DAY ONE - Kununurra to Fitzroy Crossing

By 0530 we were at the Flying Fox Waterhole, 10 kilometres into the first Special Stage on the first day of the 2007 Australian Safari.

The first Moto arrived at 0825 and the procession continued for the next 90 minutes. Clearly most, if not all, riders were having difficulty coming to terms with navigating while riding – a first-time experience for virtually everyone.

And at only 10 kilometres into the first stage, caution and steady riding were the order of the day. But even allowing for unknown territory, unfamiliarity with road books, and natural caution early in the event, the standard of the riding from the majority of riders was abysmal. I wondered if some had ever been on a bike before. If they make it to Perth they will be very lucky – and, by default, very much better riders.

Entertainment at the Flying Fox Waterhole was provided by members of BOPRH – an adventure motorcycle riding club from Darwin on a tour of the Kimberley. They had stopped at Kununurra specially to see the Australian Safari. Expert riders, they were merciless in their comments on the competitors.

The last motorcycle through our vantage point was ridden by a diminutive Japanese competitor who had the misfortune to have an "off" in the sand. When I asked him if he was hurt he replied, “I’m OK, I’m OK”, while bent over holding his ribs, grimacing and looking like he was going to throw up. After asking him again if he was OK he assured me that he understood English “a little bit” and manfully attacked the task of lifting his bike out of the hungry sand. I hope he makes Perth. Hell, I hope he makes it to the end of the Special Stage.

There was a half hour gap to the first of the Autos, headed by the PWR Holden Rodeo No. 100, driven by multiple past winner, John Hederics. His safe and steady approach was emulated by all the Autos except 107 who got all four wheels into the air exiting the creek.

The Nunn Earthmoving Toyota V8 Diesel Landcruiser ute was looking a bit wobbly up front. The BMW-powered Freelander from Rovacraft Motorsports looked different but went through the creek as well as any other vehicle, although it later ended up on a trailer with an overheating transfer case. At the time of posting this Report they have not reached the overnight bivouac at Fitzroy Crossing. Dave and Matt Fong n the red Landrover ute No. 112 took it easy, wanting to finish Day One.

It’s early days but it’s obvious that not everyone will make it to Perth.

Day One comprised five Special Stages. The first, Flying Fox, was 40 kilometres. Bow River was 30 kilometres in length. The next, McIntosh Hills, was 42 kilometres long, followed by Sophie Downs, 21 kilometres, and the last was Louisa Downs, a Special Stage of 31 kilometres. This was subsequently deleted as darkness fell.

Add Liaisons of 514 kilometres and the total for the Leg from Kununurra to Fitzroy Crossing was 678 kilometres.

After blowing hoses off the turbo on the Nissan Patrol after the Special Stages we had to return to Kununurra for replacement. A total of two hours was lost. We thought we would be the last vehicle into Fitzroy Crossing but we overtook the “circus” at Halls Creek. It will be long, long first day for virtually all competitors. The target arrival time at Fitzroy Crossing of 1645 won’t be achievable for all but the fastest riders.

And in the Fitzroy Crossing Bivouac there is some major work going on - after only 160 kilometres of Special Stages. It would seem that no Autos will withdraw from Day One. One of the favoured Moto riders is out with a broken leg and another has a broken hand.

DAY TWO - Fitzroy Crossing to Broome

The running order for Day Two has been divided into two groups. Group A comprises Motos with the top five times plus any rider who comes within 30% of those times. It is proposed that Group B is Motos and Autos mixed according to speed over the ground. The start interval is one minute for both groups with a 10 minute break between them.

This revised running order is nothing new and designed to reduce the footprint of the Event.

All vehicles started including Dave Rowland’s Freelander and the Jeep Cherokee No. 102 that did most of Day One on top of a trailer.

Fortunately for all competitors it will be another cool day by Kimberley standards – low 30s.

We took photographs at an access point on the third Special Stage. Navigation skills were clearly showing for the top three Motos. They had a considerable gap over the rest of the field. And the top two cars, 100 and 101, are establishing a clear lead over the rest of the field.

DAY THREE - Broome to Port Hedland

The Road Book showed double sand dunes that presented the possibility of some good action 33 kilometres into the second Special Stage on Anna Plains Station.

At the Double Dunes Vantage Point there was a bypass to get around an overgrown section of the track, 200 metres from the first dune - but it wasn't needed for long. By about the passage of the sixth bike it had been cleared out as the first, fast riders knocked down saplings and sundry other vegetation hindering their Sunday morning ride.

