WESTERNS IN FINKE SHOOTOUT
THREE generations of a wellknown northern Gold Coast family will compete in one of Australia’s most gruelling motorsport events on Friday, the iconic Finke Desert Race.
Cooper Western, 16, will be the youngest Australian to take part in the buggy competition, and in the passenger seat beside him will be his 71-year-old grandfather Rhyce Western, of Ormeau.
Going head-to-head, or more likely side-by-side, with the duo will be Chris Western, Rhyce’s 46-year-old son from Alberton.
The Finke Desert Race is a 452km off-road, multi-terrain two-day race for motorbikes, cars, buggies and quads through desert country from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke). It’s one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory and one of the most difficult off-road courses in the world.
Cooper and Chris have built an off-road buggy for this year’s race; it’s capable of speeds of up to 190km/h.
Helping to sponsor the crew is Mickey Thompson Tires.
“This is a dream come true for me,” Cooper said. “Ever since I was a little kid I’ve wanted to race the Finke.
“To be the youngest Finke racer is very cool, and to have my pop navigating for me is just awesome. Part of being a good off-road racer is not only the driving, but being able to fix stuff. I have to know the car inside and out.”
Chris, who owns Off Road Rush Gold Coast, said his family usually took part in six races across the country every year and in 2019 they flew to Mexico and raced the world-famous Baja 1000. The 2500km endurance race was first held in 1967 and attracts hundreds of racing legends, movie stars and amateurs.
“Racing is something that we do together, it’s a chance to stop working and have two weeks off together,” he said.
During the Finke race, competitors start 30 seconds
apart. There are 180 entries in the buggies and trophy trucks category and about 700 motorbikes taking part.
The closest to the front Chris has got in the past is eighth, something he was “very happy with”.
“Most of us do it for the challenge of it, and that’s why we want Cooper getting amongst it, (to) give him the drive to put himself out there and know he can achieve anything he puts his mind to.”
Keeping the family on the road is matriarch Kaitlin, mother of Cooper and wife of Chris. She’s the behind-thescenes organiser making sure their three-day, 3000km trip to Alice Springs is taken care of and every scenario that happens is dealt with.
“It takes a full team effort to make this race happen, and there are a lot of logistics involved,” she said.