Outback Challenge Spectating

I went this year for the first time. I was a support passage controller for one of the 4 groups of competitors, so I got to see all the stages.

There is no reason why you can't go to the various sites and view most of the action reasonably close-up.

For those who can afford it, there is the option of being part of a tag-along group, where they escort the group to the various sites. I think it costa about $300- or more and I personally wouldn't spend that much, just to be taken to the sites. However, they are in remote station properties, so you'd need to be prepared to go along with the comp groups etc if you didn't know where to go.

There is no entrance fee as such to be paid.

Next years event is going to be different from what I've heard; no need for the passage controllers is my understanding.

I really enjoyed my week or so of doing the job, but they were long days....starting before sun-up and most nights there was a night stage as well, after which we had to get the comp trucks moved to the next stage; in some cases that was a couple of hundred klicks and we didn't crawl into the swags until 1am on a couple of occasions.

I just heard the other day that it will be much better for spectators this year. There is talk of having all the competitors at the one location each day, instead of splitting them all up.

Dave

Indeed Dave B is on the money. A different format next year, all competitors marshalls and spectators will move from property to property as a group, no passage controllers as Roachie mentions above and the chance to see all the stages and yes you do get closer than 100m.

Costs for spectators are around $300 each but next year will be cheaper for fuel and all costs due to the revised format.

cya there

When I lived in the Hill I managed to get in and have a look at a couple of different stages over a couple of years. I approached the organisers and they were happy for me to do so.

Without doubt it was the closest I have come to any form of motorsport other than the local Go Kart club, they let me have a drive.

The action is spectacular and the company is generally pretty good too. On one stage the competitors were joining the crowd to watch those participating after them, they provided the best commentary.

Also the show and shine on the Saturday is excellent. It provides the opportunity to speak with drivers and some very knowledgeable spectators too.

Add to that the beauty of the country out that way and it is truly memorable. Just one thing, take a jumper or two it can be pretty cool standing in the wind on a winters day in Broken Hill.

Duncs

Hi Westozal. I've been to spectate at two outback challenges,as a sponser in 99 and 01,there were 4 of us in 2 vehicles,as a group of mates travelling together and watching our favorite form of motor sport,we all agree it was one of the best holidays we've ever had. The viewing was close up and exhilarating,we had a hand held uhf and listened to the times each vehicle clocked and by day 2 we had a clip board and were writing times down and getting right into it,we had a ball.. Some of the stages offered short terms of viewing that were ok,other stages like the winch wall,mud runs,extended water crossings ,sahara nights sand driving and the day sand driving was great viewing,as we had a great view over thewhole sand bowl ....

unless your a sponsor or a competitor you dont see alot. when i was there 3 years ago you can only see 1 or 2 each day, you dont get to follow the cars. what you do see is good & close up but not worth $330 a ticket when you can see it all for a $30 dvd

Hi Again,
Thanks to those who have replied, one question I didn't ask was where can you camp etc? I'm happy to pay the fee's associated as I know nothings for free in this world, as long as I get reasonable value for the outlay which comming from WA is expensive.
Thanks Alan.

As a sponser we had no special privilages,we went were everybody else went,we camped were everybody else camped,which is part of the spectator package as far as i know. Earlier in the challenge we spoke to a couple of other spectators and they had described to us that they thought some stages were a little boring and gave a short viewing time,so we thought we would stay at certain areas and get to see all the comp trucks go through a particular stage. The camping is on the private properties,were you camp in an allocated area as a group,there was always plenty of firewood and good company... Cheers