OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE

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1 December 2015 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE Club Night 18 January 2016 Doors & bar open at 7pm - Guest speaker Vintage Car Club Rooms, 39 Fairfax Avenue, Penrose

2 Title Name Phone Cell Phone President Jeremy Walker Vice President Linton Ivicevich Treasurer Ed Belt Secretary Tariq Wasim Membership Murray Atkinson Committee Allan Orr Committee Dean Southey Committee Peter Vahry Committee Don Gabb Committee / Editor Victoria Blake editor@auckland4wd.org.nz From the Editor s desk... Howdy folks, Postal Address: Auckland Four Wheel Drive Club Inc. P O Box 6712 Wellesley Street, AUCKLAND editor@auckland4wd.org.nz This month s cover is a little different, in that it of course doesn t feature a vehicle. Instead, it is a shot from the farm in West Auckland that we are lucky enough to have access to, most recently for the club Christmas run. Pockets of land that are still untouched by concrete, diesel and many hands, views that are shared among just a few, this mighty landscape matched in small part by our steel beasts...and watched on by four legged ones. Our household has been a hive of activity, as we prepare for our pilgrimage back up to Pouto for a blissful 6 days camping. That of course means ample work to be achieved on the truck, modifications to the camping trailer tent, additions to our storage capabilities and I am pleased to say we have finally stepped up a level, and although not quite at glamping status; will none the less this year be sleeping on an inner sprung mattress, well off the ground while still under canvas in our tent...ahhhhh. I can feel my spine thanking me already! I hope you all have had an amazing Christmas, filled with family and joy, and here s wishing you a very safe and happy New Year s. Catch you on the other side! Victoria Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the executive or members of the Auckland Four Wheel Drive Club Inc.

3 WHAT S ON? What s On is now being published on the internet, so to keep up to date with those trips, go to and view the trips as they come to hand. Heed all instructions given to you by the Trip Leader. If seatbelt are fitted, they must be worn at all times. No alcohol to be consumed on club trips. Convoy procedure - always keep the vehicle behind you in sight, always stop at intersections to ensure the vehicle behind can see you. Do not leave the trip early without notifying the trip leader. Leave all gates as found. Always hold safety in mind especially during recovery procedures, all spectators are to keep clear. Never, under any circumstances slip a towrope over a tow ball. Do not join 2 towropes with a shackle loop one through the other in a secure knot, then slip a strong piece of wood between the two to ensure that they can be separated after the recovery. Fire extinguishers are compulsory minimum of 2kg for forest trips your extinguisher must be operable with current certification & check the weight. You must have tow hooks front and back that are securely mounted to the chassis with high tensile bolts. All vehicles must carry a nylon towrope or strop. All vehicles must carry a spade.

4 Hi all, This years Christmas trip and BBQ was a real success. A farm tour with a couple of tricky bits for entertainment, and a delicious lunch followed by the obligatory chocolate log. As a passenger for the day, the eating events were the clear highlight (I m getting hungry just thinking about it!). Many thanks to the Ivicevich s, Rolland s, Southey s and Vahry s for a great team effort. Our last Waiuku trip for the year, was a little quieter this time with only 21 trucks. It was not so long ago that 21 trucks would ve been a considered a big number, but these days it s less than the norm. I somehow ended up with most of the more capable vehicles following me around, so we were making good progress until the early afternoon when I, very skilfully, broke an axle. Then the camp chairs were found and erected and everyone sat around and watched me pull the truck apart and put it back together again, despite Linton s best efforts to convince them to follow him into trouble. Peter S. must ve felt sorry for me, as he soon after got a puncture and we had another repair to watch. I hope not to provide the same sort of track side entertainment on future trips, but if you have to do it, that was a pretty good day to be working on a broken truck track side - good weather and great company. Thanks to my group for an enjoyable day. So that s us done for this year. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas. If you re heading away to do some 4wheeling over the break, be safe out there. 4wding is dangerous as we know, but I think the most dangerous bit is all the road miles we do in-between the off-roading. So be careful when you re sharing the road with all those other monkeys, and I ll look forward to seeing you when we all get back to reality in the new year. See you out on the tracks, Jeremy A Proud Member of

