OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Competition => Topic started by: noisy toy on June 18, 2010, 10:00:08 pm
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Is anyone interested in a run at next years Finke desert race? I am not sure how i will hold up on my IT 465, but maybe a group of us silly old buggers on our old bikes might do some sort of social ride? Not out to kill myself, just sounds like fun and because it is there! Has anyone done such a silly thing in recent years?
Any thoughts, ideas, criticism most welcome. ;D
Cheers, Shane
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Sounds like a good idea. Ive thought about it. think i would feel safer doing it on 3 wheels though ;) I dont think you can be too lesuirely about it though ??? as they have a time limit for each day. I looked at the results and theres quite a few who were DNF'd because they were out of time. Its on the information on the webiste but i think they give you 4 hours to do each day? i cant exactly remember. Not sure on what your average speed is required to be just work it out by dividing the KM's by time allowed.
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I'm definitely interested, albeit on something a little bit more 'modern'. I think Leith is right about the 4 hour time limit. If you had a complex mechanical problem it could see you exceed the allocated time, let alone being slow and unfit like me!
Any recent entrants able to shed some light on costs involved?
Tex
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Tex, on the website there is a booklet of info about it and it explains a lot of things like how many days your required to be there, reconnisonse trips etc. i think entry fee is about $500.
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i though it was more like 8 hours ? some guys in our club do it every year, if i see them ill ask. I do remember, the prolouge to get your starting place, refueling stops and its a there and back thing, and yer your right its $500 smackers. You could also have a go at the Hattah as a lead up to see if you really want to do the finke.
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Yeah 8 hrs = 4 hours to finke on sunday and 4 hrs back to alice on monday.
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yep just read the regs, if your not in within 4hrs, no second ay, you're out. Pity would love to have a go at that
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You could also have a go at the Hattah as a lead up to see if you really want to do the finke.
I think Hattah is after Finke
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A fellow forum member has just come back from his first Finke event. He finished 245th overall and 14th in his class, so a good first effort. He rode a 2008 KTM 450EXC. He says it cost the best part of $3,000 taking in emtry fee, fuel, food and accomodation plus 2 weeks off work. He said it was the hardet event he's ever done but wll be going back for another one when he turns 45.
Cheers,
K
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I will do Hattah on a vmx bike for sure...Finke is prob just a bit too much involved for me.
i would love to do it on the 490 maico next year or the IT250k..
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You are on drugs if you think you can do the Finke on a Vintage bike. I have just come home from the Finke and it was one of the best thinks I have ever done on two wheels. However I will say it was the most physical thing I have ever done in my life and that was on a modern bike. I intend going back to do it again however I will train and prepare for this gruelling race so differently now I have done it.
You will need to take drugs before you hit the start line on a IT465. I have done Hattah too and it is pretty much the same. HARD on riser and bike.
How will the IT465 handle 80km on woops that can swallow a bike in between them?
By the way I finshed 245 outright & 14th in class
PB
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Hmmm..... you know the Finke has been around since late 70's and people actually rode IT's then. I know someone who did it on a TT500 a couple years ago too and finished. I just think your comments have now given people motivation to proove you wrong ;) :) I reckon it would be good if they had a class for old bikes up to pre 90
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I'm with LWC on this one. I know a guy that did it on a TT500 in '07.
The best thing I heard at the pub the night after, was a guy on a CR500 laughing at how he was passed by some old fart on a Yammy 500 through the whoops. :D :D :D
Approached in the right spirit, an IT would be a good, fun ride, I reckon. Good luck with it! ;D
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hi noisy toy. i am interested in the finke. i would ride my 83 500wr husky. fit a steering damper for sure. I could only be away from work for a week. I am in Rockhampton.
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You know with all the modern shocks and fork upgrades like emulators, springs etc etc you can really make the old bikes handle really good.
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Gday guys,
I have only just moved from Alice springs and have competed in 4 Finkes, best result 46th on a DRZ400.
Back in 2005 i emailed the Finke committee and offered to ride my 79 RM400N for the 30th Anniverary but they weren't interested so instead i raced my RMZ450.
If you want to try Finke on a vintage bike or an older model bike you will need the following:
No1.....$$$$$$$$$$$$ Min $3000......i blew a big end on RMZ450 coming back from Finke, finished 75th and cost me $5500 for the Railway spike they give if you finish.. (l lived in Alice so no accomodation cost)
No2... Long range tank or if your bike can reach 80km, thats where the club fuel stops are, SES people take your fuel to these camps and when you arrive they pass you the gas,,you do it all yourself. I raced with a group of mates and we fuel stopped twice, this is now the norm.
No3.. Suspension ..As soft as possible, having preload / compression adjusters will help soak up all the deep ruts, 1m to 2m soft sand whoops and high speed bumps. Good suspension means you will go faster and safer.
No4..Gearing / Jetting.. Finke is all about speed, my RMZ was geared around 15/43 and I raced twice on a RM125 geared 15/46.
Needle setting around middle, Main jet as big as possible, i would spend hours speed running my 2 stroke to go as fast as possible and be jetted rich but not too rich, also be prepared to change jetting, the weather can change.
No4..Tyres.. Heavy duty tubes and tyres, OZmoto were pretty good and Mich desert.
No5.. Pre running...take 2 weeks off before the race, its really crazy and the dustiest out there for the first 100km, unless your one fast dude you start with 10 other riders including quad bikes, and get stuck behind a quad and you will not see a thing and cough dust for a month.
No6..Prolouge as fast as you can, one year i jumped the prolouge and they started me 455th place by the time i got to Finke i had choked on nearly 300 guys dust that i passed, if you race with guys your own speed you will soon spread out and get some clean air.
N07..Take plenty of spares parts you will need em, if i take my RM400N back to Finke i would have a spare training bike to pre-run and only test the 400 in the whoops and high speed sections only, the sand, dust and the track will destroy a vintage ride in no time.
No8. Holeshot your vintage ride of the start line and the crowd will go crazy... hahahahhahahaha
Hope this helps
Tim
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Toolboy are those whoops permanently there year after year now. ???
Is the same track/line used every year.?
Back in the day it would of been a really nice easier run ! perhaps :-\
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Gday VMX247,
The track has changed alot in the past 5 years, this year there is no more road section and i had heard from mates who were camped at the 150km mark that a grader had knocked the tops of the whoops, but they soon come back with the amount of traffic going over em and is really soft sand down there.
With the road section gone you still need high gearing but better jetting as you will be in softer sand rather than hard pack.
I would be tempted to put my vintage ride in the 40th Anniversary, 2015, maybe we can all get together and make a class, or they can add with the side cars. :)
Tim
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Gday VMX247,
I would be tempted to put my vintage ride in the 40th Anniversary, 2015, maybe we can all get together and make a class, or they can add with the side cars. :)
Tim
Now that is a plan seriously worth looking into.Even for a display.I'll be awaiting my invite lol
A few WA riders here that have done it back in the day along with other desert racing :P
cheers
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I see there is 2010 Finke coverage on TV tonight just after midnight (early Sunday morning 18th July) channel ONE HD
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This has been on a few times in the past week and ive missed all of them :'(. Does any one know if its all been repeats or if its a series over several episodes?