Finke_Desert_Race

Finke Desert Race

Finke Desert Race

Multi-terrain race in Australia

The Finke Desert Race is an off-road, multi-terrain two-day race for motorbikes, cars, buggies and quad bikes through desert country from Alice Springs to the small and remote community of Aputula (called Finke until the 1980s) in Australia's Northern Territory. The race is usually held each year on the King's Birthday long weekend in June. "Finke", as it is commonly known, is one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory.[1]

Quick Facts Country, Inaugural event ...

Track

Encompassing about 229km each way, the Finke Desert Race travels through many properties on its way to end up crossing the Finke River just north of Aputula. The track is divided into five sections:

  • Start/Finish Line to Deep Well (61 km)
  • Deep Well to Rodinga (31 km)
  • Rodinga to Bundooma (43 km)
  • Bundooma to Mount Squires (45 km)
  • Mount Squires to Finke (49 km)

History

The race started in 1976 as a "there and back" challenge for a group of local motorbike riders to race from Alice Springs Inland Dragway to the Finke River and return. After the success of this initial ride, the Finke Desert Race has been held annually on the King's Birthday long weekend ever since. The race is run along sections of the Central Australia Railway along a winding corrugated track, which goes through the outback terrain of red dirt, sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oaks. Even though the railway line was realigned and rebuilt in the early 1980s, with the old tracks being pulled up, the race continues along its original course.

While originally the Finke was only a bike race, its increasing popularity saw the introduction of cars and off-road buggies in 1988. A rivalry developed between the two and four wheelers, as the buggies were keen to claim the "King of the Desert" title. For eleven consecutive years the bikes were too quick for the cars despite the gap constantly narrowing. Finally in 1999, a buggy returned home first to claim the honour, with the bikes winning back the title in 2000 and 2001. From 2002 until 2004 the buggies held onto the "King of the Desert" title. In 2005 the title was changed to see two "Kings of the Desert", one for the cars and one for bikes, each picking up $10,000 for their effort. The last bike to beat the cars time was Michael Vroom in 2001 on his Honda CR500.[citation needed]

COVID-19 impact

The 2020 race was cancelled for the first time in the event's history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This cost the economy of Alice Springs about $8 million.[2] In 2021 about 200 Victorian competitors, plus race officials, were unable to attend when the Northern Territory classed all of Victoria as a hot spot after the state entered its fourth lockdown.[3]

2021 fatal crash

During the 2021 race, a vehicle struck spectators just 35 kilometres short of the finish line. One person was killed and two others, including the driver, were hospitalised. The remainder of the event was subsequently cancelled, meaning the bike race was not completed.[4] The buggy category had already been won earlier that morning. The winning racer, Toby Price, had previously won in the bike category six times, and therefore became the first person to have won in both the bike and buggy categories.[5]

List of winners

[6][7]

More information Year, Name ...
  • 1976 BIKES

Geoff Curtis, Yamaha 250, NT

  • 1977 BIKES

Phil Stoker, Suzuki 370, NT

  • 1978 BIKES

Geoff Curtis, Yamaha XT500, NT

  • 1979 BIKES

Peter Stayt, Yamaha XT500, NT

  • 1980 BIKES

Geoff Curtis, Yamaha 400, NT

  • 1981 BIKES

Phil Lovett, KTM 390, NSW

  • 1982 BIKES

Phil Lovett, KTM 495, NSW

  • 1983 BIKES

Stephen Gall, Yamaha 490, NSW

  • 1984 BIKES

Peter Stayt, Yamaha 490, NT

Phil Lovett, KTM 495, NSW time 03:41:30

  • 1986 BIKES

Stephen Gall, Yamaha XT500, NSW

  • 1987 BIKES

David Armstrong, Kawasaki 500, QLD

  • 1988

BIKES – Alan Roe, Honda 500, NT
CARS – John Fidler/Peter Lewis, Corvette, NT

  • 1989

BIKES – Mark Winter, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Gary Nicolle/Jo Reed, Buggy, NT

  • 1990

BIKES – Mark Winter, KTM 540, NT
CARS – Gary Nicolle/Neil Shegog, Buggy, NT

  • 1991

BIKES – Randall Gregory, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Keith Poole/Peter Walker, Buggy, SA

  • 1992
  • 1992

BIKES – Randall Gregory, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Greg Schlein/David Fellows, Buggy, NT

  • 1993

BIKES – Randall Gregory, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Steven Graydon/Tony Graydon, Buggy, WA

  • 1994

BIKES - Randall Gregory, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Keith Poole/Peter Walker, Buggy, SA

  • 1995

BIKES – Randall Gregory, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Bob Mowbray/Janette Mowbray, Buggy, NSW

  • 1996

BIKES – Dan Ashcraft, Honda 500, USA
CARS – Keith Poole/Peter Walker, Scorpion VW Buggy, Adelaide SA

  • 1997

BIKES – Stephen Greenfield, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Paul Simpson, Jimco Buggy, VIC

  • 1998

BIKES – Stephen Greenfield, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Mark Burrows/ Michael Shannon, Cougar Buggy, VIC

  • 1999

BIKES – Rick Hall, Honda 500, NT
CARS – Mark Burrows / Michael Shannon, Cougar Buggie, VIC

  • 2000

BIKES – Stephen Greenfield, Honda CR500, NT
CARS – Mark Burrows / Michael Shannon, 2200cc Turbo Buggy, VIC

  • 2001

BIKES – Michael Vroom, Honda CR500, NT
CARS – David Fellows / Tony Pinto, Southern Cross 2500cc Buggy, NT