5 What s on Upcoming trips and events DATE TRIP TRIP CONTACT GRADE 42 Traverse cut-back Postponed - date TBC Peter Vahry peter@auckland4wd.org.nz 2 26 Dec - 15 Jan South Island Tag along trip Tracks of the south Island down to and including central Otago, Cromwell & Queenstown. Staying in DOC huts and camping where possible. Paul & Amanda Berry January 99 Rivers South Island 4wd Tag along A loop around the south Island, including iconic trails, samping good wines and local fare, and staying in motels and lodges. Bill Ryan kiwibill@gmail.com February or later Ahipara Sun, surf and sand dunes in the far north. Members only. Let Jeremy know what date would suit you. Jeremy Walker jeremy@webconcepts.co.nz Australian Outback trip A possible outback tour led by our resident expert. Exploring the Outback in hired vehicles. Let Jack know if you're interested. Jack Talbot jacktalbot@xtra.co.nz Note: sometimes, if we think you might be interested, we list trips that are not run by this club. The NZFWDA insurance may not apply to participation in such events. We suggest you check with the organiser beforehand to satisfy yourself of any concerns. Relevant info Trip rules Explanation of our trip gradings Day membership form PDF (for visitors attending our trips) Track updates page for any recent developments on some of the tracks we often visit The amount of previous experience applicable to the grade of trip

6 Registering for a trip To register for a trip, you will need to provide the trip leader with: Your full name The type and setup of your vehicle Your mobile phone number An emergency contact name and phone number(s) Registering early is appreciated, and should be no later than Thursday night before the trip. Some trips may have a limit on the number of attendees allowed. It is recommended to contact the trip leader and discuss the expected track conditions if you are unfamiliar with the area Karioitahi & Muriwai Beach permit website link LVVTA raised vehicle workshop info which is on the NZFWDA sitelink The Raising the hard questions document - interesting read Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge (CrazyFrog4x4)

