Leg 1 Results

7 out of 43 Motorcycle division starters failed to finish leg 1 of the Safari, sure testimonial of the extreme conditions machine and competitors face. Regretfully, Chris on the 650 bike was one of them. I have just spoken to Paul and it sounds as though the prolonged deep sand punished the 65o too badly…

Prologue Results

Look here. Off to a nice start. But just a taste of things to come. image below courtesy Ross Briggs

Ceremonial Magic Sans Sacrifice!

A ceremonial and prologue start kicks off tomorrow morning at 9.45am from Julien Bay. Chris will be out just 5 minutes after the grand oratory and live sacrifices are performed (9.50am) and 10 minutes later (10.03am) Rod heads out  aboard number 25. See here you. No doubt others that survive the ceremonial will be hot…

photographed, scrutinised and put on Show

So I just spoke to Paul. Western Australian motorcycle riding instructor Chris Hsi (pronounced ‘cee’) has taken to the saddle of number 38, the Rooney Racing r65 like a duck to water. The team has been out and about for the past two days getting the machines tuned in and race ready. Rod Colling aboard…

Towel Lifter

So I’ve spent a couple of days at Camp Rooneycycle, sleeping out in the camper on board the imposing 6×6 Landrover, eating sandwiches and talking bikes. It’s all action as the Australasian Safari looms only weeks away. Both race bikes are now ready to go. Rod Colling and Neil Grime have had them out fine…

Dis Traction.

Sheesh. It’s been quiet around here lately. Work has been a distraction. Winter is supposed to be quiet in my line but 2013 has bucked this trend. So the Rooney Cycle pictured below was actually finished a short while ago. Although not a long travel machine this cycle makes use of the R1100gs swing arm,…

Dust Offs and Bent Headers

Yesterday I caught up with Neil Grime at a bar in my home town of Launceston, Tasmania.  Fresh from the Condo 750 Neil is in town as a mechanic for the Targa Tasmania. Here’s the bearded bushranger beating his old horse.   It gave me a good chance to chat about the Condo, as well…

Done & Dusted!

Now the dust has settled and the hard miles are done it is awesome to see that the 1983 bmw has made it through the grueling 2012 Australasian Safari. How hard was day six? Here is what Jason wrote about the leg over on Adventure Rider. “Yesterday was the Kalbarri Death March, haha.. It started…

Day Six!

Day five closed with no major drama. A flat tyre and some navigation hiccups slowed progress but Jason brought the big BM home in 28th position overall. Picture below courtesy Australasian Safari. Today “the Australasian Safari competition moves to Jimba Jimba Station, Winderie Station, Wooramel River, Hamelin on the coast between Carnarvon and Kalbarri and…

Day Four Done Well – Day Five Digs In.

With the drama of day three behind them day four was trouble free, though challenging for Jason and the Rooney team. With sections 9 & 10 completed the team find themselves in Position 30 overall (of motorcycles). Ross Briggs snapped the picture below of Jason navigating the rocky terrain of Leg 4.  The toll on…