Old Ghan Line
Submitted: Monday, May 06, 2013 at 18:26
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David16
Just completed the old Ghan Line from Alice then through to Mt Dare last night. Track has just been graded and is in great cond apart from 1000s of the old steel track spikes laying on the surface, we had no
puncture issuesbut be very watchful!
David
Reply By: Member - Jiarna (NT) - Monday, May 06, 2013 at 18:32
Monday, May 06, 2013 at 18:32
We've been down that way a few times. Best time to do it is before the Finke Desert Race because the track gets graded as far as Finke. During the FDR it is chopped up by all the onlooker traffic, and then gets left until before the next race is due!
The old track spikes are pretty blunt, we've never had a problem with our tyres kept soft and speed kept down.
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Follow Up By: MADOG - Monday, May 06, 2013 at 19:35
Monday, May 06, 2013 at 19:35
Gentlemen,
In your opinion would this route be OK for a
well prepared 200 LCruiser towing a 17'6"" (internal) Kedron TopEnder offroad caravan?
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Follow Up By: Mick O - Monday, May 06, 2013 at 20:33
Monday, May 06, 2013 at 20:33
Hardly a problem for you MD. It's a bit corrugated here and there but Jiarna's advice is spot on.
Cheers Mick
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Follow Up By: Candace S. - Monday, May 06, 2013 at 21:16
Monday, May 06, 2013 at 21:16
When is the race??
I'm considering this track as part of my highly tentative itinerary, so thank you for the information about conditions.
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Follow Up By: Mick O - Monday, May 06, 2013 at 21:28
Monday, May 06, 2013 at 21:28
8th - 10th June 2013. If you are around for the scrutineering, one of our fold will be up there, Vic Member - Drew W will be making sure all things are above board and safe for the race.
Finke Desert Race
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Follow Up By: David16 - Monday, May 06, 2013 at 21:29
Monday, May 06, 2013 at 21:29
Easily done, we averaged 80km/h yesterday
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Follow Up By: Candace S. - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 04:57
Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 04:57
LOL, I should have been more specific! I won't visit Oz until 2014, so I actually wanted to know the dates for next year's race. But after checking their website, I now know which weekend it will be. ;) Thanks for the link!
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Follow Up By: David16 - Wednesday, May 08, 2013 at 17:51
Wednesday, May 08, 2013 at 17:51
Hi Jiarna, next time your on old Ghan line stop and have a close look at the spikes, they may look blunt but in fact they are corroding (being steel) and shards of sharp steel like nails and needles are breaking off them!
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 15:00
Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 15:00
Mad Dog, we also have a Kedron Top Ender, and know the Old Ghan Track pretty
well. There will be a spot or two where washouts will require you to take a side track. You would probably manage OK.
My other half (who does most of the towing with our TE) says despite this he wouldn't be taking the van down that route. The issue is the size of the van not its robustness. Some of those gullies are a shocker. We usually go in via
Kulgera and Finke then down to Mt Dare etc.
Chris
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