Tribute: John Bailey has dedicated the car to his late neighbour, Joyce Read, who donated the entry fee money.
GREG WANE
OCEAN Grove’s John Bailey joined 100 other entrants in the annual Royal Flying Doctor Service Outback Car Trek from Dubbo to Uluru on June 5.
Before he left, John and co-driver Greg Snowball said they would travel the 3800 kilometres of dirt roads through some of the country’s most remote areas across three states in a 1969 Holden HG Premier.
“The regulations state that all vehicles must be pre 1971, two-wheel-drive and the only four-wheel-drives allowed are the back-up vehicles,” John said.
Other cars taking part in the trek included Mustangs, Mercedes, lots of Holdens and Fords and an old Volkswagen.
“It’s mainly the bigger cars that are preferred because you have to take all your gear, your swags, everything you need has got to be in your car, plus all your spares,” John said.
“You have to carry a spare radiator and spare wheels. Everything has to be bolted in and strapped down.”
John has been preparing the 1969 HG Premier since buying it in September.
“It’s a stock-standard vehicle,” he said.
“All I’ve done is put a Celica gearbox in it and have done nothing to the engine but it’s running as sweet as a nut.
“It’s the standard 186 motor. I’ve tried three diffs in it and eventually got one that’s not noisy and runs smooth.
“The car’s got heavy-duty springs and I put an extra leaf in the rear because we’ll have to carry 140 litres of fuel in a tank in the back plus a stock of spares including tie rods and little bits and pieces likely to break – and who knows what will break.”
John said the first stage, from Dubbo to Tilpa, was 670 kilometres of dirt through the bush.
“Trek organisers advised us not to put big, strong shockers on because they will belt holes through the floor on the corrugated tracks.
“If you do that (heavy duty shockers) you have to strengthen the chassis and put a heavier floor in it. That sounded all a bit too hard, so I’ve decided to take an extra pair of shockers instead.”
The trek has been on John’s mind for some time.
“My main aim is to do this trek, which is one of the more-popular runs that supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
John said the Variety Bash and Royal Flying Doctor Rally both cost a minimum $6000 donation to take part but the outback trek was the cheaper alternative because smaller teams could compete.
He expected to average about 560 kilometres each day on the trek, which has no time limit for completion.
With the trek essentially a fundraiser for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, John and Greg had to raise more than $8000 before leaving Dubbo.
They also have to pay $800 for each team member and a further $750 to enter the car.
“My neighbour, Joyce Read, was keen to see me do the trek and she donated the $750 entry fee,” John said.
“Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer earlier this year, so we have dedicated the car in her memory.”
Organisers expect cars to begin arriving at Uluru last Sunday.
“Our strategy is to nurse the car along and take it easy, but we might flog it a bit on the way home,” John laughed.
