To those interested:

The final updates to the OBC page have been completed. Barring total disaster (container ship sinking, pirates sacking the ship and steeling the jeep, ect ect)additional updates will next be made as Greg and I make our way to Australia and continue preparations on the jeep. I'll be doing the updates myself if I decide to take the lap top, or calling them in to somebody back here. Either way, if your so inclined, go take a look at what has been built to compete and WIN!!! in the 2002 Australian Outback Challenge
Team USA (http://www.northern4x4.com/events/OBC/OBC.htm)

Definelty a Snorkel going by a couple of the stages that involve long runs through water and mud, and a pull pal or equivalent. Probably should pack a didegeridoo, a wombat and a corroboree too :rolleyes:

Good luck

Originally posted by Daniel
WOW what a huge effort you are putting out.. Maybe a snorkel though... Can you put pics up soon...

There are pics on the OBC page, including one of the Snorkel.

http://www.northern4x4.com/events/OBC/OBC.htm

Hey , good luck TEAM USA

Thanks. We plan on having a blast as well as seriously competing. The vehicles will range from mostly stock family DD in one class to Highly modified well driven production cars in our class. The competition will be great at the top of the pile.... Which is were we will be :)

i love this picture from TeamUSA site:
http://www.northern4x4.com/events/OBC/car01.jpg

Originally posted by dennisuello
i love this picture from TeamUSA site:
http://www.northern4x4.com/events/OBC/car01.jpg

Whats to love? Rover, going slow through a little puddle, and it took a seasoned driver a a ton of work on that car to get it so...Seen um, drove um,,, not impressed

EDIT: Not impressed, as in the Magical Rover name,, making it the most formidable vehicle known to man,,, Haa,, It makes a nice starting point.. Much like a jeep.. Now spend a lot of time and money, find a good driver, get lots of experience, and that combo will win some….But that did not impress me… If the Rovers that were wining or doing well had done so in stock trim, had done so with out major work, parts replacement, upgrades, swaps,, I would be impressed. But instead, I marvel at the cool machine that was built,, That can be impressive,, , just not the myth of the “Rover” name. I was not trying to take away from the teams that have done great things with rovers,,, If they have won, they have done so because they drive well, and built a good car,, not because they drive a Rover.

Originally posted by bronco78


Whats to love? Rover, going slow through a little puddle, and it took a seasoned driver a a ton of work on that car to get it so...Seen um, drove um,,, not impressed

Obviously you haven't seen enough of them. In Australia odds are pretty good you'll be looking at the backside of a bunch of them. There's a reason no one competes with TJ's over there!!

Originally posted by dennisuello
i love this picture from TeamUSA site:
http://www.northern4x4.com/events/OBC/car01.jpg

This is defianatly a better pic :flipoff2:



Good luck guys if the courses dont kill ya the heat is going to.

FYI: That Range Rover has been winning several challenges in Asia and Australia for the past 3-4 years...so "not impressed" is not what you should be thinking...

I'll see you at the 2003 RFC this December :flipoff2:

Originally posted by lwg


Obviously you haven't seen enough of them. In Australia odds are pretty good you'll be looking at the backside of a bunch of them. There's a reason no one competes with TJ's over there!!

Must be why Alan McMullen http://www.northern4x4.com/events/OBC/The%20winner.jpg http://www.outbackchallenge.com/2002Event/2002EventPic-2.jpg Won last year in a Jeep, and took second the year before.


Yes I've seen a lot of Rovers,, some struggled to get out of the parking lots, many preped well, built hard,raced hard.

Ok, not impressed was an overstatement.. Yes they wheel the tires off rovers in AU,, (some times the wheels, drive shafts, and other bits actually fall off) And the Rover driven by Wayne Smith in the 2002 OBC, owned by dad has kicked some big ass over the years... Wayne's dad is a hell of a driver, and Wayne is very good also. Good enough he took second place in that Rover last year.. So yes, a Rover that has been built. Wheels well in those types of areas.. I guess I was thinking... Rovers are like jeeps,, once you get um in race trim,, not much is left of the stock parts,, and so I'm no more impressed with rovers, than jeeps.. you build um,, and drive them well, they win. That particular rover is built well, and the father and son team of drivers are very good... That is what makes it capable of wining..not that it is a Rover.....

