SIMPSON DESERT - Heading To The Races - Roothy

roothy.com.au
This film was originally shot for video back in 2005. At that stage I was employed more as a tour guide and cook than a presenter because then editor of 4WD Pat Callinan did most of the presenting himself. Even back then Pat was talking about TV, he always looked the part and after leaving us he went on to a successful career with his day time TV show. All I had to offer was the old truck and a heap of motorcycle tour guiding experience.
Funny thing was I'd done the Simmo maybe thirty times before this but all except a couple had been on trail bikes. My old man took us across there in a Land Rover when we were kids living in the Flinders. Actually, ‘in’s’ not the right word, ‘on’s’ probably more appropriate seeing as, in those pre slip-slop-slap days, my brothers and I spent most of the trip on the tray back nestled up with the swags and the drums.
That was 1968 and while us kids didn’t realise it at the time - and there’s no way mum knew about it I’d reckon - it was only six or seven years after the very first motorised crossing made by Reg Sprigg, a geologist contracted to survey the Simpson area. Reg had driven along the Territory-South Australian border using aircraft to drop fuel and supplies. Up until then only a few white people had nibbled at the edge of this great mass of sandhills where the Territory, South Australian and Queensland borders meet. Even the local Aborigines always stuck to the southern part where they knew of a few scattered waterholes and soaks.
So the Simpson Desert was pretty much one of the last uncharted and truly isolated areas in Australia and probably the world. Not much has changed since then, apart from a scattering of the usual signpost technology that various government departments somehow figure justifies the money they charge for permits, and that’s why the Simmo will always be a favourite amongst serious four wheel drivers. This is a place where you can really get away from it all!
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[@user-gu6st7mk8q]

Great to see a very young Pat and Roothy. Almost forgot these legends did a heap of trips together. 👍👍

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

It's all Pat's fault I even got a start in this gig!!!

[@mangomcpoo475]

The more 60s a video has the better it is :)

[@TheJimmythecorkscrew]

Miss this style of 4x4 show. Love seeing this. Bugger all advertising and just good advice and photography. On ya lads

[@nickk3839]

T. Rowe : except the amount of utube ads. Seemed like one every minute!!!

[@pabspabs2736]

Bloody oath I stopped following the new “4wd 247” couldn’t handle there shit anymore

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Yep, the good old days alright - had a lot of fun back then!

[@bigfellasydney6970]

I think that the current format of 4wd action /4wd 24/7 has become really bloated. I'm not opposed to a show or 4wheel driving evolving. Just not a fan of expressiveness

[@nickbaum6027]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY what are the chances of you pat and the new 4wd action hosts all partner up to make one bug video

[@journeyman2845]

I think Pat has short sheeted you from the start, you are one of the best presenters, I met you a couple of years ago at caravan and camping super show, I will always follow you buddy.. Take care....

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Thanks mate, appreciated - Pat and I were good mates in the day.

[@007Knightjp]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY Hope you still are...

[@leafspringracing9141]

I used to enjoy all the old DVD especially the cape and high country Adventures. Felt very down to earth. it's not the same today.

[@4x4CampingandAdventures]

Love these old clips

[@chriscuppywhitehead6722]

I do miss these old episodes. Greatly informative, always funny. Please keep them coming.

[@rubiconazza]

Love this!!! What an episode. And oldie but a goodie

[@strev0209]

Would love to see the original Milo Simpson desert dvd uploaded on here when Milo was still a full size troopy I've lost my copy of the DVD and I've never been able to find another copy :( loving the classics keep it up! 😁

[@bigfellasydney6970]

That would be awesome. Have you emailed roothy?

[@phungtienvo7819]

I didn't even realise pat used to host these way back when

[@strev0209]

Yeah pat used to own a suzuki sierra comp style truck that he named Oatis was an awesome little rig. I believe I brought the simo DVD from my local arb dealer along with a coffs harbour one. I recon 4×4action, (or monthly back then) produced both of them.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Oh boy, I forgot about that one - Big Red to The Bush I think we called it - don't even know if we've got a copy here...

[@bigfellasydney6970]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY oh... well there's another one to go looking for. Keep up putting these classics. The roar of Milo brings back so many memories of my dad's 40 and life on the farm.

[@emu4wdadventures631]

A great hours of entertainment that all can enjoyed. Steve 🇦🇺

[@mattneave9280]

Cant beat the old roothy videos

[@bigfellasydney6970]

What a great segment. I'm only 42, and hate to sound like the old guy, but they just don't make it like these older videos anymore. Our beautiful country is as much a star of the video as anything else. The simplicity! Everyone has a truck here that's achievable on a budget. Open back trays and all!! I love it. Long live the 40 series. Cheers guys

[@OzTrax4X4]

Having just crossed the Simpson a little over 6 weeks ago, this was quite a good watch Roothy. Love it!

