EASTER SATURDAY
THERE was a variety of challenging driving stages in 2017, and on the morning of day one the teams competed on several courses set up in the soft sands of Eldee’s dry creek bed, including the ARB Mini Dakar, the Spotters Blind Man’s Run, the Cooper Tires Motorkhana, the Redarc Back and Forth, and the RFI Paddy Melon Challenge.
The ARB Mini Dakar consisted of a short, bunted course that ran across, in and out of the creek bed. The pairing of Matt and Renee Burns and their kids Harry (9) and Chayse (4) posted the fastest time on the stage in their NOTNSN (get it?) Ford Maverick. Despite this being their first time competing in the Easter Challenge, this wasn’t their first visit to Eldee – the Horsham couple got married at Eldee several years ago.
Taking the honours in the Spotters Blind Man’s Run was the pairing of Craig and Sarah Pender, competing in a Land Rover Defender with their kids Ebony (11), Jorja (8) and Hunter (6). The stage required drivers to be blindfolded, while co-drivers were charged with navigating them through a tricky, bunted course.
Despite a relatively low score on the Spotters Blind Man’s Run, Kurt and Dior Johnston, competing in a 100 Series Land Cruiser, could hardly stop laughing after their drive through the Blind Man’s Run. “We’re usually hopeless at this one,” Dior said. “But
this year we were pretty good. We didn’t even argue!” Their kids Tempe (6) and Seeley (4) didn’t look so convinced.
The Cooper Tires Motorkhana was a quick run through a sandy course, and again Matt and Renee Burns posted the fastest time. Ash and Maree Berry, with son Samuel (11), came home in second in their Toyota 100 Series Land Cruiser, followed by Matt and Rhianna Sheridan in their 76 Series Cruiser, with kids Bailey (10) and Darcy (7) in tow.
The Redarc Back and Forth tested teams’ abilities to reverse into a small box, and it was taken out by the father and son pairing of David and Chris Skinner, who had made the journey to Eldee from Aldinga Beach in South Australia in a Toyota 4Runner. Their mission for the weekend was to beat their mate Jamie [Panasiuk]. “At least try to beat Jamie,” laughed the pair.
It was Jamie Panasiuk, however, who triumphed in the RFI Paddy Melon Challenge, his wife expertly placing the small fruits atop poles around the course, before retrieving them and throwing them into a bucket at the finish line from the passenger window of the family’s NP Pajero.
Proving that consistency is the key to success in any off-road event, James Panasiuk and family took out two of the three Saturday afternoon stages as well (the ARB Broken Hill Swag Roll and Setup, and the Hema Outback Navigation Challenge). While they also managed to place a commendable second in the
other (the Mannell Motors Stump Up) event.
The ARB Broken Hill Swag Roll and Setup required two members from each team to set up an ARB swag, jump in, get out and roll it up again, all while being cheered on by their families, sledged by their competitors and shouted at by an extremely vocal crowd of onlookers.
The Hema Outback Navigation Challenge required teams to navigate to a series of checkpoints around Eldee Station and find clues to crack a secret code. Bonus points were awarded for grabbing a fun family selfie at the Eldee sign at the entrance to the property.
The Mannell Motors Stump Up was a test of driving skill that required drivers to place a front tyre atop a post and then stop the vehicle, before backing off and doing the same with the opposite front wheel.
At the end of the day’s stages, Eldee’s Stephen Schmidt led competitors across the Mundi Mundi Plains and up a challenging rocky climb, high into the Barrier Ranges. Overlooking the station below them, competitors and their families mingled in a relaxed atmosphere, feasting on a tasty barbecue dinner while the sun dropped below the western horizon to put on a spectacular light show.