Welcome to the Gascoyne Dash

The Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash is a genuine desert race. It is an awesome challenge across some of the harshest and remote country in Australia.

Comparison has been made between the Dash and the Finke Desert Race. Both races are a true test of machine and competitor, both are races that promote the unique Australian outback. The Dash is a point to point race over a hugely varied landscape, a true cross country course extensively consisting of natural desert and outback terrain. In excess of 500km over two days the Dash is long and tough; it is an ultimate challenge, but don’t just believe us let’s hear from some past winners;

2007 CAMS outright champion Brian Robinson of Outer Bounds Racing
"The best offroad race I've ever been in", was how eventual winner of the event, Brian Robinson described the Gascoyne Dash after leading all the way on Day One. And his opinion didn't change at the Finish Line on Day Two.

"It was sensational", he told the big crowd that gathered at the Carnarvon Race Club to watch the bikes, quads and cars complete a grueling 501 kilometres of the 2006 event. "Tougher than the Finke".

2004 and 2005 Bike Outright Champion Vern Strange ...he keeps doing it because, as he puts it, "once you've done this sort of thing nothing comes close to it. You get a taste for it. For two days you're racing at super high speeds, your necks in the noose the whole time and to pull through it without any major injuries or any severe accidents is pretty exciting in its own."

The day one track is 187km across the full range of Dash country; medium paced station tracks, which open up to speed, sandy river crossings, red sand dunes, a 10-15km of rocky hill climbs and fast station tracks back to the finish. Competitors’ intent should be to survive day one

Day two brings 324 km’s of awesome country and high speed sections. The race starts with 10km of reasonable paced station track then 30 km of tighter corrugated flats between rugged rocky outcrops and hill climbs then into the river for 140km. You come out of the river after a compulsory stop at Rocky Pool billabong onto 120km fast station tracks to the finish at Carnarvon Race Course where competitors give the spectators a taste of extreme racing through a series of tight turns and jump ups in the race course in field.
It all starts on a Thursday with scrutineering in Carnarvon, an oasis town on the west coast 1000km north of Perth. On Friday competitors head out for the prologue to the base camp, Coonatha, set up on a cattle station 200km inland. The day one race is one circuit starting and finishing at the Coonatha camp. Day two race starts at the camp and finishes back in the town of Carnarvon.

But it is not just the race that competitors, crew and family come for. Particularly city riders like to get away from the usual lifestyle and rough it a bit. Pick your own spot under river gums and camp under the 10,000 stars- campfires allowed. All the necessities are there; hot showers, hot food, cold drinks and night time entertainment. There’s plenty of time to socialize after the race machine is sorted with parts, expertise and fuel on site. The racing atmosphere is competitive yet friendly. Everyone is in the right mood. Its not dog eat dog. You’re out in the bush and you all help each other.

More and more competitors are getting together in teams or coming with other mates in their clubs, to share transport and costs, pare down the gear and share the outback experience.

The Gascoyne Dash is a grass roots wildfire.
Since its inception as a white water Dash in 2000 many people have nurtured the evolution of the race into a national standard desert motor sport event. They have put in way more time than anyone could fairly expect of volunteers; invested their hearts in the belief of its long term potential. People have contributed their professional skills, tools, machinery, staff, weekends, for months on end to make the event a huge draw card for the region. We are cattle musterers, mechanics, mineworkers, truckies, tradesmen, small business owners, graphic designers, journalists, bank managers, real estate agents, police chiefs, government bureaucrats, and even retiree’s all getting out there to make it happen and invite you along.

Catchin the flame
Local and regional businesses offer in kind sponsorship and prizes as much as they can. We have built the reputation of the race to the point where we are attracting sponsors and big name competitors. Every year we hone the organization, race set up and improve the infrastructure and facilities
All you now need to do is ask yourself one question… am I up to the Challenge…………well are you?

And why Kickstarters

Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash
PO Box 1464
Carnarvon WA 6701