Originally posted by DiscoDino
FYI: That Range Rover has been winning several challenges in Asia and Australia for the past 3-4 years...so "not impressed" is not what you should be thinking...

I'll see you at the 2003 RFC this December :flipoff2:

No RFC for me,, It's all we can do to get the jeep to AU for the OBC. I would love to go to the RFC, and all the other races that take place in AU, SA, and surrounding places..... just not in the cards. If your racing in the RFC this year good luck, if your going to work the course, and watch..take lots of pics,, I wana see um when your done..:p

How much does it cost to ship a rig from Alaska to Austrailia! :eek:

Originally posted by Lance
How much does it cost to ship a rig from Alaska to Austrailia! :eek:

About $7k round trip, last year it was a little cheaper.

Originally posted by Lance
How much does it cost to ship a rig from Alaska to Austrailia! :eek:


first born.

Originally posted by lwg


Obviously you haven't seen enough of them. In Australia odds are pretty good you'll be looking at the backside of a bunch of them. There's a reason no one competes with TJ's over there!!

Never really saw that many Rovers the umpteen times I was there. Mostly Toy and Nissan Utes.

Most of the guys I talked with told me that the Jeep wheelbase didn't work good with the roads in the outback. Jeeps end up falling apart about halfway across the Kimberly.

Originally posted by bronco78


About $7k round trip, last year it was a little cheaper.

Is that in a container?

It was only $1700(US) to ship a 109 from Brisbane to Baltimore

"And the Rover driven by Wayne Smith in the 2002 OBC . . . Rovers are like jeeps,, once you get um in race trim,, not much is left of the stock parts,,"

Ah, you mean besides the stock axles, trans/t-case, engine, suspension, body and chassis?

Sure there were some tweaks (lockers, motor mods, lift springs) but how many race jeeps to you see running with all the major components stock? It would be like seeing a YJ with Dana 30/35, 4 banger, SUA, running the OBC.

Ron

i love watching you other rover guys get your panties in a twist because of a stupid little comment:D

its just metal by a different name;)

Just wanted to get some facts strait. besides the reason that rig wins is because of the Smithies not because it is a rover.

Ron

Originally posted by evilfij
It was only $1700(US) to ship a 109 from Brisbane to Baltimore



That sounds a bit more what I've heard.

Originally posted by eurobob


That sounds a bit more what I've heard.
Oh well ok, as long as thats what your hear,than that must be the cost.

Flatbed Anchorage to Seattle, container to Au this year.. Last year it was bardge Anchorage to Seattle, Container to AU. Last year it was just one jeep in a container, this year there are to, so half the cost.. I'm not the money man,, so I can not be exsact on cost. If some body really wants numbers I can ask the money man.

Originally posted by bronco78

Oh well ok, as long as thats what your hear,than that must be the cost.

Flatbed Anchorage to Seattle, container to Au this year.. Last year it was bardge Anchorage to Seattle, Container to AU. Last year it was just one jeep in a container, this year there are to, so half the cost.. I'm not the money man,, so I can not be exsact on cost. If some body really wants numbers I can ask the money man.

Actually now that I think about it more, I heard it was cheaper coming to the US and I was only thinking one way.

It was only $1700(US) to ship a 109 from Brisbane to Baltimore

"And the Rover driven by Wayne Smith in the 2002 OBC . . . Rovers are like jeeps,, once you get um in race trim,, not much is left of the stock parts,,"

Ah, you mean besides the stock axles, trans/t-case, engine, suspension, body and chassis?

Sure there were some tweaks (lockers, motor mods, lift springs) but how many race jeeps to you see running with all the major components stock? It would be like seeing a YJ with Dana 30/35, 4 banger, SUA, running the OBC.

