SB Rally: Bush mechanics to the Rescue

Not for one minute are we suggesting that forging shallow friendships to get access to much needed parts is par for the course on the Shitbox Rally. Then again, some teams might be that devious. It's all fair in love and war when it comes to keeping your 'box' ticking over and closer to the finish. It's not as easy as you think to drive a car worth a grand from Perth to Darwin, but the payoff is very rewarding, raising much needed funds for the Cancer Council of Australia.

Our favoured team is the Dunny Dragster's, ably piloted by Regan and Paula. The good news is they're still in the race, but only by the grace of some very creative bush mechanics. It's amazing what you can do with a grubby old towel.

Regan Cheriton explains..

Now things get interesting!  Enter Gibb River Road!

We come across our first water crossing about an hour in. The cars line up as we assess the best way across.  The first car gets stuck and cleared. But the second was successful.  Bring on the Dunny Dragsters!  Half way across the engine cuts out, but we don't have enough momentum to carry us up the other bank. Four guys pushing didn't work either but once again a support car comes to the rescue with perfect timing. Choppercam happened to be flying overhead catching everything on camera.

And our little girl has water in the engine and a soaking wet air filter. Lucky for us we have four bush mechanics in the team who all jump into action. I walk into the bushes for a leak, it's the best I can contribute.

Using a spare towel they fashion a new air filter while the rest get to work on the engine. Seriously after 20 mins and litres of water flying from the engine and out the exhaust, these guys had her purring like a... well, she was running anyway and we dodged a bullet.

We travel on another 50km to Tunnel River and Two Bobs are having brake issues. Luckily for us DXB Desert Devils needed to replace a brake line yesterday and decided to buy a spare. While we checked out the caves at Tunnel River our 'bushies' got to work replacing the brake line and we were on the road again in 30 mins.

We have lucked out this year with an awesome buddy team!

These things come in threes, so it was just a matter of time before one of us blew a tyre.  An hour later it happened to Green Machine and our bad luck was done for the day.

We pitch camp at Mt Barnett Roadhouse, we really are in the middle of nowhere. No showers either, so I guess the dust will just build up for another day.

We have travelled less than 400km and had more action today, than the last four put together.

Unbelievably only one death (as in a fellow team's car), but many organs were donated to rescue others, as the vultures swept in and stripped the Shitbox to a carcass.

Tomorrow we have 700 plus kilometres on the Gibb River, hold onto your hats.

Regards,