500 metres past the second dune the Motos were required to cross over the fallen fenceline to set themselves up for a right turn into a mill paddock. After 4 or 5 bikes missed the veer and kept straight on, and another 4 or 5 found it but decided to keep right rather than left, the whole area became a source of confusion for later riders, and even the Autos. Reverse gear was handy for those that had it.

Back up on top of the first dune a bike rider slowed to ask for fuel. He braked, the front wheel dug into the soft red dirt and he sailed head first over the handlebars. "Did that look speccy?", he laughed as he picked himself up. Undaunted he stood up his bike and carried on with his own personal adventure, albeit without the extra fuel he was seeking.

A short time later another rider did a giant tank slapper on top of the first dune and put his bike down across the track. The next rider tried to go around, got his front wheel caught in the soft sand and down he went. A third rider had nowhere to go, stopped and promptly fell over. It looked more like a demolition derby than a bike race. The second rider continued on but, lacking momentum, repeated the performance at the next dune.

John Hederics and John Williams in the PWR Racing Holden Rally Team Car 100 led the Mitsubishi Triton Car 101 crewed by the Denhams from NSW over the dunes by more than a minute, so he was making time. Terry Conner in the Nissan ute No.169 powered through, clearly having a a good day.

Brian and Beau Robinson in the Outer Bounds Racing Racing Car 117 came over the first dune, got a little untidy and did some bush driving before they reached the second dune. 500 metres further down the track they were on the wrong side of the fenceline where the Motos had earlier created such confusion. Realising their error they crossed the fenceline. Talk about switching careers! From property development to demolition in quick time. They must have dragged about 200 metres of fence. Star pickets were popping up everywhere, the wire was whistling through the scrub and the big, black Nissan powered on, oblivious to the trailing mayhem.

Simon Campbell and Steve Kippen aboard the Hunter Racing Team Jeep 102 tackled the first dune in 2WD and lost momentum. Campbell engaged 4WD but it didn't kick in until after he had tried reverse and buried the Jeep to the diff. The stuck car presented a hazard to following drivers who had only 40 metres to react after they crested the first dune.

In the red Landrover ute No. 112, Dave Fong fanged it over the first dune, flew around the bogged Jeep and powered down the second dune. Best performance of the day. And only two fencing contractors there to see it!

The crew of Jeep 102 was frantically digging sand away before dodging off the track as another Auto came screaming by, missing the rear end of their vehicle by less than a metre. With a little help from we two Officials and the two spectators, the Jeep was extricated and back in the Safari.

The self-contained mobile home SWB Nissan competing as car 115 and crewed by Neville Maley and Chris Grantham sailed through - swags, tools, parts, clothes, food, esky and all.

The Shopping Trolley (188) did the double dunes as if the were on a trip down to the deli to get some milk. Smooth.

Motos and Autos were serviced at the Sandfire Roadhouse (or what's left of it after it burnt down) before tackling the third Special Stage of the day, Caves, a distance of 34 kilometres. Then a Liaison of only 36 kilometres into Port Hedland.

Dave and Matt Fong in the Landrover No. 112 had a better day today. The course was rougher with less open long straights that characterised the first three days. Much more to their liking. Dave rates it's as tougher than the GasDash. They picked up a couple of places today.

Nat Darbyshire and Odin Cann in the other Landrover, No. 185, also benefited from the rougher course. They were last seen at the overnight camp at Newman removing extractors that had cracked (to the point of breaking) during the day. No other problems. Looking forward to a similar day (trackwise) tomorrow.

Dave Rowlands and Glen Martinovich in the Freelander (No. 118) think that they may finally have got their overheating problems sorted. The vehicle suffered drivetrain windup when 4WD was inadvertently engaged on the bitumen run into Newman.

Information is still sketchy on what actually happened but it is clear that the Rodeo No.113 rolled today. Ended on the roof. Both Adam Greg and Jason McNally are OK.  A disappointing result after all the effort that went into their campaign - including a late night effort at Broome after damaging their exhaust and gearbox.

The Outer Bounds Racing Nissan lost oil on Day Three and did damage to big ends. Unsure of the reason. As a consequence they had to take it steady throughout the fourth day, just wanting to finish before presenting the Service Crew with some homework.

In a few minutes, the sump will be off to see what their fate will be.

DAY FOUR - Port Hedland to Newman

The tussle for Auto honours between John Hederics in 100 and Terry Denham in 101 increased in intensity today. Adrian Channing has maintained his lead in the Motos after the fourth day of competition from Port Hedland to Newman.

