Teams take the tough track

Between them, the teams raised more than $14,000 for the Cancer Council as they negotiated eight river crossings and some of the most remote and challenging roads in the country last week.

Fishermans Paradise couple Michael Cole and Leah Flowers took part in the seven-day charity event in their Subaru wagon, alongside two teams from Bannisters consisting of general manager Peter Bacon, digital marketer Alice O’Hara, maintenance manager Jeff Crellin and former employee Finn Woolie, also in Subarus.

Peter said the trip through the Pilbara along the famous former cattle route, the Gibb River Road, and through the Kimberley, was “challenging, but amazing”.

“It was hard, and certainly the most challenging rally we’ve done,” he said.

“It was very remote and isolated, but the scenery was something pretty special.”

While the Bannisters cars made the journey with no break-downs or major mechanical problems, Peter said they did lend a hand to several other crews along the way.

“We towed a couple of cars across the Pentecost River and pulled a hearse into town one afternoon,” he said.

But it was Michael and Leah who had their work cut out for them along the 3,500 kilometre route that Michael described as “brutal”.

Mechanic Michael spent six out of the seven nights in the “triage” area repairing other teams’ broken vehicles.

It was his dedication to his fellow teams that earned he and Leah the Spirit of the Rally award during the closing presentation ceremony held in Darwin on Saturday.

“We were always pulling up to help whoever we could along the way and I spent every night, bar one, fixing cars.

“One night we were up until 4am putting a clutch assembly from a Ford Fiesta into a little Mazda - there’s no spare parts shops out there, so you have to make do with what you can just to get through the next day,” he laughed.

The rough conditions meant many punctures and shredded tyres, as well as damaged suspensions, gearboxes and oil seals.

Michael said the outback scenery was “breathtaking” particularly the many gorges and remote Tunnel Creek.

“It was absolutely spectacular,” he said.

Following the adventure, the couple sold their car for $60 and Michael hopes to find an older vehicle, valued at less than $1,000, for next year’s event that will take them from Canberra to Townsville via the Birdsville Track.

The Bannisters teams have retained their vehicles and are also looking forward to next year’s rally.

The 2014 event is expected to raise more than $1.5 million for the Cancer Council and will feature in a television documentary later in the year.