2010 Rally Report

Dear Loved Ones / Supporters / Significant Others,

What a day! This is what the Great Endeavour is all about.

Left Brooms Head on time this morning. RB went through to Grafton to check the weather as some ugly looking clouds were around. Then went on to lunch to catch up with the officials to make a plan for this afternoon to allow for the weather changes. It was decided that one section after lunch would be canned. On the way out of Grafton, RB took a short cut... which didn't turn out to be a short cut, rather, had to back track and find the road we were supposed to be on.

Lunch at Nymboida (owned by Russell Crowe), was fantastic (except for the wind). He has a "Museum of Interesting Things" there which was great. I loved it. Some photos follow of an Orange County Chopper which was designed and made for Russell and the Rabbitohs. (Jordan, these are for you.)

After lunch the plan was for RB to travel up to the next bush section to check out how things were flowing when a call came through from the Sweeps. Shorty had a problem with a couple of lost cars, 8 cars bogged and 2 cars under tow. Well, off we went to lend a hand back at the first section from Brooms Head this morning. On arrival at the 'problem' we found most of it sorted except the cars under tow. Shorty had one car on the back and car 500 (Ding) was towing a car. C1, Nic & BJ were on the end control point, so it was decided that C1 and us would tow the cars back to Grafton and work out a plan, and that 500 and S1 would continue as normal - easy...

Once in Grafton we got the crews/cars sorted for now, and off we headed for Red Rock.

Finer Details:

• Car 118 got towed, will be fixed tomorrow. RB brought crew through to Red Rock and will get them back to Grafton in the morning.
• Car 39 got towed, will hopefully be getting fixed this afternoon and catch up tonight or possibly at lunch tomorrow.
• Car 81, Col, (who lost his name tag in car 109's door), now has a new identity with a found tag. He is now Jamie from car 8.
• Car 249 had alternator problems, got, getting fixed in Grafton.
• Car 925 had another flat tyre.
• Car 8 had / has gearbox troubles - getting sorted in Grafton.
• Car 113 had fan problems at lunch, but nothing is a problem for them (aside from getting asked to leave licensed premises)
• Car 4 had / has accelorator problems - back on deck now.
• Car 70 had log troubles - it was in their way so they moved it.
• Car 35's navigator was urgently needed at home last night, so Dave took him home and picked up a new navigator for the trip.

Spare's Truck driver, Michael, locked himself in a toilet last night and couldn't get out. Rod from car 7 could hear something scratching and banging and went to investigate. 40 mins later, Michael was released.

At this morning's briefing we discovered that some of our Road Books were missing 3 pages of instructions. We could have left it that way to make it a more interesting day, but decided that we would get some spares copied.

Arrived here at Red Rock about half hour ago and it is beautiful. Calm, quiet and spectacular. Almost everyone is camped at the caravan park and I can hear lots of chatter and laughs. I can see lots of tents, swags, lean-tos, rally cars and cold ones.

Tomorrow night, or later, I will send a bit of an update on results. Today's may take a while as there were a few hold-ups for cars at bogs etc, so there will be some time claims to go through.

Until next time,

Mrs RB

Dear Loved Ones and Significant Others,

Another Great Endeavour Day! It is 3.30pm and cars are rolling in to the overnight stop. All's well - of course.

Crew's enjoyed a creek crossing this morning that caused just a few troubles.

Car 23 got stuck between rocks. Eventually a way was worked out.

Others who didn't quite make it, include:

Cars 120, Sam & Dick Hegarty, Car 35, Dave, Car 244 from Snot Racing, and Car 46 Ex RB Allan, who is insisting he didn't get stuck, rather, he lost traction...

On Saturday night The Great Endeavour is staying at Wingham. At the briefing this morning RB asked who had a room booked at the Wingham Hotel (Cec from car 23) put his hand up, and RB said you'll be nice and warm as it is smoking, literally. RB got a message through earlier from the policeman to say the hotel burned down last night. So.. Cec, you'll be in your sway, along with any others that had a room booked there.

Car 118 who was left in Grafton yesterday got fixed, caught up, broke again, fixed again and should be in Valla shortly.

Car 616 have starter motor problems... kind of. It works when you get under and bash it with a hammer.

Car 78 have brake problems, but 1st gear works well. They are going to call into Coffs Harbour to get some brake pads.

C2, our zero car got stuck on a rock in the creek crossing and car B244 snatched them out.

Thought a car had a broken axle (apparently you can't tow them), so as we were organising S1 to hoist them up, they got going.

Lots of stunning scenery and waterfalls.

Car 113 the Arabs got called to do a job at the creek crossing this morning. PK was standing on one side of the 'track' in his undies and Huddo on the other side in water guiding the cars through. All the while Shane was standing high and dry smiling and enjoying the view.