  • 2002

BIKES – Rick Hall, Honda CR500, NT
CARS – Mark Burrows / Michael Shannon, MBR Jimco 2000cc Buggy, VIC

  • 2003

BIKES – Darren Griffiths, KTM 540, WA
CARS – Mark Burrows/Colin Hodge, MBR Jimco 2200cc Turbo, VIC

  • 2004

BIKES – Stephen Greenfield, Honda CRF 450, NT
CARS – David Fellows/Tony Pinto, Jimco Buggy 2200cc, NT

  • 2005

BIKES – Jason Hill, Honda CRF 450, NT
CARS – Shannon Rentsch/Ian Rentsch, Chenowth Buggy 2000cc, VIC

  • 2006

BIKES – Ryan Branford, Honda CRF 450, NT
CARS – Shannon Rentsch/Ian Rentsch, Chenowth Buggy 2000cc, Vic

  • 2007

BIKES – Ben Grabham, Honda CRF450R, NSW
CARS – Hayden Bentley/Ben Chivell, Jimco Buggy, SA

  • 2008

BIKES – Ben Grabham, Honda CRF450R , NSW time 4:04:43.02
CARS – David Fellows/Andrew Kittle/Jason Adami, Jimco 2000 Series Buggy, SA

  • 2009

BIKES – Ben Grabham, KTM 505 XC-F, NSW time 4:01:26.60
CARS – David Fellows/Andrew Kittle, Jimco 2000 Series Buggy, SA

  • 2010

BIKES – Toby Price, KTM 450 SX-F , NSW time 4:03:25.62
CARS – David Fellows/Mark Bergamin, Jimco 2000 Series Buggy, SA

  • 2011

BIKES - Ben Grabham, KTM 450 SX-F , NSW time 3:58:59.60
CARS – Greg Gartner/Jamie Jennings, Ford F150, SA

  • 2012

BIKES – Toby Price, KTM 450SXF, NSW time 3:57:03
CARS – Brad Gallard/Rick Geiser/Scott Modistach, Trophy Truck, SA

  • 2013

BIKES – Todd Smith, Honda CRF450R, NSW time 04:02:08
CARS – Hayden Bentley, Racer Buggy, SA

  • 2014

BIKES – Toby Price, KTM 500EXC, NSW time 03:56:29
CARS – Shannon Rentsch/Ian Rentsch, Jimco Buggy, VIC

  • 2015

BIKES – Toby Price, KTM 500EXC, NSW time 03:52:54
CARS – Shannon Rentsch/Ian Rentsch, Jimco Buggy, VIC

  • 2016

BIKES – Toby Price, KTM 500EXC, NSW time 03:46:55
CARS – Glenn Owen/Mathew Ryan, Jimco Buggy, VIC

  • 2017

BIKES – Daymon Stokie, YAMAHA WR500F, NT time 04:11:12
CARS – Shannon Rentsch/Ian Rentsch, Jimco Buggy, VIC

BIKES – Toby Price, KTM 500EXC-F, NSW time 03:55:25.1
CARS – Shannon Rentsch/Ian Rentsch, , VIC time 03:36:37.3

BIKES – David Walsh, KTM 500EXC, NT time 03:56:01
CARS – Jack Rhodes/David Pullino, Jimco Aussie Special Nissan 3500cc, SA

  • 2020

Not run due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

BIKES – David Walsh, KTM, NT time 1:45:34 (leg 1 only)
CARS – Toby Price, Mitsubishi,

  • 2022

BIKES – David Walsh, , NT time 03:35:45[11]
CARS – Toby Price/Jason Duncan, Mitsubishi, time 3:21:46.2[12]

  • 2023

BIKES – David Walsh, KTM, NT time 03:35:48.9[13]
CARS – Toby Price/Jason Duncan, Mitsubishi, QLD time 3:21:46[14]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Finke Desert Race Official Website".
  2. [2]
    "Finke Desert Race cancelled due to coronavirus, costing Alice Springs millions". ABC Alice Springs. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. [3]
    Brash, Stewart; Haskin, Emma (4 June 2021). "Finke Desert Race dreams turn to dust for hundreds of Victorians". ABC Alice Springs. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. [4]
    "Finke Desert Race racing vehicle crashes, killing spectator near finish line". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 June 2021.
  5. [5]
    Jonscher, Samantha (14 June 2021). "Toby Price makes history with buggy category win". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  6. [6]
    "Hall of Fame". Finke Desert Race. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  7. [7]
    "Hall of Fame". Finke Desert Race. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  8. [8]
    Halpin, Thea (11 June 2018), "Finke Desert Race: Champion rider Toby Price wins motorbikes title for the sixth time", ABC News
  9. [9]
    "Alice Springs rider wins Finke desert race", The North West Star, 11 June 2019
  10. [10]
    Tuff, Stephen (15 June 2021), "Tragedy halts 2021 Finke Desert Race as Walsh declared winner", bikesales
  11. [11]
    Mabin, Saskia; Brash, Stuart (14 June 2022), "Injury numbers down during record-breaking year for cars and bikes at NT's Finke Desert Race", ABC News
  12. [12]
    Toby Price wins Finke Desert Race-sets new record for overall time Auto Action 13 June 2022
  13. [13]
    "David Walsh Claims Fourth-Straight King Of The Desert Crown At 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race", Full Noise, 12 June 2023
  14. [14]
    Haskin, Emma (12 June 2023), "Motorsport legend Toby Price wins a record ninth Finke Desert Race title", ABC News
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Finke_Desert_Race, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.