The 2008 Tough Tracks 4X4 Challenge series started with a bang … and a crunch and a shatter, with 5 rollovers during the weekend as drivers pushed their vehicles to the limit and beyond in their quest to take out the coveted number one position.
Janowen Hills 4WD Park north of Warwick played host to the first round of the season with recent rain providing a lush green backdrop to an action packed weekend.
Track one courses for the Challenge and Trophy classes were held along the cliff face overlooking the camp ground so spectators didn’t have far to go to watch a top class field of competitors tackle the tough and demanding climbs and obstacles.
The short wheel base vehicles are difficult to drive in this sort of terrain and Steve in the blue GQ shorty put on a spectacular display of wheel lifting action as the boys with their never say die attitude attacked the obstacles in a way that was to prove costly later on.
Ben had the blue dual cab Hilux hopping high in the air as he attempted the ledge at the finish while his brother Scott had it even higher when he had his turn.
The top turn over the side of the cliff from a side on angle had most drivers having to accelerate to stay upright although there was still a lot of back wheel lifts as they drove over the side so the “pucker factor” was pretty high.
The high ledge at the top of a steep loose climb that marked the finish line brought many teams undone with only 13 of the 20 teams managing to finish the course.
First for the Challenge class track was Brett Thorpe followed by Rick Nowlan and coming in third was Grant Walker.
First for the Trophy class track was Greg Cox, second was Robert Anderson and third was Darryn Bradshaw.
Track Two for Trophy class was held on the same cliff face but at the end of the main campground while Challenge class was further along at the start of the second campground so once again the spectators didn’t have far to go and with both tracks held in a gully the viewing was easy from the sides.
The Challenge class track started out with an easy climb before dropping steeply into the gully in front of a small ledge.
The climb back out of the gully had a few vehicles bouncing sideways and almost tipping over the edge but those that made it up had to do a very sharp U turn back into the gully where they were faced with a steep drop to the side and almost all ended up taking out the inside cone to create a safer line.
Brett in the black GQ ute had a heart stopping moment when the front wheel dropped into a hole tipping over alarmingly.
Ben in the blue dual cab hilux broke the steering on this corner ending his run.
Ben in the purple Hilux started to tip on this section but some quick acceleration saved it until he hit a large boulder which flipped him onto his side with barely a scratch although it finished his run.
Mick in the red GQ ute had a great run until the final climb when he tried to drive around the large tree root in the centre of the track by going high up the bank, got sideways across the track and rolled one and a quarter times ending up at the bottom of the hill.
He was not hurt and the ute was righted and pushed up the valley out of the way for repairs.
Not to be outdone, Steve in the blue GQ shorty tried the same line as Mick and rolled one and a half times at an angle across the bank and down into Micks ute.
Once again the rollcage did its work and no one was hurt.
The Challenge class track remained unconquered with Jason Bond coming in first, Rick Nowlan in second and Scott Henry third.
The Trophy class track was won by Huub Beckers, second was Ted Cavanagh and third was Tamara Findlay
The two Track 3’s on Sunday was staged up the valley past the dam campsite and once again was held in gullies to allow good spectator viewing.
After a steep side angle drop in and managing to clear all the large boulders on the top U turn, Rick managed to break the steering on the Hilux ending his run.
Scotty drove the Dual cab Hilux well until the last climb where he got a bit enthusiastic and bounced off line and ending up on his roof damaging the motor so brother Ben was unable to attempt the track.
Steve drove the bruised and battered GQ shorty all the way to the last hill where he also attacked the hill and bounced off line to end up on his roof again in the same spot as Scotty.
First in Challenge class was Matthew Bassett, second was Brett Thorpe and third was Craig Kittle
First in Trophy class was Darryn Bradshaw, second was Robert Anderson and third was Tamara Findlay
Overall Winner of Challenge Class was Brett Thorpe, second was Michael Hayes and third was Rick Nowlan.
Overall Winner of Trophy class was Darryn Bradshaw, second was Tamara Findlay and third was Huub Beckers.
.Shane Gerrish
a few more pics...
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