[@phungtienvo7819]

Great content, Rooth. When it wasn't just a running advert. I'll have a beer with you one day mate.

[@claytonmoody265]

Love Pat in these old videos he looks like a 2 pot screamer late at night on the piss....lol

[@jaredbabic9928]

Love seeing these old trips mate!

[@unicycle227]

Ruthy, the only man with personality in this vid. On ya

[@airbats801]

Thanks for uploading these old episodes! It's a real treat for the rest of us around the world who were not priv to these beauties back in the day!

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Thanks mate, that's the beauty of you tube eh? We can show off our world to the world!

[@Hazardbone]

Love these old school vidd👌bring back milo we all miss you👍

[@angusgrant2342]

great to see a more touring focused episode - havent seen one for a while from anyone

[@defjam2026]

How smashed is Patty at 25m 30?! Classic!

[@jamieknight9636]

Yeah they were all pretty full, funny as fk

[@danedge5180]

This made my friday night thanks

[@papl1341]

Great film, 4x4 combined with tourist information!!!

[@bigredman4442]

"What's cooking Mr Roota!?" Hahaha can we see more drunk Pat??

[@claytonmoody265]

Drunk Pat is Gold!

[@touring1hz459]

Good on ya roothy been trying to find these old vids awesome. Before every man and his dog brought a duel cab

[@asd67lkj]

Great Roothy, one of the best "Simmo" videos I have seen....

[@EightBucksTwenty]

Love the old Trip videos!

[@wilsonsinthewild5356]

the music is bang on! great looking trip for sure

[@whatdudeman]

What a cracking adventure with the boys 👍

[@andrewskidmore5963]

Please please pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee put up the first bush mechanic challenge!!! Was my first issue when I was a kid and have got every mag till they stopped being made, to this day still my favourite DVD, and thank you so much for uploading these videos again!! So much better than the new ones

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

OK, we've found it - will try and get it on the channel before long!

[@andrewskidmore5963]

Thanks so much, absolute Legend!

[@Australian_Outdoor_man]

Absolutely love this content mate. Take care and be good.🇦🇺🍺👍🍺🇦🇺

[@joannewilson6847]

Great video, really enjoyed it, thank you

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Thank you Joanne!

[@xXCreepyNeighborXx]

I didn't even realise pat used to host these way back when

[@gusgould4420]

Yeah neither did i

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Pat was real keen on going filming from the early days. He worked really hard to achieve those earliest trips.

[@rynoopperman5010]

Those horses needs snorkels 🤿 😀😀

[@Tastewithnewdrinks]

Awesome.

[@mickholden8615]

I would rather listen to Roothy

[@craigo1702]

Wow - in the last 15 years I hope you got better at drinking beer :) Actually one of the better 4wd vids i've seen in a bit and I subscribe to all of them. Get the gang back together and make more of this style of content.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Dunno if I got any better but I've been practising regularly like.

[@Andre-hi9xn]

Thanks Roothy!

[@nealknight-turvey5048]

I'd forgotten what good content looks like. One hour of good material, and not one piece of product placement to ruin the experience. I can accept seeing the logos of sponsors, but having the host pause the real content every couple of minutes to talk about how wonderful a sponsor's bit of kit is (like they all do today) - nope, not how to treat an audience (and now I can avoid that crap via a host of good amateur material on youtube). Thanks for sharing an oldie but a goodie Roothy - very enjoyable...

[@carlmenzel8744]

Kinda cool to see a old f truck getting used as something different

[@7immmmy]

Love the 3/4 pissed cooking segment 🍻

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Only 3/4?? Hey, it was the start of a long tradition of drinking/cooking.

[@7immmmy]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY haha yeah it's great to watch mate 👍🏼

[@runesteinsnnkristoffersen5641]

Good ol`days :-) Hi , from a cold an winter-ish Norway

[@donpardo1]

Hi Rune, G’day from a sunny 😎 winters day in Brisbane, used to live in Hamar on and of 1981/1982. (Lived in Holland then).

[@dannywootton2468]

Good shit roothy. Didnt realise old Pat was a part of the crew back then 👍

[@Arron-S]

Back before excessive advertisings and iron jacks everywhere

[@NoNameneeded1984]

Too right!

[@mcchicken9878]

haha dont forget shauns red ark!

[@nilz6432]

I can only imagine how hungover the guys must have been after the social meeting at the end of the video....