Ron

Ron...you got that nail on the head!
:flipoff2:

Originally posted by DiscoDino
It was only $1700(US) to ship a 109 from Brisbane to Baltimore

"And the Rover driven by Wayne Smith in the 2002 OBC . . . Rovers are like jeeps,, once you get um in race trim,, not much is left of the stock parts,,"

Ah, you mean besides the stock axles, trans/t-case, engine, suspension, body and chassis?

Sure there were some tweaks (lockers, motor mods, lift springs) but how many race jeeps to you see running with all the major components stock? It would be like seeing a YJ with Dana 30/35, 4 banger, SUA, running the OBC.

Ron

Ron...you got that nail on the head!
:flipoff2:
Ha, you think that rover of the Smith's is stock??? Not even close.. I've been under it, I've been under the hood, and inside the cab.. Have you? There is nothing stock....well maybe the outside mirrors...

Originally posted by evilfij
It was only $1700(US) to ship a 109 from Brisbane to Baltimore . . .

That's cheap enough! Cost me that much to get my EB from Guam to Hawaii. Oh, wait, that was airfreight!

Originally posted by evilfij
It was only $1700(US) to ship a 109 from Brisbane to Baltimore

"And the Rover driven by Wayne Smith in the 2002 OBC . . . Rovers are like jeeps,, once you get um in race trim,, not much is left of the stock parts,,"

Ah, you mean besides the stock axles, trans/t-case, engine, suspension, body and chassis?

Sure there were some tweaks (lockers, motor mods, lift springs) but how many race jeeps to you see running with all the major components stock? It would be like seeing a YJ with Dana 30/35, 4 banger, SUA, running the OBC.

Ron

the rover had STOCK ROVER AXLES IN IT? as in 10 splines? ROFLMAO :eek: I would doubt anyone would compete effectively on those, without plenty of spares, but with maxidrives, which ARE NOT stock axles, then he'd be going a little better. There is a reason every Rover I've seen competing over here doesn't hae stock axles

ROFL

but I like both makes, they are built for a purpose, a few upgrades, and you can be in quite a good truck, just like anything except a nissan I suppose! :flipoff2:

Now correct me if I am wrong but my understanding of the Smith's RR was:

Engine: stroked rover V8
Axles: Stock rover with maxidrive diffs and axles running stock RR cvs
Trans/T-case: Rover LT95
Body: 2-door range rover
Chassis: I seem to recall it was built on a disco chassis
Suspension: stock with 220# rate lift springs

My point was all the major components were stock rover with tweaks, its not like he is running an atlas, D60s, NV4500 and a SBC under a rover body on coilovers.

Ron

Originally posted by evilfij
Now correct me if I am wrong but my understanding of the Smith's RR was:

Engine: stroked rover V8
Axles: Stock rover with maxidrive diffs and axles running stock RR cvs
Trans/T-case: Rover LT95
Body: 2-door range rover
Chassis: I seem to recall it was built on a disco chassis
Suspension: stock with 220# rate lift springs

My point was all the major components were stock rover with tweaks, its not like he is running an atlas, D60s, NV4500 and a SBC under a rover body on coilovers.

Ron

ive seen toyota utes and nissan utes run the OBC STOCK, stock suspension and stock drivetrain, as in FACTORY and do okay, but yeah, to be competitive in modified everything needs to be modified, i wouldnt call modified diffs stock, but maybe you guys see thing different to me!!

good luck to 78 bronco a friend of mine Tony Dodds, from up the road is entering and WILL finish top 3!!!

Originally posted by BJ On Roids


ive seen toyota utes and nissan utes run the OBC STOCK, stock suspension and stock drivetrain, as in FACTORY and do okay, but yeah, to be competitive in modified everything needs to be modified, i wouldnt call modified diffs stock, but maybe you guys see thing different to me!!

good luck to 78 bronco a friend of mine Tony Dodds, from up the road is entering and WILL finish top 3!!!

