A Navigational Rally for Offroad Vehicles held at Condobolin, the Centre of NSW
Friday 11th - Sunday 13th April 2014
The Condo 750 is my favourite event of the year. After months of preparation of the Superboot RV2 by Peter Calvert and myself, which included revalving of shocks and a fresh motor, fitting of all necessary equipment required for a cross country rally and an unregistered vehicle permit obtained from RMS (about $20 for a UVP for three days, which gives you insurance and rego).
Friday
We checked the calibration on the trip meter on a section of road close to the Condo showground, then attended scrutineering with documentation in the main street of Condobolin, which was a massive turnout of the locals, spectators and crews to check out the drivers, riders and their vehicles. Twenty five autos entered this year with a number of SORRA members, and fifty four motorcycle riders which included quads and six motorbikes with sidecars.
It is at this stage they provide you with your road book, 98 pages of route instructions with details of distances and service breaks for Saturday. As in previous years, we used a roll-on system for the road book, similar to the bikes, which ensures it does not get mud or water onto it.
Saturday
We started at 6.30am at the showground. The bikes went to the north and autos to the west. Today had seven sections, 137km of transport and 399km competitive with one section 190km long, three service breaks, with one being 1 hour at Vermont Hill with facilities.
After a few weeks of rain, track conditions were superb. There were some bog holes but I kept clear of them. The tracks at Condo are always a great mix of fast sections and some very tight trails, steep hills and lots of wildlife. A steady pace with minimum navigation errors was the plan, and Peter's navigation skills getting better all the time made it great.
We had only one mishap and it happened today, on the 190km section where the fuel pump failed, but trackside repairs saw us going again after losing some valuable time.
Jeff Cripps broke a front left shock on a steep, rocky, downhill section. He and Lawrence found all the parts on the track. Theirs was a slow end to the section, losing around 40 minutes, but they were able to fit a spare at the next service.
Sunday
It was a 7.00am start with a slightly shorter day of 119km transport and 327km competitive. The first competitive stage of about 98km had some very tight navigational parts with some free flowing tracks. Some rougher sections were promised in the route instructions .This was the stage with gates, eight or so in one section with yellow markers, hard work for the navigator, as a gate with a yellow marker means it has be reclosed. it gets exciting when there are 2 or 3 cars at one gate, with the use of the radio we worked together and one would open and close while the others kept going.
The second competitive section and last for the event was 129km, more tight and tricky navigation with overgrown tracks, sharp gutters and gullys and fast paddock tracks.
For us the RV2 performed faultlessly which added to the enjoyment of the day. Jeff and Lawrence had a good day also, except for a puncture 1km from the end of the first competitive stage.
So overall, at the end of the event we came in 7th outright, and Jeff and Lawrence 15th.
I had a fantastic time and we will be doing it all again next year for sure.
A special thanks to Grant Walker for crewing for us and to Peter for navigating. Thanks also to my sponsors Moss Wheelbarrows, B.T. Engineering and Superboot Race Components.
