Finke Desert Race 1986, Big bore two strokes

[@BillyBoblovesthedirt]

Gottal love the old bush mechanics branch up the muffler trick.

[@hughyyyy]

For anyone watching this after 2019, there's an awesome new doco out about the race, called "Finke: There And Back" It's niche and sadly got a pretty limited release, but if you get a chance to see it it'll knock your socks off. Shows the story of the 2017 race in all it's glory - and routine. It takes half the film before the race even starts, but you get to know the insane lads that enter the race, the people who run it, and the people who just come for a good time. It was great. See it if you can!

[@Big_Red_Wade]

2017 David Walsh: This will be my last year 2024 Davis Walsh: Entered again on a KTM 500 EXC going for his 300th victory lol

[@lukerhodes6722]

at 1:08 my dad passed the leader and was leading the race until half way and crashed in to a tree

[@markmark5269]

Be proud of him Luke, any of the top 20 or 30 are fucking awesome.

[@olivert7850]

Luke ya bloody hooligan

[@MrLunithy]

Gregg ? .. dam Luke you would have been that little kid in the yard at work ...... I used to go riding with dave donk Randal and Steven greenfield.

[@1969cmp]

Robert?

[@lukerhodes6722]

1969cmp Robin

[@radsti]

MAXINE CARR finishing on a YZ125.....respect!!

[@jjreddog571]

Great footage, I love racing in the Desert and have been doing so for 45 years....I have owned just about every 500 two stroke bike and they were the most fun to race.....Cheers....

[@driftke70]

cant win without a mustache

[@chewies9456]

Reminds me of Isle of man on dirt, this is awesome stuff.

[@bernardmarsh4133]

Yeah me mate won it 1 year, may he RIP, few other mates got good placings like 3rd. Best camping you can ever do in Australia. Mad ❤🇭🇲

[@imfitzy9937]

Geoff Curtis is an absolute legend and a brilliant bloke to boot. As a young fella I loved hanging around Jonesy's sign shed wathching him hand paint most of the Finke helmets for the locals and Geoff would always have a chat with me with no pretence, fear or favour. Just a down to earth good guy who could really ride a bike.

[@rvrski1]

Fk I have very fond memories of Jonesy’s myself, he use to draw on our trucks trailers and dollys. Hung out at centre Suzuki with Rod as me mate was an apprentice there. I miss them old days like nothing.

[@MikeSmith-ve2qu]

These guys had balls of steel.

[@1969cmp]

Mike Smith And not a steering damper or stegpeg in sight 😀

[@Mendooranite]

Awesome video, real bikes, real men.

[@denzlepob]

Excellent video, good to see the 490 Yams, they look and sound amazing, good video, thanks for posting mate!

[@PanchoVanilla1]

Definately better than a strong cup of coffee; pure "Torquemaster-Blaster" rippin' for the mind, body and soul!

[@TonyB683]

Thanks for sharing this, brings back some great memories....

[@boydclark7549]

Fantastic ole skool footage.Enjoyed that

[@monkeyintensity1]

"the dust is reeking havoc with his exhaust system" .Huh?

[@A_Man_Of_Culture_]

Two strokes have BOTH positive "when gasses are leaving" and negative " when gasses are being pulled backwards" so when doing this kind of desert riding it is possible for sand to build up in the silencer, which causes loads of problems for two strokes which rely heavily on their exhaust.

[@ianmangham4570]

Seen it years ago,even better the second time 👍

[@mvagusta175]

Great video. Thanks for uploading!

[@mynamesmitchel]

Jeeeeeez they are hauling. i got an it 465 recently, and have only tried to open it up once so far.

[@finkedesertrace]

@denzlepob that jacket is still around; it belongs to our current Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan - It was worn by his daughter at this year's Finke Desert Race when she sang the national anthem on the Start/Finish Line.

[@AdventureMotoEnduro]

Did have hydration packs back then , crazy hay racy desert with no water

[@MRJAYWILSON]

Australianised

[@darringoodbrand6603]

nice bikes so glad

[@Deano463]

"good job lovey"

[@andrewmcintyre8774]

Tough as nails with balls of steel! Respect You will get punished if you don't prepare for this race......

[@mikesmith4468]

I had the 82 cr 480 when i was 15 bike scared the shit out of me wish i still had that torque monster.

[@Mendooranite]

Greenfoam - just got back from a two day Yamaha two stroke event in Jugiong. Hopefully a vid will be up soon, I will give you a link.

[@mrmoparrr]

My WMX 500 or KTM MxC 500 or XC 500 or Wr 500 or Kx 500 or Cr 500 or It 490 or Rm 500 would look great out there!

[@1969cmp]

Oh, if only the track was still like it was in the 86 to the early 90's.

[@rhystomney653]

The cars really started to tear it up

[@1969cmp]

@@rhystomney653 ...yep...not a fan of the cars. It's too late now but I reckon the race should have been capped at 300 bikes. When I first raced it was 150 or so bikes.

[@ianmangham4570]

Maxines bloody thirsty ,great Sheila

[@32103045]

Definitely the forte of the mighty yz490

[@Jimo368]

Enjoyed that!

[@1969cmp]

Respect to Maxine.

[@supatipanno]

Is that the late Bert Flood at 7:58?

[@64Pete]

Sure is.

[@supatipanno]

Duke999R I used to love going into his small shop in Box Hill in the early/mid 80's. I went to his funeral a couple of years ago, but havent seen him for many years since he retired out of bike sales.. One of my current restorations is an 81'KTM GS 250 that I will dedicate to Bert.

[@Left-Foot-Brake]

So cool!

[@2strokeforlif3]

My buddy has an 89 cr500 I just rebuilt it and it's starts so easy, for a 500 lol

[@MarcKemp-q6n]

It's a good thing they're tough. Otherwise it would be known as Finkes Widow.

[@tylerroberts1907]

Was it a two stroke only race. Was wondering why nobody was running a XR 600R

[@greenfoam]

There might have been a XR 600 but those were more a trail bike than a race bike so wouldn't have been contenders. Back in those times the 600cc 4 strokes were no where even close to as fast as a 250 two stroke motorcross or enduro bike. Let alone a 500.

[@denzlepob]

I love the MC's chequered flag jacket!

[@1969cmp]

Damien Ryan who is now the mayor of Alice Springs

[@Mendooranite]

@greenfoam Excellent!

[@davidhanak8966]

Good times

[@ianmangham4570]

Awesome day's

[@darringoodbrand6603]

would love do do that

[@Jam3zzz]

Wicked video, i love the old open class bikes. i restored an 82 it465 a little while back, check out my restoration vid

[@carsonlambert7852]

The ktm’s are always in first till they break down

[@ianmangham4570]

Bloody crook neck is awful painful the poor bugger

[@zomhby]

paris-dakar

[@whatis07]

stephen gall with his custom usd forks in 86. go the rat riding gear.and all back when real people rode and had titainium balls, not like riders of today with their ping pong plastic testies