Nice progress Misha!
In response to your open speed limit paragraph, the Cannonball route doesn't travel this section, we turn right at Katherine and head to Halls Creek! The open speed limits are well after Katherine....
https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/252132/open-speed-zone-map.pdf
I'd be more worried about "Mick Taylor" up there (Seen the Movie Wolf Creek?)