Responsible Four Wheel Driving And Family Touring Track Torque TRACK November 2011 Newsletter Torque www.wangaratta4x4club.org.au The Editor s Page Inside this issue: Member s Page Minutes from October General Meeting Trip Reports Club trips Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 1
Track Torque WANGARATTA 4X4 CLUB President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Committee Members Social Coordinator Membership Property Newsletter Editor Trip Coordinator 4WD Victorian Representative Web Master Publicity Officer Merchandise Sergeant At Arms Past President David Jackson David Blore Bruce Gooday Ian Watkins Dean Cunico David Blore Craig Cheetham Maria Lucas Tom Barnard Craig Cheetham Terry Dillon Andrew Brown Ron Beurs Ron Beurs David Robinson WEBSITE: www.wangaratta4x4club.org.au The Wangaratta 4WD Club has evolved from a few members in 1983, to a membership of over 40. The Club is made up of individuals and families who are interested in responsible Four Wheel Driving. There is no restriction on the make or type of four wheel drive vehicle, and there is always plenty of variety and camaraderie amongst members. Where we live: Members live all over the North East and beyond, including from Benalla, Beechworth, Glenrowan, Milawa, Albury, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Goorambat, Tatong and Melbourne. Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club is a member of the Victorian Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs. Affiliations: Members of our club are proud to be part of the Adopt a Hut Program and work with Parks Victoria to look after Top Crossing and Lake Cobbler huts. We are also affiliated with the South Coast Four Wheel Drive Club based at Wollongong, and the Four Wheel Drive Club of WA. Current members of the respective clubs are entitled to Reciprocal Membership.. Membership: Single or family $80 p.a. General Meetings are held on the 2 nd Tuesday of the month, generally at the North East Car Club Rooms, Tarrawingee Recreation Reserve, commencing 8.00pm. There is no meeting in January. Please refer to the club calendar. Visitors are always most welcome. Track Torque: Newsletter Contributions may be forwarded to Editor : Maria Lucas 5762 3620 : editor@wangaratta4x4club.org.au Editorial Deadline Usually 1 st of the month. This is your newsletter so be a part of it and send any articles of interest, comments, birthdays, etc, to the editor. Advertising: $80.00/yr. Please contact the editor for further details. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the editor or of Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc. The editor reserves the right to delete any section of any article, or reject any article, which has been sent in for publication in the Newsletter. Front Cover: Track Clearing Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 2
The Editor s Page Track Torque Our fearless president is in Vietnam at the moment so this month there is an editor s report rather than a Presidents report. Over the last month our members have participated in track clearing at Lake Cobbler. Thank you to all that participated. Apparently there was a bit of work but a lot of fun. There are a couple of trips organised for this month including a trip from Jamieson to Woods Point. This trip is for the more adventurous people in the club. The trip to the Snowy River starts on the 7 th and I m sure they will all have a lot of fun. The club Christmas party is unfortunately still in the organisation stage. The party is set for the first weekend in December. That is the 3rd and 4 th of December so keep the weekend free and the details will be out soon. At this stage it is not confirmed whether the event will be held over the weekend or just on the one day. The club also participated in the Benalla Festival over the weekend. The weather was hot and there was a bit of interest in the club. Thank you to Craig, Terry, Bruce, John and Ron for organising and setting up the display. Thanks to all who helped out during the day. John s caravan certainly got some interest, as did Noel and Irene s camper which directed people our way and or course Craig s new toy got a look or two. Squires Sports & Mowers Sales & Repairs Mowers, Brushcutters, Chainsaws, Wood Heaters & Bicycles Trevor & Terese Squires 53 Nunn Street, Benalla 3672 Phone/Fax: 03 5762 2519 E-Mail: squiressportsmowers@bigpond.com Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 3
Member s Page Track Torque CLUB APPAREL Club Tee Shirts, badgers, jumpers, windcheaters, etc are available from STEER Clothing - 52 Norton St, Wangaratta opposite the Wangaratta station. Phone: 03 5721 7773. (The club shirt should be a dark green with gold embroidery.) CLUB EQUIPEMENT: The club log roller is missing. If anyone knows where it is please call Craig Cheetham CRUISERKHANA 2012 The event is on in March next year so if your interested you have time to get organised and if you would like to have a look at this years event just follow the link on you tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alhxnmxhy7q from Graham Abotomey Getting old is easy... Having fun at it is the real trick. I celebrated my birthday this year by buying an all terrain 4 wheeler. This is a picture of me playing with it in the back yard.. Life is Fleeting By. Enjoy it while you can! Grandchildren When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised "Mine says I'm 4 to 6." Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 4