In the Autos, the battle between the Rodeo of PWR Holden Rally Team's John Hederics and the Mitsubishi Triton of Penrith driver Terry Denham continued.

Hederics, from Mildura, won the day's opening stage, but Denham fought back to claim the remaining two stages of the day.

When the cars reached Newman, Denham had reduced the margin by two minutes and 47 seconds and was lying four minutes and 28 seconds adrift of first place

Warrnambool's Reg Owens and Russell Cairns maintained their hold on third position in their Nissan Patrol Y61, but were a massive 43 minutes behind the leader.

In the Motos Adrian Channing, on a KTM 660 Rallye, maintained his overnight advantage over nearest challenger, Andrew Coaker, conceding just eight seconds to the Honda rider across the 205 kilometres and ended the day five minutes and 23 seconds in the lead on a total time of 7 hours 25 minutes and 23 seconds.

Pre-race favourite Ben Grabham, the event's early leader, clawed back nearly two and a half minutes of the time he lost on yesterday's Broome to Port Hedland leg to sit in third place, seven minutes and two seconds behind the leader. In the only positional change at the top end of the bike field, the youngest rider, Condobolin 18-year-old Jacob Smith, won the final stage of the day.

That effort moved him up into fifth place at the expense of RMA Yamaha Safari team-mate and leading international, Jonah Street of the United States.

Grabham remains the big danger to Channing. The Bathurst rider has consistently demonstrated his superior speed, winning eight of the 13 stages contested so far, and but for his navigational error yesterday while avoiding a herd of cattle, he would be clear of the field.

Mechanical problems have put top gun rider, Vern Strange from Southern Cross, stone motherless last but his crew have rebuilt the bike each time a $5 part fails and he is back in the competition, generally finishing a Special Stage in the top five.

Vern is a multiple winner of the Gascoyne Dash and says that the GasDash course is tougher but the Australian Safari is more demanding from an endurance perspective.

Today's terrain provided another stern test for competitors, who had to negotiate long sandy stretches, rocky outcrops, numerous creek crossings and a section of rugged country that was extensively damaged by Cyclone George.

Tomorrow's fifth leg travels from Newman to Meekatharra.

Top 10 cars – After Stage 14, Day Four, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, HEDERICS/WILLIAMS (VIC), Holden Rodeo, 07:05:37
2, DENHAM/DENHAM (NSW), Mitsubishi Trriton, 07:10:05
3, OWEN/CAIRNS (VIC), Nissan Patrol Y 61, 07:48:37
4, OLHOLM/GRIFFITHS (QLD), Mitsubishi Pajero, 08:09:34
5, DUNN/COVENTRY (SA), Toyota Landcruiser, 08:09:54
6, ROBINSON/ROBINSON (WA), Nissan Patrol, 08:18:01
7, OWEN/RYAN (VIC), Nissan GQ Patrol, 08:20:21
8, WALTERS/SINCLAIR (NSW), Isuzu Rodeo, 08:20:40
9, WALLENTHEIM/CARPENTER (SWE), Isuzu Vehi Cross, 08:24:46
10, EMMINS/TJEPKEMA (WA), Nissan GQ Patrol, 08:25:26

Top 10 bikes – After Stage 14, Day Four, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 07:25:23
2, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 07:30:46
3, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 07:32:25
4, S DIENER (SA), Kawasaki KLX 450, 07:37:10
5, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 07:40:15
6, J STREET (USA), Yamaha WR450, 07:43:14
7, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 08:05:20
8, P NELLIGAN (NSW), KTM EXC 525, 08:11:58
9, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 08:19:04
10. McCULLAGH (NSW), KTM 450 EXC, 08:32:11

DAY FIVE - Newman to Meekatharra

The 238 kilometre Special Stage was to to be the signature stage of the Safari - the longest and one of the toughest. But it wasn't to be! The first reports came over the radio that a vehicle was travelling against traffic, 50 kilometres into the Stage.

The Clerk of Course rushed to the location in the chopper to ascertain what was going on!! Speak with the property manager. Negotiations failed. Despite months of planning and checking, double and triple checking on approvals it was all to no avail. The property manager would not let the Safari proceed on the Station.

The Moto A Group had passed the recalcitrant manager before he could stop them. The Autos and Motos B Group had to be sent down the highway and then into the "Splash and Dash" location for a re-start. A distance of only 50 kilometres. There were some very unhappy and very annoyed competitors, and some very frustrated officials.