7 TRIP GRADINGS A minimum of a first aid kit, 2kg fire extinguisher (or 2 x 1kg), recovery strap and a spade are to be carried on all trips. It is useful to have a suitably sized block of wood to place under your jack to prevent it sinking in soft ground when changing tyres. If your spare tyre is under your vehicle it may be handy to secure it safely in the back as you often can t get it from underneath in 4x4 track conditions. Important note: when making snatch recoveries ensure you use a snatch strap with some stretch and not a tow strap with no stretch and use suitable rated recovery points! Never recover using a tow ball, remove it and attach strap with a rated shackle, (Shackle to be 3.2 tonne or better, recovery hook to be fastened with 2x 12mm bolts, grade 8.8 or imperial equivalent). Please note that the grade shown for a track may vary and be slightly easier or harder than description, due to changes in weather and track conditions since last visited. To avoid disappointment on the day, it is advised that you talk with the trip leader beforehand to get the latest track update and discuss your vehicle and capabilities. Grade 1 - Easy (Scenic/social/touring) Novice drivers with little or no four wheel driving experience required. Easy driving on sealed and unsealed roads, no rough tracks and road or all terrain tyres. Minimal chance of paint scratching. Good family outing for people wanting to ease their way into four-wheel driving (more of a touring style of driving with a destination in mind). Grade 2 - Intermediate Drivers with some 4wding experience, that have driven off-road on farms, beaches, etc. Easy off-road tracks, some mud, all-terrain tyres or better, Hi and Low range 4wd,rated front and rear recovery points, basic recovery gear (snatch strap, 2 rated shackles, gloves and spade) and appropriate driver knowledge, as snatch strap recovery may be necessary. Most obstacles are able to be by-passed if drivers wish too. A small chance of light paint scratching. These are the tracks all standard 4wd s should be capable of and why you own a 4wd. Grade 3 - Medium Drivers with moderate and sound 4wding knowledge and experience, who are comfortable with slippery driving conditions. Steeper terrain, rutted tracks, with close obstacles to manoeuver around. Snatch recovery is likely to be required. Mud terrain tyres preferred, road tires are not acceptable (mud terrain tyres for wet weather conditions). Rated front and rear recovery points, basic recovery gear (snatch strap, 2 rated shackles, gloves and spade), and appropriate driver knowledge. Some scratching or minor scrapes possible. These tracks are ideally suited to those who enjoy 4wding in most conditions, don t mind the odd scratch and have fitted mud terrain tyres. Winches are not necessary on all vehicles; this will be at the trip leader s discretion depending on weather conditions. Grade 4 - Hard Confident, experienced drivers in all aspects of 4wding. Rough tracks, muddy, steep and slippery terrain, rocks, deep water, snatch and winch recovery likely. Rated recovery points front and rear, mud terrain tyres or better, and a winch along with relevant recovery gear (snatch strap, rated shackles, tree trunk protector, winch rope dampener, gloves and spade). Some vehicle damage may be likely. These trips are great for experienced drivers with well-equipped 4wd sthat have increased ground clearance and vehicle protection, capable of self-recovery if necessary. Grade 5 - Extreme Very experienced drivers able to handle self-recovery and the harshest conditions, where anything may arise. Very steep, deeply rutted tracks or rock hopping will be encountered. Front and rear recovery points (rated), full recovery gear (snatch strap, rated shackles, tree trunk protector, winch extension, winch rope dampener, drag chain, gloves, spade and spares), and appropriate driver knowledge. Winching will be expected and an electric or motorised winch is compulsory on all vehicles. Aggressive mud terrain or Simex style tyres are essential. Warning: Vehicle damage is likely to occur. These trips are for heavily modified 4wd s and experienced drivers only. This category describes trips that are at competition level.

8 We arrived at the rendezvous point bright and early (as usual haha), taking up our positions ready for the pre-briefing mingle. One by one, trucks started pulling into the gravel pit at Huapai and kids and adults of all ages were soon assembled, an excited buzz in the air. Trucks were checked off one by one, and before too long we were all present and accounted for and ready for the briefing. Linton took us through the rules of the farm, as it is in private ownership and also a working farm so we needed to be mindful of sticking to tracks, closing gates and not traumatising any grazing animals sharing their paddocks with us. All said and done, we piled in and the convoy to the farm began. It must have been a sight to passing motorists and locals alike to see a train of some twenty to thirty trucks in various shapes and sizes barrelling down the road. Climbing back up from the creek bed

9 Snaking our way through the farm using small gravel farm roads that gave way to open pastures, clay tracks and deeply rutted fields - anyone who was on the trip will surely remember the bone shaker field before the gate, the one that got part of the chocolate log! The weather was absolutely glorious, white puffy clouds with lots of sunshine, providing such a vast contrast to when we were last on the farm in a convoy. Then, the skies had been purple and angry, the fields wet and slippy, and the winds had howled ferociously - rocking the trucks. We were enveloped in heavy, misty clouds. Mother nature was sublime. She was on this day too, the meadows were full of that heady grass mix that you only get in the summer, there were ducklings on the water ponds all throughout. Wildflowers and foxgloves, standing tall and proud, all providing us with the briefest, brightest patches of colour in otherwise endless sea of tall green grass. The sun beamed down from way up above, as lazy, white puffy clouds drifted casually past. All interspersed with trucks, diesel, petrol and the like. Tonnes of steel and raw horsepower couldn t be more of a contrast, but respectful we are and tread lightly we do. We were observed from all vantage points, cows, sheep and turkeys were abundant - as were their brown treads, adding to the aroma, enough said!!