Minutes of General Meeting Track Torque Meeting chaired by President David Jackson 11 October 2011 Present & Apologies: As per attendance book. Welcome: Visitors Brett Jackson and Heather were welcomed. Speaker: David Jackson outlined the reasons he carries a satellite phone and highlighted the features of the phone he has recently purchased. Minutes of August meeting: Approved Glen Norton, David Jackson Correspondence: Cross Country Jeep Club Newsletter; Nissan Newsletter; Credit Union Statement. Treasurer: General Account $3103.24 Term Deposit $1262.62 Trip Reports: Jamieson Broadside Brett Jackson Vicki Davis Kimberleys, Gunbarrel Highway (with van) Graham Abotomey recovery vehicle for Vicki & Allan Future Trips/Activities: Family Treasure Hunt Track Clearing 15-16 Oct Benalla Day in the Gardens 6 Nov Licola to Wonnangatta early Nov Snowy River 7-11 Nov Rotary Club Rampage Beechworth Fines session conducted by Glen Norton General Business: The meeting agreed with the committee s recommendation that it is no longer appropriate to award an annual Most Valuable Member trophy. The need to change the Rules under which the Club operates was foreshadowed. A Special General Meeting to consider and, if thought fit, adopt new Rules will be held in conjunction with the December general meeting. The possibility of obtaining a date for a fund raising Bunnings Sausage Sizzle was raised. Meeting closed at 10.06pm GUEST SPEAKER for the NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING A presentation of the Canning Stock Route by Terry. It will be an entertaining night for all. DECEMBER GENERAL MEETING: 13 th December BBQ Dinner prior to meeting, BYO meat and a salad to share. Kickoff at 6.00pm with the meeting starting at 8pm There will be a presentation from Designer Vans. Something that will interest many of our members. Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 5
Track Torque Committee Meeting Rap From the Committee October 2011 The committee approved the membership application of Irene Jones. Irene was formerly a member of the Pajero Club and is an experienced 4WDer. The club s application for a grant from the Victorian Government has been successful. The grant money will be used to enhance members ability to be useful community volunteers. The club has initiated discussions with the North Eastern Car Club with a view to obtaining a large screen plasma TV for general use in their clubrooms. A positive outcome of those discussions is expected in the near future. We have lost one sponsor and gained a new one. The club thanks Gawley Plumbing for past support and welcomes Economic Pest Control as a new sponsor. Bruce Gooday TAKE A LOOK One of the club s sponsors, ARB, produces a quarterly magazine titled 4X4 ACTION. As you would expect there is much promotion of ARB products. But there is also some very useful technical information for 4WD owners. In the current edition, the response to a reader s question about front recovery points is worth a read. Subscription to the magazine is free and can be made by visiting the ARB website at www.arb.com.au Albury Wodonga s Complete 4WD Equipment Centre DISCOUNT FOR CLUB MEMBERS Andrea Simmons ARB ALBURY Ph 02 6021 2477 Fax 02 6041 3097 asimmons@arb.com.au www.arb.com.au 476 Hume Street Albury (Next to Hungry Jack s) Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 6
NEW SPONSOR Track Torque Welcome to our new sponsor Economic Pest Control. Economic Pest Control is the leading locally owned pest control company in North East Victoria & Southern NSW specialising in domestic, commercial and retail pest management. So if you need a pest control service contact a local company with 40 years experience and get a quote. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VICTORIA Driving In A Sustainable Environment For more information visit the website: www.fwdvictoria.org.au The following information has been taken from E-news and the FWD Victoria website. If you would like to receive a free copy of E-news, email the Fwd Vic office and ask to be placed on the email list. E-mail: office@fwdvictoria.org.au Nominations for Board Vacancies Required. Nominations are required from members who might like to contribute to the association by becoming a member of the 4WD Victoria Board of Management. Prior to the AGM in November nominations for Board Member positions will be received, anyone wishing to either discuss or nominate for these positions are invited to contact the CEO on 9857 5209 or email ceo@fwdvictoria.org.au Ken Birch (President - VHCHA) Guest Speaker at Annual General Meeting Wed 23rd November All members are invited to attend the 4WD Victoria Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 23rd November commencing at 7.30pm. Guest Speaker will be Ken Birch President of Victorian High Country Huts Association (VHCHA) We will also be launching a joint initiative with VHCHA that of an Adopt a Hut Program. Following this will be the AGM after which supper will be served with the night concluding around 9.30pm. To assist with catering, if you are going to attend please notify the Office on 9857 5209 or email office@fwdvictoria.org.au Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 7
