Kings Meadows mechanic Chris Hargreaves is one such person and during the Queen’s birthday long weekend in June will join an estimated 600 motorcyclists on the Alice Springs start line for the annual Finke Desert Race.

About 1000 two- and four-wheeled competitors head to the Aputula Community — Finke — on Sunday, camp overnight and race back on the Monday.

‘‘It’s just massive whoops and jumps all the way — it’s basically a 460-kilometre motocross track and motorcyclists tend to cruise at about 120km/h and hit 160-180km/h in bursts,’’ he said.

‘‘You’d hope to finish each leg in a little over two hours, but there’s so much soft sand, you’re completely spent after each leg.

‘‘I’m hoping for a top 100 finish, if not a lot better.’’

The race started as a challenge for Alice Springs motorcyclists, to see who could ride to the Finke River and return the fastest. It has been held every year since and follows sections of what was the Old Ghan Railway service track.

The event started in 1976 as a motorcycles-only race, but now also attracts about 400 buggies and stadium trucks.

A nine-kilometre motocross race on the Saturday decides starting order and Mr Hargreaves said that the amount of dust generated by 600 motorcycles made it essential to claim an early starting position.

Fellow competitor and good friend Peter Rossi will transport Mr Hargreaves’ bike.