We are quickly into 2010 and for the NZFWDA a rough start with our website, which has suffered from a major melt-down by the web hosting company and we lost data back-ups along with the general information. Work is progressing to rebuild the data and the forum, but it does lack history.
For your part, it will require that you re-register for forum access... use the 'subscribe' link on the top right of the www.nzfwda.org.nz home page to take you to the registration section.
We need to review the data accuracy of the 'Clubs' listings, so please secretaries, check the details and email any changes to secretary@nzfwda.org.nz
The 'Events Calendar' data was also lost, so please update us with events that you wish to list... access@nzfwda.org.nz
With the website not fully operational, and only around half the NZFWDA members (1226) on this newsletter's database, it would be appreciated if this NZFWDA World could be forwarded to other members, who may not have yet provided their email addresses.
Southern Zone Jamboree
December 27th to 30th 2009
By crikey, the Land Rover Owners Club
(Otago) http://lroco.com/ know how to
set up a campsite and run an event like a Jamboree. Maybe it's their
long history and that they own a block of land close to Dunedin with
4x4 training facilities, etc. that they're just practiced in
organising?
Their summer camp site is well set up
with it's own water bore, a wood fired water heating system for
showers and general hot water and a full sized drilling unit for
creating 'long-drop' toilets.
The specific 'Jamboree' trips were big
affairs, with only one trip a day, that could number up to 35
vehicles. Eventually the drivers realised that if they did not keep up a
steady pace, the convoy would get well strung out and comments by the
leader would have little relevance.
There were four trips to private
properties around the Lindis Pass – Cromwell region and at least
once had the participants at 1680 metres on a hill. There were some
distinctly narrow ledge tracks and for the bigger vehicles,
multi-point turns on some corners.
The weather was pretty good to the
event, although to an Aucklander, a 2°
C overnight summer temperature was a little chilly! On one day, we
actually got a brief snow shower while at around 1550 m... we were
still in sunshine at the time, as the snowflakes blew past..... and
the sunshine soon vanished.
The photos probably better describe the
terrain and variety of vehicles.
The trip leaders were always mindful of
the need to ensure that the convoy's wheels did not interfere with
any watercourses that might affect erosion and general water
management. The last vehicles crossing any suspect area were tasked
with ensuring the water was addressed and any track repairs done.
We often traversed tracks through areas
of alpine vegetation and that too is often fragile. Tiny alpine
flowers could be found everywhere, often in the shelter of a rather
more obvious plant 'Wild Spaniard'
www.pfaf.org/databa/plants.php?Aciphylla+colensoi
which looks like a spiked clump of broad leafed grass and is
unpleasant to move among.
Another hazard, although at lower
altitudes, was Matagouri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagouri
, a very thorny bush that is most uncomfortable to move around and
can create impressive 'pin-striping' on vehicle paintwork.
Overall, a very successful event and
enjoyed by all, even if some paintwork was going to need some polishing. Was this the Jamboree that will re-establish the
traditional biennial NZFWDA jamborees that used to be held around the
zones?
Over the last few
months the M4WDC ( Manawatu 4 Wheel Drive Club ) has been working with the
local DoC office to promote a local iconic drive to ensure fhat funding for this
resource and others will continue.
Takaparui Rd rises to
1220m ASL in the northern part of the Rauhine ranges and is one of the highest
spots around here, offering great views on clear summer days and good snow
coverage in winter.
There are only 3 spots
within the RauhineForest park where 4 wheel drive is a permitted
activity so they are all important to us as four wheel drive people.
We started with a
display with a number of other clubs and DoC promoting outdoor activity back in
December, then some advertising in newspapers and DoC newsletters and a display
at a local motorsport event.
So after a great many
emails and phone enquirys, the day arrived, Sunday 31st of January.
The weather was shocking, rained through both briefing sessions and most of the
trip. A few people where put off by the bad weather but we still had a trip
with 36 vehicles and 55 people !!
The trip itself was
quite straight forward and only a very small number of the vehicles had a few
problems, but nothing that required any outside help, which considering the rain
was very lucky !!!!! Just back up and have another go.
We departed from the
Ashhurst Village Valley Centre and wound our way up the valley. We stopped at
the bottom and split into 2 groups. Once under way again, we continued to the hut for
lunch. After a short lunch break, some of the club members and visitors with
suitable vehicles, continued another 7km along the far rougher part of the road
until the end. The rest of us headed down the hill and wound our way home.
Along for the day was
the local DoC area manager, Jason Roxbrough and Andrew Mercer. During the breaks,
Andrew conducted a survey to find out more about the interest levels about Takapari Rd. Both of the DoC staff were overwhelmed by the
number of vehicles that turned out for the day, and I guess if it hadn’t been
pouring with rain, we would have added another 10-15 to the total.
Along with the scores
of photos that where taken, we had coverage for our local TV station, Tararuta
TV. Check out their site athttp://tararuatv.co.nz
Although this event
was not intended to be a membership drive for our club, I hope we will pick up
some new members. Hopefully we have shown DoC that Takaparui Rd is a important place that is worth spending
some of their resources on. I always hope that these type of events change the attitudes
of a few people as well and show us as responsible users of the great New Zealand outdoors.