Yes there is a stock class, but they do not run the same routes as us.. most of the same, but not all, and they compete in there own class against like vehicles. I saw that Tony was again entered this year.. Top three? No pressure huh?..:p

Originally posted by eurobob


Never really saw that many Rovers the umpteen times I was there. Mostly Toy and Nissan Utes.

Most of the guys I talked with told me that the Jeep wheelbase didn't work good with the roads in the outback. Jeeps end up falling apart about halfway across the Kimberly.




Good Luck to the Alaskan (USA) entry. The logistics of entering even one Australian event is an accomplishment.

eurobob, I don't know about Jeeps in the Kimberly, but a few friends and I drove the Gibb River Road in a Ford Falcon XC (looked much like a 70' Torino) ten years ago (across the Kimberly, I expect Jeeps can do just as well).

Rover/Jeep bashing can be fun, but each brand has wins and losses. The short wheelbase and suspension of a CJ/TJ Jeep can be a liability on fast roads, although I am sure they can be built to compete (as can a Rover). The longer wheelbase of a Rover can work as an advantage, but I expect winning will take more than buying a good vehicle package at the local dealer.

Later in the same year I found myself on the Gibb River Road, I rode suicide seat for twelve hours in the Baja 1000, and watched the disappointed British Land Rover Team drive in circles outside Campo Don Abel as the official finisher time limit ran out. My driver/passenger team's turn was over, and our car broke more parts than we had spares less than ten miles into the next team's drive (~600+ miles covered to DNF, typical Baja 1000), so we were done and offered help (radio and relay) to the Rover Team.

Talk with the Rover driver and passenger, as they waited for a finish time extension request, was centered on how the vehicle was underbuilt for the rough Baja conditions. These were the same Rovers built and driven in the P-D Rally/Raid competition, and they were not prepared for the speed and terrain experienced in Baja (I cannot remember if Rod Hall's Hummer or the Andataco Ford won the Full Stock Class in 93). The Rover team's Baja experience comments were along the lines of an unyielding 24-hour sprint, rather than an expectation of staged six to eight hour sprints and events. The duration of the event was far beyond the expectation (as was the difficulty of terrain, chase support, and competitive speed).

Any vehicle (Rover or Jeep) can be entered in an arena of competition, although the course and event conditions need to be known to build the vehicle to excel (and the driver/passenger teams need to know and prepare for the conditions as well).

I read this OZ OBC event is held at the opposite end of the continent (in New South Wales), far from the Kimberly. The expected events and terrain will eat tires, and will demand field repairs. Miles of rough corrugated road, polished stone washes (the ones without water), and overgrown goat tracks with nasty plants. Seasonal weather changes can be demoralizing to the entrants (as well as changes to the tracks). With luck the May schedule will cool off enough to make the heat bearable.

Good Luck in OZ (add to the experience base, and have fun as well).

Happy Trails!

Originally posted by lwg


Obviously you haven't seen enough of them. In Australia odds are pretty good you'll be looking at the backside of a bunch of them. There's a reason no one competes with TJ's over there!!


Turns out I was right after all.

Results for the 2003 Outback Challenge. I don't see any Jeeps, just Rovers and Patrols.

1st Place Team Simex Mike Smith / Wayne Smith - Blue Range Rover 35x10.5-15 ET

2nd Place Team Simex Kym Bolton / Robert Marks - Blue Nissan patrol Trayback 35x10.5-15 ET

3rd Place Team Simex Chris Hummer / Neil Cooper - Red Range Rover 35x10-.5-15 ET

:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Yup, and those three vehicles are as far from stock or OEM as Lance's Land Cruser is.. But you failed to see that point :flipoff2: Kyms got a motor worth $10 K or more now, carbon fiber panals, and much more. Mike Smiths rangie is so far from stock it's not even close, even the frame has been changed out. Chris's Rangie is the closet to a OEM vehicle as the top leaders got..and his has been extensivly modified, swapped motor, swapped axles, trans....And nope no jeeps in the top spots this year,,,,Last years champ Allen in a jeep, broke early this year.. trans output shaft going into the Atlas he thinks.. It happens.. Something can always bust.