At the end of the Leg the PWR Holden Rally Team Rodeo of John Hederics and John Williams continue to drive steadily away from the rest of the field.

Hederics won both of today's Auto stages, adding to his Team's lead over the Mitsubishi Triton car 101 crewed by Terry Denham and sons Michael and Warren.

The eight-time Safari winner has a total time of 7 hours 39 minutes and 28 seconds - seven minutes and eight seconds ahead of their New South Wales rivals.

In third place, but well back, is the Nissan Patrol of Warrnambool's Reg Owens and Russell Cairns on 8 hours 31 minutes and five seconds.

The performance of the Safari is coming from the Dunn Earthmoving Team of Neil Dunn and Mark Coventry in the 2007 Landcruiser Ute No. 111 -- currently in 4th position. Neither of the crew has competed in any motorsport event before the Safari. Neil had to pass an Observed Driving Licence test before he could start the event. Total raw beginners coming fourth (with the very real possibility of moving up) in Australia's most prestigious cross country race. Perhaps the ten years bull catching experience has something to do with it

The Outerbounds Racing Team Nissan Patrol LWB No.117 blew a motor, two kilometres into the last stage of the day. Their Service Crew found them and towed them into Meekatharra.

Major detonation caused a con rod to let go. Two holes in the block and one in the sump. Four hours later the decision was made to change the engine. One was despatched from Perth. A member of the Service Crew drove down halfway to Perth to collect the engine. The other members of the Service Crew removed the lump of iron from the engine bay.

By working through the night they had the replacement motor fitted, ready to go and were only five minutes late for the Start of the first section on Day Six. Photographs

Leader in the Motos, Andrew Coaker, dropped 18 minutes off the pace and fell back into third position after a disastrous opening stage on the fifth day's leg between Newman and Meekatharra. Coaker had moved to a one minute and thirty seven second lead at the end of yesterday's Leg Four, after provisional leader Adrian Channing was penalised seven minutes for arriving late through a transition stage.

But he took a wrong turn in this morning's opening stage, and had travelled eight kilometres off course before realising he had to backtrack, losing some 19 minutes in the process.

Aware of his rival's mistake, Channing pushed his KTM 660 Rallye to the quickest time across the day's opening 238km stage, finishing nine seconds ahead of 18-year-old gun Jacob Smith of Condobolin, and 32 seconds ahead of Bathurst rider Ben Grabham on his Honda CRF 450X.

On the second - and final - stage of the day, Smith went one better, the RMA Yamaha Safari rider taking his WR450 to the stage victory over Grabham by 16 seconds, and moving into third place overall for the first time.

Channing came in a further six seconds back, enough to secure the lead, albeit by just 29 seconds.

With the sixth leg to be contested tomorrow from Meekatharra to Leonora, Channing sits on a total time of 9 hours 44 minutes and 39 seconds. Grabham is on 9:45:08, and Smith a further seven minutes and 10 seconds back in third.

Coaker is in fourth place, 18 minutes 11 seconds from the lead, and in dire need of some major mistakes from the three men ahead of him over the closing four days of the event.

Coaker seemed relatively relaxed about his error.

"I had a little bit of a navigation problem today on stage one," he said. "I took a left hand turn onto a track and got about eight ks in and realised it was wrong."

"At least I didn't get over-excited and crash."

"But then I was stuck in the dust for the rest of the day."

"We are all pretty even now - everyone has had something go wrong."

Top 10 cars – After Stage 17 Day Five, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, HEDERICS/WILLIAMS (VIC), Holden Rodeo, 07:39:28
2, DENHAM/DENHAM (NSW), Mitsubishi Triton, 07:46:36
3, OWEN/CAIRNS (VIC), Nissan Patrol Y 61, 08:31:05
4, DUNN/COVENTRY (SA), Toyota Landcruiser, 08:39:25
5, OLHOLM/GRIFFITHS (QLD), Mitsubishi Pajero, 08:48:52
6, WALTERS/SINCLAIR (NSW), Isuzu Rodeo, 09:02:37
7, OWEN/RYAN (VIC), Nissan GQ Patrol, 09:03:11
8, WALLENTHEIM/CARPENTER (SWE), Isuzu Vehi Cross, 09:06:34
9, EMMINS/TJEPKEMA (WA), Nissan GQ Patrol, 09:08:27
10, MORALEE/FLOOD (WA), Toyota Prado GX, 09:16:1

