Outback Run

This entry is part 12 of 19 in the series Adventure Rider Issue #30

2018 KTM Australia Adventure Rallye Outback Run 280 riders signed up for KTM’s annual Rallye and ran from 500km south of Darwin down to Alice Springs. For Danny Wilkinson, it was an incredible, mind-blowing eight days.

I don’t think anyone can appreciate how truly expansive this Wide Brown Land is until they venture beyond the coastal fringe. Some would argue that there isn’t much to see once you head inland (it’s lost on New Zealanders in particular) but there’s a rugged simplicity to the land. When you peer out of your swag in the morning to a sunrise that is almost too vivid for your early morning senses to process, or you find yourself staring aimlessly down the Victoria River as its trail of greenery makes its way through harsh landscapes, these are the times when you are thankful to be an Australian and exploring the outback on a motorcycle.

This was one of the great virtues of the recent KTM Australia Adventure Rallye. It attracted riders from all walks of life and showed them vast tracts of inland Australia that only a select few are fortunate enough to see. For some, it was their first taste of proper outback riding and, realistically, it was only made possible by the incredible array of logistics that had been months in the planning.

What started as a lunchtime brain-storming session a few years ago between Jeff Leisk and his good friend Colin Ross materialised into something bigger than I have seen within the motorcycle industry. The sheer responsibility of taking 280 riders into areas where a 500km fuel range doesn’t quite cut it is mind boggling.

Yet, through the seemingly endless enthusiasm from the teams at KTM Australia and North Star Pastoral, they managed to create something really special.

Wilko didn’t complain when they wanted the group photo shot from the chopper.

Highlights

In a week full of things to remember, there were a few that really stood out …

• Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live and work on a remote station. I got a tiny glimpse of another way of life on Maryfield and Limbunya Stations and felt really grateful for the generosity of Colin and Jo from North Star Pastoral. How often do you get to ride a 50km driveway or spend all day riding flowing station tracks without leaving the property? A catch-up day on Day Four saw many taking the option of a shorter ride and a swim at Black Springs. The crystal clear water was (hopefully) croc-free, and when the helicopter swooped in and dropped off extra sausages and supplies for the barbeque I genuinely considered moving there!

Camping on Suplejack Downs Station was a real privilege.

• As a kid I used to try and count the stars in the night sky. I’m pleased I put a halt to that pursuit or my poor little brain would have shut down when we rolled out the swags on a deserted patch of Suplejack Downs Station. Laying there looking up, it was like trying to spot a particular grain of sand on the beach.We were so far from anywhere that could possibly create light pollution and the myriad stars in far-flung galaxies dusted velvet-black sky. I’m keen to take my family through there next year, just so they can see what I saw.

Tim Marriott wasn’t alone in struggling with the rocks in Gregory National Park.

• Dust is the bane of outback adventure riders. After some initial enthusiasm I think everyone worked out how to play the game and it was surprising how often you could find a pocket of clean air. When things didn’t work out, it was great to see groups of mates pulled up having a chat and enjoying a break. The social aspects of an event like this can’t be underestimated. For many, the big attraction is locking in the dates and knowing you’ll to catch up with your extended moto family, even if it’s only once a year.

Jon Page and Brett Downey crossing the Victoria River.
Jeff Leisk cruised through the field acting as an extra, mid-pack sweep and seemed to enjoy the ride.

• The size and scale of this event is probably the closest most mere mortals are going to get to a Dakar Rallye. No, it wasn’t a race and it wasn’t anywhere near as gruelling, but when was the last time you saw a 990 swinging above the trees, suspended from a helicopter? How about rolling into a camp on a rocky plane in the middle of nowhere to find chefs serving up a hearty selection of soups, salads and a mixed grill from a custom-built, KTM-branded shipping container? This was no ordinary outback ride and it’s not likely to be repeated in a hurry due to the enormity of running an event in such remote surroundings.

Rolling in to camp at Suplejack Downs Station.
Stars. There were too many to count.
The mechanics knowing that all the bikes were sorted before dinner.
Liam Pelly did his best to stay out of the doghouse for missing his wedding anniversary.

Travelling circus

An aerial view of Maryfield Station and the awesome orange KTM swags.

