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COT goes Special Stage!
This years event is now classified as a "Special Stage Rally", which means that the elapsed
time is the penalty time and the "cleansheeting" from past events has gone.
Due to the maximum average speed restriction of 90km/h placed on competitive sections
in a "Road Rally" (which was the classification for the "Red Centre" event and past COTs),
and with the outback tracks lending themselves to be much faster than forest tracks, the target
times on numerous sections were such that many competitors cleansheeted the sections.
Just a quick update on proceedings prior to the next newsletter which will be sent out early
next month. Phil Rainer and I completed our 3rd survey two weeks ago which completes the
first three days of competition. Competitive stages on each day are in excess of 40% with a
great variety of terrain.
Phil is overseas for the next 6 weeks so I have recruited Bob Watson to assist on the next
survey commencing this Sunday. We have already route instructions for most of the
remaining four days and all properties that we require, just a matter of filling in the gaps.
The accommodation situation is still looking OK at all overnight stops with the exception being
Ivanhoe. Only 4 of the 45 two man tents are still available, so if you are considering entering
please let me know so I can arrange for additional accommodation.
Despite all the rain that has fallen over the route, two problems stood out: dust and grass.
The wet has created similar conditions with growth as we experienced with the last event.
Grass up to the bonnet and grass seed filling the radiator.
The Final Supplementary Regulations have now been posted
on the website.
Keep the entries coming.
In the COT again for 2012
August 17th - 25th
As Australian roads and vehicles continue to improve and ever increasing bureaucracy strangles adventure, it has become obvious that organising the challenge of the traditional long distance Round Australia event is no longer a feasible exercise in its own right. However, the flavour and challenge of these classic events, which were the pinnacle of long distance adventure rallying, can still be captured in a reasonable time frame, to give those who missed the golden eras of the Round Australias an opportunity to taste the essence of what the early heroes experienced.
We believe the Classic Outback Trials of 2009 and 2010 captured the spirit of the early Round Australia trials, and provided the kind of adventure that those events provided. Due to the very positive response and feedback from last year's Classic Outback Trial we are delighted to announce that there will be another Classic Outback Trial in 2012. Taking on board the many suggestions we have received, and lessons learned, we believe we can continue the tradition of these classic events. To put it in a nutshell, it's on again...............
...............Bigger, Longer, Better!
Charity partner Frontier Services
Again we will be again supporting Frontier Services who will be celebrating their centenary in September next year. Frontier Services is the successor in the Uniting Church to the Australian Inland Mission, developed by Rev Dr John Flynn to provide support to the people of outback Australia. Flynn presented a proposal to the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church on 26 September 1912 which resulted in the establishment of the Australian Inland Mission.
Flynn's vision for a "mantle of safety" - to help build sustainable community despite the hardships of Outback life - which was enabled by the resolution of the Assembly on that day, created a network of pastoral care and social services.
They consider that 2012 is the opportunity to turn around the perception that Outback Australia is the forgotten wilderness and instead to resolve that in this Centenary Year we will celebrate the changing face of remote Australia.
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