Top 10 bikes – After Stage 17 Day Five, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 09:44:39
2, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 09:45:08
3, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 09:52:18
4, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 10:02:50
5, S DIENER (SA), Kawasaki KLX 450, 10:04:11
6, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 10:24:49
7, P NELLIGAN (NSW), KTM EXC 525, 10:32:10
8, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 10:40:43
9, I ERCEG (WA), Honda XR650, 11:00:16
10, McCULLAGH (NSW), KTM 450 EXC, 11:00:20

DAY SIX - Meekatharra to Leonora

Terry Denham's chances of winning his first Australian Safari title seem to have disappeared after he broke a rear tailshaft on his Mitsubishi Triton Car 101 in today's opening stage between Meekatharra and Leonora

Denham managed to get the car moving again in two wheel drive, but the incident left him nearly an hour and a half behind event leader and pre-event favourite John Hederics.

Denham and his crew of sons Michael and Warren have been in second place, snapping at the heels of the PWR Holden Rally Team Rodeo of Hederics since the beginning of the event in Kununurra on Friday.

The Penrith family had collected four stage wins along the way, were just 7 minutes and 8 seconds behind their eight-time Safari-winning rival, and had reason to hope they might better Terry senior's second placing in 2000.

But that chance would seem to have disappeared with the breakdown, and Hederics continued good form.

The 100 Car won three of today's five stages and ended the leg on 10 hours 4 minutes and 22 seconds, one hour and 37 seconds ahead of the second-placed Reg Owens of Warrnambool in his Nissan Patrol.

In third place, a further 10 minutes and 21 seconds back, was the Toyota Landcruiser ute of Neil Dunn and Mark Coventry.

"One of us was going to break," said Hederics. "It was us or them."

"The pace was very fast between us. You can't drive like that across Australia. One of us had to bust."

The Denhams gained some consolation at the end of the day by moving back up a place to fourth, just ten minutes and three seconds away from a podium place.

While Hederics and co-driver John Williams were looking more and more like winners with just three days of competition to go, the rider favoured to take out the Motos was also moving back into the lead. Ben Grabham also racked up four stage victories on his Honda CRF 450X, ending the day with a total time of 10 hours six minutes and 21 seconds.

He regained the lead over Andrew Coaker on the morning's first long 118km stage, and had stretched the margin in front of his fellow Honda rider out to six minutes and eight seconds by the time the field reached the overnight stop in Leonora.

Broken Hill rider Adrian Channing continued to hold down third place, seven minutes and 26 seconds from the lead, while Condobolin 18-year-old Jacob Smith, the youngest man in the field, filled fourth spot, a further 2 minutes 12 seconds behind.

With the next rider in the field more than an hour behind, the leading quartet are surely the only ones with the opportunity to take the 20th anniversary of Safari.

"It’s good to be back in the front and we are getting closer to the finish line," Grabham said.

"A lot of things have happened and a lot of things could happen.”

"I was losing knobs going in (to stage 3 Kaluwiri). I went into safety mode. Instead of going as fast as I could and kept my damage to a minimum. Channing got another wheel for that section".

Tomorrow's stage takes competitors from Leonora to the legendary mining community of Kalgoorlie.

Top 10 cars – After Stage 22, Day Six, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, HEDERICS/WILLIAMS (VIC), Holden Rodeo, 10:04:22
2 ,OWEN/CAIRNS (VIC), Nissan Patrol Y 61, 11:05:09
3, DUNN/COVENTRY (SA), Toyota Landcruiser, 11:22:21
4, DENHAM/DENHAM (NSW), Mitsubishi Triton, 11:32:24
5, OLHOLM/GRIFFITHS (QLD), Mitsubishi Pajero, 11:33:35
6, OWEN/RYAN (VIC), Nissan GQ Patrol, 11:39:50
7, WALTERS/SINCLAIR (NSW), Isuzu Rodeo, 11:48:25
8, EMMINS/TJEPKEMA (WA), Nissan GQ Patrol, 11:55:14
9, WALLENTHEIM/CARPENTER (SWE), Isuzu Vehi Cross, 12:01:04
10, MORALEE/FLOOD (WA), Toyota Prado GX, 12:04:29

Top 10 bikes – After Stage 22, Day Six, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 10:06:21
2, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 10:12:29
3, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 10:13:47
4, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 10:15:55
5, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 11:17:58
6, I ERCEG (WA), Honda XR650, 11:24:56
7, NORTHOVER (WA), KTM SXC 625, 11:34:30
8, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 11:38:39
9, McCULLAGH (NSW), KTM 450 EXC, 11:39:21
10, SCHWARZ (SA), KTM 660 Rally, 11:41:23

DAY SEVEN - Leonora to Kalgoorlie

The PWR Holden Rally Team of John Hederics and John Williams continued to protect a massive lead in the Autos.

