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NEWS
Australia’s fastest Trakka survives
Australian Safari-winning Trakka campervan still going strong as a much-loved family camperSlow-moving recreational vehicles are often accused of clogging up the roads, but for a short period back in the early 1990s, there was one unique campervan that could never be accused of holding up traffic…
Arguably Australia’s fastest and only rally-winning campervan, the all-wheel drive Volkswagen Transporter-based camper driven by Trakka boss Dave Berry was one of two rare, right-hand drive T3 ‘Synchro 4WD’ models that competed in the 1990 Australian Safari. (The other was a dual-cab ute driven by Volkswagen dealer Graham Lees).
Competing against highly modified prototype vehicles and professional rally drivers, the Volkswagen-backed duo managed to win their respective classes – 4x4 passenger vehicles under 2.5 litres, in the case of the VW camper.
Not only that but the Trakka motorhome crossed the finish line ahead of 160 other vehicles (out of 190 overall) that competed in the gruelling nine day, 5500km long Outback rally.
Barry’s co-driver and Trakka design engineer, Mike Lord, remembers a thrilling end to the race in the campervan dubbed “The White Elephant”.
“On the last day we’d dropped a steering belt so Dave was struggling with heavy steering towards the end of the last day of racing,” he recalls.
“I remember coming around one of the last corners and passing the very stationary vehicle that was in the 1st position and feeling overcome with relief.”
Lord also recalls blasting along soft sandy tracks in the Tanami Desert, with a helicopter hovering alongside to catch the action.
So what happened to the winning camper?
At last month’s Brisbane Caravan Show, Barry caught up with Melbourne landscape gardener and vintage Vee-Dub enthusiast, Mark Boys, who is now the proud owner of both the Australian Safari dual-cab ute and Trakka Camper.
Stripped of its racing livery, the “White Elephant” also features a pop-top roof instead of the original, fixed ‘Hi Top’ roof which for Boys makes “the campervan much more attractive for family holidays and comfortably able to sleep the kids as well”.
NSW-based Trakka continues to lead the way in off-road campervans, with the current range including a number of jacked-up, all-wheel drive Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz models for those who like to get well off the beaten track.
The full story of ‘Australia’s fastest Trakka’ is on the Trakka website, or watch highlights from the 1990 race in the video below…
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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