Banning DiHydrogen Monoxide

The AAWDC-SA publish bi-monthly newsletter and this article from their August edition raises some interesting points.

www.aawdc.org.za

THE USE OF 4X4 VEHICLES IN A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.

Due to the popularity of 4x4 vehicles, it has become the norm for a number of institutions to utilise this mode of transport to also generate funds for various bodies. It is seen purely as a “tool” to attract visitors and generate as much income as possible.

We see more and more schools, churches, outdoor and travel shows and other groups with limited knowledge, who now exploit the attractiveness of these vehicles to generate income.

Possible problems.

There are many pitfalls in this practice. Whilst the general public may enjoy the display and subsequent acrobatic performance of the vehicles, it is not without a number of serious possible accidents waiting to happen. It is usually not good for the future of the 4X4 industry and organisations such as the AAWDC or other Clubs, as the wrong perceptions are given and the organisers do not have long term involvement with 4X4 vehicles and their members.

Motorsport South Africa is the controlling body of all organised motorsport leading to a championship. All competitions have to be organised to comply with the rules set by the governing body. These include rules on safety, vehicle compliance and general organising rules. They also provide insurance and coverage in case of accidents. Clubs may affiliate to Motorsport S A and then run all their events whilst complying with the general and category specific rules and regulations. Bodies such as schools and churches may however not join MSA. Only Clubs can.

It is also the intention of MSA to prohibit the running of these events where there is not a recognised organiser involved.

These events are very seldom organised by a recognised Club or individual. The result is that the normal precautions are not taken.

When is it a competition?

Organisers are often mistaken by the fact that they are under the impression that they do not have to abide by any rules or governance. Any gatherings of vehicles where an entry fee is required or where a winner is declared and a prize of any nature awarded is regarded as a competition and have to be regulated. Also all competitions that will lead to a championship should be regarded as official. A social gathering is where friends enjoy their vehicles but no entry fee required or prices awarded. The normal closed club event that is utilised to train their members or to provide for a relaxing day in nature is not a competition. However it must remain restricted to the members only. Any non-member who has to pay a fee may have a claim against the organisers in case of any mishap.

The following is of importance:

1. Safety of general public. Very often vehicles are driven in close proximity of spectators or they are even allowed to be on board to experience the thrill. Should a vehicle get out of control it may seriously injure spectators. The same applies to recoveries gone wrong. Without the required precautions a very enjoyable event turns into a disaster

2. Safety of competitors. Sufficient attention should be given to this issue. Very few private organisers have the skills required to control crowds and act in an emergency. There is also not a universal standard being implemented with regards to First Aid providers. Very often there are nothing or very limited services available.

       3. Indemnities. All participants and spectators should be made aware of the dangers of the sport and the required documents must be completed by all competitors. Without these indemnities and warnings to spectators, the organisers may face serious legal action in case something goes wrong. To this effect very few, if any, have public liability insurance in the event of an accident.

4. Scrutineering. It is essential that all vehicles should be checked before the event and also re checked if something did go wrong during the event, such as a roll over etc.

5. Environmental control. This is of crucial importance. More and more emphasis is being placed on this. However where the event is not controlled by a legitimate body it is very unlikely that this issue will receive the attention that it deserves.

6. Image and responsible use. Very often 4X4 vehicles and their owners are seen in a negative light and regarded as people without concern for others. These ad hoc functions may increase the negative and reckless image that is so often portrayed.

Solution.

We should be aware of the sensitivity and rather control the use and promotion of our sport. All participants and users/ organisers /promoters should be linked to a body such as a recognised Club or the AAWDC.

All organisers of events where there is not a recognised club involved are invited to contact the AAWDC who will gladly assist them. The name of a club in their area will be provided and arrangements can then be made with these respective clubs.

We should be proud of what we do, in order to retain a high level and promote our image.

