Few have traversed the countryside over the past 4 years chasing ARB Australian Championship silverware like North Queenslander’s Chris Land and Tanya Gaudry. The Brisk Bay locals first tried their hand at the Bikes Bulls and Buggy’s event at Mackay in late 2017, and since then their love affair for offroad racing has never waned.
Following a successful career racing enduro bikes and quads, Land was summoned out of retirement by fellow North Queenslander Dave Muir who himself was relatively new to the offroad world. Nowadays, Land not only enjoys his time on track, he is also a competitor representative on the AORRA board and is the current Vice President of the Burdekin Offroaders Inc, playing a key part in the rapid rise of the Don River Dash since its conception.
Behind the wheel of their trusty Yellow Yamaha YXZ, Land and Gaudry have achieved great things. Securing the 2019 Class 66 ARB Australian Championship and a fourth in class at Finke in the same year were amongst the early highlights. After two years of forced hiatus Team Land returned to the track in 2022, where two resilient performances at Hillston and Goondiwindi all but sealed their title defence, in what was a fitting way to end the Yamaha’s tenure. With the new season now just weeks away, Land and Gaudry are currently finalising preparations on their new weapon, a home built Class 1 based off a Rimco which will be launched in fury at Rainbow.
The popular semi retired accountant known as ‘Landy’ to many also enjoys heading out for a hint of fishing, appreciates time spent in the garden, and revels in a home cooked roast turkey meal with an ice cold beer. Land who is cherishing ever moment in the later stages of his career, is fully aware of the ongoing importance of the Burdekin Offroaders Inc, and is committed to continuing its ever lasting legacy for years to come.
Land and Gaudry are set to defend their ARB Australian title in the new season; albeit in their new class, kicking off at the ARB Big Desert 480 in early March. Scheduled to contest all four rounds of the 2023 ARB Australian Off Road Racing Championship, Land will also compete at the Gundy 250 and his local events, the Burdekin 300 and Don River Dash, with a five hour Go Kart enduro alongside son Dennis also on the calendar for June.
Land and Gaudry would like to thank Chris’s son Dennis for all his assistance over the last few years on and off the track, as well as the teams major sponsors Land Accountants, Hammerhead Marine & Manufacturing and CAM Fabrications for their ongoing support and commitment towards each season.