10 We arrived at a beautiful little wooded grotto, salivating as the smells of the bbq permeated the lush valley. In a gut behind the gathering a little stream trickled away, building into a waterfall before cascading away down the valley once more. We were amazed at the exquisite selection of salads, succulent barbeque meats - the best bush café ever! We gorged ourselves while discussing the morning, the year and the plans for the holidays. In keeping with tradition, we polished off the meal with sinfully sweet chocolate logs accompanied by juicy fresh strawberries. A massive, massive thank you has to go to Ivicevich s, Rolland s, Southey s and Vahry s for a great team effort. Superb job guys, I am sure all who attended will agree it was an awesome day!!

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13 Papakura Mufflers and Performance Exhaust 27 Elliot St, Papakura Contact Peter Brown % off all parts. Don Kyatt (NZ 4WD Parts and Accessories) Unit 1 46 Hobill Ave, Manukau City % off all products. Cookes Ropes and Lifting Equipment 6-10 Greenmount Drive, East Tamaki % off depending on product Must show Membership Card. Chain and Rigging Supplies Ltd 136 Captain Springs Road, Onehunga % off all products. Must show Membership card. Actron Fire Services 101 Beaumont Street Westhaven Ph: Auckland Fax: /4 page $8.00 per issue 1/2 page $15.00 per issue Full page $30.00 per issue New Zealand actron@xtra.co.nz Post: P O Box New Lynn Contact Brett Neilsen Autoclutch Limited 20 Morningside Drive, Kingsland sales@autoclutch.co.nz Offering a 20% discount structure on all parts and services supplied as standard off the shelf. Membership card required. 4x4 SUZUKI PARTS 10% to 20% discount on Suzuki parts.. Limited models, SJ410, SJ413 and Samurai s Call Henry van Vugt on or BE Car Parts aka Brit-Euro Car parts and Braxton Car Lights. 12 Moa St, Otahuhu Contact: Jonty Cooper Tel: sales@becarparts.co.nz Web site: % off all products Head & taillights, Bumpers, Guards, Bonnets, Boot lids, Body panels, Wheel covers, Grilles Bearing Supplies Ltd 40% discount on all bearings and oil seals. Sizes to suit all applications 5A Clemway Place Henderson Ph: Fax: The Gadget Guys 15% discount on all stock. Twin Diffs Advertising rates: Mention being a club member. Free postage. Japanese Diesel Parts Ltd Exclusive discount to club members on proof of membership. We can supply Japanese diesel engine parts, new piston kits which are Tiekin, NPR ring sets, cylinder liners and Taiho bearing sets, these are good quality and carry an ISO standard. We have a huge selection of used parts. We also carry stock of new and used cylinder heads; some are reconditioned and we also carry a range of gasket kits, short blocks new and reconditioned 86 Falsgrave Street Waltham Christchurch New Zealand Phone NZ Fax, ( NZ ONLY) Wurth NZ Ltd There is an E catalogue to view the product range. Club members must show NZFWDA Membership card. Discount varies depending on product. Contact Adam or Jason. Wurth NZ Ltd 42 Hobill Ave Manukau Ph Nu Life Batteries Ltd Ray Greer Discount varies, Membership card to be shown. Unit 3, 254 Gt. Sth. Rd. Takanini , Papamoa Beach Holiday Resort Ph Apex Auto Center Brake and clutch parts / manufacture, hoses and cables. 10% Discount off retail price, mention being a club member with job. Contact Evan Woods Ph WDBits Various 4x4 parts and accessories including tyres, suspension components and electrical accessories. Competitive rates and discounts available to club members. Contact Warren ph or My Store Online Light Bars / Lights upto 10% discount to club members. Unit 5B, 155 Stoddard Rd, Mt Roskill, Auckland 1041 Patrick King Tel:

14 Have you seen something interesting online? Send it to us so we can put the links online. This is all about your contribution's! Special thanks this issue; Sarah Ivicevich for her amazing photographs, she graciously allows me to use and abuse and I am so appreciative! But the biggest thanks has to go to our trip organisers! You ROCK!!!

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