GasDash Report 2006

"The best offroad race I've ever been in", was how eventual winner of the event, Brian Robinson described the Gascoyne Dash after leading all the way on Day One. And his opinion didn't change at the Finish Line on Day Two. "It was sensational", he told the big crowd that gathered at the Carnarvon Race Club to watch the bikes, quads and cars complete a gruelling 501 kilometres of the 2006 event. "Tougher than the Finke". 97 cars/buggies, bikes and quads started the race. There were 7 buggies entered, 4 Class 8 vehicles and 4 Class 7 vehicles. Previous Dashs had been hot (50+ temperatures were experienced in 2004) but the weather this year was mild in comparison (high 30s). Crowds were up. Entries were up. The Dash has had its "teething problems" over the past years and this inevitably brings out the knockers but this year the organisation was greatly improved. Logistics were superb. Briefings were on time and professionally presented, avoidable delays did not occur as in past years, safety oversight was improved, and the general operation of the event was brought up to a level equal to that of any event I have seen in WA. Sure there were "issues" behind the scenes but the "face" of the event has changed dramatically, it has changed for the better and it is now positioned to be an event of considerable importance. The attrition rate was about the same as at most events at Hyden - 50%. Unfortunately some were lost even before the Event started. At least three local vehicles and two from Perth were late withdrawals. The Renton Racing Team was plagued with bad luck. Their 1146 buggy (ex Brad Cooper machine) had starter motor problems and never got onto the course after the Prologue. Their Stalker buggy 146 finally succumbed 200 metres short of the first checkpoint in the river on Day Two, victim of injector problems. Brad Cooper comment of the river was, "That was different". And after the 120 kilometre run home it was an enthusiastic "that was the icing on the cake". I'll be back next year". And while complimentary to the event and the course, Kevin Hood thought that the event wasn't really for him – until that final leg. "The best run I've had. The reception at the Finish was incredible. I was overwhelmed. I've never seen anything like it. I had a good time and I'll be back next year". Day One is a 185 kilometre circuit starting and finishing at Coonatha on Bidgemia Station, 25 kilometres north east of Gascoyne Junction. It is tough and sometimes tight. Long sweeping station tracks are interspersed with hill climbs, river beds, gutters, washaways, mongrel rocky sections, and high speed playas to the east of the spectacularly-beautiful Kennedy Ranges. Day Two is a gruelling and sometimes exhilarating run down the dry bed of the Gascoyne River followed by a flat out, pedal to floor, twitching rear end, heart in the mouth, adrenalin pumping dash through station tracks and salt flats to the Finish at the Carnarvon Racecourse. The top buggies hit 180 kph in the river bed and even higher speeds on the last leg into Carnarvon. Brian and Beau Robinson in their awesome Chev V8-powered Porter were outright winners, Class 1 winners and took out the "King of the River" prize. Kevin Hood and Chappy Sweetman in 191 stuck to their race plan of just wanting to finish and were happy to fill second place. Brad Cooper and Mick Rodoni in 168 filled the minor place. Last year's winner, Peter Jecks, was overseas and unable to compete. Ray Yaksich and Matt Fong won Class 8 in 888 with Dave Fong and Lee Coupe close behind in 881. Lee suffered a broken collar bone on Day One but elected to continue on Day Two after receiving the all clear from the authorities. He was having a lot of fun on the river leg from Doorawarrah to Rocky Pool but you would never know it from the expression on his face. Russell Cullen and Marcus Wilson in 855 had a horror day in the office on both days – but they persevered and were able to drive their Landcruiser across the Finish line, albeit a "conditional" finisher. Suzukis have amazed everyone in this race since its inception (in 2004 six of the 11 finishers were Zooks). Last year's runner up, Scott Overstone teamed with longtime friend Chris Matthews and went one better to take out the Class. Kim Epton and Steve Leersen in 769 were second. Last year's winner, Greg Barndon, failed to finish and Club President, Ted Schultz, driving an "oversized Suzuki" (aka a Jeep) ripped out just about everything underneath the vehicle during Prologue. He rebuilt the drive train and was able to race the river but, obviously, was just there for the fun of it. Part of the appeal of the Gash Dash is the ever changing nature of the course. The 100 plus kilometres of the Gascoyne River is never the same from one year to the next. Nature applies it hand to the sand, gravel, rocks and grit of the ancient riverbed to present a fresh tableau each year – and in 2006 it was a tough one. Drop offs, long soft stretches, woop-de-doos, corrugations, and downright mean and nasty, up and down, bumpy, "are we having fun yet" challenges to man and machine. But there were some good bits! The track will widened next year to accommodate the bigger cars/buggies and we are assured that the cars will start before the bikes on both days - thereby avoiding the inevitable delays when bike riders crash and injure themselves. The outright winner of the bike section was Jason Hill, previous winner of the Finke Desert Race and recognised as the fastest rider in Australia at the moment. Stephen Mitchell of Carnarvon was second. Two times winner Vernon Strange had mechanical problems and was out of the placings. Jason Chaplin won the under-250cc Class and Kirk Williams won the Quads. Finishing the Gas Dash is an achievement. Congratulations to all those who did. Kim Epton

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