Have noticed the 'horns' from car 81 the Red Bull have vanished.... Does anyone know where they are? No doubt they will show up at an auction. We'll let you know Col, so you can call in to the bank to be prepared.

All the eager beavers left the start early this morning and caught up to the zero car so got held up by me at my control to let the officials get ahead.

Tonight is PJ night, so that will be interesting. Kate Warfield in car 58 has been wearing hers for a couple of days. Her logic is when you get up in the morning you don't have to put cold clothes on. I like that idea and may do the same tomorrow.

Phone service could be anything tonight. Very patchy where I am.. One bar, nothing, 3 bars, nothing, nothing, nothing, 2 bars... you get what I mean.

Well all, that's it for today, catch up sometime tomorrow....

Mrs RB.

Dear Loved Ones, Supporters and Significant Others,

The PJ party last night was a sight to behold, especially Dick from car 120 in his nightie...

Night was going well for RB and me, until we got back to the unit - late - and realised we'd locked ourselves out.... BUGGER! So trusty PC and RB went around all the windows that had screens with screws in them and louvre glass slats for windows. A few minutes later they had it all sorted.. the screens were off, the glass louvres placed in a neat pile on the ground and PC's butt stuck in the window. He eventually got through and opened the door for us. This morning we found out that Warren from S1 also locked himself out - half dressed...

Yesterday at the creek crossing where cars were getting stuck, Rod from car 7 asked Audra to take some photos of him going accross. Once passed, Rod looked at the photos, found one of him and a whole heap of PK in his undies.

Kate from Car 026 was bitten on the foot by a possum while updating her facebook.

Valla last night run out of food....

Car 53, Craig & Grant did a centre bearing on the course today and fixed it in the forestry.

Car 681, Ron, has major gearbox troubles and is retiring from the event.

Yesterday, crews found lost property on the track including a side mirror and a pair of glasses with a lens missing. The owners of both were found today and items returned. The guy who owned the glasses even had the other lens still.

Car 113 - the Arabs, organised a roadside bonnet party this afternoon a couple of km's from Hat Head. A good catch up with crews, a few tall stories told.

All cars and crews are now either in the overnight stop or accounted for. Hope all is well at home / work.

Bye for today, catch up tomorrow.

Mrs RB

Hi All,

Last night we had 'Mad Hatters' night at Hat Head. There were some really great hats and costumes getting around. We had a little trouble to start with as men aren't allowed to wear hats in a bowls club. The powers that be, eventually gave in and allowed the rally goers to wear their hats proudly inside the bowls clubs.

Last night also saw 1 minute silence for Ethel from the caravan park - she died last week. You would be very proud of all on the Great Endeavour as they stopped talking and stood up for this respectful occasion.

Ding - car 500 recieved a new hat. This is his 20th Great Endeavour and he has been wearing the same hat for the past 20 years.... you can imagine what the hat looks like. Well, last night he was presented with a new hat... for the next 20 years. I haven't seen him wear it yet, but you never know...

So far this Great Endeavour we have had a few nights in bowls clubs for our evening functions. I must say the price of drinks and service is quite refreshing as sometimes you can feel like you are in a town just to be ripped off.

Last night Ex RB - Allan Car 46 - briefly tried to sing an Elvis song... lucky he has a day job. Then Gary from Car 36 sang a couple of lines of Elvis and I think he should give up his day job.. Both Allan & Gary took over the auctioneering last night to give RB a break.

Ken (Hippo) from Car 61 felt sorry for the little old lady at the caravan park run off her feet with 200 +++ rally entrants booking in, so he bought her some tickets in the multidraw raffle at the club. She won 3 meat trays. What a nice bloke...

At the beginning of the rally a $100 bet was made between Hippo and someone else (not sure of who), that he wouldn't be able to find someone named Edna during the course of the Great Endeavour. Well, Ken has been asking every little old lady, in every Bowls club we have visiting, if their name is Edna. Last night he hit the jackpot and found his Edna. Drinks on you Hippo!

Today the whole mob visited Timbertown at Wauchope - a step back in history of the timber industry in this area. We all had about an hour to look around then have lunch. It was a pleasant inclusion in the rally and gave us an appreciation for this industry - especially after travelling through so much forestry. A wine shop was there also and plenty of Endeavourites supported their business and exited with brown bags of various Ports and Wines.

After lunch we went on to visit 'Ellenborough Falls'. Another spectacular inclusion in the Great Endeavour which is more than just driving through the bush.

Tonight is the 'Round the World Birthday Bash' where we intend to celebrate all the birthdays on the Rally. A couple I know of are Jim car 46, Karen car 500, Rocco WIN TV, Kay C2 - Who else? Let me know of the others.. we don't want to miss anyone. We need to know so we can have a celebratory drink for them, and if this is all, we will only get to have 4 drinks.

