Tubus Racing

GARLAND MOTORSPORT UPDATE 

Bruce Garland, Pelle Wallentheim and the team have arrived in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (see attached map) in readiness for the start of the 2008 Australasian Safari, after driving their D-Max race cars across the middle of Australia from Sydney. 

That’s a distance of around 2810km (1746 miles) as the crow flies, but of course, these boys never do anything via the shortest route! They left Sydney early on Monday morning (August 18) and arrived in Kalgoorlie late last night (August 21).

 Along the way, the team took advantage of some very steep sand dunes to test the D-Max’ climbing capabilities and both Bruce and Pelle are extremely happy with the result. 

“They are sensational in the sand dunes,” Bruce says. 

The crew is also very pleased with the general performance and speed of both of the D-Maxes and the Vehi-Cross which has been completely rebuilt for this event, and are feeling very confident of a strong result. 

Today, Friday, they are getting set up ready for the event, with scrutineering at 1pm WA time. 

[Well-known Australian offroad photo-journalist Ric Williams is travelling with the team and we will have photos from the journey and from the lead-in to the event with tomorrow’s report.] 

The event starts on Sunday morning, with bikes out first (one-minute intervals), followed by the 22 entries in the auto division (two-minute intervals), and then the quads (one-minute intervals). The field will be re-seeded for Day Two following the results from Day One. 

A total of 80 cars, bikes and quad bikes will leave Kalgoorlie for seven days and more than 2700km of competitive stages (4400km in total) on a route that takes them deep into the Western Australian outback. While the exact course remains a secret (a driver’s briefing tonight should reveal some of the mystery), it will take the competitors over desert roads and farm tracks from Kalgoorlie to Perth, via Sandstone, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet and Geraldton.

Promoted by Octagon, and with the support of Eventscorp Western Australia, the Australasian Safari is often referred to as “Australia’s answer to the Dakar Rally”. Just for interest, travelling with the event are:

o    36 satellite phones
o    62 radios
o    7 generators
o    2 semi trailers (toilets and showers)
o    2 equipment vans
o    2 campervans (HQ and Safari Base)
o    1 medical equipment truck
o    And one large inflatable arch