So yes you were correct, and none OEM, non stock, almost non Rover made it to the top of the pile this year.. wow what a guess that was for you,, Mike Smith, winner of the first OBC, and damn near every thing else he races in.. Him and his son are a hell of a team...and would be in the hunt for a top finish even if they drove a Zuk..:flipoff2:

I'm just stirring you up! Didn't figure anything was stock in this competition. At least not anything that seriously wanted to compete. My truck is no more stock than 90% of the Jeeps here on the board. I've just gotta give the Jeep guys a hard time every now and then!!

I still envy anyone who at least went over a competed. I wouldn't care where I finished as long as I was there.

Ya I figured that was the point in your post...:p Just funning back.. And yes, after the disaster in 2002, our main reason to go back this year was race, finish, place as high as a leaf sprung short wheel base vehicle could do. And that we did, all stages compleated, raced to the last day, scored from 3rd to 40th in the 20 different stages. We knew going in, we could not race with the front runners in some stages, thi jeep just does not do welll in steep off camber, and really fast rough stuff. But we went back, did ok, finished all stages (more than most teams, and even the top three DNF'd 1 or more stage due to damage) It was a blast, and even with the scoring screwups both this and last year it was worth it to me..but then I was not paying the bills :flipoff2:

Originally posted by grimbo
Definelty a Snorkel going by a couple of the stages that involve long runs through water and mud, and a pull pal or equivalent. Probably should pack a didegeridoo, a wombat and a corroboree too :rolleyes:

Good luck

corroboree is a celebration or function, in aboriginal terms. :p pack a bunch of half naked natives, with sticks and partying :eek:

Originally posted by bronco78


Yes there is a stock class, but they do not run the same routes as us.. most of the same, but not all, and they compete in there own class against like vehicles. I saw that Tony was again entered this year.. Top three? No pressure huh?..:p

he was seventeenth or fifteenth he wasnt talking much about it :(

Originally posted by Ed A. Stevens


With luck the May schedule will cool off enough to make the heat bearable.

Good Luck in OZ (add to the experience base, and have fun as well).

Happy Trails!

yeah june is our winter, so to us its FREEZING this time of year :flipoff2:

Originally posted by lwg



Turns out I was right after all.

Results for the 2003 Outback Challenge. I don't see any Jeeps, just Rovers and Patrols.

1st Place Team Simex Mike Smith / Wayne Smith - Blue Range Rover 35x10.5-15 ET

2nd Place Team Simex Kym Bolton / Robert Marks - Blue Nissan patrol Trayback 35x10.5-15 ET

3rd Place Team Simex Chris Hummer / Neil Cooper - Red Range Rover 35x10-.5-15 ET

:flipoff2: :flipoff2:
i thought kyms was white?

Originally posted by bronco78
Ya I figured that was the point in your post...:p Just funning back.. And yes, after the disaster in 2002, our main reason to go back this year was race, finish, place as high as a leaf sprung short wheel base vehicle could do. And that we did, all stages compleated, raced to the last day, scored from 3rd to 40th in the 20 different stages. We knew going in, we could not race with the front runners in some stages, thi jeep just does not do welll in steep off camber, and really fast rough stuff. But we went back, did ok, finished all stages (more than most teams, and even the top three DNF'd 1 or more stage due to damage) It was a blast, and even with the scoring screwups both this and last year it was worth it to me..but then I was not paying the bills :flipoff2:

dont worry dude, these rover guys get a kick out of saying oh yeah stock rover :D but nice effort coming over and just finishing, it is a tough event, and props to you for having a go.

Originally posted by BJ On Roids

i thought kyms was white?
It was last year, but blue this year... Think he painted it when he replaced all the steel with carbon panels