TOUGH TRACKS 4X4 CHALLENGE
Round three 2008
The Springs 4x4 Park played host to the final round of the 2008 season under blue skies and mild temperatures making for excellent viewing for the many spectators crowded around the tracks.
The Park is situated 25Kms south of Warwick right beside the New England Highway making access easy for trucks, trailers, campers and caravans.
Saturdays tracks were laid out on the hill at the rear of the office.
Both the Challenge class and Trophy class’s track 1 utilised the same starting point but the more challenging Challenge class track veered off to the right after 15 metres and into large loose boulders catching some out early.
The loose boulders just before the 300 point mark had most easily traversing this section but a couple of teams rolled when boulders were dragged into different positions by previous teams.
The huge rock step at the 300 point mark just after this section had most teams struggling with one team rolling after getting up over it causing a rapid extension of the safety zone.
A side angle off a rock slab had a few teams worried but once past this point it was a simple climb over another rock slab to the finish line.
The Trophy class track continued straight up before veering to the left between some isolated boulders then doing a U turn and winding its way back to the bottom of the hill through more rocky obstacles.
Momentum seemed to be the preferred strategy making for some exciting action for the crowd of spectators.
Track 2 for both classes was a little further up the same hillside with the Challenge class starting off by climbing over some jutting rocks before tackling a steep rocky outcrop at the 400 point mark that stopped all but the most determined attacks.
Plenty of sill bar metal and tyre rubber was left behind in futile attempts to conquer this mid point obstacle with many different lines taken over the wide competition area between the cones,
those that did make it truly deserved every point.
Those that made it thus far had no real trouble climbing the cascade of rock steps to the finish line.
The Trophy class had numerous obstacles on their track but the one that caught most out was a simple log across the track.
Plenty of loose dirt was sent skywards as the teams struggled to gain traction with the underpinnings dragging on wood.
Some rock steps greeted their attempts at the finish line with a big side lean occurring if they slipped off line.
Sunday saw the Challenge class move to the back of the park and tackle a rocky creek bed studded with deep clefts and water sections, most had only minor troubles to get to the end where a bonus line was added.
To the left out of the gorge was the “less difficult” 900 point finish line, most had a few goes to get out this way due to the steep dirt strewn rock face causing them to slide off line.
A few tried the near vertical rock waterfall with the 1000 point finish line sitting enticingly at the top of the mass of smooth rock.
Lynda in the team Barbie Gq ute jarred her back when the truck slammed back into the waiting rock at the bottom of the waterfall and had to be helped from her Nissan after a valiant effort to conquer the track.
Evan rolled his hilux on its side after sliding sideways across the rock face and Sloshy and his hilux did a mirror act a short time later although after his roll on Saturday there was no extra damage to be seen anyway.
Only Shane and Mick dual driving the Superior Engineering GQ made the 1000 points mark to take out first and second for the track.
The Trophy class was running their track 3 at the same time but was out near the front of the park so spectators had to choose which class they wanted to watch this time round.
Most had enough time while the score were tallied to pack up camp and drive back out to the office where the weekends presentations were held in the marquee.
With the season at an end it only remains for the 2008 year Outright winners to be announced at the Tough Tracks 4x4 clubs annual Xmas dinner in early December.
Its been a fantastic year of action, guts and glory run by a team of dedicated volunteers who can be truly proud of the great competition they have developed over the past three years … well done guys and gals !!
See you at round 1 on Feb 14 at Janowen 4wd park!
.Shane Gerrish