Heard a funny story about Pin (car?) who was welding his car to fix it then went to sit down. When he did, someone through a smoke bomb under the car and when Pin looked up he thought the car was on fire. Off he raced, pulled the swag out, pulled the tool box out, threw the pliers he had in his hand over his shoulder, then thought about using the fire extinguisher to put the fire out. Just as he was about to do that, the smoke bomb culprits fessed up through their laughter.

We have had a truly beautiful day today. I suspect it will be cool tonight and cooler tomorrow night in Tenterfield.

Well all, I'll catch up tomorrow night.

Mrs RB

Dear Loved Ones / Supporters / Significant Others,

What another great day on the Great Endeavour!

I need to recall a story from last night. Ken from Car 61 has not found an Edna yet, but is still on the lookout.

Around the world birthday bash was held in Wingham last night and we found 2 more birthdays amongst the Endeavourites so we got to have 6 drinks each, not 4. Karen Crouch, Car 500 turned 40 and our WIN TV crew put together a DVD of Karen with help from Mum & Dad in car 109. It was fantastic and enjoyed by all. Karen has been on 12 Great Endeavours and many fun times were shown. (I'm sure some Karen would rather forget.)

All cars and crews are still travelling along extremely well - all are in / and or accounted for. A total change of scenery today with lots of sheep and cattle country. Roads were much more open than the travelling in the thick forestries of the days before. Also, not as cold in Wingham as expected, so that was a bonus.

A couple of funny stories from Wingham, and a good example of what happens in places where the Great Endeavour travels.

Imagine a small town coming to life when an extra 100+ cars and 200+ people visit. Locals (especially the ones that make money) are very excited. If anything out of the ordinary happens in town at that particular time, the Great Endeavour gets the blame. I can honestly say that you can't get away with anything on this event, as there are eyes and ears everywhere - literally. (More on the make up of the event later.)

Well last night in Wingham, one of our Endeavourites just happened to be outside looking at the rally cars when.. bang. A local chick ran into one of our official's cars. She didn't bother checking for damage, rather walked away like nothing happened. Our trusty Great Endeavourite took down the rego, (noticed it was a P plater) and passed onto the affected official, so they could check and chase it up later.

On the rally front line and behind the scenes it is interesting the issues we have to deal with from time to time.  The other day a dog was run over in a little town we passed through.  All of our entrants are very sensible and compassionate and it is unlikely that it was one of our crews, as we certainly would of heard about it. Our cars are big and colourful and covered with signs, so it easy to cop the blame. Another example would be from last night.  Most crews stayed at the showgrounds as there was limited accommodation in Wingham. Imagine all the cars parked up in the showgrounds with tents all around the place and a lot of happy smiling crews enjoying a yarn and a cold one. Well as one of these trusty crews was on their way to bed, they happened to hear a car come racing down the road, miss a turn, big screech of the tyres and bang... over goes a street sign & fence, out jumps the young local hoon and off he ran, coming back later in the night to fetch his car. Now, even with witnesses and us knowing the facts of these stories, you can soon see how miss guided stories start.  Anyone not knowing the real story, might see the skid marks, busted fence and all us camped on the other side of the road.  It may be easy for locals at Wingham giving the blame on the Great Endeavour.

RB got cranky the other day about scores being taken really seriously, so he has refused to put them up for a couple of days. Well, imagine this. 3 old, old rally competitors (Jim & Allan car 46, Ding car 500), trying to hatch a plan to stand on each other and peer through RB's motel windows to read the scores on the computer screen. When they found out the windows had blinds they tried to hatch a plan to hack our computers. I don't know how they think they are going to do this.

Thought I'd give a bit of insight into the make up of the Great Endeavour today - something different.

First off, The Great Endeavour is a charity motoring event which raises funds for the Endeavour Foundation. To run this event we start with 2 organisers. They are Col Clifford who works for Endeavour and Jamie Lawson who works for his business Straight On.

Col and Jamie work very closely together all year round and keep in close contact with each other over every aspect of the event. Very basically, Col's job is to do all the money handling, promo stuff like shirts & hats, organise all the overnight stop entertainment, media, and catering. (I know there is a lot more, but this is an overview.)

Jamie's job is everything from the start in the mornings until arrrival at the night stop. Jamie is responsible for the scoring of the event and running the official team. (I know there is a lot more, but this is an overview.)

I was going to run through the officials on the rally but will do that tomorrow on the way to Gallangowan. Check out the photos they have captions today.

Just briefly, Wal from car 27 left his wallet on the bar the other night so Shorty from S1 made it into a hanbag for him. The road card for Car 113 the Arabs, needed to be laminated as they screw their's up in a ball and throw it out the window to our control officials.

Till then,

Mrs RB.