Raid Australia 2012 - The Mountain Raid

Some notes about preparing your vehicle for Raid Australia 2012.

1. Weight is your enemy, PACK VERY LIGHT!

2. This is a Citroen A Series event

3. Genuine residents of Tasmania may participate in the Tasmanian section in any Citroen of similar age to a 2CV. ie a pre 1990 Citroen.

4. The mainland section will be A series only, even for Taswegians.

5. There will not be any checking of vehicle or equipment preparation. There are plenty of sources of advice on preparing your car. Your car is your responsibility. The organiser will not guarantee assistance to vehicles. Normal raiding etiquette says that there will be plenty of help, but each driver must accept responsibility for their car and their operation of it.

6. Most of the Raid route will be close to towns and services. Mobile phone coverage is patchy, but most days we will pass through service areas. We are not travelling through very remote or desert country. Weight is your enemy, PACK VERY LIGHT !

7. You should carry 10 or 20 L of spare fuel. However…. On the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, spare fuel containers must be filled with WATER only. Don’t turn up to the ferry with spare fuel.

8. You should carry 5 L of drinking water per person. We will not get too far from water supplies, however you should bring water purification tablets.

9. Food shops will be available on most days, The Raid route notes will advise if shop access is limited.

10. There will not be any back up vehicles. If you think you need spare parts, it is recommended that you fit new parts before setting off. Don’t count on any particular part being available in the group. Arrangements for carrying parts will be for you to make, individually or collectively. Weight is your enemy PACK VERY LIGHT!

11. We will be travelling through bushy, rough and obscure areas, at times on 4wd tracks. There will be steep parts both up and down. It is very important that the vehicle clutch and brakes are VERY GOOD, and that the parking brake will hold the car on steep slopes. There are places where team effort (pushing) will be needed. There are places where river crossings could require team effort (pulling on ropes). Weight is your enemy PACK VERY LIGHT !

12. It is strongly recommended that you fit secure towing rings to both front and rear of the vehicle. A towing ring should be a loop of 10mm steel, about 40mm across, attached by welding or by 10mm bolt. You should carry 2 “D” shackles and about 30m of strong rope in case you need to secure your car to a tree, another car or to helping people.

13. To test both the parking brakes, and the towing rings you should attach a rope, and be able to pull the car with another vehicle, with the front wheels locked up by the parking brake, forwards and backwards.

14. Keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. Pack heavy stuff at floor level. Weight is your enemy, PACK VERY LIGHT!

15. It is strongly recommended that you have a 40 channel UHF radio fitted to the car with an external aerial. It makes travel safer and more fun.

16. It is strongly recommended that you have new or near new tyres fitted. All suspension and steering joints should be checked and adjusted or renewed as needed. Engine and transmission oils should be changed for new, all grease points should be cleaned and greased. The ignition system should be inspected, with new points and spark plugs fitted as appropriate.

17. For all A series cars, radiator coolant should be drained and discarded.