Australasian Safari turns 25

The 2010 Australasian Safari commences in Perth on September 17, with the staple for the 3600km seven-day outback adventure set to be "more about endurance than speed".

"Every leg will present its own unique challenges. There will be some great driving and riding sections as always, and we've reduced the amount of fence line driving to provide as much variety as possible," said Clerk of Course Ron Digby, who's responsible for charting the marathon course.

"We've thrown in some great challenges to make it a little bit nastier for even the toughest competitors.

"Riders and drivers will hit some heavy bush and treed areas where it will be likely they'll encounter fallen logs and branches.  

"Add to that some dramatic sand dunes in the final stages and preservation of both competitor and vehicle will be the key to making it to the finish."

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Australasian Safari, which will track east from Perth to Southern Cross, north and further inland to Leonora, south to historic Coolgardie, and to the border town of Norseman with a finish in the beautiful southern coastal town of Esperance on September 25.

The 100-plus competitors will again compete across auto, moto and quad (ATV) categories in 2011, with the line-ups a mix of seasoned veterans, professional motorsport competitors and rookies.

One of the first-timers is V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes, fresh from victory in the 2010 endurance event at Phillip Island on September 12.

Lowndes' co-driver in the Holden Colorado is experienced safari competitor and past winner Kees Weel.

"The Australasian Safari is an event I have wanted to take part in for years, so when the opportunity came up to drive for Kees and the PWR/Holden Rally Team I jumped at it," Lowndes said.

"This is the first time in my career for racing on anything other than bitumen, and the first time I'll have raced with a passenger sitting alongside me, so it's going to be a great experience."

Past safari winner and regular Dakar competitor Bruce Garland, with co-driver Harry Suzuki will return in their Isuzu D-MAX ute, and other fancied outfits include the father and daughter team of Brent and Sarah Twaddle (Mitsubishi Pajero), and Des Harrington who clocks up 14 safaris over 25 years this year. Des' son Richard, 20, will join his father in a Nissan Patrol.

There are 23 auto entries, while the moto category has 56 competitors, including six of last year's top 10.

Defending champion Jacob Smith (Honda CRF450X) is one of those, as are reigning No. 2 and No. 3 Todd Smith and Ben Grabham, both piloting KTM's 530EXC.

The redoubtable Grabham is a two-time safari winner, and has been the pre-eminent desert racer in Australia over the last three years.

Internationally-renowned Brazilian moto competitor Ze Hélio is competing in his first Australasian Safari.  He is Brazil's No. 1 desert racer, a five-time winner of the Rallye dos Sertoes, and came 12th outright in the 2009 Dakar.

Other moto top guns include desert racing stalwart David Schwarz (Husaberg FE570); Michal Vroom (CRF450X); AJ Roberts (CRF450X), who led last year's race before a huge crash ended his charge; local rider Ivan Erceg (KTM 450EXC) and Matthew Fish (530EXC).

In the quad division, Paul Smith (Honda TRX700XX) is the standout in small field.

Sweden's rally princess Annie Seel also returns to the safari for a second consecutive year. Annie is a veteran of the international off-road racing circuit, having competed in four Dakars and more than 60 international rally sport events.

The Carsales and Bikesales Networks have established a mini Australasian Safari website. Simply click on the following link for all the news and updates.

WHERE DID IT ALL BEGIN?
The Australasian Safari began in August 1985 as the Wynns Safari. The first event included several international Paris to Dakar competitors and more than 200 starters. The race was a battle of attrition, more than 75 per cent of the field retired after the first competitive leg!

The event has changed locations, distances, sponsors and challenges over the years, but what has not changed is the tough and talented competitors, many returning year after year to take on the Aussie outback.

Many legends of motor racing have competed in the Australasian Safari since 1985.

The first race featured the likes of legendary driver Larry Perkins driving a VW beetle, and John Hederics - the most successful competitor to date with six moto first placings and three firsts in the auto division.

Other competitors of note from the past 25 years include Australian motorsport racing legend, the late Peter Brock, rallying champion Ross Dunkerton, AFL star Tony "Plugger" Lockett, past Paris to Dakar winners from around the globe, and even Japanese film stars.

Brock was passionate about the Safari and when asked about his experiences for the book Safari - the story of Australia's Greatest Off-Road Motoring Adventure, he said the event was a unique test of patience, mechanical sympathy and the art of improvisation.

"The Safari provides some of the most demanding, challenging and exhilarating driving that exists and the endurance aspects have to be experienced to be believed," Brock said.

Garland has been competing in Safari since 1987, and the moto category has had its fair share of characters over the years. One mainstay has been Glenn Hoffmann, who competed in his first Safari in 1986, aged 18.  After managing teams for the past couple of years, Glenn is getting back in the hot seat, but this time in the auto category.

The Australasian Safari has attracted people from as far afield as Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Great Britain, Turkey, Italy, USA, Argentina, Taiwan, Brazil and the Czech Republic.

The event has survived floods, bushfires, and the days long before GPS navigation when the Royal Flying Doctor Service was the only reliable form of remote communication.  

Today, the event travels with two planes, a helicopter, satellite dishes, 50-plus satellite phones, seven generators, semi trailers, trucks, motorhomes and about 560 people made up of competitors, support crew, officials, family and friends, medical teams, TV production crew, and international media.