Desert Raid 2025 - Shooters Shack: August 9

[Raider]

Digger,

Most important is the RED Collins diary! It has every RAID and every rider who attended each event. RED will be headed to the 7Millers Shack with me.

I also have the stickers. I did forget them on a recent RAID. Chris Grice got the job of posting the stickers to each of the riders after the event. Then I remembered where I “forgot” them - in an envelope in my kit that attended the RAID.

Which reminds me… if there is anyone out there interested in transcribing all the RED information into a file that we can upload and maintain for historic reference please get in touch.

See you out there...

Cheers,

Raider

[Digger]

Getting anxious…


Doing some routine maintenance…oil and filter, new Cush Drive rubbers (polyeurothane), new boots.


I’m using Desert Raid as a stepping off point to a much longer ride (8,000km). Hopefully these tyres will last the distance.



It’s always a good idea to practice your tyre changing at home for two reasons; cost (cheaper) and it ensures you can repair/replace when in the field if it comes to that.

[Ken Oath]

That chain looks a bit stretched. You can borrow the tool to measure it if needed.

[Digger]

That chain looks a bit stretched. You can borrow the tool to measure it if needed.

I checked my records, the chain and both sprockets are less then 5,000km old so they should be good for this journey. I see this as the last hoorah for the DR650...by the time I return, it will be nearing the 80,000km mark. Time to consider a CF Moto 450 me thinks.

[Raider]

Desert Raid riders,

RIDE UPDATE

Plan to catch up with a Jupiter Well rider in York at 8:00am tomorrow - Wednesday 6 August. Then onto Bruce Rock and Southern Cross (fuel), Bullfinch, Bullfinch-Evanston Road (OPEN today), Evanston-Menzies Road to Menzies (fuel at the 24/7 self-serve Eagle Petroleum location - call 0438 447 355 / operational with unleaded as of today) and then to Kookynie with an overnight camp between Malcolm and Laverton.

On Thursday morning press on into Laverton to be there mid-morning latest. Catch up with a second rider at the “Great Beyond Visitor Centre” 5 Augusta Street, Laverton (Telephone 08 9031 1361). Aim to head off south-east from Laverton to Burtville (32km) and to the turn-off to Lake Rason (26km at the washing machine) by noon… Plan to camp on Thursday evening somewhere along the western third of the Lake Rason Track.

Friday is dedicated to continuing along the Lake Rason track, aiming to camp at the 7Millers Shack.

Saturday should see the Desert Raid riders gather at the 7Millers Shack for the 16th year of this event. On this occasion His Griceness has the RED book and stickers in his care and should deliver them to the Shack for riders to have their information recorded and receive the 16th edition sticker. Time to rest, make any running repairs, eat, hydrate and catch up with other riders, including those not encountered since the last Desert Raid at Jupiter Well in 2023.

The return journey to Laverton and home will commence Sunday morning…

Hopefully I will see you out there somewhere or at the 7MM’s Shack / 7Millers Shack / Shooters Shack - Lake Rason Western Australia.

Cheers,

Raider

[2volts]

...Which reminds me… if there is anyone out there interested in transcribing all the RED information into a file that we can upload and maintain for historic reference please get in touch. See you out there...Cheers, Raider

Raider, I'll do this little project.

See you out there,

Pete.

[Raider]

Good evening Pete,

Terrific. Once the 7Millers - Lake Rason Desert Raid is done and dusted I will arrange to get the RED book to you. With a bit of luck we may be able to get the BMWMCCWA to host the information...

Many thanks,

Raider

[Raider]

Riders,

RIDE UPDATE

The track out to Lake Rason from the “washing machine” SE of Laverton has beaten me. I got about 30km in and met the first of the really long and deep sand sections. Probably the first one in the video I uploaded. Smooth like a billiard table when I rolled over it in the UNIMOG a few months ago: a hellhole, after just a few bikes though it, on a fully loaded DR650 with an old bloke perched on top.

Had I pressed on no telling the outcome.

Soon after turning around and heading back to Laverton I encountered four Suzuki-powered 1400cc outfits heading east towards the Shack. Just NE of Burtville, and hardly 30 mins later, I saw a MAN tilt-tray headed towards me. I flagged him down - it was the Laverton-based MULGAMAN tilt tray headed out to pick up one of the outfits. That was quick!