Track Torque Oxfam Christmas Tree Deliveries 2011 Over the last 19 years, member clubs of Four Wheel Drive Victoria have supported Oxfam Australia in their annual delivery of Christmas Trees. We are looking for drivers, navigators and vehicles that can carry 8 to 25 freshly cut trees, with or without a trailer. Many 4WD clubs have found this a very enjoyable and rewarding activity that makes a considerable contribution to the larger community in which we live. If your club can help please contact Brian Moran - Coordinator Oxfam Australia Christmas Tree Project Phone 94973227 Fax 94994759 Email: briangum@tpg.com.au with the approximate number of vehicles your club can provide by late October. 4WD Victoria Raffle Only six weeks remain before the drawing of the second of 4WD Victoria s two raffles for 2011. Make sure that you have purchased yours to go into the draw for these wonderful prizes, at only $2.00 per ticket we ask each club for their assistance in selling all of their allocated tickets. 4WD Victoria rely on these two raffles each year to assist with our fund raising activities, and they jointly assist us in keeping down any increase in Affiliation Fee s that may be deemed necessary. Prizes for the raffle are as follows: 1st Prize Pair of Hella Luminator Xenon Driving Lights (Model: Rallye 4000 XGD - Pencil Beam) Donated by Hella Australia - Value $1,800 2nd Prize Engel 1000W Generator (Model: SHX1000) Donated by Engel Australia - Value $950.00 3rd Prize 4WD Four Wheel Drive Victoria Training Course Donated by Four Wheel Drive Victoria - Value $390.00 4th Prize GME TX6100 (5 watt) 80 Channel Compact Hand Held UHF Radio Donated by Standard Communications Pty Ltd - Value $270.00 5th Prize Set of 10 x Spatial Vision 4WD Maps Donated by Spatial Vision - Value $112.00 Raffle will be drawn on Monday 12th December at 4WD Victoria, RSL Hall 2 Centreway, Balwyn North. Victorian High Country Huts Association VHCHA For information about huts please visit VHCHA website : http://www.vhcha.org.au This site has further information on the Victorian High country huts and activities associated with each area. Our club is a member of this organisation, with Graham Abotomey our representative. Huts gathering To all interested members, the Kosciuszko Huts Association is planning a social get together over the last weekend of November and has extended us an invitation to join them. If you are interested in a pleasant weekend at a great hut site and the opportunity to meet huts enthusiasts from north of the border then please email our membership officer: membership@hutsvictoria.org.au or post a reply to the topic on our forum http://www.hutsvictoria.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=504 Location: Geehi Hut, Swampy Plain Date: Weekend November 26 and 27 2011 Food: Self catering with option of Saturday night camp over roast for $10.00 per head Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 8
From our club handbook: Camping: Track Torque As well as following Tread Lightly recommendations, members are expected to follow the Parks code when camping. Take all rubbish home with you Choose low impact campsites Observe fire restrictions at all times Keep campfires small, and attended at all times. Fully extinguish before leaving The trip leader may decide that fires may be restricted to fuel stoves at times of high fire danger or adverse conditions Bury toilet wastes at least 100 metres from campsites and watercourses Shower and wash dishes at least 50 metres away from streams Also, in respect of other members and campers Avoid setting up tents close to others Keep noise levels down after dark and early mornings including chopping wood and starting engines Use of generators and other noisy equipment such as stereos is not encouraged Pets are not to be taken on club trips except when authorised in writing by the trip leader as part of the pre-trip report (Dogs are not permitted in National Parks) Firearms are not permitted As we are a family club, bad language is inappropriate Vehicles: Vehicles must have a UHF radio (preferably vehicle mounted) tuned to Ch. 14, or that specified by the trip leader, and carry the following basic recovery equipment: suitable recovery points both front and rear snatch strap and rated bow shackle shovel or spade Axe or bowsaw First Aid Kit Personal medical information and any other equipment as specified by the trip leader. We also recommend the following as being highly desirable Spare parts and tool kit suitable to the vehicle and type of trip Fire extinguisher within reach of the driver Air Compressor Tyre Pressure Gauge Jacking Plate Vehicle Manual Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 9
