Jack Absalom's: On The Birdsville Track 

How good was Aussie TV back in the 80s with people like Jack, Mal Douglas, Les Hiddens etc all showing us how good this place really is.. I've watched all their vids many times during lockdown... So relaxing and enjoyable. Not a product placement to be seen anywhere. RIP Jack, and thanks

Jack Absalom RIP...you are an Australian Legend!!

I can thank jack. Years ago was stranded in a remote spot flooded in by king tides from a storm. There for 3 days. Holden Ute battery went flat from using the interior light and radio. I remembered watching on TV how to start your car from a Jack show. The trick he taught was to jack up one rear wheel. The old cars had an open diff so all good. Lucky I had a mate. Got the mate to start to turn the tyre as fast as he could. I was in my ute ignition key on in top gear and popped the clutch. The old ute started straight away worked a dream . Slipped into neutral let her down and we were on our way. Never forgotten thanks to Jack.

He was a kind man, we visited his gallery at Broken Hill just before he passed. He gave both my kids a coaster with his signature on them.

When jack passes away he should be given a state funeral. I watched jack with my farther when he was alive and still remember these episodes like they were yesterday. This is the Australia I remember before the government started giving the land away to the Chinese.

I've watched so much of Jack Absalmon's lately I think I'm turning Aussie.

What an amazing man! Rest in Peace Jack. One of Australia's TRUE personalities.

I love this guy so much, I have to watch his series in order to relax at night, every night

1.50 for a beer those were the days

Very informative in both historical and survival aspects for travelling in the outback. No mystique, no bullshit, no self promotion, just plain simple no nonsense facts.

The train gave old Jack a bit of a heart starter😂

Met this legend for the first time about 3 or 4 years ago. So glad I did, even more so now.. Still hard to believe he died, he looked fit as a fiddle last I saw him and he mentioned he was planning another outback painting trip too!!

Iam from Missouri..grew up in the 80s.. man i miss it .. sitting down at the table eating dinner together..this guy tells it straight out...like grandpa..enjoyed it thanks

I forgot all about this bloke !! Watch all he's TV shows back in the good old days. How I see him on RU-vid 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Ok !! Hear we go again 👍👍👍 great stuff. I do have one of he's bush cooking books and he sign it for me. Looking forward to watch them all again.

If the corrupt criminal politicians were legends like this bloke, it’ll be the best world 🌎 to live in!!!!

How did he drive the Birdsville track without a $100,000 Landcruiser + $50,000 in mods?

i remember that soap and dust trick from when i was a little fella, one of the few things ive ever remembered. amazing to see it again.

Jack Absalom is a bloody living Aussie legend -- and he can do a mean painting too. I saw this video years ago, must be late 1980's - early 1990's. But the motoring tips are still relevant today. Absalom's videos about this country are a must-see for all people thinking of travelling through the Outback. Thanks for posting.

Jack was one of the most informative experts on Outback travel and tips Love his advice on the doco! I went up the Birdsville Track in 1995 with a friend who has also sadly passed away as well! Just went up in an ordinary car got a flat tyre between Mungarannie and Birdsville! Also 60 KMs out of Bedourie got a hole in the Petrol tank so rushed back into Bedourie and an Aboriginal fella who worked at the Bedourie Shire council depot and he patched up the hole with this stuff called ribbon like play do or blutack that set rock hard!🤨🏜️🚗🛢️⛽🐪🇦🇺

All the true real aussie icons and real men are gone now and we are left with snow flakes. RIP you legend

Dirt roads and sandhills in a Siggy wagon, that's the way. My mum had an old Sigma exactly the same, I remember doing tons of tracks in South Australia in it as a kid.

My brother and myself do a trip every year thru the outback.Last year innaminka via camerons corner. This year birdsville via innaminka and home via the birdsville track.The following year cape york. Maybe. We used to watch jacks tv shows and always said we would do that one day. To see the places we used to see on tv is amazing. Thanks jack.

Wow even after all these years some damn good advice , cheers Jack ! Bless ya mate

Jack is an absolute aussie legend!!!!!!!!

I love this guy. Been watching his show all evening

That had to be the most enjoyable three quarters of an hour I've ever spent in a long time Jesus I miss the Bush, and Australia Thanks Jack (R.I.P) Jack Vaughan Tipperary Ireland

Was wondering what year this was made, and at the end in the credits...MCMLXXXV, which is 1985. What a great storyteller Jack Absalom is! I can see why he's a legend in the Outback.

Doin' the Birdsville track in an '85 sigma, absolute gold!

Been really enjoying these films of Jacks. Was a fan of the Leyland brothers as a kid but never saw these before. Brings back good memories from oz. x

Those last words "One of the dreads of this county is bush fires" couldn't be more true at this moment in time.

Brilliant, thanks for posting.

Amazing. Truly. Who knew that Tom Cruise was a postman before Hollywood. lol.

Owning a home in Marree, this is awesome seeing the past in film

got to love these country people . reminds me a bit of my parents .they've got some go . it's a family affair with the whole family out there when hubby is putting those poly pipes in . takes me back ,to when mum and i were feeding sheep in the 65 drought . and like jack said ,what a great cop. he's got his heart in the right place .a true servant and mate. and just from how jack pulls the pipe in on his own initiative ,says so much about his character. he's been around a bit and knows the rules . everybody lends a hand when you can without being asked . you're always looking for a way to help.

Petrol Carby....Sooooo much easier than diesel or petrol injected.... love these videos

Thank you for your wisdom Brad Wellington Florida

at 5:18 he gets frightened by the train horn lol

The only man that could intimidate Mick Taylor.

