In the early 1980s, when the Finke Desert Race was a fledgling off-road event, locals would show up on race day with a single hope: that their motorbike would make it there and back along 230 kilometres of unrefined dirt.
Preparation was often minimal, sleep lacking, and sounds of revelry issued into the night. But it wasn't of concern, because the Alice Springs riders were just there to make the dust fly.
"There used to be a pub at Finke," long-time race president Antony Yoffa says.
"The competitors used to have a few ales at the end of a race and then go back the next day, and I'm sure that progressed throughout the 80s."
As entries open for another Finke, almost 50 years since its inception, the game has changed.
A bustling centre
Come the Queen's (now King's) Birthday long weekend, the small outback town swells to capacity with interstate riders and revheads, basking in the picturesque terrain.
Supermarket shelves are stripped bare, while those in the know collect their "Finke packs" from the local butcher, which they've ordered a month in advance.
Racing royalty from around the country set the standard for professionalism.
The likes of Toby Price, a eight-time Finke King of the Desert and two-time Dakar Rally champion, lines up on the same track as the rest of the field.
More than 10,000 spectators skirt the winding, often corrugated track running along the old Ghan railway to the remote Aboriginal community Finke, also known as Apatula, which marks the halfway point of the two-day race.
Finke for the first time
After years of watching cars, bikes and buggies fly by from the sidelines, Alice Springs local Shane Garfath has thrown his hat into the ring for the first time.
"I'm definitely not podium-worthy, I'm an amateur as far as they come and purely in it for the fun," he said.
"I've camped out and watched it for a long time now, but you get a bit itchy just watching."
Motor sports are not cheap. A new bike, suspension, and protective gear can run up a hefty five-figure bill. That's before the race entrance fee of $900, a jump from the 2022 price.
But it's a price Garfath is willing to pay.
"If I can get some sponsorship, that'd be great," he said.
"But at the end of the day, if it's coming out of my pocket, I'll make it work.
"It comes down to wanting to do it."
The final frontier
As the competition has developed, Finke has developed into a more highly regulated event, combating the Northern Territory's often-quoted reputation as the nation's wild west.
In 2021, after a fatal collision between a race vehicle and a group of spectators, the organisers' hands were forced.
Sweeping new safety measures were imposed, including spectator exclusion zones banning onlookers from particularly dangerous parts of the track.
A coronial inquest into the death of Nigel Harris will continue later this year.
The event's maturation has also seen an evolution of competitors, with a growing number of older riders travelling from interstate for a bucket list trip.
An ageing line-up
For Michael Vroom, former Finke champion and now co-owner at Outback Motorcycle Adventures, the changing landscape has created a business opportunity.
He offers a package for fly-in riders, providing everything from the bike, to food, transport, and camping gear.
"Finke has just continued to grow and grow over many years, to the point now where it's more of a national event than then a local event," he said.
"With that comes a lot of competitors, and it brings a lot of people to town.
"It's not just the motorbike industry, it's everything around it, and it's simply a great event for the town."
Vroom, who grew up with the desert race etched into his calendar, said despite its growth, enthusiasm for riding was waning in the younger generation.
"That might be a reflection of the economy and all sorts of factors that go beyond just motorcycle riding," he said.
"It's expensive — simple as that. With the cost of living and the cost of the event going up, it's a lot of money and it takes a lot of commitment to take part.
"Eventually, that will have an effect on those that can do the race."
Looking to a dusty future
In 2026, Finke will mark its 50th anniversary milestone, with plans already underway to bring as many as possible of the 56 riders who competed in the inaugural event back to town.
While entry numbers have dipped slightly this year, President Antony Yoffa believes it will be a near-full field once again come June.
"We've almost plateaued with entry numbers in its current format," he said.
"When you have both cars and bikes competing on the same day, daylight is an issue, plus there needs to be a certain amount of separation between each race.
"In the future, if we were to move to separate days, that may allow for more competitors."
Mr Yoffa, who is serving in his 23rd year on the Finke committee, acknowledged the importance of maintaining local interest in the event for the next generation of revheads.
"This is Christmas for Alice Springs," he said.
"As long as young Alice Springs riders continue to join the motorcycle club, buy motorbikes locally, and compete locally, the event will continue for some time to come, long after I've moved on."
