OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[John Mags]

Hi All,
As some of you would already know we did not manage to complete this years Australasian Safari. Through no fault of the crew or rider we simply had bad luck mechanically to the point of retirement out of the event. We do not see this as a bad point in our racing endeavours. We will use the vast experience gained from competing at this event to help build a better race package for future events. Fact is we are determined as ever!

Our camp was all smiles during the event, even after a 2.00am repair session. All thoughts are positive and we have already hatched a plan for next years event, funds and time permitting.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all major sponsors and crew for their support in the 2009 Australasian Safari effort.

Crew: John and Bosco Stevanovic, Evan Hall and Matt James.

Sponsors: Light Force
Polaris Industries Australia
Scootaround Sales And Hire
Hardiman ATV
FOX Racing Shocks
Just Muscle Cars
Heaslip Towing
Magic Signs Australia
Ballards Off Road
Octane Leisure
Quadrider SA
Northcote Custom Cycles
MAXXIS Tires

I would also like to thank those that have helped out in the last 12 years. It is the efforts of people like you that help build the foundations and experience to make for a better race package.

Looking forward to 2010!


Kind Regards,

John Maragozidis.


PS: Am flat out at work catching up but will put together a more detailed story of our Safari experience later if anyone is interested.
_________________
When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[thebigdog]

Look forward to reading it Mags.
_________________
"WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH, GET SERIOUS, GET KTM"

[Barney]

Also looking forward to reading it John ,.
_________________
2012 Can am Outlander Xt 1000cc
Can Am Full set of Armour ,Grip and thumb warmer
Fox Podium Shocks and springs front and back
GME Tx 4600 UHF with Helmet Mic
Hema Gps

[John Mags]

Safari 09

As per usual there was the massive job of preparing the Outlaw IRS for this huge rally. Although we were using a similar quad as last year there is still lots of preparation and modification to be done. Just to give you some idea I spent about 8 to 10 hours just on zip ties for all the wiring and controls. Every nut and bolt got either copper coat or loctite.

We also upped the suspension package this year and went with Fox EVOL Floats. They are second to none and if we had more time a set would have gone on the back also, they are that good.

Anyhow, back to the race. We get to Perth in great time. We settle in and meet all the other quad guys. The team from the CZ do not speak any English but we seem to get along just fine none the less. Also it is great to see Link who has flown over for the start. This guy is keen as.

This year the organizers decided to run a prologue for all competitors. For me this was simply a little shake down and to see how well the winter gloves and face mask worked. The prologue track was gravel road with a number of water crossings. Not wanting to drown anything or do anything silly, I decided to go real slow around all the water holes. Funny thing, I missed a turn and went the wrong way for a fair while. By the time I realized what happened and got back on coarse both Joseph and Smitty had caught up just as I crossed the finish.

Leg one, Perth to Geraldton: Now the race starts. The first road section was a long one and it was absolutely freezing! Remember we start at 6.00am some mornings.

First selective, day one and I was in familiar territory. This was the last day of the 2008 race. Long sandy straights with a few sharp turns and hidden large rocks thrown in for good measure. This would really suit the bigger engine quads. As per usual I like to ease into the early stages and get to know my machine. All went well with no problems other than me wanting more HP.

Second selective, day one. This track was a navigational nightmare. The track was tight and twisted, mainly sand with lots of rocks. One of the bike riders had a crash earlier that trashed his map reader so he wanted to follow me for navigation. Great because once again I missed a turn off and lost a few minutes. Again, no big deal, there was another 6 days of racing to be had.


Leg two, Geraldton to Mt Magnet:

First selective, day two. 244 km. This section we missed out on last year due to heavy rain. This year the rain came down a week prior making for some huge mud bogs. Very tricky but a great stage. Also this is the stage of my first big problems. Mid way through the stage and I stall in the middle of a creek crossing. Go to re start with no luck…… nothing……… no lights, no horn, no starter, nothing…….. the battery is dead. OK, tools out and covers off looking for a cause. All looks good. Jump leads come out and I wave over a fellow rider for a jump start. It is turning over but real slow. This will not work. Third rider to stop and help and he is in no rush at all and is very willing to help out. Plan, lets try a tow start! Good old Etsa rope comes out and we get her going. Great! I get 100 meters down the track and she dies again. The fuel pump has no power. OK, time to inflate the fuel tanks via the breather hose to get fuel up to the carb. Problem is the tube is short and my head hits the map and ICO at every little bump. I am still 100km short of the control. I get going and the ride is hell. Head keeps smacking the bars, back and shoulders ache from the funky ride position and I am getting head spins from the petrol fumes. Some how I make it to the splash and dash refuel zone. Contemplating my next move…….. what to do……… OK, I need a longer tube for the breather, that way at least I can sit upright. The farmer is there and hears my call for help. He goes to his shed and gets me a longer tube. In the mean time I bypassed the fuel pump so it would be easier to get fuel to the carb. After a tow start I was off again!
I meet my crew at the next fuel stop and we try and change the battery with no success. The exhaust need to come off for this to happen. I remember having a spare Camel Back mouth piece in the trailer so we attach that to the breather. At least it is a little more comfy blowing into the tanks now! I hit the road (50km transport) and test my new fuel set up. Funny thing is the mouth piece holds a little pressure so I don’t need to block the hole with my tongue.

Second Selective, day two 136km: My head is spinning from petrol fumes and my nose is bleeding. I need a tow start at the beginning of the stage and the car guys are very willing to help. I had to remember which camel back I could drink from and which one to blow into. Despite all this I actually get a nice pace going. A few of the straights seemed to curve for no reason but I knew this was just the effects of the petrol fumes in my head.

Into Mt Magnet and we replace the battery and the regulator. We now have full voltage. All seems well.


Leg three, Mt Magnet to Leonora:

Short 18 km road section and straight into a 122km selective.

I start with a little more fire in my belly after what happened yesterday so I am pushing a little harder. All seems good then I hear the sound of loose and damaged bearings in the gear box. I have lost first gear and the others are a little noisy. I decide to keep riding (what else is the to do?) And take it very easy as to nurse her out of the stage. I am now stuck in 3rd or 4th and it will not shift out. The track gets very technical and I have no choice but to pound trough some large nasty rock sections. I take advantage of this and practice my rock jumping skills to the amusement of fellow quad competitor Heath Young. With just 3km to go to complete the selective she just locks up…… Stuck again!....... and the wheels will not turn. I drag her off the track and decide to find out how far the sweep vehicle is. After the report of a 3 hour wait I decide to remove the chain and hook up the trusty rope. I hear a V8 racer coming down the track…….. real slow……….. It is the leading car with the front wheel folded under the chassis doing about 10km per hour. He is nice enough to tow me out of the selective.

I still have to get to my crew at the next fuel stop 91km away. I manage to get me a tow but bail out after 20km as it was just getting to dangerous. The next car along tows me for another 20km or so but we are having no joy. The road stage is getting tighter and more technical making it dangerous. I decide enough is enough and pull up waiting for the sweep. That night we change the engine and get to bed at 2.00am ready for a 6.00am start.


Leg four, Leonora to Laverton.

Feeling like nothing else can go wrong I settle in for a nice solid ride. I am down on HP but make full use of the Outlaw’s amazing suspension package. I am having an absolute ball blasting through rough stuff and obstacles at a spirited rate. All seems fine and without warning I have a second gearbox failure. I now realize that this is game over for our 09 Safari effort. The spot that it broke down was simply brilliant. A water hole with beautiful gum trees and soft sandy beach. I radio in my position and wait about three hours for the sweep. From here on out I am a spectator.

We still have a great time and learned so much more about the event without the pressure of competing. Pete and Smitty had saved a park for us at every overnight so we were sort of a team and lending tools to each other. I helped Pete work on Smitty’s quad a few times and we just had a plain old laugh.

The presentation after party got pretty wild. If you want to know more about that you will have to ask Pete and Smitty.

Well done to all that decided to have a go. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves riding their quad a lot. We are very privileged to be part of this event. This truly is a great race. Time and money permitting I will keep on doing Safari.

John Maragozidis.
















_________________
When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[cowchaser]

Nice write up Nut Man!

I'm not going to go into a write up about the whole event because there has been enough said on just how freaking cool this event is.

Instead i'm just going to tell you all to give it a go yourselves I not saying to jump in at the deep end and take on Safari. Condo 750 is on at Easter and I recommend everybody that would love to take on something like this to get there. It's quite cheap to enter you don't need massive fuel tanks and you can set up a nav tower for under $100

Anybody that needs help or who has any question Maggots or myself would be more than happy to steer you in the right direction.