An event of this size is a huge logistical under-taking and it was great to hang out by the side of the Victoria River, shooting photos and watching the following roll through:

• 280 riders (including KTM Ambassadors Chris Birch and Daniel Milner, along with 30 bike-mounted staff consisting of lead riders, sweeps, medics and media)
• A road train, driven by Jo, to transport swags, showers and food supplies
• A road train to transport the kitchen container, food cooler, lights and generator
• A custom-built camp kitchen housed in a shipping container
• Three helicopters transporting an RFDS doctor and extracting riders and bikes where necessary
• A 4WD RFDS ambulance and paramedics
• A ‘Dakar’ technical support truck and five mechanics, including Factory tech Clemens Maschler
• A ‘Dakar’ tyre support truck from Overlanders Motorcycle Event Support
• A Motorex 4WD support vehicle. Nathan Howie and Aaron Marks had their work cut out cleaning filters.
• A fuel truck
• A 4WD recovery vehicle. Rodney Frank couldn’t ride this year so he volunteered to help out with his mate Bryce Gakowski
• Various 4WD support vehicles to transport supplies and staff. In addition, the bikes and riders had to arrive there in the first place. Many chose the time-saving option of freighting bikes up with Bikes Only Transport.

Broadarrow

There was an air of nervous energy floating through the camp at Humbert River Station. Perched on the verge of the Gregory National Park, organisers had arranged permission to access the Broadarrow Track before it’s opening after the wet season.

The briefing was straight to the point, in a manner that those with outback dust in their veins have perfected: “It is only for confident riders and be prepared for a big day. If things don’t go to plan, you’ll be sleeping beside the bike until we come and pull you out with the helicopter in the morning.”

I’d hardly put myself in the confident category, but armed with thermals, water and food I headed out early and kept plodding over the course of the day. I had a couple of altercations with gravity at slow speeds and the sandy sections really messed with my head, but I knew it was going to be one of those days where it was worth pushing yourself.

I watched as mid-pack sweep, Brett ‘Sak’ Downey, rode six bikes up a rocky pinch that was claiming victims early in the day. Later in the afternoon Frank Bremer was stranded with a damaged radiator, but with the help of Wayne Gorsch performed some creative engineering and got going again.

A bit further on I met Troy Daley and Jason Haas who’d made it through earlier (it turned out the track was okay if you ride extreme enduros in your spare time) and commandeered a station ute with a drum of fuel to help out a couple of riders whose fuel economy suffered in the deep sand.

And then there were the sweeps. John ‘Sprocket’ Povey, Greg ‘Grego’ Terry, Glen ‘Huffy’ Hough, Brendon Roberts and Con Thermos. You’d struggle to meet a better bunch of blokes on adventure bikes anywhere in the world, and when it looked like some of the pack were going to camp the night, they dug in and kept things moving.

It was a close one though, and I would’ve loved to have seen the looks on their faces as helicopter pilot David Adamson dropped in a few supplies in case they couldn’t make it work. He needn’t have worried though. They arrived at Limbunya Station with the last of the riders around 9.00pm.

Just another day for Fred Butterworth on Maryfield Station.
Brendon Carre crossing the Victoria River.
Bruce Austin picking his way through the Spear Grass on the Broadarrow track.

All winners

Stopping for fuel in the remote communities of Lajamanu and Yuendumu towards the end of the Rallye meant mobile reception for some and an opportunity to have a bit of fun with the local kids. Footballs were kicked, stickers swapped and when KTM Ambassador Chris Birch did a couple of his trademark, walking-pace, vertical wheelies they all thought we should be racing Finke. It turned out a couple of Rallye goers did have a crack at it and made it through unscathed.

Many went through the week without encountering any snakes, but I saw plenty and I was conscious of where I perched with the camera each time I stopped. Reigning AORC champion, Daniel Milner, was along for his first foray into adventure riding and was welcomed by a brown snake wanting share his swag on the first day. As the consummate brand ambassador, he used his trusty KTM camping chair to persuade the snake to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

Finishing the Rallye in Alice Springs in time to catch the spectacle of the Finke Desert Race was a great way to cap off the ride. It didn’t hurt that KTM filled the podium, either.

Sunrise on Suplejack Downs Station.

Attrition rate

You probably won’t see this on your next trail ride.

Central Australia is a harsh environment and unfortunately there were a few injuries, particularly on the first day as riders struggled to come to terms with outback riding.

Five riders were transported out, but the reassurance of fast and effective medical attention via the bike-mounted medics from Racesafe, Royal Flying Doctor Service 4WD Ambulance and Doctor David Lamond in the helicopter ensured every-one was on the mend. It was this level of backup and preparation that really showed how much thought and planning had gone into the event.

One of the Racesafe Medics, Michael Thumm, applying some first aid by the side of the trail. The event raised $108,000 for the RFDS.