GEMBROOK NIGHT DRIVE WITH OUTERLIMITS CREW
WALLY & SHANE 80 SERIES UTE / 38” SWAMPERS
JUSTIN & JASON RANGE ROVER / 35” SIMEX
WAYNE & GUTS GQ LWB / 35” SIMEX
CHEEZY & ROB GQ LWB / 35” SIMEX
BRETT & BUDDY GQ SWB / 35” SIMEX
PETER & MATE GQ SWB / 36” SIMEX
DAVE H & CREW DISCOVERY / 35” SIMEX
After arriving at Nash Creek Camping Ground on dark, we slowly introduced ourselves and got to know some people. It was good to put some faces to the names of people we have got to know via the Outerlimits 4x4 Forum. With a bite to eat and some minor lighting issues sorted out in Justin’s Rangie, we gathered up the occupants from the other 2 vehicles that had put their hands up for the “extreme/hardcore” night drive and headed off.
By the time we pulled up down the road for a quick group discussion our trip had grown from 4 trucks to 7. With all vehicles checked for the minimum requirements for the trip ie: 35” tyres or greater, diff locks and winch we headed off for the first track of the night with Wally and myself as the trip leaders and Jason and Justin as the tail end Charlies.
First track was overgrown and very tight in places with only motorbikes using it for the last year or so. Not long into this track was a culvert/drain, which had collapsed leaving a very large hole on the driver’s side and had the potential to swallow the front end of anyone who picked the wrong line. With everyone safely through the first obstacle the rest of the track was a simple climb, with the only obstacles being trees. At this stage we realised it was going to be very hard to find a track that would challenge the crew we had, especially with the lack of rain leading up to the trip.
We pushed on using tracks that were traditionally tricky at this time of the year, but they were all relatively straightforward and not challenging. We led the group down into Labertouche and proceeded up the track where the compulsory winch was held during the club Nav Rally. Once again not very challenging to the group.
Next was the large bog hole on Bullock Link, which all the Nav Rally competitors would know well. With some manoeuvring to get their truck as square as possible, Wally attacked the hole only to be held up on his diffs. With a quick winch, he was out and this continued for the rest of the group, besides the boys from On Track 4WD Club, who with no care for their vehicle and brand spanking new 36” Simex tyres, managed to bounce their vehicle through the bog hole and with a few attempts on the exit managed to drive it.
On we drove to the bog hole on Total Track. Once again a few drove it and a few winched it. Cheezy managed to de-bead an internal beadlocked tyre in the worst spot possible and with many hands the tyre was changed and we all moved on back towards Forest road.
From here the On Track Boys and the fellas in the Discovery headed back to camp while the remaining 5 trucks drove on. The next track was chosen due to the challenges it had provided in the past. With us all pumped we started our climb. About 5 mins into this track both Wayne & Guts and Brett & his buddy managed to de-bead tyres. So once again with the help of all, the tyres were changed and on we pressed to the top. Not a bad drive, not as hard as we had hoped but would be totally different with some rain.
By this time it was 1am and Wayne and Guts headed back to camp with very little brakes, while the remaining 4 cars proceeded on to the last remaining challenging track of the night. Now we had 2 out of 4 cars with de-beaded spare tyres so there was plenty of caution taken to look after the remaining tyres. First bog hole, no worries, but the second bog hole was bonnet deep. Cheezy didn’t have a snorkel so with the right precautions taken he drove through with no dramas. After a bit of rubbish removal to make this track more enjoyable to drive in the future and some winching at the end the group hit the main road at 4am.
With a quick check over the trucks and some clean headlights, we all headed back to camp to find everyone asleep and the fire dwindling. So we stoked the fire, aired-up the tyres, had a quick bite to eat and headed off home just in time to climb into bed with the sun coming up.
An excellent night drive that could only have been better with some decent rain. One thing that was observed though, was the lack of recovery gear carried. A couple of times Wally’s shovel and hi-lift jack were used to change tyres and out of the 7 vehicles, I think only 3 of them had a good size - easy to use winch hook with one vehicle having a bow shackle for a hook, which was bloody annoying once it was filled with mud.
Just because your vehicle meets the minimum requirements it doesn’t mean that preparation and the recovery gear you carry is not needed!!!
Cheers, Shane.
Well
I’d like to thank Shane “The Fish” Thompson for his perseverance using
everyone’s winch, as some of the other co-drivers seemed only to be along for
the ride, and at times seemed not to wanna get their feet wet?
It
was a great night and I hope there are more like it in the future.
Jason