Track Torque A Beginners Point of View Jamieson Broadside 17 & 18 September What a good learning weekend it was. We met up with Tom, David, Little Tom and Robbo in Benalla on Friday night and drove to our campsite in Jamieson where we met up with the rest of the gang. A bit of a chat and drink around the campfire was to be had before we all retired for the night. Saturday morning we were woken by DJ and had our breakky. Once packing and clearing was done and plans made we took off, Tom in the lead and DJ as Charlie. Burkey drove for the morning and coped really well on all tracks. My first encounter on a challenging track came soon enough. I was a little worried as I hadn t done any 4wdriving before and had my eyes closed most of the way. I was glad Burkey was driving. I needn t have worried as the Cruiser took it all in her stride. Some more driving on other tracks before we came to one particularly slippery track which proved some fancy footwork was required but the Toyota, of course, got up with little trouble. There was one point where a stag ran across the track in front of us. That made Burkey a happy man and we didn t hit it either (sorry Deano). I took over for the afternoon with very little encouragement from Burkey and tackled some very interesting tracks. At first I was a little worried I was holding up some of the members as I thought I was going too slow but I was told I travelled well and didn t hold anyone up. There were river crossings and muddy holes and quite a few rutted and rocky tracks which took some wheel placement practice and negotiating. The first lot of challenging tracks looked a little daunting but once I drove on them and found they were not really bad at all I began to look forward to the rest of them and in some cases was disappointed some were not as challenging. In one case when Burkey was with the others checking out a particularly big water hole I was told to take the Cruiser through. I was on my own and when I drove around the corner and saw the water I nearly died. It was bigger than I thought and everyone was standing around watching. Oh well no time like the present I thought. I ll show them. I readjusted my booster seat (pillow), gritted my teeth, racked my memories of training tips and sent her through. I made it Woohoo! Piece of cake. After some backslapping we continued on. Soon it became dark and I was still driving but getting tired by this time. We stopped to get our bearings on where to camp and I told Burkey he could take over. As it was, we only had to get around one gate post to get to our campsite. Burkey drove around the post but ummm..kinda completely ripped off the right hand flare. Oh boy was he royally pissed off. I just stayed silent as I figured it was safer that way for my health. After another night around the campfire with stories of the day s events we settled for the night. In the morning I opened the Cruiser s French doors to take in the beautiful river views from my bedroom. Ahhh.heaven. Then it was breakfast and clean up again to prepare for our trip to the Barkly River Jeep Track, which unfortunately we ended up running out of time to visit. I let Burkey drive and boy, did those boys drive. I had to hang on for dear life whilst I was bounced around and getting blisters just from holding on. We came across a few good tracks which provided a lot of hilarious entertainment via Dale and Brett. They were just mad! The Pajero they drove was stock but went almost anywhere Dale pointed her nose at. A couple of times it had to be winched or snatched but it was amazing what it tackled. I think my most memorable moment would be when it got stuck in the middle of a water hole. There was Brett, face snugly pressed against the dash whilst he was keeping the accelerator going with his hand and Dale who climbed out Dukes of Hazard style and trying to attach the snatch strap to the Pajero. After lots of cursing, colourful language and fiddling about the Pajero was towed out by DJ in the Disco. Upon dry land the doors were opened and water gushed out. Got to say glad it didn t happen to the Cruiser. The next track was really challenging with deep ruts and shale rocks. Tom got up in his Red Rig after two attempts. The Pajero just couldn t do it and had to be winched by Tom. The so called Mighty Disco was not quite so mighty as it took our illustrious president a number of attempts to get up with a couple of scary moments when I thought she was gonna roll. When it came for the Cruiser to go I had my fingers crossed Burkey would stay safe. He failed his first shot but on the second attempt he sent the Awesome 80 up to the top. Yay! What a feeling! After more driving around and we came upon another track that looked to be the most challenging. Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 10
