Jol wins Finke Hero award

Max Bennett

13Jun08

Joe Flemingwith his 2008 Finke Desert Race Hero award. Picture Hannah Millerick

Finke Desert Race Max Bennett AS David Fellows and Andrew Kittle crossed the line to claim the 2008 Finke Desert Race, they could spare a thought for Jol Fleming, the man who made it possible.

Fleming received the 2008 Finke Desert Race Hero award in recognition of his tireless work to help introduce cars into the race in 1988 and his ongoing work as race director.

A humble Fleming said it was nice to be recognised for his contribution to the biggest event in Central Australia.

He said: ``It's good to get a bit of recognition for a lot of hard work over the years.''

Fleming's involvement with Finke spans 29 years as a competitor, volunteer and official, where he has been involved in some of the biggest changes in the events history.

After competing in the early eighties, Fleming was tragically involved in a car accident which left him wheelchair-bound.

However, this did not dull his appetite for the desert classic and for off-road racing.

This passion led him to help start the Alice Springs Off-Road Racing Club in 1984 with a push to get cars into the Finke race.

In 1987 Fleming took the push to the track.

He said: ``In '87 we ran from Rodinga to Engoordina to see how fast the cars went compared to the bikes, and we were only 10 or so mintues behind.''

With this information and a growing popularity in the cars, the Finke committee allowed cars to be introduced into the race in 1988.

This was a big win for Fleming that would see the level of professionalism taken one step higher.

He said: ``The introduction of the cars upped the anti and brought a level of professionalism to off-road racing.

``It has proved to be a bit of a feather in the cap for the race.

``It was a bit of a running joke amongst the bike riders that a buggy could beat a bike but, in 2000, when Mark Burrows won, it was good to stick it to them.''

Since the Burrows/Shannon breakthrough in 2000, the buggies have dominated the race, with some of the top off-road drivers making their reputations at Finke.

He said: ``There's been some really good drivers over the years.

``You would say Burrows would be up there and David Fellows, who is a cut above the rest at the moment.''