3 October Muriwai Beach clean-up 2010

The annual beach clean-up by the 4x4 clubs in association with the Auckland Council 

For updates check the 'Events' tab at www.nzfwda.org.nz

Central Zone PRO Report of activity

Mid July was our regular Central Zone meeting in Palmerston North. This meeting is available to all Zone members and is attended by various people from many Clubs within the Zone. When I say many, I really mean the same Clubs that always support the Zone. Many Clubs are continually conspicuous by absence and it would be cool to see some people sometimes from those missing Clubs. It was however fantastic to see the reappearance of John Cowper at the Zone meeting. By reappearance, I mean he told me he had not been to a Zone meeting in 15 years. I asked John what had changed the most about the meetings in that time. He said “you don’t argue; its positive stuff”.

 The weekend after was the Exec meeting in Auckland which is a fly up fly back in one day for most of us.

 Last week I went to a meeting at Land Information NZ in Wellington. This meeting was to be briefed on the new rental formula for Pastoral Leases, many of which are significant blocks of South Island land. Now you may wonder what this has got to do with 4WD people, as I did. Well probably the fact that this land is Crown land, some of which can be farmed, and some can't. Now it’s the “can’t be farmed bits” that I saw as the problem for us. These huge packages of public land should be available for recreation clubs generally, but when put into Pastoral Leases it becomes very difficult to get access from the lease holders; in spite of the fact that they cannot use it for anything either. Therein lies the argument. Not counting the fact that the leases are seen as rorts by those that know. In the elegant words of Dr Hugh Barr – "Tenure review will continue, and values used to pay lessees will be based on market sale value, apart from the very sweet deal that lessees get to buy the freehold for almost nothing ($30-50/ha), and the massive amounts they get paid ($500/hectare) for wild land they should never have had in their leases. So the rort of the taxpayers money continues."

 My mission to do trips with as many Clubs within the Zone as I can, included trips with Wairarapa, Windy and Valley 4WD Clubs. The trip with Windy City and Valley 4WD clubs was into the Akatarawa forest, an area my monster loves and not much in there stops it. The Aka’s are all about biggest wheels, twin lockers and the most horsepower. However I went to Carterton to a Wairarapa Club Gymkhana not really knowing what to expect. Should have taken a Trials truck rather than the winch truck. It was three wet slippery grassy paddocks with pegs that needed driving around as fast as one could. I think that Daniel Howat in his kid’s buggy with a 5 hp Chinese motor actually beat me on most courses. Thinking about it later, my front tyres were probably way too hard but it was a good opportunity to see how another Club uses an area of available flat land to have some different fun. Thanks for that Wairarapa. Brent Ward probably had most fun with a Finnish student girl driving, while he worked the fiddle brakes in his always outstanding Trials Truck. Many World class Rally car drivers have come from Finland and this girl must have had lessons from some of them; she knew how to use all of Brent’s 450 hp.

 Following our presence at the Walking Access launch of Code of Conduct last month, the Land Access Officer for CCVC (Grant Purdie) went back to have a further chat with them. I was unable to attend but Grant sent me this brief.

“The next week, I duly went to the Walking Access Commission and met with a couple of their people. After the normal explanations and background from them and me, we discussed how best their engagement with the 4wd fraternity could progress and what would go into such a code. I provided them with copies of our code of conduct and our conditions of access, all of which they read and saw as exactly the type of thing that’s needed. So I agreed to talk to our club, ARAC and the NZFWD Assoc about this and get some dialogue going. I’ll look forward to doing this once I’m clear of submissions. They also described more about their new online database that will show maps of unformed legal roads throughout NZ, which Ralph already told us about following the WAC presentation at the NZFWDA conf; this should go live on their website towards the end of this year if all goes to plan. There is some controversy over this, as you’d expect..! Also they gave me a box of the brochures, I think I flashed some around last meeting, and undertook to distribute these around 4wd circles. I have to say that people at the function responded very well to this involvement from the 4wd community. And that’s all for now…Cheers – Grant.”

 August saw two important issues in the towers of Wellington. First one was submissions to Greater Wellington Regional Council supporting ongoing access to our main play area, Akatarawa Forest Park. Both Andy Cockroft representing ARAC and Grant Purdie representing CCVC put in and spoke to submissions. These were very well presented and received but of course, only time will tell the result.

Secondly in August was another NGO’s (non governmental organization i.e. Recreation Clubs) meeting with DOC. This meeting was at attended by me representing NZFWD Assn and Andy Cockcroft representing Tread Lightly!

Roger Seymour

Central Zone PRO