Anything can happen over such long distances, as early contender Terry Denham discovered with the broken tail shaft on his Mitsubishi Triton yesterday.

But it is hard to see Hederics blowing the one hour plus advantage he has in the remaining two days of the event.

He currently sits on a total time of 11 hours 42 minutes flat, one hour four minutes and 24 seconds clear of the Nissan Patrol of Warrnambool veteran Reg Owens and co-driver Russell Cairns.

The Toyota Landcruiser of Neil Dunn and Mark Coventry is on 13 hours and 39 seconds, with the Denhams almost seven minutes shy of a podium place on 13:07:10.

But Terry Denham's effort in winning two of the day 7 stages, and sharing the other with Hederics, shows he thinks he can make up that difference.

Tomorrow's stage turns towards the finish line at Perth, riders and drivers tackling 236.48 competitive kilometres on their way to the final overnight stop in York.

In the Motos, the youngest rider in the field has climbed into podium contention with a series of stage victories in the goldfields country of Western Australia.

Jacob Smith, 18, from the New South Wales town of Condobolin, won all three stages contested in the 125km journey between Leonora and Kalgoorlie.

Smith, riding a Yamaha WR450 in his debut Safari experience, leapfrogged the more experienced pair of Andrew Coaker on his Honda CRF 450X and Broken Hill's Adrian Channing aboard a KTM 660 Rallye.

He ended the day eight minutes and 12 seconds behind race leader Ben Grabham and four minutes 27 ahead of third-placed Channing.

Grabham, from Bathurst, and also riding a CRF 450X, was content to play second fiddle to the young tyro, guarding his lead by finishing second on each of the stages.

The 26-year-old extended his lead overall, having started the day 6 minutes and 2 seconds clear of Coaker, who slipped back to fourth

“I took my time today," Grabham said. "I know I have time over Smith."

“It was a lot tighter today and I had to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes. I know I can make up the time tomorrow.”

“Looking at the maps, they were tough today.”

“I don’t feel any pressure. It's all going to plan."

Smith was very happy with his day in the saddle.

“It was a lot better today – no fence lines to worry about," he said. "It was more about riding, with lots of twists and turns in the bush."

“It was more navigation than speed. You had to be on your maps today.”

“I’d like to win, I’ve come here to win. First would be great, second would be ok. Making a podium finish will give me a lot more confidence."

Top 10 cars – After Stage 26, Day Seven, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, HEDERICS/WILLIAMS (VIC), Holden Rodeo, 11:42:00
2 OWEN/CAIRNS (VIC), Nissan Patrol Y 61, 12:46:24
3, DUNN/COVENTRY (SA), Toyota Landcruiser, 13:00:39
4, DENHAM/DENHAM (NSW), Mitsubishi Triton, 13:07:10
5, OLHOLM/GRIFFITHS (QLD), Mitsubishi Pajero, 13:13:46
6, OWEN/RYAN (VIC), Nissan GQ Patrol, 13:19:43
7, WALTERS/SINCLAIR (NSW), Isuzu Rodeo, 13:30:15
8, EMMINS/TJEPKEMA (WA), Nissan GQ Patrol, 13:38:52
9, WALLENTHEIM/CARPENTER (SWE), Isuzu Vehi Cross, 13:43:12
10, MORALEE/FLOOD (WA), Toyota Prado GX, 13:50:40

Top 10 bikes – After Stage 26, Day Seven, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 11:30:41
2, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 11:36:53
3, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 11:43:20
4, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 11:44:09
5, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 12:47:46
6, I ERCEG (WA), Honda XR650, 12:54:14
7, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 13:06:14
8, NORTHOVER (WA), KTM SXC 625, 13:10:24
9, SCHWARZ (SA), KTM 660 Rally, 13:15:39
10, CLEARY (UAE), Honda CRF 450X, 13:18:42

DAY EIGHT  - Kalgoorlie to York

ith one day remaining John Hederics and Ben Grabham look set to collect the 2007 Auto and Moto titles of Australia's premier off-road event.

Hederics goes into tomorrow's final stage of the 5,500km journey from Kununurra to Perth with a one hour eight minute and 16 seconds lead over his nearest rival, Warrnambool driver Reg Owen and his co-driver Russell Cairns in their Nissan Patrol.

