Birdsville Races 2009
 

A few pilots and I are thinking about making the trip to the Birdsville races this year. Any news on whether camping under the wings will still be allowed given CASA's alcohol program and ASIC requirements?

I'm thinking pulling out a swag down by the Diamantina might be the only option.

Normally ASIC not required at Birdsville Races. They normally apply for an exemption aganist the requirements to hold an ASIC at the Birdsville aerodrome for the race meeting weekend. As for CASA being their they haven't got any money to fund people to travel to Birdsville so don't worry..

Save your money, take your mates as far away from this boganfest as you can.

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

YCBP is an option............. or better still, load up a 206 with 3 mates and gear....go to the Dig Tree, enjoy the history, drink heaps, go skinny dippi and if you were smart you took some willing sheila's..........................................:ok:


What more can I say............. if said Sheila's need a lift froma civilised place like Brisbane let me know! :}

J:ok:

...........ahhh the BDV races, the fond memories:-)
I wondered recently what would be the go re ASIC & the new 'BS' Drug thingy at the famous races. I wonder if the pilots going there these days are any different to the ones way back when I went (mid 80's)? I doubt it & there was booze a plenty back then as am sure it is now. Wouldn't mind some feedback after this years events from those that attended. Might venture up there again next year but won't be keen if the 'fun' has been taken out of it by way of rules rules rules. I believe there's a fence around the airport now? Yep I can see security being a huge issue at BDV most of the year:ugh:
Still was an expereince I won't forget.Ramped checked by the 'goons/scaleies' at BHI. Watching guys unload bags etc from other planes & wondeirng where to leave them 'cause they where over weight.The planes stacked up awaiting ldg clearance @ BDV, no GPS in those days. (Starvation lake was it enroute from the Melb direction, anyone recall?) Either full sar reporting for VFR or a nominated sartime, must be a breeze these days to find the joint!:-)
The swag was the most fun, lovely warm days, $1 canned beers, bloody freezin' nights, blocked toilets, 10 deep at the pub counter. The flies, the dust, Fred B's boxing Tent, you paid to get yr head smashed in by mostly our indigenous cousins. Boy could they fight! The idiots starting up at first light sunday mornin' to get home and blowing dust from end of the planet to the other! The fight for one of about 3 hand pumps to get fuel upon arrival 'cause you could only buy a drum, the rest of yr crew went & got drunk whilst you (the pilot) spent the first few hrs refueling. And the best part was one year I got to meet good old "Dick Smith" in his khaki Safari suit out at the racetrack, funny how he was pretty much standing thete on his own!:}.........Yep I remember it well, sh!t, what was I thinking of wanting to go back !!!!:}

More to come I hope


Wmk2:)

...but at least it keeps stray cattle off the runway. Several years ago the local copper shot a few that were wandering around on the strip, I believe there was a hell of a stink about it, as the owner said he would have come over, rounded them up and taken them away if asked :hmm:

I've always wanted a BDV ASIC, because I reckon they'd have to be a collector's item.

Us: "We're leaving today on Flight West 123. What time do we come to the airport"?
Them: "Ahh, when you hear the plane overhead. Just wander on over. There's only one".
If only it was so simple departing Sydney!
Not during the races. Haven't been to them, just seen the mountains (literally) of empty tinnies left over.

Wally Mrk2 I remember those days... If I remember right Birdsville had a tower and a control zone... The 80's had 500 planes plus now there lucky to get 200 planes. Things have changed, Refuelling done by truck or bowser, no control tower, no more I'm lost I want my mummy (GPS has taken care of that). Only certain areas around the pub that you are allowed to drink some areas of Birdsville are dry areas Queensland best make sure of this.

No more locking you up and wait till you sobber up a bit cutting you loose with a shirt that said "I've been locked up at Birdsville." Now they lock you up for real and fly in a Magistate to give you a get out of town and don't come back..

Big changes since the 80's worth a ride to go and see..

I suspected as much that was the case 'Wagit', sad really was a fun place once. Those that have never been there won't know any different & can't compare, not too sure I want to go back now as all I would be doing is comparing.
The control twr was funny, a couple of guys standing there in an elevated makeshift platform surrounded by hessian playing ATC. In those days you where sh1t scared to put a foot out of place & call upon all the airmanship you could muster to impress the authority:-) Once the sun went down the same guys could be found in the pub being normal like the rest of us, well normal for those days:-)
Nothing is 4ever but am glad I got the chance to see the real BDV b4 that too has been killed off.


Wmk2

Wally,
I know what you're saying but the 'real' Birdsville and the recent evolution of the Birdsville Races are two very different things and always have been. Let's just say the races bring both good and bad to the town and the Shire.

Sorry to be a pedant. Glad you had a good time :)

Three of CASA's finest were there last week. They had come out for a dawn raid on all the charter ops down to the lake.

They couldn't believe their luck when they stepped out of the rossair conquest in time to see joe showoff in his longranger blast off from the line opposite the pub, do a quick 360 - 50' above the pub then shoot off across the oval toward the bakery. Poor bugger. Hope they were gentle.

I asked what their position was WRT policing drinking/swagging it under wing and they suggested it is up to Diamantina Shire Council. The people running the pub are concerned people may stay away if it is not allowed - and rightly so - the races are the highlight of the pub's financial year.

BTW - there will be a room at the pub (normally not avail to public) up for grabs to the highest bidder on ebay sometime soon - proceeds to charity.

4B

Joe the showoff should be a little more considerate where he parks his fling wing, I am might glad I was there with hands feet and brakes on when he sandblasted my plane and everyone elses :=

he could have lifted off and gone straight across the apron onto the end of the threshold area, but no.... at just the "right height" he taxied past all the fixed wings :ugh:

If its the same fellow, and it most likely is, somone should give him a good kick in the ar$e for just being an arrogant stupid moron. Be not a lot different to starting up and doing a full power test with your tail pointed into a hangar full of a/c! :ugh:

J:mad:

I understand the Pub will auction a 3 bed room with race tickets etc on ebay from 31 July - all proceeds to charity.
Will be interesting to see how much is raised.

Very lame effort compared to the old Arnhem highway

http://www.claireandlinds.id.au/1-De...le-Hotel-2.jpg

Birdsville room available...
 

Here it is 4B

Birdsville Hotel package Races 2009 - eBay Queensland, Sporting Events, Tickets, Tickets, Travel. (end time 10-Aug-09 04:41:21 AEST)

Cheers,

PA

good old days
 

Judging by the number of cans on the ground outside the pub, this photo must have been taken about a month before the races. When I was there in the 80s the footpath was covered with cans, spilling over to the roadway, on Saturday. Hey, one year they even had beer cans (was it Fosters?) specially printed. They must be collectors items now. I think I've got one or two somewhere, if I can ever find them.

Yes, they were the good old days. On the way back to Melbourne dropped into Innamincka. Got a lovely photo of my twin commanche parked out the front of the pub. Probably have the plane confiscated for doing that now.

baboom-baboom-baboom-baboom-baboom-baboom-baboom. Any of you old timers recognise that sound from a famous BDV races attraction?

I've nothing to fear from drug and alcohol testing, but a ramp check on me at Moorabbin twenty years ago on the way to BDV, when I was a bit inexperienced, might have been beneficial. In the event, I climbed out of MB, with 4 POB, camping gear, food, etc in a rented PA28 at about 100fpm. The tower called me at a couple of miles, by which time I had climbed to maybe 400 feet to ask whether ops were normal. Mind you, I have never repeated (nor wanted to) that sort of somewhat marginal flight. Glad I survived the good ol' days!

Am thinking of going this year, but all this talk of ASICs, drug testing, fences, is putting me off.

Owen, don't worry, a continental breakfast in SW Qld usually includes bacon and chops somewhere, even if it's dunked in the coffee :}

In case some may have misplaced their SUP/AIC for the Races, here is the link:

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...sup/s9-h39.pdf

Race 5/ No 4 :ok:

Cheers,

PA

Innamincka is much friendlier. Save your money. Visit the Dig Tree as well.