So if you are not
working with DoC, get alongside them, make sure the local office knows about
your club and how to contact you. Go to the user group meeting, meet other
users, subscribe to the local DoC newsletter and even write the odd article for
them.
More trees purchased by NZFWDA from DOC funds. An internal NZFWDA audit of money spent from the 2008 Waikato Conservancy funding, identified that the NZFWDA had underspent as a result of favourable deals by the suppliers of trees.and the donation of stakes. As a result, a further $300 has been spent buying 75 Kaihikatea saplings for planting this winter.
4x4 National Park
March 6/7
Another great 4x4 weekend is being planned for National Park and you should move quickly to secure accommodation and register with The Park Travellers Lodge, who are the supporters of this event to raise funds for the local playcentre.
Trip routes are still being finalised, but one venue will be down the road towards Whakapapa and the other is likely to be a little further from town, at Whakahoro by the Whanganui River.
The trip fee per vehicle per day has been adjusted to $30 for 2010 (and because of the good cause).
The Park Travellers Lodge has an array of accommodation options, right down to backpackers and camper-van hook-ups.
Saturday evening will feature a special event buffet dinner which
will be $25 per person, inclusive of barbecue buffet dinner including
dessert and a complimentary beer or glass of house wine from the Spiral Bar.
Don't forget to mention that you are NZFWDA members when making bookings with The Park, to get their 20% discount offer. Of course you will let them know too, that you are coming for the 4x4 event!
If you do not wish to stay at The Park, then that's fine, just email access@nzfwda.org.nz to record your intention to take part in the 4x4 activities.
You will need to move quickly now to be ensured a place, as there is just a month to go.
Trail Torque and membership cards
The card printing process encountered data problems. If you got a Trail Torque newsletter and have no card, please advise your club, who I hope will compile a list of those names, to send to editor@nzfwda.org.nz so that those membership cards can be organised.
The National 4x4 Expo
30 April - 2 May
As part of the 2010 Waikato Winter Show, April 30th to May 2nd
*The
National 4x4 Expo* Incorporating: NZ Off Road Short Course Grand Prix,
Winch Truck Stadium Challenge, 4WD Club Display Competition and a full
Waikato Winter Show Programme
25,000 Crowd Expected over 3 Days
*Limited Indoor and Outdoor Exhibitor Sites becoming available for 4x4 clubs.
Counties 4 Wheelers and Pokeno School held Rd 3 of the
National 4x4 Trial Series for 2009 -2010.
On a site just over the
bridge at Mercer, a lot of organising finally came to fruition last
Sunday (31st Jan) when 77 competitors arrived to compete for class
placings, overall for the day and gain points toward the finals at
Easter in Thames. With an overcast sky and rain on the horizon, the day
was set to be interesting. The few wet patches became sloppy mud holes
and the parched land became dust clouds. The ground was hard and took
its toll on vehicles, the pits became a hive of activity, welding and
replacing parts the order of the day with a total of 13 DNF's.
Interesting to watch the driver and navigator walk the course, make
plans and then execute them in a different way, often the language of
both body and speech said a lot - especially if they rolled as 48 of
them experienced that thrill, keeping the Stewards busy checking that
the cages were still up to a safety standard.
Competitors participated
from many of the 4WD Clubs in the North Island, driving the more
standard Suzuki's and Toyota's to the designbuilt with difflocks,
independent brakes, adjustable suspension, independent steering and
much more.
Brent Ward and Mark Smith from Wairarapa 4WD Club took
out D class and first Overall with 331.28 points followed close behind
by Derek smyth and Todd Charman with 350.60 points, this will keep
Derek on his toes as he had previously taken 1st in Wanganui Rd1 and
Manawatu Rd2. It was great to hear Paul Manley on the PA giving
excellent feedback to the sponsors and competitors whilst making
enjoyable listening with his knowledge of the sport. A great turn-out
of public will also have given Pokeno School a boost with fundraising.
Well done to all. To view the results and see where and when the next
event is go to www.4x4trials.co.nzFor photos of the day check out www.justphotos.co.nz .
Gail Osman
Third Party Insurance
There is a 'Third Party' insurance policy set up by the Auckland 4WD Club and available for
club related 4x4 activities that will cover unregistered vehicles...
as long as they are 'safe'.
An annual cost of only $50 for cover from December to December
(there’s no pro-rata). Now would be a good time to get your cover
organised for 2010. It is a practical way of protecting yourself
against the possibly horrendous cost of a claim for damage you might cause. Check the details...
Auckland
4WD Club are willing to expand this cover to other club members of
the NZFWDA. All that is needed is the payment, a name and address and
you are entered onto the policy.
This
event is designed to be a great family weekend for people who are
keen to get into the country and experience what NZ has to offer.
There will be some areas of fun that you can test our trucks
capabilities out but it is not a full on tough safari. It will still
be quite challenging at various times as we have access to some very
spectacular country. This isn’t going to be a Sunday drive but a
very memorable two days of exploring. The two days have to be planned
so that if it rains most of the tracks can still be negotiated.
However, very wet weather could make most of the tracks we intend to
use too dangerous, this would lead to us having to cancel the event
or only run a very limited program. Everybody will be kept fully
informed during the lead up to the event with weather updates and
what the likelihood of bad weather is going to be
Two
days $120 per vehicle and no extra charge for passengers