The Mildura legend has had his PWR Holden Rally team Rodeo at the front of the field since day one, and seems certain to add a ninth Safari victory to the six bike titles and two Auto crowns he has accumulated in a remarkable career.

The battle for the minor Auto podium places is still alive, however.

Neil Dunn and Mark Coventry started the Kalgoorlie to York leg in third place, fourteen minutes behind Owen and Cairns, but their Toyota Landcruiser was well off the pace today.

That left an opening for early event contender Terry Denham in his Mitsubishi Triton.

Denham and his two sons attacked from the start of the day, trying to claw back some of the 90 minutes they had lost on the event's sixth leg between Meekatharra and Leonora when their tail shaft broke.

The Penrith driver won all four stages of the day, reducing his margin behind the second-placed Owen to 11 minutes and two seconds, a gain of nearly ten minutes over the day's 236 competitive kilometres.

If he can reproduce that sort of performance on the final 137.74km leg tomorrow, he has a real chance of taking over second spot.

The bike section of the event has been a far more closely-contested affair, but Bathurst rider Ben Grabham also appears likely to be spraying champagne from the top of the podium in his Safari debut.

He has taken his Honda CRF 450X to a nine minute 24 second lead over his nearest rival, a superb effort given he had dropped 18 minutes on day three after riding off course between Broome and Port Hedland.

Lying in second place is the Yamaha WR450 of 18-year-old Jacob Smith, the youngest man in the field and another Safari novice.

Smith, from the New South Wales town of Condobolin, collected one of today's stages, but more importantly, moved more than eight minutes ahead of the third bike on the standings, the KTM 660 Rallye of Broken Hill's Adrian Channing.

Smith now has a 14 minute 12 second buffer on Channing, and has also not given up hope of catching the bike event leader.

An accident occurred on Stage 29 of the Juardi Stage between Mt Walton and Koolyanobbing at 2.45pm on Friday 31 August.

The accident involved Moto competitor No. 83, John Talbot, from Victoria, riding a KTM 640 Adventure. The First Intervention Vehicles and the Event helicopter arrived at the scene within a short period of time after the accident.

Mr Talbot, who is reported to be i na critical but stable condition, was evacuated by air to Southern Cross for further stabilisation and evacuation to Royal Perth Hospital.

Tomorrow's leg includes three competitive stages, a regroup at Gloucester Park, and a ceremonial parade of vehicles to the Forrest Place in the heart of Perth for the medallion presentation.

Top 10 cars – After Stage 30, Day Eight, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, HEDERICS/WILLIAMS (VIC), Holden Rodeo, 14:30:06
2, OWEN/CAIRNS (VIC), Nissan Patrol Y 61, 15:38:12
3, DENHAM/DENHAM (NSW), Mitsubishi Triton, 15:49:14
4, OLHOLM/GRIFFITHS (QLD), Mitsubishi Pajero, 16:07:47
5, OWEN/RYAN (VIC), Nissan GQ Patrol, 16:12:19
6, DUNN/COVENTRY (SA), Toyota Landcruiser, 16:18:46
7, WALTERS/SINCLAIR (NSW), Isuzu Rodeo, 16:32:30
8, WALLENTHEIM/CARPENTER (SWE), Isuzu Vehi Cross, 16:38:45
9, EMMINS/TJEPKEMA (WA), Nissan GQ Patrol, 16:39:54
10, MORALEE/FLOOD (WA), Toyota Prado GX, 16:51:09

Top 10 bikes – After Stage 30 Day Eight, Australian Safari (Provisional)

1, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 14:20:54
2, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 14:30:18
3, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 14:44:30
4, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 14:59:33
5, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 15:53:05
6, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 16:08:35
7, D SCHWARZ (SA), KTM 660 Rally, 16:31:30
8, B KIENHUIS (VIC), Husaberg FE 650, 16:37:41
9, B HUDSON (QLD), KTM, 450 EXC, 16:42:25
10, T O'CONNOR (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 16:45:53

DAY NINE - York to Perth

Mildura driver John Hederics has enhanced his status as Australian Safari's greatest champion, securing his ninth crown, while Bathurst rider Ben Grabham has capped his debut in the country's premier off road event with a brilliant victory on the bike.

Hederics and co-driver John Williams led the auto section of the 5,500km event in their PWR Holden Rally Team Rodeo from the start in Kununurra nine days ago.

They covered the 1,998.15 competitive kilometres in a time of 16 hours, 10 minutes and 18 seconds.