BLOUDY BRILLIANT THANX AGAIN BOSS

Still see a few mid 80's sigmas around ! 👍

A true mentor

Great bloke ….. and Malcolm Douglas and Les Hiddins similar ….. but nowdays we have airconned vans and big 4WDs and we try to retrace the travels of the great Jack Absalom who did it in a bloody Sigma ! …. ha Malcolm was a bloody great man ! ….. I loved how he learnt so much from the Australian aborigines and documented it through his amazing videos for us ….. Les is the only one left of this trio …. BushTucker Man …. I would love to be in a beer session with these 3 greats!

How on earth he got around in that motor in that country is an amazement to me. Love this stuff.

I have a new respect for Tom Cruise. Who would have known?

Wow....I used to live in Marree.

This was a great watch. I remember these series back when I was a kid. Looking to do Birdsville in another Mitsi (but a Triton). Did the Oodnadatta track earlier this year and it was a bit sad to see towns like Maree in its current state after what would have been huge heydays.

Now the children learn through satellite internet. Really amazing stuff. Sure love the Ozzies!!

I wonder what Jack would say now that the road up to Marree is fully sealed, no doubt it would make a huge difference to all motorists.

Just goes to show how careful you need to be in the outback, very good tips especially about car maintenance, especially looking after tyres,

He is 91 - still alive.

Thanks Jack......RIP

Great video, great man.... but who would have ever thought you'd get bogged in a Birdsville Track sand dune in a Sigma?? :)

I remember a report in the newspaper - when I lived in Australia in the 60th - of an austrian couple, who had a break-down of their car on the Birdsville Track and they died.

Teflon paint job on the old Sigma goes alright aye 😂👍

Chuck Norris looks for Jack Absalom under his bed at night

Old mate is in a Mitsubishi station wagon. These days it’d be some wanker in a decked out Landcruiser sponsored by ARB, and he’d still get bogged.

I road a push bike up the birdsvill track

Imagine going back in time and trying to tell Jack that there’s people today buy $100k 4x4’s and adding 60k in upgrades to do these tracks lol

Legend

Imagine what things would be like if the Birdsville Track was sealed, admittedly it would take some of the character of the track away, however it would make it easier to travel regardless of the weather be it dry or wet.

To all the people saying you don't need a 4wd in the outback. That's true, but the roadside is also littered with abandoned 2wd's. Also I'm pretty sure the camera crew were in cruisers. It's not like he's filming himself with a gopro. Jack Absalom is a legend, but let's be real.

i was a kid when he done this , watched it at school , we had 2 sigma se , gh and gJ

I have no doubt this bloke was the inspiration behind Russell Coight

@26:25 but Dad always said, "Son, remember one thing, Mitsubishi's don't break down!" LOL

Well done legend Jack Absolom for a minute their I thought he was going to torch the Sigma.

Miss the jack ..

On the police card ... Asks for drivers name (in block letters) Jack proceeds to sign his name like he has just completed a painting . Petty ? Yes ! Amusing ? To me anyway.

wish the birdsville hotel looked like that still inside

Does anyone know what car he's driving?

RIP Jack

The best part? Today people spend 100k on a fancy 4WD and all the gear to drive the outback. Jack blasted up there in his 4 cylinder Mitsubishi! Awesome! 😂

Burn tires? You need a lighter first. In the 80s a few more people were smokers, many had one with them. And those people who got stuck in the dunes and cooked themselves in the sun. The first thing they did when they got to an outpost was drink alcohol, ( i think thats what he said) had a beer or something, which dehydrates you. Jeez, they were not thinking. The man who followed them should have stopped them, granted the damage could have already been done with or without a beer. But he should have said only water for awhile and got them some medical attention.

Checked the rego on the sigma he used in this episode and it was cancelled in 1994. Would have been cool if it was still registered

How come Jack's car is always shiny?

A SIGMA!?!? I wouldn't drive one of those to the shops and this guy is hitting the desert. Well done.

Your country considering mine is magical cause working hard to survive.....

Why wouldn't Jack have a high clearance Ute, or a 4WD Vehicle for traveling the Outback?

Haha imagine Jack once hes finished this doco, handing that back bloody Sigma back to Lonsdale - would be f***ed. :D

How come his car is always shiny?

Malcolm Turnbull with balls. Should have been Prime Minister

Yep he crapped himself from the train horn

Jack was ok ! There were a few out there that could imitate him but couldn't!! Rip

Blokes a fucken ledgend

He didn’t need a big flash 4wd with all the crap on it to travel the outback

The fella that died probably should have had water instead of beer. Alcohol may dehydrate a person further.

Mission Slightly possible - starring Tom Cruise

What car is the guy driving? :)) Sorry, I am european:)

You would really need to keep those sheep out of that sun.

Did my survival instructor just burn all his tires?😂 I think I want my $ back

well he can travel with more pressure then normal pressure , I have and always have my tires at 10% less then normal with out any issues for many years and many outback miles, more footprint for safety

Driving the Birdsville Track in a Sigma wagon, BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU DO.

4xxx and sausage roll $1:50 and $0:80 at the Birdsville pub I'm leaving now see you there jack. Australia out back you bloody ripper !!!!!

Vale John Henry Absalom.

ah man but he does sound like Malcom Turnball.

15,000 sq miles is about the size of Switzerland. For one privately owned farm. And that is not the biggest farm in Australia!

When the car companies use to make cars to last now try that whit a tesla rip mr jack absolom he was the goat

Back in the days when people knew you did not need a 4WD to travel on the dirt.

Rip

That's funny when he said buy a place between Adelaide and Gawler it's all now cheap box houses

Wow cant believe the Sigma would make it !