A few of us are doing another Desert trip next year and heres some pics of 2 of the Kombis which should be registered next week.

Ian.

2

3

4

me & a mate try to do at least 1 big unsupported trip/year on dirtbikes.

i hope we run into the kombines. make a nice change from the boring prado/pootrol/poojero s we have the mis fortune to run into when resurplying.

excellent

post details

[Edited on 4-9-2003 by helterskelter400]

Desert Kombi's very kewl.:thumb

did u get them ford wheels to fit?
cheers
rhys

Rhys, I picked up a set of Falcon AU2 16x6.5 steel rims today that I will modify slightly and fit with 205/80 4x4 ATs and trial them on my mates Desert Bay. He will get it Rego'd nwxt week.

Ian.

hey
how much u modifying them? i can get ford rims for next to nuthing!!!ur splitty looks nice!!!
cheers
rhys

Rhys, I'll let you know after I've done it, got to check it out in daylight as it was dark when I got home tonight.
Ian.
PS. that Splitty belongs to my mate Ron. The Bay was one of mine that I sold to another mate Anthony. They should both be rego'd next week ready for a test run in The Big Desert in Nth/West Vic. first w'end in Oct.
Ian.

[Edited on 5-9-2003 by Desert Bug]

what one u taking???
cheers
rhys

Rhys, the one in the carport beside the V6 in the photos, I've got a lot of work to do as it was used as a store shed for 15 years. Its been stripped bare (no wiring, no nothing!) but is solid except for sill under double doors which I've started repairing. It's a very low budget project, my aim is about $1500 on the road trip ready. This makes it all the more interesting when you meet people out in the middle of some of the remotest desert in Aust. in their $60,000 plus 4x4s and look of horror on their faces is priceless. They look at you as though you have no right being in their space, particuarly a couple of Yanks in their $125,00 (US) Hummer who saw me climb to the top of Big Red (western side) first go and they gave up trying after two hours and crossed over onthe Chicken track.
Get me started and I'll rave on for hours, I love it out there!!!!
Cheers, Ian.

Ha!!! Gotta love stickin' it up the 4x4's!!

ive always had a soft spot for a nice bay. :thumb How does the splitty go with so much camber? or does it not have an engine it it? Gotta admit they both look pretty cool.
Steven

Good on Ya Ian
Make sure you keep us informed on how it all goes. good luck with the trip!
Rob......

Desert Bug, have you read Simon Glens Sahara Handbook, its got some great stories & pics of Simons trips through the Sahara in a standard Westfalia. :thumb

Howdy Ian
What is the proposed route and what mods have you made to the Bay. This is one of my dreams for the future.

Paul

Update! Splitty motor going in tomorow (Friday), electrics all done, brakes done, new Pedders gas shocks on, new WCM rubbers, RWC and Rego hopefully Monday. Rear camber will come down a bit with motor in. Front beam is '70 mod which fitted with a little modifying and lifted the front 90mm so it sits a bit high at front at the moment but with 215/75x15 ATs on back and 205/70x15 ATs on front it should sit pretty good.

The Bay is booked in for RWC and Rego also on Monday. It's running a 2lt motor with 1600 box turning 215/75x15 ATs on 6" Merc rims. Its sitting resonably hire without raising the suspension, though when he fills the 170lt fuel tank in the back plus the standard tank plus 82lt water tank plus all the camping gear etc. we may have to jack it up a bit.

I'd like to get hold of that Simon Glen book. I've got all of Len Beadells books about pushing the road network through Central Aust and it's on some of these tracks that we are heading next year. We are heading due West of Coober Pedy on the Anne Beadell Hwy to Vokes Hill corner then south accross the Nullabor Plain to the Erye Hwy, east to Ceduna and north along Googs' Track to Malbooma on the Trans Aust railway line and out to Glendambo.

This is getting a bit long,
Cheers, Ian.

Hi Ian
Mate its a suprise to see another fan of Lennie Beadell, you would be suprised how many PPL who have travelled around the areas that he built his roads, and the atomic testing bases he surveyed, don't know anything about him. What a fantastic individual, and Australian.
I have all his books, including a biography on his life by Mark Sheppard. there is also some video's available, of him retracing his roads. he gives a wonderfull comentary of the things they got up too.
A top bloke.
Rob.......

Called to see another one of the Desert Kombi crew to see how it's coming along, should be registered next week. It's got a'69 front beam with 15x5.5 chrome (bit rusty) Mangels with 215/75x15 Cooper ATs, will be running 1641.
Cheers, Ian.

Looks like it comes from my area...

Jim,
how do you figure that?, but you are right, it's Dons' up at Tally.
Cheers, Ian.

Hi,
Update! The Splitty van and the Bay in the pics are both now Registered and ready for a weekend of testing in The Big Desert in Nth/west Victoria this w/end. Will let you know how they went.
Cheers, Ian.