Finke Desert Race 2022: Driver, navigator of #485 safe after gnarly crash
Onlookers watched in horror as a car in the Finke Desert Race came hurtling over a hill in an epic crash caught on camera. WATCH THE VIDEO.
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MOTORHEADS held their breath as car #485 in the Finke Desert Race ended its run after hurtling over a hill and rolling several times.
Video of the crash shows the orange machine kicked up the red earth as it soared over a hill, first landing on its bonnet and rolling three times.
Driver Shannon ‘The Wildman’ Lander and his navigator daughter came out relatively unscathed as they were helped from the car by onlookers and emergency services.
Lander, wearing a dusty Akubra he pulled from the car, said it was a case of “too much adrenaline pumping”.
“I think we were just carrying too much speed,” he said
“Full tank of fuel, just compressed to much on the jump and flicked us over.
“As long as the daughter’s safe, all good.
“First rollover, you might as well do it in style. Won’t be doing it again.”
‘We froze our butts off’: Racing fans commit to Finke
THE sun sunk behind the West MacDonnell Ranges as Finke Desert Race 2022 kicked off in front of them.
The Alice Springs motorsports track was turned into a carpark for bikes, cars and buggies ahead of Finke fans’ scrutineering.
Wrapped in beanies and puffer jackets, thousands wove their way through the lines of Can-Ams Mavericks, various dirt bikes and some monster utes.
Loretta Gladstone said her family have travelled to Finke from Mt Isa every year since 2012.
“We come over to support the Mt Isa riders and drivers but also Toby Price,” Ms Gladstone said.
She said her family had taken a photo with Price every year and were aiming for their tenth in a row.
“My husband loves him although would be shy to admit it … it’s a bit of bromance,” Ms Gladstone said.
Although she hoped Price would win she said you could never bank on it.
“You never know what happens out on the track, he has always come first in the prologue but he could break down, anything, who knows what will happen,” Ms Gladstone said.
Jeffery Terrahe and Bruce Williams travelled more than 2000km from Innisfail, Queensland, on their Suzuki DRZ 400 and Kausaki KLR 650.
“The wind just went through us; the faster you ride the colder it gets.” Mr Williams said.
“It was all right till we got to the Queensland border and then we froze our butts off.”
The event was officially opened with a Welcome to Country from Arrernte people before the 2022 Finke local hero was announced.
Devoted volunteer Clare Fuller and her late husband Wayne Fuller were honoured with the Finke Hero award at the 2022 Tatts Finke Desert Race.
Finke Desert Race: Everything you need to know
Mr Fuller, who passed away in March this year, had contested the multi-terrain race nine times.
Alice Springs locals, the Fullers are long-time volunteers at the event, with Mrs Fuller also a past committee member.
Tatts Finke Desert Race President Antony Yoffa said the couple was deserving of the highest volunteering honour at the event.
“There are more than 300 volunteers assisting across a range of roles at the Tatts Finke Desert Race and the event wouldn’t be what it is without them,” Mr Yoffa said.
“Clare and Wayne have been integral members of the volunteering group and Finke family for many years, and we can’t express enough how thankful we are for their enormous contributions to our great event across the years.
“The Finke community remembers Wayne warmly and we are thrilled to honour him and Clare with the Finke Hero in 2022.”
CREWS MAKE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE RED CENTRE RACE
CREWS are tweaking the final adjustments on their Mavericks and bikes as the crowds rolled into Alice Springs for Finke Desert Race.
The two-day race across the Red Centre was described by GRC Motorsport mechanic Josh Bennett as “truly legendary”.
“It’s a one of a kind race,” Mr Bennett said.
He said they hoped the GRC service and build veteran driver Greg Campbell’s Can-AM Maverick and their three other vehicles would leave everyone else in the dust.
“Greg kind of builds and designs all the cars, the roll cages … does all the strengthening and everything,” Mr Bennett said.
He said one of the Can-Ams could cost anywhere from $60,000 to $140,000 just for the car.
“It really depends how deep your pockets are … and then you have to buy a tow vehicle. (It) adds up pretty quickly,” he said.
As pits worked away on the final tweaks for the race on Sunday, tourists began to flood into the town and camp sites surrounding the infamous track.
Finke and motorsport enthusiast Neil Thomas attended Finke back in 2018.
This year he and 16 mates plan to follow the race out the desert track before continuing on through the Simpson Desert to Bathurst.
But it was the speed that brought him back this year.
“When you see how fast they go, they are mad, mad as hell,” Mr Thomas said.
Mr Thomas, who has been riding for almost four decades, said it was the feeling when you “throw a leg over a bike” that gets in “your blood”.
For many this weekend, the sound of engines reverberating in their chest will make the heart race as motorsports fanatics descend upon the Red Centre.
People attending Fink this year will be asked to stay behind picketed fence that runs the track after a driver rolled into the crowd and killed one person last year.
Organisers have said safety will be the top priority, spectator marshals will be placed along the track and anyone not following instructions or breaching the 20m fence line will be asked to leave.
The race kicks off on Sunday but events will happen across the long weekend.
The grand race also attracts food trucks from all over the country, ready to feed hungry revheads.
But food truck owner Shane Thompson said locals would always appreciate another Alice Springs face at the track.
Mr Thompson said he was excited for his truck, Thommo’s Homemade Goods, to revel in the annual Finke excitement.
“This is my part time gig and this (food truck) lives down behind Kmart on Friday and Saturday night,” Mr Thompson said.
“I have been at Finke a couple times, the locals know who I am and that’s my bread and butter.”
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Originally published as Finke Desert Race 2022: Driver, navigator of #485 safe after gnarly crash
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