2006 Victorian All Terrain 4WD Club Navigation Rally

1st and 2nd July 2006

Neerim South

Attended by - 

Brad, Nic Travis & Kasey     – 80 series                

Shane, Acacia & Audrey      – 80 Series

Wally,Trish, Matt, Nic & Phillip – 80 Series and Hilux

Brad and I arrived Thursday night set up camp eager for a big Friday ahead of the teams' arrival. 

Friday morning, no rain and the last pre drive of Saturday morning course was carried out, putting out the markers, we found some questions had been removed but aside from that all was well.  The first hill we encounted was quite slippery and we had our fingers crossed for more rain to make it interesting for all of you. 

Spoke to Shane mid way through, he and Acacia were pre driving the Sunday course for us.  We finished the day by putting out the stick map markers, and Saturday night markers.  Returned back to camp to start checking in teams. A few drinkies were had by the fire that night before I collapsed in exhaustion from the lead up to the weekend. 

Saturday morning still no rain, a briefing at 8.30am and then the notes.  The novelty of the day was to return an egg unbroken at the end of the day.  Most teams plotted at camp, some taking off earlier than others to get underway.  Kevin had the speed camera and caught a few people speeding on their way, penalties applied.  Shane and I hung around for anyone that needed help.  Once we were sure everyone was fine we headed off for the first SS hill.  Wow the hill was great to watch and the drop in the river by all the teams was fantastic.  Most teams made it up without a drama with only one team winching and one team dropping their spare along the way.  Jason and Kate took an interesting approach and a nervous Kate said watching my face in the rear vision mirror did not making her feel any more at ease.  After the hill the teams continued looking for markers and answers to questions.  Jenny and Steve ran two novelty SS's, one join two snatch straps (only one team didn't DNF) and the other to find your first aid kit and run around the table in the quickest time.

Saturday afternoon we had a stick map, which made a few teams scratch their heads, and even had me wondering if we had set it up alright, but the first of the teams started to arrive at our HUGE winching Mud hole.  Kevin was holding teams up the top to prevent hold ups in the mud and for detours if anyone was not confident.  Most loved it, almost everybody winched with the exception of Joel & Bec, Kieran & Amanda and Stu & Daz who realized if they had to winch they may have run late back to camp.  Well done to those teams who drove it and to Stu and Daz for your call.

Trish and Wally had to pull out due to a blown turbo, thanks to Rob and Adrian for getting them back to camp safely.  Alicia and Lindsay had car dramas but managed to fix the problem before the night sage started. All teams were back in by the 5pm time; thanks to the weather.  RAIN, RAIN we need RAIN for Sunday.  

Walter and Christina cooked us all a lovely dinner and during the meals teams came to throw a dart at the dart board to get an ODD/EVEN number for the night stage. 

Saturday night we travelled in convey to the meeting point, half the group did an SS double winch pull run by Brad, the other half had one hour to get 16 plots marked on their map, no co-ordinates given.  Only one team DNF'd both of these stages, but had a great time anyway. The SS ran a little later than expected, but I think everyone had a ball regardless. 

Most people decided to turn in early in preparation for Sunday, but a small group stayed by the fire until the wee hours keeping Jono awake only to pay for it the next day, wonder who that was?? 

Sunday, a cooked breakfast before heading out on a plot hunt of your choice.  Two SS's were set up, one a compass walk with 8 plots to find; only three teams didn't DNF this one.  Another car retired early with Paul noticing a spring mount breakage at the SS. The second SS was a nav test, Ben and Scott arrived early to get a part from Wally who had come to observe for the day.  Thanks to Wally for his help with Ben, only they found it was not just the CV, he also had diff damage, another team out.  Ben struggled back to camp and packed up for they day. 

The rest of the teams kept going until finish time of 4pm.  Two teams didn't return on time, as we started to get together a plan on what to do and where to go to look for them they returned to camp, smiles on their faces, they had found a huge mud hole and had to double line winch to get out of it.  I don’t think they cared about the points, they looked like they had enjoyed themselves and that is all that mattered. 

What a fantastic weekend, we could not have asked for anything better.  Seventeen teams entered is the best turn out the club has had for this event.  Everyone who attended deserves a pat on the back for your enthusiasm and great spirits.  We are glad to be in a club with members such as you who help each other and enjoy the time spent with others.  A huge THANK-YOU to all, without members like you the event would not be as successful as it was.  Thanks also to those that helped us over the weekend.  However, little it may have seemed it was a huge help to us. 

We would also like to thank the sponsors again for their help in making this an awesome event, in no particular order, Frankston Toyota, ARB southern, Brawn Winches, ARB, Excellent Plating Works, Alpine Electrics, Wide tread Tyres, 4wd TV, Cownet Hastings, Tyrepower Moorabbin, PGS Mornington, Piranha, Tait's Timber, Electrolux, In Style Living and Navrun.

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