The WAORRA, Cochrane’s Transport Mid-West Challenge took place over the weekend of 19-20 August 2017 and lived up to its name being a challenge for competitors.
The event was Round 4 of the 2017 CAMS, Carnarvon Motel Western Australian Off-Road Racing Championship and Round 3 of the WAORRA Club Championship Series, catering to both State and Multi-Club entrants. The brand new track was tough for most competitors, and the hungry, sandy conditions turned the field on its head. There were plenty of dramas with Chris Unstead puncturing a tyre in Section 1, Mal Yeardley rolling his Prolite Buggy in Section 2, and Harleigh Uren having engine troubles in Section 3.
12 competitors managed to complete the event from 32 starters, and although Brad Cooper crossed the line in third place, it wasn’t enough to bump Harleigh Uren off the dirt podium. In the end the top three were:
1st – Nathaniel Edwards and Luke McLean (161)
2nd – Harleigh Uren (77)
3rd – Mark and Sam Cramer (932)
Congratulations Nathaniel and Luke for their first ever State Championship win! For the full race report, check out the WAORC website. You can also check out the full list of results on the My Race Result website.
Our raffle was a big hit, with John Flynn taking home the trolley jack and stands (thanks to Total Tools Rockingham), farm manager Steve “Tonka” Thomas taking home the Kincrome portable speaker (thanks to Auto One Kwinana), and the Doneys taking home the hamper. We hope you enjoy your prizes! Thanks to Blake Pugh, Shelley Howe and Elsie Schoen for helping to put the raffle together and selling the tickets.
As always our events are not possible without the efforts of so many treasured volunteers and we’d like to thank the following people:
Event organisers: Russ Cullen, Dave Cowan, Charlie Edwards and Kim Yaxley.
Stewards: Rod Pearson and Lyndon Sperring.
Officials: Jon Beer, Dave Cowan and Steve Phillips.
Timekeepers: Lachlan Cowan and Barry Doney.
Documentation: Shelley Howe, Kim Yaxley and Danni Joyce.
Scrutineer: Rex West.
Sweep: Kevin Hood.
Rovers: Russ Cullen, Shane Yaxley, Kim Howard and Kelvin Stacey.
SOS/Recovery: Dirk van Geest (without his high-range radios we would not have had communications) and Team Hotel.
Track Marking: Steve Baxter, Shane Yaxley, Mitch Cowan and Harleigh Uren.
Farmers: Property Owner Michael Angi and Farm Manager Steve “Tonka” Thomas.
Canteen: Badgingarra Roadhouse Catering Crew.
Special thanks to Steve and Celeste Baxter, Kevin Hood, Rex West and families for staying overnight and helping with the final pack up. We’d also like to acknowledge the efforts of Charlie Edwards and Mark Jarrett for providing the excavating equipment and the whole track prep crew – these guys put a lot of man hours into making a track out of an unused property and were up at the property for several weekends in the lead up to the event. And last but not least, we’d like to say a huge thank you to event sponsor Cochrane’s Transport and series and contingency sponsors Carnarvon Motel, Oricom and Intense LED Australia.
If you’d like to be an event organiser, official or sponsor at one of our events next year, please come along to a club meeting and let us know you’re interested. We’d love to hear from you and would be more than happy to help with any licencing or enquiries you might have.
Although this was WAORRA’s last event for the year, we’ll be heading to the next event on the WAORC calendar – the Three Springs 360 on the September long weekend. Hope to see you there!
Missed out on the action? Check out the following links:
- 2017 Cochrane’s Transport Mid-West Challenge Results
- Cochranes Transport Mid West Challenge – Race Report by Jason Galea
- Photos by Kiera Piercy
Photo: Vince Doran