Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash
is a genuine desert race...
Kickstarter, a man larger than life
Kickstarter’s Gascoyne Dash was first put together to honour Neville Brandstater, AKA Kickstarter.
He was tragically lost during a flood at Lydon river crossing, while assisting people to cross the flooded river in 1993.
The event’s founder, Gary Larson, approached Neville’s wife and 3 children, to ask if they could name a river dash after Kickstarter.
Kickstarter’s Gascoyne Dash was born. A wet and wild river race down the Gascoyne River.
Western Australia’s Wildest Boat Race
1995
The first Gascoyne Dash, a wet dash, was held in 1995 while the Gassy River was running.
Due to lower water levels at the time of the dash, it was started just upriver from rocky pool and went down through to Carnarvon.
Ron and Wendy Hartcher won the race by raising the most funds and the first title of King of the River.
$25, 000 was raised for the Shire of Carnarvon from the Gascoyne Dash, for flood relief efforts. This amount was matched by the State Government.
2000
The second running of the Gascoyne Dash made full use of a flooded Gascoyne River, which was running at over 14 kts (25 Km/h).
The race to Carnarvon was extremely hazardous, with the loss of four boats and a rescue boat. Thankfully there were no injuries or loss of life. The race departed Gascoyne Junction, with an overnight stop, at Rocky Pool, of which legendary stories about the shenanigans held at that camp are still told to this day… Peter Jecks and his son won this race and over $20,000 was raised for the local hospital.
From Boats to Bikes…
2002
Following several dry years, without the Gascoyne River running, it was decided that the wild and adventurous river race would be transformed into an equally wild and even faster dash down the dry river bed to Carnarvon. Kicking off from the causeway in Gascoyne Junction, with an overnight stop at Rocky pool, the first ‘dry’ dash as we know it today was born. This first ‘dry’ dash featured bikes only, with all competitors taking off all together at the wave of a flag from Gascoyne Junction.
2003
A slight change to the race format saw the race start just behind the old Gacoyne Junction pub,
Day one featured racing on a track that passed through Bidgemia Station, Lyons River Station and Weedarra station and back to Gacoyne Junction. The course being mapped out by a light aircraft guiding officials on the ground in 4x4 vehicles to locate the various trials used to form the race track. Day two was the race down the Gascoyne River to Carnarvon, finishing at the Carnarvon Speedway.
This year saw the inclusion of cars and 4x4’s in the dash.
Kickstarter’s Gascoyne Dash was first put together to honour Neville Brandstater, AKA Kickstarter.
He was tragically lost during a flood at Lydon river crossing, while assisting people to cross the flooded river in 1993.
The event’s founder, Gary Larson, approached Neville’s wife and 3 children, to ask if they could name a river dash after Kickstarter.
Kickstarter’s Gascoyne Dash was born. A wet and wild river race down the Gascoyne River.
Western Australia’s Wildest Boat Race
1995
The first Gascoyne Dash, a wet dash, was held in 1995 while the Gassy River was running.
Due to lower water levels at the time of the dash, it was started just upriver from rocky pool and went down through to Carnarvon.
Ron and Wendy Hartcher won the race by raising the most funds and the first title of King of the River.
$25, 000 was raised for the Shire of Carnarvon from the Gascoyne Dash, for flood relief efforts. This amount was matched by the State Government.
2000
The second running of the Gascoyne Dash made full use of a flooded Gascoyne River, which was running at over 14 kts (25 Km/h).
The race to Carnarvon was extremely hazardous, with the loss of four boats and a rescue boat. Thankfully there were no injuries or loss of life. The race departed Gascoyne Junction, with an overnight stop, at Rocky Pool, of which legendary stories about the shenanigans held at that camp are still told to this day… Peter Jecks and his son won this race and over $20,000 was raised for the local hospital.
From Boats to Bikes…
2002
Following several dry years, without the Gascoyne River running, it was decided that the wild and adventurous river race would be transformed into an equally wild and even faster dash down the dry river bed to Carnarvon. Kicking off from the causeway in Gascoyne Junction, with an overnight stop at Rocky pool, the first ‘dry’ dash as we know it today was born. This first ‘dry’ dash featured bikes only, with all competitors taking off all together at the wave of a flag from Gascoyne Junction.
2003
A slight change to the race format saw the race start just behind the old Gacoyne Junction pub,
Day one featured racing on a track that passed through Bidgemia Station, Lyons River Station and Weedarra station and back to Gacoyne Junction. The course being mapped out by a light aircraft guiding officials on the ground in 4x4 vehicles to locate the various trials used to form the race track. Day two was the race down the Gascoyne River to Carnarvon, finishing at the Carnarvon Speedway.
This year saw the inclusion of cars and 4x4’s in the dash.
Comparison has been made between the Dash and the Finke Desert Race. Both races are a true test of machine and competitor, both are races that promote the unique Australian outback. The Dash is a point to point race over a hugely varied landscape, a cross country course extensively consisting of natural desert and outback terrain. In 230km over two days the Dash is long and tough; it is an ultimate challenge.