Mates join Simpson Anniversary Crossing

Two new Track Trailer Mate’ camper trailers will be tested over some of Australia’s toughest sand dunes during the 50th Simpson Anniversary Crossing taking place next month.

Both Mates – a Base Mate and a Weekend Mate (pictured) – will be used as general gear carriers on the trip, but will also be equipped with rooftop accommodation, a canvas ARB roof topper and a hard-lid James Baroud Grand Raid Evolution XXL pop-up canopy tent, respectively.

A third Track Trailer camper, a new entry-level $39,900 Tvan Yulara, will also take part in the expedition.

Complete with an ensuite, the Yulara will serve as a combined gear carrier and the personal accommodation for Marg Sprigg – somewhat more luxurious accommodation than she enjoyed as a child back in 1962 when aged 10, she accompanied her family during the first vehicle crossing of the Simpson Desert.

The Sprigg family made the pioneering trip from Andado Station to Birdsville in 1962 in a short wheelbase Nissan Patrol G60 ahead of a small retinue of other four-wheel drive vehicles.

The Nissan became not only the first, but also the only vehicle in the expedition to complete the gruelling 12-day west-east crossing of the 176,500 square kilometre desert and its 1000 parallel sand dunes.

Commencing at Mt.Dare station in far northern South Australia on July 15, the 50th anniversary crossing will largely follow the Spriggs’ original route.

It will be led by an identical Nissan Patrol G60 to that used on the first crossing, crewed by Margaret Sprigg and her brother Doug.

A highlight of the re-enactment crossing will be the final ascent of the famous sand dune ‘Big Red’, followed by the erection of a 50th Anniversary cairn near Birdsville.

A documentary film will be made of the re-enactment by Outback adventurer and TV personality Pat Callinan and a picture book tracing the Desert’s history is also planned.

More than 200 Nissan vehicles, dating from the 1960s to the soon-to-be released V8-engined next-generation Patrol and around 600 Nissan enthusiasts, will also converge on Birdsville.

Convoys of Nissan owners will depart from numerous locations around Australia in the week leading up to the event.

The arrival in Birdsville of the Spriggs and their small vehicle entourage on July 21, will be the trigger for the main celebrations, with nationally-famous entertainers performing an Outback concert that evening staged at the Birdsville Racecourse.

The 50th Anniversary Simpson Desert Crossing is a not-for-profit event that is being heavily subsidised by Nissan, with net proceeds donated to Frontier Services, an organisation established by Royal Flying Doctor Service founder John Flynn 100 years ago to support people living in remote areas of Australia.

Look out for a full report on the Anniversary crossing as well as reviews of the performance of both the Mates and the Tvan after the event.