seemed to have stemmed from crash damage. Mechanically it certainly cant be any worse than what I could do to it by myself.


You too, man, you keep that bike running and you'll be doing podium tequlia shots, no doubt. Yee-paaa YEEpaaa! Andele!

[JayBo1]

Looking forward to meeting you down-under Stagehand. You've got my details if there's anything you need. (A can of Orange spray paint and you might even be able to sneak into my pits).
Cheers
JayBo

[Stagehand]

Thanks I will definitely be looking you up

Plans are afoot like mad around here- yes indeed I do need an echo and a EKG. :(
Licenses..
Need to book flights...

Got to get out to California in May for some roadbook practice... more flights and equipment, time off work...

20 miles every other day on a bicycle and 6k runs on the others...


uh.. oh and work, as well.

BUT we have a lot of time to make sure the bike is as good as it gets. No last minute stuff. There is something romantic about prepping my own bike and shipping it and all that, but frankly there's enough to worry about my first time out.
Not to mention it wouldnt even be feasible any other way, right now. WHere the hell else could I get service and a bike ready to go for the cost of gas?

Currently equal parts excited and terrified, with a sine wave regularity


Here's a question: I got a hold of a bit of roadbook from last year's event. I can figure out most of the code, like KRAT and RXR and the like... but is there a key somewhere that would take my guesswork out of it?

[Seth S]

Originally Posted by JayBo1

Looking forward to meeting you down-under Stagehand. You've got my details if there's anything you need. (A can of Orange spray paint and you might even be able to sneak into my pits).
Cheers
JayBo

Have you tried out that computer yet?

[Stagehand]

Google is tracking me

I just put in "Roadbook symbols" and the first result was a SAfari .pdf


http://www.australiansafari.com.au/d...%20Symbols.pdf


How convenient. Thanks, big brother

[Seth S]

Originally Posted by Stagehand

Google is tracking me

I just put in "Roadbook symbols" and the first result was a SAfari .pdf


http://www.australiansafari.com.au/d...%20Symbols.pdf


How convenient. Thanks, big brother

The safari roadbook was easy to learn:

RAR = ruts along road
RXR = ruts across road
KLAT/KRAT = keep right/left of tree

RGR/RGL road goes left/right

CRX creek crossing.
mill = windmill

those were the most common.

[Stagehand]

Originally Posted by Seth S

The safari roadbook was easy to learn:

RAR = ruts along road
RXR = ruts across road
KLAT/KRAT = keep right/left of tree

RGR/RGL road goes left/right

CRX creek crossing.
mill = windmill

those were the most common.

Thank you Seth.

BEing that the race is 21-29 Sept, with the Village opening on the 19th.... It would make sense to leave US on the 15th, get there on the 16th, at night, yeah? Is that about what you did, with a few days to acclimatize?

Probably leave on the 1st or 2st. (30 days has september....) we would have to get from Kalgoorie or where ever back to Perth, yeah?

[SafariBerg]

Originally Posted by Stagehand

Thank you Seth.

BEing that the race is 21-29 Sept, with the Village opening on the 19th.... It would make sense to leave US on the 15th, get there on the 16th, at night, yeah? Is that about what you did, with a few days to acclimatize?

Probably leave on the 1st or 2st. (30 days has september....) we would have to get from Kalgoorie or where ever back to Perth, yeah?

The finish will be 1/2 day drive back to Perth on the Sunday, add a couple of days to chill once the bike is packed, Perth and the south west is really nice in spring !

[Seth S]

get there 4 or 5 days before..leave a couple of days after. flying down was exhausting but it wasnt long to get used to the time.

[Tarheel Wheeler]

Subscribed!

Best of luck Stagehand. Will be really cool to see the airhead rolling at the Safari.

Ref adjusting body clock to time zones...rule of thumb is 1 day for every time zone you cross. That would make for one really sweet vacation in Oz.

[Stagehand]

Originally Posted by Tarheel Wheeler

Subscribed!

Best of luck Stagehand. Will be really cool to see the airhead rolling at the Safari.

Ref adjusting body clock to time zones...rule of thumb is 1 day for every time zone you cross. That would make for one really sweet vacation in Oz.

Thanks a lot, man. It was a real treat to catch you at Sandblast.

I ripped a couple of photos from Safari's facebook page, some of the route they are working on: