2009 safari as seen by ECKS

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  • #147281

    Greg
    Member

    McDonald’s pepper rescues Safari leader

    Australasian Safari leader Jacob Smith has used his bush mechanic skills and a sachet of McDonald’s pepper to help maintain his lead in the motorbike section of the seven-day, 3600 kilometre motoring marathon.

    Smith holed the radiator of his Honda 30 kilometres into the first stage of the day, but added the pepper and rode the remaining 450 kilometres of the day without problems, preserving his well-earned lead over of his brother, Todd.

    Two-time Australasian Safari winner Ben Grabham is looming as Smith’s greatest threat with two days to go. Riding a KTM, he dominated day five of the Safari, reducing Jacob Smith’s lead by nearly 18 minutes as the event did a three stage loop out of Laverton in the Western Australian outback.

    The Czech Republic’s Josef Machacek continues to be the class of the quad bike field and is well on track to take victory on his Safari debut. The five-time Dakar Rally quad bike winner is a commanding 57 minutes ahead of Victorian Paul Smith.

    There was big drama in the auto section when former V8 Supercar driver, Paul Weel, saw his 13 minute overnight lead disappear when he retired his Holden Colorado with gearbox problems on the second stage, handing the lead to 2008 winner Steve Riley in a Mitsubishi.

    Day five saw the competitors covering over 460 competitive kilometres, including a trip through the Great Victoria Desert, with plenty of sand dunes to negotiate in the rough and rugged country.

    After his tyre problems on day two of the event saw him drop to 24th place, over an hour from the lead, most thought that Ben Grabham’s chances of a third straight motorbike victory were gone. However, the factory KTM rider has made staggering progress on the three days since.

    He won the massive 250 kilometre stage that started the day, and was then second quickest on the remaining two high speed tests. With just two days to go, he now sits just over 33 minutes behind the Honda of leader Jacob Smith, and just over five minutes behind Smith’s brother, Todd.

    While Grabham has been the pace setter, Jacob Smith must now concentrate on staying out of trouble, knowing the reigning champ is now within striking distance.

    “It’s been a tough day at the office, but I got through it,” Jacob Smith said. “I lost some time to Ben (Grabham) today, but overall the bike was good.

    “My plan is to get to the end of tomorrow and take no risks, and hopefully I’ll still be in the lead.”

    Smith is suffering from a corked thigh, but says the injury is not slowing him down.

    His brother Todd, riding a KTM, won the final stage of the day, but perhaps more importantly he dropped over 24 minutes to the charging Grabham over the day’s stages. With the pair now separated by just over five minutes, Smith will be looking over his shoulder, although one suspects that Grabham has his sights on the number one position.

    “There was some tricky navigation today, but that’s the whole point of the race,” Grabham said. “I’ve learned from experience how to deal with that.

    “I’ll try and get back more time over the next two days and claw back enough to take the lead,” he added, still confident of winning.

    NSW rider Tim Vandenberg was fourth heading into today’s tests, but blew his engine on the first stage and will take no further part in the marathon.

    That has elevated the West Australian, Ivan Erceg, into fourth place on a KTM, fourth minutes clear of South Australian Justin Nelligan.

    “It’s going great,” Erceg said. “I’m riding like I ride with my mates – flat out. Tomorrow will be tough with difficult navigation as there are lots of bike tracks and mining tracks around Kalgoorlie.

    “I’m rapt to be placed where I am as I have a smaller bike than my rivals, with a lot less top speed.”

    Machacek won two of the three stages in the quad bike category and once again managed to steer clear of the rocks and sand dunes that make the WA outback such a challenge for Australasian Safari competitors.

    The 52-year old off-road legend has used all his experience to set up his lead, despite not always being the fastest rider over the first five days.

    His rivals, including team-mate Martin Plechaty, WA’s Heath Young and Victorian Paul Smith, have often been quicker, but have lacked Machacek’s consistency.

    New auto class leader, Steve Riley, has made steady progress over the first five days in the car that took him to victory last year. With the demise of Paul Weel, he has his sights set on the Kalgoorlie finish on Saturday, and back-to-back wins.

    “Today was a battle between the dairy farmer (Riley) and the Supercar driver (Weel),” Riley grinned. “We both challenged hard, but then Paul broke a transfer case and we were able to back off our pace a little bit from then on.

    “The track was fascinating today and there were some great roads. It was tricky going through the old mine sites and I’m expecting another tough day tomorrow.”

    American Josh Hall, on his Safari debut, has pushed his 3500 kilogram Hummer H2 SUT hard, and the four-time Baja 1000 winner is learning the intricacies of the course and his well credentialed rivals.

    “I’ve had a good day, although we took it easy on the first stage and ended up with two flats,” Hall said. “After that I stood on the gas and did a lot better, so perhaps we just need to go flat out all the time.

    “There was some beautiful scenery today, but we didn’t have much time to admire it. These guys are terribly competitive, everybody in the field is smart, the top cars are beautifully built, professionally crewed and have top drivers,” he added, in glowing praise of the event and his rivals.

    Tommorrow’s three stages cover 392 competitive kilometres on many tight and overgrown tracks as the remaining cars, bikes and quads make their way from Laverton to Kalgoorlie.

    Australasian Safari – Results end Day 5

    MOTO
    1 Jacob SMITH (NSW), Honda CRF 450 X, 16h 48m 00s
    2 Todd SMITH (NSW), KTM 530 EXC, +27m 48s
    3 Ben GRABHAM (NSW), KTM 530 EXC, +33m 06s
    4 Ivan ERCEG (WA), KTM 450 EXC, +1h 26m 29s
    5 Justin NELLIGAN (SA), KTM 530 EXC, +1h 30m 28s

    TB

    #147283

    Greg
    Member

    Watch the guy on the bike at the 20 second mark, gets bitten by the back end :ohmy: , can anyone work out what brand or bike it is?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OzvSpDTjy8&feature=channel_page

    TB

    #147284

    glenn
    Member

    Trailboss wrote:

    Quote:
    McDonald’s pepper rescues Safari leader

    Australasian Safari leader Jacob Smith has used his bush mechanic skills and a sachet of McDonald’s pepper to help maintain his lead in the motorbike section of the seven-day, 3600 kilometre motoring marathon.

    Smith holed the radiator of his Honda 30 kilometres into the first stage of the day, but added the pepper and rode the remaining 450 kilometres of the day without problems, preserving his well-earned lead over of his brother, Todd.

    Two-time Australasian Safari winner Ben Grabham is looming as Smith’s greatest threat with two days to go. Riding a KTM, he dominated day five of the Safari, reducing Jacob Smith’s lead by nearly 18 minutes as the event did a three stage loop out of Laverton in the Western Australian outback.

    The Czech Republic’s Josef Machacek continues to be the class of the quad bike field and is well on track to take victory on his Safari debut. The five-time Dakar Rally quad bike winner is a commanding 57 minutes ahead of Victorian Paul Smith.

    There was big drama in the auto section when former V8 Supercar driver, Paul Weel, saw his 13 minute overnight lead disappear when he retired his Holden Colorado with gearbox problems on the second stage, handing the lead to 2008 winner Steve Riley in a Mitsubishi.

    Day five saw the competitors covering over 460 competitive kilometres, including a trip through the Great Victoria Desert, with plenty of sand dunes to negotiate in the rough and rugged country.

    After his tyre problems on day two of the event saw him drop to 24th place, over an hour from the lead, most thought that Ben Grabham’s chances of a third straight motorbike victory were gone. However, the factory KTM rider has made staggering progress on the three days since.

    He won the massive 250 kilometre stage that started the day, and was then second quickest on the remaining two high speed tests. With just two days to go, he now sits just over 33 minutes behind the Honda of leader Jacob Smith, and just over five minutes behind Smith’s brother, Todd.

    While Grabham has been the pace setter, Jacob Smith must now concentrate on staying out of trouble, knowing the reigning champ is now within striking distance.

    “It’s been a tough day at the office, but I got through it,” Jacob Smith said. “I lost some time to Ben (Grabham) today, but overall the bike was good.

    “My plan is to get to the end of tomorrow and take no risks, and hopefully I’ll still be in the lead.”

    Smith is suffering from a corked thigh, but says the injury is not slowing him down.

    His brother Todd, riding a KTM, won the final stage of the day, but perhaps more importantly he dropped over 24 minutes to the charging Grabham over the day’s stages. With the pair now separated by just over five minutes, Smith will be looking over his shoulder, although one suspects that Grabham has his sights on the number one position.

    “There was some tricky navigation today, but that’s the whole point of the race,” Grabham said. “I’ve learned from experience how to deal with that.

    “I’ll try and get back more time over the next two days and claw back enough to take the lead,” he added, still confident of winning.

    NSW rider Tim Vandenberg was fourth heading into today’s tests, but blew his engine on the first stage and will take no further part in the marathon.

    That has elevated the West Australian, Ivan Erceg, into fourth place on a KTM, fourth minutes clear of South Australian Justin Nelligan.

    “It’s going great,” Erceg said. “I’m riding like I ride with my mates – flat out. Tomorrow will be tough with difficult navigation as there are lots of bike tracks and mining tracks around Kalgoorlie.

    “I’m rapt to be placed where I am as I have a smaller bike than my rivals, with a lot less top speed.”

    Machacek won two of the three stages in the quad bike category and once again managed to steer clear of the rocks and sand dunes that make the WA outback such a challenge for Australasian Safari competitors.

    The 52-year old off-road legend has used all his experience to set up his lead, despite not always being the fastest rider over the first five days.

    His rivals, including team-mate Martin Plechaty, WA’s Heath Young and Victorian Paul Smith, have often been quicker, but have lacked Machacek’s consistency.

    New auto class leader, Steve Riley, has made steady progress over the first five days in the car that took him to victory last year. With the demise of Paul Weel, he has his sights set on the Kalgoorlie finish on Saturday, and back-to-back wins.

    “Today was a battle between the dairy farmer (Riley) and the Supercar driver (Weel),” Riley grinned. “We both challenged hard, but then Paul broke a transfer case and we were able to back off our pace a little bit from then on.

    “The track was fascinating today and there were some great roads. It was tricky going through the old mine sites and I’m expecting another tough day tomorrow.”

    American Josh Hall, on his Safari debut, has pushed his 3500 kilogram Hummer H2 SUT hard, and the four-time Baja 1000 winner is learning the intricacies of the course and his well credentialed rivals.

    “I’ve had a good day, although we took it easy on the first stage and ended up with two flats,” Hall said. “After that I stood on the gas and did a lot better, so perhaps we just need to go flat out all the time.

    “There was some beautiful scenery today, but we didn’t have much time to admire it. These guys are terribly competitive, everybody in the field is smart, the top cars are beautifully built, professionally crewed and have top drivers,” he added, in glowing praise of the event and his rivals.

    Tommorrow’s three stages cover 392 competitive kilometres on many tight and overgrown tracks as the remaining cars, bikes and quads make their way from Laverton to Kalgoorlie.

    Australasian Safari – Results end Day 5

    MOTO
    1 Jacob SMITH (NSW), Honda CRF 450 X, 16h 48m 00s
    2 Todd SMITH (NSW), KTM 530 EXC, +27m 48s
    3 Ben GRABHAM (NSW), KTM 530 EXC, +33m 06s
    4 Ivan ERCEG (WA), KTM 450 EXC, +1h 26m 29s
    5 Justin NELLIGAN (SA), KTM 530 EXC, +1h 30m 28s

    TB

    How many people have just put pepper in their backpacs,,,I know I just did.. once again thanks for the updates..

    Bonny

    #147300

    Trailboss wrote:

    Quote:
    Watch the guy on the bike at the 20 second mark, gets bitten by the back end :ohmy: , can anyone work out what brand or bike it is?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OzvSpDTjy8&feature=channel_page

    TB

    Well that a hard call but, the bike that in the cam with ok is a Hondabut is that ambo’s help bike or the riders with the Green OK on the handle bars TB you tell us if you know more.

    Looks like may have really hurt as well!

    Dr D

    #147302

    Trent
    Member

    Anyone care to explain how the pepper works?

    #147303

    I think it was AJ Roberts (CRF 450)doing his shoulder.

    Go Dave and Go Ecks! Great effort so far for some ordinary blokes living the dream.:lol:

    Dave is reported as having finished the first section today in pretty good time so no dramas by the look.

    #147326

    Toby
    Member

    Austblue wrote:

    Quote:
    Anyone care to explain how the pepper works?

    The pepper is added to the coolant and when it tries to flow out of the leak it blocks it up. Works on the same principle as commercial radiator fix its. Never used it it , have heard of it though. Only works for small hairline fractures.

    Soap is is the other thing you die hards should carry, apparently it can be used to stop fuel leaks in the tank as it freezes when in contact with fuel. Do not add the soap to your fuel, simply rub it into the crack.

    #147328

    glenn
    Member
    #147301

    Wayne
    Member
    Quote:
    Watch the guy on the bike at the 20 second mark, gets bitten by the back end , can anyone work out what brand or bike it is?

    I Don’t know, I tried to paste the Day 4 video, but I’m not clever enough!

    TB

    Gee,

    That looks familiar TB – Where have I seen/ felt that sort of crash before?

    At least he stayed conscience!

    Crash

    #147422

    Safari Results for you guys
    Check where these boys are at:
    Pos No Crew Vehicle Total

    1 27 SMITH Honda
    CRF 450 X 20:15:17

    2 85 SMITH KTM
    530 EXC 20:40:39

    3 1 GRABHAM KTM
    530 EXC 20:42:20

    4 89 ERCEG KTM
    450 EXC 22:01:59

    5 7 SCHWARZ Husaberg
    TBA 22:32:22

    6 74 GRIFFITHS KTM
    530 EXC 23:00:41

    7 8 COAKER Husaberg
    FE 570 23:19:31

    8 64 BEAVIS Honda
    CRF 450 X 23:22:09

    9 9 HARSLETT Honda
    CRF 450 X 23:57:42

    10 24 BLAIR KTM
    Rally Factory Replica 24:52:41

    11 66 BAKKER Suzuki
    DRZ 400 E 25:43:26

    12 81 FARRELL KTM
    530 EXC 25:54:01

    There is a mixed bag of bikes there, looks like the top guys will be finishing very close tomorrow.

    Dr D

    #147427

    Greg
    Member

    Dr D wrote:

    Quote:
    Safari Results for you guys
    Check where these boys are at:
    Pos No Crew Vehicle Total

    1 27 SMITH Honda
    CRF 450 X 20:15:17

    2 85 SMITH KTM
    530 EXC 20:40:39

    3 1 GRABHAM KTM
    530 EXC 20:42:20

    4 89 ERCEG KTM
    450 EXC 22:01:59

    There is a mixed bag of bikes there, looks like the top guys will be finishing very close tomorrow.

    Dr D

    The last day the run to the finish is basically a couple of very short competitive stages and then a transport, with the Honda having a 25 min lead back to 2nd its not really close given the short competitives, they will make some time on him for sure as he will be cruising to cover his arse.

    I think given the short sections Benny (3rd)will struggle to pull back the two minutes on Todd (2nd) but I hope he can, 3rd to 4th is two hours so nothing happening there

    We will see what happens

    TB

    #147434

    glenn
    Member

    i just want a drz in the top 15,,top 10 would be nice too.