Remote deserts are very interesting places and unforgiving. Heading outbound from Laverton the humidity dropped and the temperature rose. Whereas my fluid intake for the ride out to the border and then to Laverton was quite low, it rose significantly once settled on the Rason track. Hot and thirsty work on the DR…

It looks like there will be a good turnout at the 7MM’s Shack. Good thing the RED book and stickers headed out in the Nissan Patrol.

Cheers,

Raider

[Wobblywheel]

Hi Raider,
Did Grog keep going?
Cheers
David

[Raider]

David,

Grog was a non-starter. I rode with Josh - one of the riders, accompanying Grog, who made it to Jupiter Well two years ago.

Latest update. Josh made it in about 90 kms and had electrical issues with his DR. Just received an update from him on Garmin InReach (great for adventure riders) advising he has sorted the problem but will now head homeward. Maybe on the South Well - White Cliffs track which he passed before having the bike issues. The outfit riders made it to where I exited before their issues. DEEP SAND section… Can’t be too bad because they had apparently raided the fridge by the time Josh caught up with them…

Cheers,

Raider

[GSDisciple]

Howdy Raider Always a tough decision to turn back but certainly also the right decision. JP

[Raider]

Riders,

I had a call this afternoon from His Griceness who had arrived into Laverton from the 7MM’s Shack. A successful Desert Raid for Digger and his group.

Forty-one riders and His Griceness made it to the Shack yesterday. A magnificent turnout to such a remote location.

Exploration currently underway to the immediate NW of the Shack and using the Pidgeon Swamp Road apparently made exit to Laverton easier that the track in from the west.

We await all the stories to come from this years successful Desert Raid.

Thanks to JP for his post. Heading homeward I met a couple of riders from Esperance who attempted to get to the 7MM’s Shack from the south. No doubt there are others who tried but missed-out on this occasion - that is adventure riding…

Cheers,

Raider

[2volts]

Desert Raid 2025 is run and done.

I left Sawyers Valley on Thursday morning, taking a back roads route of about 300km of dirt through the Wheat Belt to Southern Cross for fuel and late lunch. Then north to Bullfinch and beyond. I camped about 65km west of Menzies. Bullfinch to Evanston is in generally good shape, definitely better since road train haulage from Marda to Westonia finished late last year.

Friday morning off to Menzies for breakfast then up the highway to the Kookynie turn off, a brief detour to Niagara Dam, then Kookynie, another quick detour into Mount Morgans (where I lived and worked from 1987 - 1989). Into Laverton for fuel, where I met my first group of riders. I left before them, soon after I was stopped by the roadside doing a last check whilst still in phone range. I saw a bike headlight coming my way, it was Raider Robin on his way out, as recounted above. After talking a while with Raider, I decided to explore another option (Pidgeon Swamp Road) I had mapped, which turned out to be a good example of the difference between theory (route planning on a computer) and practice. The track eventually petered out to become impassable and overgrown.

So it was back to Laverton and down the Merolia Road again on the original route. I camped about 3km along the Lake Rason Road.

Saturday proved to be a hard day. Lots of long sand sections, exposed calcrete and washed out creek crossings. I met Josh (as noted above by Raider) on his way out, and was caught up to and passed by one rider, John from Cairns. I was very aware that I was riding alone and if something happened it might not end well, so I was very cautious. It took me 5 1/2 hours to do 125km. Saturday night at the Shack was very convivial, many familiar faces, some who I hadn't seen for a long time.

Sunday morning I was away just before 8am, this time taking an alternative route back to Laverton. Back track west along Lake Rason Road 14km to Pidgeon Swamp Road, then north. This track was well maintained with only a few deeper sand sections. The further north we went, there were more frequent signs of active exploration work by Gold Road Resources. Eventually meeting the White Cliffs - Yamarna Road, a few kms south west of Yamarna, where the Anne Beadell Highway splits off. I was back in Laverton for fuel and food at 11:20 am having done 238km in 3 hours 20 minutes. What a contrast to the day before!

I retraced my route back past Mount Morgans, Malcom, Kookynie and Menzies and eventually camped about 65km north of Bullfinch.

Monday morning I was up and packing before sunrise, watching ice forming on my bags on my bike. Then it was a bitterly cold run to Southern Cross for fuel and hot food. After another wheat belt dirt roads route I was home just before 2pm.

All in all, a good ride.

Thursday - 700km
Friday - 475km
Saturday - 125km
Sunday - 710km
Monday - 500km

pete.

[GSDisciple]

Thanks Pete for taking the time to share your trip with us. JP

[spacey1]

Great to read different riders tales of the Desert Raid.

Thanks 2volts; Raider; and Digger.