Rallyes are cool and boody addictive give it a go!!!!!!!!
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Smitty

[Huskygoat]

So Cowchaser will you tackle it again on a X or will you try something different????
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[Linc]

Good stuff there John

Hope to see ya there next year.

Linc

[cowchaser]

Huskygoat wrote:

So Cowchaser will you tackle it again on a X or will you try something different????

Yeah I think we have a bloody good package now. Even tossing up weather to ride it a Finke
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Smitty

[Huskygoat]

Don't be silly Smithy you got a couple of Finke wins in ya yet . Just gotta be there for the right reasons.
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[froggy]

think he means ride the gade at finke not the ds

[cowchaser]

Huskygoat wrote:

Don't be silly Smithy you got a couple of Finke wins in ya yet . Just gotta be there for the right reasons.

Don't worry about me Husky if I take a Rene to Finke i'll be there to try and win it
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Smitty

[Huskygoat]

I nearly died laughing
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[Linc]

Gotta tell ya Husky; that Renegade is pretty fast and without all the safari crap it's going to be even faster. If it works in the woops I see no reason why the Renegade could not be a contender at Finke.

Linc

[Huskygoat]

Just to liven things up ........ a small wager?????
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[Linc]

I bet he beats you......

[cowchaser]

Linc wrote:

Gotta tell ya Husky; that Renegade is pretty fast and without all the safari crap it's going to be even faster. If it works in the woops I see no reason why the Renegade could not be a contender at Finke. Linc

It dosen't matter what you do to it Linc the big bitch wont work in the whoops but Finke isn't about the whoops anymore it's about how fast you can go over square edge crap and the Rene loves that stuff
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Smitty

[Linc]

cowchaser wrote:

Linc wrote: Gotta tell ya Husky; that Renegade is pretty fast and without all the safari crap it's going to be even faster. If it works in the woops I see no reason why the Renegade could not be a contender at Finke. Linc It dosen't matter what you do to it Linc the big bitch wont work in the whoops but Finke isn't about the whoops anymore it's about how fast you can go over square edge crap and the Rene loves that stuff

well........cool

[Huskygoat]

lol gees you guys chicken easy Smithy could beat me riding backwards Why don't we bet something to really get this event going. I'll put up or shut up.......
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[Linc]

Huskygoat wrote:

lol gees you guys chicken easy Smithy could beat me riding backwards Why don't we bet something to really get this event going. I'll put up or shut up.......

I bet the next time there is good thread going on you'll do your best to cock it up.

I bet next time some one does something good on a Can-Am you'll $hit can it anyway.

I bet that even though you constantly say "for the good of the sport" you'll then follow it with some stupid uneducated opinion and once again $hit can what ever is going on.

So I've put up.......how about you shut up!

[John Mags]

Linc wrote:

Good stuff there John Hope to see ya there next year. Linc

I also hope to see you there and hopefully we will both be riding.
_________________
When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[Huskygoat]

Linc wrote:

Huskygoat wrote: lol gees you guys chicken easy Smithy could beat me riding backwards Why don't we bet something to really get this event going. I'll put up or shut up....... I bet the next time there is good thread going on you'll do your best to cock it up. I bet next time some one does something good on a Can-Am you'll $hit can it anyway. I bet that even though you constantly say "for the good of the sport" you'll then follow it with some stupid uneducated opinion and once again $hit can what ever is going on. So I've put up.......how about you shut up!

Water off a ducks back . You just killed that Sponsorship of the event nice one.
_________________
Truth and Honor and Trust ... never under estimate Them.

[vjcrose]

I know you two talk on the phone a lot or used too
what ever drugs you guys are sharing you may keep it

I bet cowchasher can beat both of you sitting backwards
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Family is most important.... next is our quads

[47industries]

Well if Bullet can get 7th in Finke on a detuned Renegade 730, imagine what the bloodnut can do on a worked 810R???????
I would say he has a pretty good chance of making it 4 podiums in a row.
Mick@47
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The way to this man's heart is through his esky

[Roycroft]

maybe i might give it go on an outy or rene and make it a 4x4 podium that would be good, just have to slip beechey some date rape drugs like we did on the weekend, that slowed him down a little enough that thomas could catch and kiss him.
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2012 sponsors, Working on it.

[azza450]

Maybe the whole X team should ride Renegades at Finke next year.

Smitty would clean up, triple podium for sure.

Does that mean you will have a spare DS lying around Smitty?