[@grahameroberts8109]

It’s interesting that nearly all of these types of shows have one thing in common.... lots of booze. 🍻🍺🍻🍺

[@jamiesullivan8900]

Thanks to you tube, I recon this cost me $10 for a copy of the mag and this DVD back in the day. Now it's acceptable to everyone

[@nickk3839]

Pat, you muddled yourself with the facts. The winds (generally westerly) cause the sand to drop off the top of the dunes making the eastern side steeper. The toughest route is therefore east to west. There were a few Vic’s downed the night before!!!! Lol

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Yep, east to west is the steeper hills which is why Big Red is the steepest. Pat would have known that, I just primed him with too many beers...

[@phoenixgaming20]

I had no idea Pat used to work for 4WD action

[@kparker4894]

Was originally 4WD monthly back then.

[@melias67]

Wow! Love the ARB 60. Currently for sale in Townsville, $50k!

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

That was a total nut and bolt rebuild - if it's still looking good it'd be worth it.

[@MrLunithy]

Boggy hole lol I stacked my DT there when I was a kid.

[@frozenragu]

26:30 - i miss this pat callinan

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

He's on day time TV mate, Saturday morning I think in most places.

[@TheAustralianMade]

Would love to see the old 4WD Monthly Supercheap Auto Bush Mechanic Challenge Number 2 where you had the pajero and jackeroo.

[@oldluxy]

I remember one with the swb jackeroo and fj55

[@phillbeutel9459]

The first one with Pat calligan with a range rover and roothy In an mq patrol of all things , that would be good to see again

[@Splagnate]

Dude!! I could never give my dog a perm!

[@mufaddalsalman1463]

Pat was wayyyy wrong saying effies gonna make a comeback 😂😂

[@SwaggingWithBen]

There's some incorrect information in this video around 31:30 or so. The prevailing wind which forms the dunes comes from the west. The easiest way to drive across the Simpson is from west to east, the same direction these blokes are travelling.

[@vtwindad1549]

Haha most people like peanut butter... Good ol Roothy

[@jaredtansley3236]

I'm surprised the BIG F25 V8 didn't make it.

[@frozenragu]

18:51 - wise words

[@pjkotze2307]

The F250 is right hand drive, awesome, you don't see that a lot (from RHD country),

[@alainremont5392]

AS noted below by another viewer, Pat is wrong. The steeper side of the dunes is on the East. So the easier crossing is West to East.

[@jasonpen777]

"groan" Douche Callinan never fails to disappoint

[@Splagnate]

I carry a gallon jug just for a walk!

[@braydenjesse7705]

Hey Roothy, what year did you do the chop on Milo? Still remember the trip when you did the Simpson to Frazer!

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Maybe 2003 or 4? She was off the road for a few months I eremembe that!

[@Bradthetruckie]

geeze thats an old one, did i hear you right roothy saying milo was 21yrs old when that was filmed?

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

I missed that but it'd be about right - the old girl is a 1984 model, well, a lot of it is anyway.

[@Bradthetruckie]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY think most of it is a fair bit newer these days, you said it just after you got to the top of big read and stopped.

[@alanbstard4]

Willshere's mounted troop were all aboriginal native police. Who fired the shots? His defence counsel was Alexander Downer's grandfather

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Great history eh - all over the outback too,

[@deanharries4154]

Just got a ra rodeo... Starting to question how strong they are.. A 4×4 with know recovery points...

[@westralianoffroad]

What year was this one Roothy mate?

[@deanharries4154]

Did the rodeo make it up big red..???

[@Dags470]

How did Pat get away with a Simmo trip in an almost empty vehicle?

[@VEOPengineering]

Just a few less grey hair's John :D

[@mishham6388]

Milo isn't a 40 series she's a 45 thank you very much! Haha

[@whiteunicornDR659]

West to east is easier not harder

[@paulmclean9192]

Of course ur fridge died roothy! It’s cheap rubbish. How long did you have your Engel? This is the best. Way better viewing than 4wd237action or whatever they call it now.

[@valiantthor_]

Waeco life 😂

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Warm beer in the Simpson - last Waeco I ever used. Back to Engel for years and then finally switched to SnoMaster. Can't risk loosing beer and tucker!

[@valiantthor_]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY Yeah not wrong, A lot I've my family have had Waeco and they'll all been awful, I have a 15 year old Engel now and Snomaster is what I'm going for when I buy something new, Only problem with the Engel is they don't have a Proper dual zone option

[@kumbackquatsta]

before 4wd monthly/4wd 24-7 went to shit

[@paulformaioni37]

the cooking skills are dodgy

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Always were mate - the Handbrake won't even let me coook at home....

[@brianc4464]

No wonder ya got booted Your commentry is dryer than the desert ya driving

[@elig8263]

Great content, Rooth. When it wasn't just a running advert. I'll have a beer with you one day mate.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Too easy mate!! Love that beer!