    #147435

    glenn
    Member

    that would be the worst feeling ,,how far would have they ran without rubber, don`t they run something like a runflat tyre.. rim sponser would be handy for this event.. sunrairer.jpg

    #147100

    Greg
    Member

    crash wrote:

    Quote:
    ####JACOB SMITH WINS THE SAFARI ON HIS HONDA CRF450####

    (pasted most from site)

    Smith becomes youngest ever Safari winner

    Twenty-year old Condobolin rider, Jacob Smith, has become the youngest ever winner of the Australasian Safari after dominating the seven-day event, which finished in the Western Australian gold mining city of Kalgoorlie today.

    Riding a Honda CRF 450X, Smith took the lead on the third of the event’s 19 timed stages and finished the 3771 kilometre event 14 minutes and 18 seconds ahead of his brother, Todd Smith, riding a KTM. Defending champion, Ben Grabham, also on a KTM, was third, three minutes 30 seconds further back.

    The final day of the off-road marathon saw competitors tackle two stages on a 165 kilometre loop out of the gold mining city of Kalgoorlie. Navigational skills were really tested over a number of tricky station tracks.

    Ben Grabham started the event as hot favourite in the bike section after winning the past two Safaris, but his hopes of a third straight win ended on day two when he lost a rear tyre and dropped over an hour to the Smith brothers.

    From then on, Jacob Smith controlled the event, and the third year apprentice linesman was elated with his victory.

    “It’s fantastic to beat to Ben (Grabham) as he’s the best rider in Australia,” Smith said. “Any time you can beat him it’s a good achievement. It’s my third Safari, so it’s third time lucky – I was second in 2007, and had an engine failure last year.”

    While he wasn’t the event favourite, Smith was always aiming for victory.

    “I always race to win, I don’t do it for second, but it was such a strong field it was always going to be tough. But after the first few days I knew I could do it.”

    Having his 24-year old brother in second place was an added bonus.

    “We work together, even though we’re on different teams, and we support each other,” Smith said. “We always wanted to be 1-2, it was just a case of who was first and who was second.”

    Anything but a full-time professional rider, Smith will be back at work on Monday morning, less than 48 hours after his historic victory.

    Fourth placed Ivan Erceg was the first Western Australian rider home on his KTM, easily taking his best ever Safari result. He finished over half an hour clear of South Australian David Scwharz on a Husaberg.

    “Coming into the event I was hoping for a top ten finish, but I never thought I’d be this high. I’m stoked with the result,” Erceg said.

    Swedish rider, Annie Seel, relished her first Safari experience, and reaped praise on the event and her fellow-competitors.

    “I think if you want to do the Dakar in Argentina then you need to do this event first as a training event,” the 40-year old veteran said. “I’m going to try to sell the event back home and get more competitors for next year.

    “I was particularly impressed by how fast the locals ride with the navigation. An Aussie team in the Dakar could do very well. For me, this event was as tough as the Dakar.”

    Final results, 2009 Australasian Safari (provisional)

    MOTO
    1 Jacob SMITH (NSW), Honda CRF 450 X, 22h 58m 09s
    2 Todd SMITH (NSW), KTM 530 EXC, +14m 18s
    3 Ben GRABHAM (NSW), KTM 530 EXC, +17m 48s
    4 Ivan ERCEG (WA), KTM 450 EXC, +1h 58m 57s
    5 David SCHWARZ (SA), Husaberg, +2hrs 32m 25s

    It looks like Ecks relo, David Finlay on his 610 Husky, finished 27th of the 41 who finished, from the 54 who started last Sunday – TOP EFFORT, WELL DONE, SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD! – I RECKON!

    Crash

    So there you go Honda win again :)

    TB

    #147600

    Anonymous

    i thought you were rooting for ‘benny’? something about benny kicking honda’s butt?

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