COOPER TYRES FAULTLESS IN MARATHON RECORD

In a Nissan Patrol 4WD equipped with Cooper All Terrain 10-ply tyres, the duo of Anthony Kilner and Terry Prentice, of Melbourne, completed the double crossing in seven days and 35 minutes, covering a distance of 10,370 km.

They took 17 hours off the existing east-west record, with a time of three days, two hours and 33 minutes, and then established an inaugural record for the return trip. Despite having no support crew, Prentice & Kilner said their week went without a hitch.

"The Cooper Tyres were faultless," said Kilner, a journalist with '4X4 Australia' magazine. "The only time we touched them was to lower the pressures before crossing the Simpson Desert. We've not changed a tyre since before leaving home.

"Those Coopers handled everything, from the tough, outback terrain to the smooth gravel and bitumen. You could not have asked for anything more from a tyre on a four wheel drive, and their performance was incredible."

Elated at their success, Kilner and Prentice said they achieved their marathon record by taking it in turns to drive and sleep. They stopped for two hours' sleep on their way from Cape Byron to Steep Point in W.A., but were forced to get 10 hours' rest on the return journey. Kangaroos and a shortage of fuel available during the night slowed their west to east crossing.

The pair added another challenge to their attempt on the double crossing record, by raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Kids in Cancer Auxiliary of the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. They expect to have over $10,000 in donations by the time they complete their fund-raising next month.

More details on Cooper Tyres are on their website, www.coopertires.com.au