Warrnambool driver Reg Owen and his co-driver Russell Cairns took second place in their Nissan Patrol, one hour 9 minutes 54 seconds behind the winner on a time of 17 hours 20 minutes and 12 seconds.

In third place, just five minutes 44 further back, was the Mitsubishi Triton of Penrith's Terry Denham.

Denham and his sons Michael and Warren had challenged Hederics for the lead throughout the first five days of the event, but lost all chance of victory when they broke a tail shaft on the sixth leg between Meekatharra and Leonora.

They made up 27 minutes on Owen and Cairns in the final three days, but could not quite bridge the gap to second place.

Hederics' record in Australian Safari is extraordinary. He won three consecutive events on the bike from 1990 to 1992, repeated the bike treble from 1994 to 1996, and has now won the auto section of the last three Safaris to be held, in 2003, 2004 and this year.

The first time is always the best time," the 44-year-old said.

“Having the lead, we didn’t really feel the pressure. But you never know, anything can happen."

“The pace at the start was the fastest I’ve ever done. We said 'one of us is going to break’, and the Denhams did."

“I'm relieved just to be here”

“It’s a mechanical car in an endurance event so anything can happen."

“Knowing every nut and bolt in your car and being fussy, as well as annoying your service crew, is all part of what you need to do to win."

“Determination and preparation are the main two things. And never give up."

Apart from a navigational error on Day three that cost him 18 minutes, Grabham delivered a superb performance in his debut Safari in the bikes section.

The 26-year-old Honda CRF 450X rider set the fastest time in 16 of the 33 stages, and was second in another nine.

He also rode the final six stages with a broken collarbone, sustained in a crash early on day 8 outside Kalgoorlie.

Grabham posted a total time of 15 hours 52 minutes and 12 seconds, 8 minutes and 53 seconds ahead of Condobolin 18-year-old Jacob Smith on his Yamaha WR450.

In third place, a further 20 minutes 39 seconds behind, was the KTM 660 Rallye of Adrian Channing, who had held the lead for three days in the early part of the event..

Channing, 38, from Broken Hill, finished on a total time of 16 hours 21 minutes and 44 seconds.

Grabham was a happy and relieved man after his victory.

“It’s more of a relief," he said. "The hard work has paid off. It's good to know everything has worked out."

"To have never competed in the event before and come out with a win, shows that anyone can have a go."

"When I came off and broke my collar bone I thought, oh God. But I thought, I can do it. I just kept on riding and I'm relieved to have made it here (the Perth finish line)."

“I went a decent speed for the first two sections today, then I eased off and let Jake (Jacob Smith) take it home."

Australian Safari Final Results (Provisional)
Top 10 bikes – After Stage 33 Day Nine (final stage/day)

1, B GRABHAM (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 15:52:12
2, J SMITH (NSW), Yamaha WR450, 16:01:05
3, A CHANNING (NSW), KTM 660 Rallye, 16:21:44
4, A RIEMANN (SA), KTM 450EXC, 17:29:01
5, M FISH (VIC), KTM 525 EXC, 17:51:03
6, A COAKER (NSW), Honda CRF 450X, 17:52:36
7, D SCHWARZ (SA), KTM 660 Rally, 18:09:39
8, B KIENHUIS (VIC), Husaberg FE 650, 18:12:36
9, B HUDSON (QLD), KTM, 450 EXC, 18:18:42
10, T O'CONNOR (NSW), Yamaha WR410, 18:22:55

Australian Safari Final Results (Provisional)
Top 10 cars – After Stage 33 Day Nine (final stage/day)

1, HEDERICS/WILLIAMS (VIC), Holden Rodeo, 16:10:18
2, OWEN/CAIRNS (VIC), Nissan Patrol Y 61, 17:20:12
3, DENHAM/DENHAM (NSW), Mitsubishi Triton, 17:25:56
4, OLHOLM/GRIFFITHS (QLD), Mitsubishi Pajero, 17:53:04
5, OWEN/RYAN (VIC), Nissan GQ Patrol, 17:57:24
6, WALLENTHEIM/CARPENTER (SWE), Isuzu Vehi Cross, 18:19:59
7, WALTERS/SINCLAIR (NSW), Isuzu Rodeo, 18:20:43
8, DUNN/COVENTRY (SA), Toyota Landcruiser, 18:21:57
9, EMMINS/TJEPKEMA (WA), Nissan GQ Patrol, 18:27:31
10, MORALEE/FLOOD (WA), Toyota Prado GX, 18:39:03

RETURN