Hi PPL
Just scored an old Street VW's mag from the tip, it has an artical about a dude that crossed the Simpson via the Rig Road, in a standard 2ltr Kombi, (merc wheels) his name is Denis Brown. dose any one know of him or have any info on the trips he has done.
Rob......

I've never heard of him, but I'd be really interested in reading the article, if you could possibly scan it for me....

Me too!

I've been as far as Lyndhurst in SA (to see the eclipse), it's where the Strezlecki Track meets the old Ghan railway. I remember looking at the Strezlecki Track and thinking that I'd like to take the kombi along it one day.

Then a couple of months ago I saw a doco about a guy who followed the old Ghan railway from Lyndhurst to Alice Springs in a new Landcruiser. He kept saying "and as you can see a good 4WD is absolutely essential for this terrain" but I kept thinking that I've been over much rougher ground and through deeper puddles in my kombi. I reckon the kombi could do that trip easily!

[Edited on 20-8-2003 by Purple Martin]

[Edited on 20-8-2003 by Purple Martin]

i'd love a scan too!!!

Ok Guys Ill get on to it, may take a couple of days though! it's only one page!
I sent a couple of articals to baybuscamperkid, they were about a 2ltr Kombi that TRAKKA built in the 70's it had a LSD trans and a few other mods, this van did the strzeleckie track no problems, I have spoken to people who have taken them the whole length of the Birdsville track & Tanami desert tracks, but in each case the Vans were a lot newer back then, I spose if you contemplated it in a 70's kombie now you would have to take into account their age! things like tortion bars and shock mounts, I would say would have to be looked at, metal fatigue would be a concern, air filtration systems for the engine would be another thing to look at, a donaldson cyclopack set up would be something to consider for sustained dirt road travel.
I dont think you would have any trouble with a well prepared Kombi driven by a skilled driver, that includes SAND & corregations.
If you send an Email to Desert Bug he may give you some advice, he just completed a crossing of the Simpson in his Baja, said it performed better than the big buck 4X4's, and I would believe him!
If you want a copy of the TRAKKA kombi articals you can send me a SASE and I will send you some copys.
Rob.....

i almost purchased a handpainted 1600 that had done the oodnadatta and birdsville tracks! stock!

Simon Glen has done a few crossings of the Sahara Desert in a stock kombi, and has written a really good book about his trips... :thumb

yeah Ill second that Simons book is very good!!! I just bought one myself.:thumb:thumb:thumb
Rob......

if youre scanning it anyway could you send me a copy please
ive also got the 2ltr trakka article very good reading and that awning of the side looked pretty good
marcel

No drama's Marcel
Probably see you at the lismore swap! Ill bring it with me, also have a picture of a Beetle crossing the Wenlock that made it to the top of the cape! these VW's been everywhere man!
Rob......

Hi Robo,
l saw that article back when it came out so when we decided to do the trip accross the Simson l rang Dennis and spoke to him about his trips. He lives in McClaren Vale SA south of Adelaide. He has also done the Simson in a Baja (a couple of times). He said the Kombi handled it very well (there's a photo of his Kombi 2/3rds the way up quite a steep sand dune). He screwed his tyres to the rims so he could run them virtualy flat for best floatation and traction in the sand.
A few of us are doing a trip across The Great Victoria Desert next year in Splitties which should be fun.
Cheers, Ian.

We did the oodnadatta track in a 70s benz coupe, packed to the rafters, the day after it had been opened due to shit loads of rain.

if the merc can make it it should be a breeze in a kombi

Hi Ian
Don't tease me, your breaking my heart!

Rob......

I got my book off Simon Glen himself (autographed as well) so just send him a U2U.
Graham

Robo,
this trip is for real, l'm doing a '66 ex microbus, my mate Ron is building a '67 panel with windows (paint done, putting back together now), another mate is building a '63 twin cab and another is building a '75 ex Army 1600 microbus with 2lt motor.
We're all running 215/75x15 All Terrain tyres, the Splits all will have '68-9 front beams, '67 with wide5 rims, the other 2 with discs and 4 joint 1600 kombi rear ends. The the '66 & '67 will have 1600 TPs and the '63 probably an 1835.
Better stop, probably teased you enough,
Cheers, Ian.

Thanks for the sweetener!
In all seriousness I hope your plans come to fruition, and make sure you take plenty of piccy's for all us slackers!
Rob......