Simpson Desert crossing

updraught

updraught

Well-known member
Some of you may remember the crossing of the Simpson Desert here by an ex snow mobile called the Rattler.
https://vintageadventurer.com.au/day-3-rattler-run-iii/

Well, it looks like this guy tried it in a Chev.
A recovery costs about $12,000 or so. The truck cost about half a million to build. It's owned by the Birdsville pub.
 

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Very Interesting As always from Australia. Have you heard of UES in Australia? My son is their CEO in the US?
 
Phhhttt! The guy who got me started on driving my Model A through that country has done over 300,000 miles in his 1928 Chev since 1985. He has done every track, every highway and always made it home. Sometimes, the car needed a complete rebuild before his next trip but when winter came, he was gone, heading north into some warmer weather.
I will never match his achievements but it's mighty fun trying. The next national Model A rally is in Albany, WA. Last time it was in WA, my wife and I drove "around the block" to get there, then took the "shortcut" home across the Nullabor. We did about 14,000 miles and lived in our camper trailer for 4 1/2 months. My brother in law now has a Model A too and wants to do what we did. Maybe we repeat the trip-an experience never to be forgotten.
I have another friend who, in 2013, drove a 1923 Model T from Melbourne (Australia) to Moscow (Russia) with NO support of any kind. He was entirely on his own.
A Chev someone has spent $500,000 on? Phhttt!
 
We'll, I shouldn't cast aspersions about Chevs!

Looks like it is a Rugby or Durant as they were called in the US. From what I can roughly work out, he was well prepared with a GMC pickup and that trailer with the camper on it, but could not pull the whole lot out from the sand dunes. About 1100 sand dunes, some small humps, some more difficult.
The pub has insurance you can buy for $500 before you go in case you need recovery.

As for UES I hadn't heard of it, but it seems to make a lot of products we use and are sold by Bunnings our large hardware store chain.
 
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