Best in the Desert series: Why a central Queensland grazier tackles brutal desert races
Updated
A central Queensland grazier and quarry owner temporarily trades in his quiet life to compete in some of the United States' roughest off-road races.
Billy Geddes recently competed in Arizona's Parker 425 as part of the Best in the Desert series, a US off-road racing competition that attracts hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators.
Mr Geddes said travelling at 200 kilometres per hour in an oversized truck can take its toll.
"What will happen is you'll start bracing for hits and you'll stop breathing so it's important to breathe and just be normal in the car. Not be excited, just be calm," he said.
"[You need] A lot of core fitness just for the roughness and the bracing so you don't hurt your back.
"Some of the hits are very solid. The suspension can take a lot, but you can be on a mound and the belly plates just hit the ground and that's got to go somewhere."
Mr Geddes said he has spent his life racing.
"I've grown up on the land but I've always had a speed streak," he said.
He and his team came 25th overall in the Parker 425 and he plans to head out again for one of the world's most famous races, The Mint 400, next month in Las Vegas.
Mr Geddes said it has been an amazing experience.
"They've been racing for a lot longer over there and just the amount of people there, it's got a huge following," he said.
"And the fact that a guy from Rockhampton is racing with these guys in their truck."
Photo:
Central Queensland racer Billy Geddes at the 2016 Finke Desert Race. (Supplied: Billy Geddes)
He said the Parker 425's nearly 700-kilometre route was one of the roughest he had ever been on.
"It's pretty much what you see in the movies with the cactuses in the desert," he said.
"There's a section that's all sandy, very slippery and we've got exposed rock.
"And then you'll get into some fast road sections where you're doing 125 mile per hour (200 kph)."
As well as a driver, there is also a navigator in the car because at times visibility can be down to zero with the dust from other competitors.
"Gravel roads, in my opinion, are probably the scariest bit because of the speed you're carrying," he said.
"If you're in someone's dust you have to be able to manage that."
At the age of 40, Mr Geddes said he had no plans to retire from the sport anytime soon.
"I keep hitting an age where you think you'll grow up, but I haven't found it yet," he said.
"We're still competitive, so while we're still competitive, we'll keep going."
As well as planning for this year's Finke Desert Race in Australia, Mr Geddes next goal is to compete at the Baja 1000 in Mexico.
Topics: motor-sports, rockhampton-4700
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