2 More Sleeps!
Hello everyone!! Only 2 more sleeps now!
The Rattler needed a bit of a polish to look it’s best before the dirt and mud covers it. I am working away feverishly trying to complete 5 days’ work in 2!!! I have no idea why this always happens before I begin an epic journey!!! What I do know is that this prep has been nonstop since my week of sleep following my return from the 2016 Peking to Paris Rally.
77 days to prep 3 support vehicles, a special trailer and The Rattler has not been enough for a one man team, although a couple of the crew did give me some vital assistance which has been gratefully received. Shaneen has also been working away updating navigation devices, attending to some of the behind the scenes organisation and keeping me calm….well sort of.
The Rattler will have a final complete inspection today and rear axle travel limiting straps fitted. All spares will be packed and tomorrow, Monday, the Rattler will go to an outside workshop for a final timing adjustment. Tomorrow is also my last day to do the final pack up, load The Rattler on the trailer, do a final road test and most importantly do a brake test fully loaded. Truck trials were completed yesterday and main support crew driver Trevor did a hill workout. Extremely steep descents and cross traverse of hillsides all went exceptionally well. The Landcruiser is packed with the camera gear which Clint (cameraman www.seaimage.com.au) delivered yesterday. All the gear was in hard Pelican cases and fitted really well in the back, allowing rear view mirror access to the trailer.
All the vehicles are now looking great!
Although we are leaving Tuesday morning at 5am, we only travel a few kilometres before we cross the border into a different time zone in New South Wales where we lose an hour, so our departure time is really 6am. From home base to Sydney with the trailer it will be a 12 hour run if we are lucky with road conditions. Then we will drive another couple of hours to make it out of Sydney to the south, ready for an easy departure drive down the Hume Highway to Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Wednesday night we board the Spirit of Tasmania for the trip across Bass Straight through the night. Clint will meet us with his camera rolling as we land in Devonport Tasmania next Thursday morning. The rest of the crew fly in to Tasmania on Friday, including Don Snyder from Springfield, Ohio, USA (www.snydersantiqueauto.com). Don has been supplying me with Ford parts since the 1980’s!!!
I can’t wait to start The Great Rattler Run at Cockle Creek! To all those down that way please do come and see us on the bridge at Cockle Creek for the start of the journey. We plan to be there around 9am at the latest next Sunday 16 October.
Many thanks to all those that have ‘liked’ the Facebook page – all 983 of you 🙂 I would be really stoked if I can get only 17 more likes and make it to 1,000 before the start of The Great Rattler Run!
And a big thanks goes out once again to all those sponsors of The Great Rattler Run for their generous support – Penrite Oil Company, BFGoodrich Tires Australia & New Zealand and ARB 4×4 Accessories
Hooroo for now, gotta get back to work!
Rod…The Vintage Adventurer!
