When does the ride leave Birdsville?

The ride Leaves Birdsville QLD on Monday the 31st of August 2020 and will be 5 days duration (with 1 extra day saved as a contingency), returning to Birdsville on Friday the 4th September 2020 for a BBQ and party (unless the overrun day is used).

You will need to be in Birdsville one full day before the rider briefing/scrutineering day (Arrive no later then Saturday night 29th August 2020)

How much does it costs to register?

Registration Fees are $3000 per rider plus GST. (so, A$3300 total)

Ride inclusions are:

  • 5 days fully supported ride across the Simpson desert, twice. Each rider will be provided a small Frontline Safari branded bag and tent which will be the bag you will pack your personal belongings into (so pack light!) – NO SWAGS OR PERSONAL  BAGS WILL BE CARRIED.
  • Full Mechanical & recovery support, limited spare parts.
  • Medical Support
  • Fuel
  • Fully catered with exceptional meals, beverages and alcohol
  • Fully supported event with commercial operational support by Australia’s leading adventure companies supporting the Frontline Safari 2020.

Important: see the FAQ note below about the Expression of Interest process.

What will riders need to supply?

Above all else, you’ll need to bring a good ‘can-do’ attitude and a willingness to roll with the punches. Adventure riding is exactly that “adventure”. This is a charity event operating under some pretty adverse & challenging conditions for all. You should ask for help if you need it and be prepared to give help when asked. You should be open and willing to take direction from event organisers, You should also proactively prepare yourself and your equipment well before the event.

Aside from that….

  • Your bike and spares (see the FAQ section “You & Your Bike”)
  • Camping Gear: if you have mates doing the ride with you, suggest you share the load between yourselves. Only what can fit into your provided kit bags and your saddle bags/backpack (If utilised/carried)
  • On & off-bike clothing.
  • Accommodation before and after the event in Birdsville
  • Transport to and from Birdsville.
    • NOTE: It is the event attendees responsibility to organise accommodation, fuel, food, water prior to and after the event. On the morning of (event start) all attendees MUST arrive with fully fuelled bikes-Fuel will be provided from that point on.
  • A fully serviceable Enduro/Light Adventure bike, serviced motor, new air filter, new chain and sprockets with relatively new tyres, One spare tube for each tyre (spare tubes will be made available during the event).
  • An enduro bike/light adventure bike with a minimum range capacity of 250km’s (long range tanks and bladders a MUST)
  • A water carrying capacity (minimum) of 6 litres to be carried on your person each day and checked each morning by event staff.

You and Your Bike

This will be a tough ride for tough people. Do not underestimate the challenge of crossing 1100 Outback dunes in unpredictable weather.  So….

You: must be medically fit to ride. We will have limited medical support from some of Australia’s supremely experienced field medics, but we’ll be a long way away from any major hospital/medical facility. If you’ve an underlying medical condition that may limit your ability to participate in the ride, we suggest you give it a miss. That aside, you need to be in training, now.
(Note: It is a legal requirement that all prospective riders identify all possible medical conditions to the ride paramedic and event manager prior to signing up for the 2020 event. The ride Paramedic and event manager will determine whether you’re medically fit to attend the ride event. The Ride/event organisers take no responsibility for attendees that hide underlying/known medical conditions and choose to attend the ride. If you have any type of heart condition, serious respiratory condition or epilepsy you will not be permitted to attend this event-This includes support personnel/attending family members)
Your Bike: All Enduro, register-able off-road and LIGHT adventure bike types are welcome. This includes 2 strokes. 2 stroke riders wishing to attend MUST bring an empty 25 litre fuel Jerry can which will be used to premix your fuel. 2 stroke riders MUST bring and provide their own 2 stroke premix oil (enough to last 5 days of long distance riding). Bikes and riders will need to have the ability to cover up to and over 250 – 300km’s per day without refuel. NO Exceptions will be made to this rule. The event organisers will run a thorough bike and rider scrutineering a day prior to event start, riders which attend without the correct bike/rider set up will be turned away (denied attendance) without refund. Sadly, recreational registered bikes cannot attend this ride.  All riders MUST have a fully serviceable, state registered and insured ADR compliant motorcycle. All bikes must be road worthy during the event and all helmets that are worn during the ride must be undamaged and ADR compliant. Riders must be licensed to ride their specific motorcycle type and must carry their state specific licence on their person at all times during the ride. All bikes must be serviced prior to the ride and carry a small tool bag and spares kit during the ride. Service type, tools and spares to bring come down to the rider and their specific preference. We will not provide specific information regarding what types of parts and bike specific spares to bring. Bikes will have tyres, chains and sprockets checked for serviceability during scrutineering, unserviceability’s will be turned away (No exceptions).
All riders will need to organise and pay for an SA Simpson Deserts Parks Pass prior to attendance. The SA Simpson Desert parks pass can be purchased online
here.   The current cost for a Simpson Desert parks pass (12 month) is $171
(Online bookings require four/six weeks notice before pass arrives in mail) Parks Passes can also be purchased at the Birdsville roadhouse prior to the ride event. Riders are strongly encouraged to pre-organise parks passes prior to attending. The road house does not always have Parks Passes available for differing reasons. Event riders are strongly encouraged to carry the SA Simpson Desert parks pass on their person at all times during the event-Large fines apply if caught without one- The event organisers will not police nor will we take responsibility for attendees caught without the SA Simpson Deserts Parks Pass YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED)

What do You need to bring?

Riders can bring and carry their own pannier bags and equipment and test their ability to ride the desert fully loaded. The support vehicles will be there to take panniers and bags from riders if needed (at the end of the ride day).

Note: for the 2020 Frontline Safari, riders caught by the sweep vehicles will have their day of riding ended and their bike and equipment collected and moved into the support sweep vehicles until the next camp. Attending Riders will be provided a goodies bag a day prior to the event start, this goodies bag will be the only bag taken on the ride within the support vehicles. Whatever you can fit within the provided bag is all that you will be permitted to bring on the ride.

Small 1 man tents will be provided (for free) for you to pack within your goodies bag. Attendees may bring their own 1/2 man tent as long as it can fit within the provided riders goodies bag. No exceptions will be made to this rule. Non compliance means “NO GO”. Space within the support vehicles is limited so pack smart and pack light.

If riders wish to ride slick (unloaded) they can. However, we will not carry saddle bags from the get go. If attending riders start the event with saddle bags on they MUST carry them until the next camp site.

You must keep a minimum of 6 litres of water on your person during the ride. This will be topped up every day during the event. Water will be available during the day from the support vehicles and along the route via clearly marked water jerrys which will be placed at each turn sign along the event route. You will have no shortage of water. Every rider will be checked each day to ensure they start the day fully loaded with the required 6 litres of water (minimum) No exceptions. Non Compliance means no ride. How event attendees (riders) choose to carry said water is up to the individual rider. A combination of water bladders and bottles can work.

What about Accommodation in Birdsville?

Accommodation Before and after the ride in Birsdville is not included. It being just before Birdsville Races race week, you should expect Birdsville to be busy. Dont delay booking accommodation! Free Campsites are everywhere.
Please plan well ahead of the event. If you are planning on booking hotel rooms/caravan sites you should be planning to book them well in advance. Most accommodation is booked out 12 months prior to the Birdsville races. During our previous events riders carpooled and shared the cost of large caravan/camp sites and camped in groups.
NOTE: We will arrive back in Birdsville on Friday evening (04th September 2020) We will all meet directly out front of the Police station (That could change due to traffic and operational issues) on arrival back into Birdsville we will all wait together for all the returning riders, we will conduct one last group photo before we all head to the pub for a beer or two and then pack up. This will be at cost to you (customer). The service and catering stops the minute we arrive back in Birdsville on the Friday afternoon/night so plan ahead with regards to your food and accommodation from Friday night onward’s. Most people/riders will attend the final day of the Birdsville races the next day (Saturday 05th September 2020). Tickets for the Birdsville races can be purchased online but get in quick.

Is fundraising compulsory?

No. It’s not; but we strongly encourage you to reach out to family and friends to seek sponsorships. What you’re considering doing is pretty extraordinary and you should be rewarded for it by family and friends. All funds raised through your GiveEasy Campaign will go directly to Soldier On. check out fundraising options here

The Expressions of Interest process

This is important. Please read and understand

Submitting an expression of interest doesn’t guarantee you a spot on the ride. We have already had a lot of interest and rider spots are limited to strictly 45 spots.

The process will be as follows:

  1. Expressions of Interest opened on 27th January 2020 and will remain open until midnight on 31st July 2020.
  2. Due to increased sponsorship in 2020 we no longer need to enforce strict (early) expression of interest and ticket purchase dates. Expressions of interest (EOI’s) will remain open to all riders until 31st July 2020. EOI and ticket purchases will close at midnight on the 31st July 2020. Riders that have sent in their EOI’s will need to pay a $500 deposit which will be non-refundable after the 04th May 2020.
  3. The remaining amount ($2800.00) will be required by the 31st July 2020. If payment is not received within 24 hours of ticket/EOI closure your position will be forfeited and the deposit will not be refunded.

Payment is to be remitted to:

ACCOUNT DETAILS:

Bank : National Australia Bank (NAB),

Account Name: Frontline Safaris

Account BSB: 082-356

Account No. 87-659-6179

Payees to reference “Full Name” when making payments.

For issues with payment, or special circumstances please contact Clay at clay@frontlinesafari.com.au to discus.

Yes, you can pay off the entry fee just notify “Clay” via email (clay@frontlinesafari.com.au) that you will be making multiple payments of ……… time period.
NOTE: Frontline Safari is not a registered Non for profit. You cannot claim the entry fee as a tax deduction. All fundraising however (through Soldier On or the GiveEasy profile) is 100% tax deductible. (You will be provided tax receipts for these donations)
Due to issues with the ATO after the 2019 event, specifically around us providing receipts to businesses not individuals all 2020 event entry fee receipts will be made out to the paying individuals only, NOT businesses. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
This event is non refundable from the 31st July 2020.

Tell me about the refunds policy

We’ve had heaps of questions about the refunds policy. Fair enough….Good question.

Due to the early booking and order requirements for fuel, medical teams and equipment and catering no refunds can be made within 120 days of the event starting

That being the case, before you accept a ride spot, make sure you’ve got leave from work sorted, your spouse & kids are squared away, you’ve got the funds to pay your registration and your bike is (or will be ) sorted by the 29th of August 2020.
The $500 dollar deposit is fully refundable up to and prior to the 04th May 2020. Deposits after the 04th May 2020 will become non refundable instantly.
Full and final entry Fee ($2800) becomes non refundable after midnight on the 31st July 2020. No exceptions can be made.