Track Torque Very steep with major ruts and I was keen to give it a go but not so sure about backing down it if the vehicle didn t make it. Tom gave it his best but just couldn t get past a particular nasty patch. Dale had sent the Pajero on another track which required some careful manoeuvring to extricate the vehicle safely, in one piece and with some flying french. By this time it was getting late and some members had to get back home so we called it a day and headed back to Jamieson to air up. All in all Burkey and I had a good time. I really enjoyed myself and my confidence has grown in leaps and bounds. I am looking forward to the next trip in our Awesome 80. Kate. Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 11
Track Torque Track clearing report lake cobbler October 15 & 16. We were split into groups and in our team there were five cars. My son Alan and I in his Mahindra, Bruce Gooday in the Toyota, Noel Ham in the Nissan, David Suffield in the Toyota and Graham Abotomey in his Toyota. We all attended the safety briefings at the ranger s office in Whitfield. We only had to do little Cobbler and do a cross over near the Staircase. Set off at about 9.00am, not many trees over the track so we were all done by 12:00 noon. We all decided to have a look at the cross over that we were to do on Sunday. With all hands on deck it was all done by 2:00pm, so we went to Kings Hut to set up camp and cut a small amount of fire wood for the night. At about 7:30 the ranger came in to camp with a slab of Crownies and 2 bottles of red wine so we had a good night. The next day we set off to do Wild Horse Track. There were 3 to 4 trees over the track which were cleared up quickly and we were all having lunch by 1:00pm. Ron Beurs Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 12
Club Trips Track Torque Please let a committee member know if you are interested in leading a trip. There are many experienced club members who are more than willing to assist you with some planning and to assist you on the day if you would like. Jamieson 2 The Scout Breaker Destinations: Jamieson to Woods Point Trip leader/s: Tom Barnard & David Ashford Emergency Contacts: Carol Ashford & Robyn Barnard Contact phone numbers: Carol 03 5721 9047 Robyn 0409 704 842 Start Date: Friday Night 11 th Nov 2011 Return Home Date: Sunday 13 th Nov 2011 Start time: 1800hrs Fri 11th Meeting place: APCO Wangaratta Estimated return time: 1900hrs Sun 13 th Trip rating: Very Difficult Type of tyre tread recommended: Minimum 33 inch All terrain or better Fuel requirements: Full tank @ Mansfield Recovery gear: The works; Snatch straps, Shackles, Shovels, Chains, Winch gear. Winch required: YES Wheel chains required: NO Type of accommodation: Swags, Tents (on the move) Maximum number of vehicles: 6 (first in gets a placing) Personal equipment: Water, clothing, food etc Notes: Fire restrictions may be enforced: This is a serious trip on some of the toughest 4wd tracks you will get outside of competition 4wding. Scouts Honour Be prepared! Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 13
Track Torque Snowy River Mid-Week Trip 7-11 November 2011 This route for this trip is roughly Myrtleford to Buchan, Buchan to Orbost, Orbost to McKillops Bridge, and McKillops Bridge to home. The exact route will depend on the weather and on track closures. From Orbost we will take the Yalmy Road to Raymond Creek Falls and then to the Deddick Trail, following the Deddick trail to McKillops Bridge. We will camp two nights on the way down to Orbost and two on the Eastern side of the Snowy. Sections of this track are rated difficult by 4WDV but that should not deter anyone who has passed the club s 4WDV proficiency driving course. The route will be varied according to the experience of participants. Trip Leader: Bruce Gooday (5725 7382) Bookings: Prior bookings essential Start Date: 7 November 2011 Return: 11 November 2011 Start Time: 9.00am (negotiable) Meeting Place: Myrtleford Trip Rating: Tyres: Fuel: Medium - difficult All Terrain with good tread or better Full tank at Myrtleford refuel Buchan, Orbost Recovery gear: Snatch strap - 2 rated bow shackles recovery points front and rear Accommodation: Swag/tent NO TRAILERS Personal equipment: Be prepared for cold nights and a swim in the Snowy River. Maps: HEMA: High Country Victoria Rooftops: Various INVITATION TO SPONSORS We would love to see some of our sponsors on our trips. Please check out the trips on the calendar and see if any might suit you. All you need to do is to give the contact person a call. Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 14
Track Torque CLUB CALENDAR 2011-2012 Remember club trips are not set in stone so there will be times when trip dates will be changed to suit members and the weather. Dates 2011 September Destination Type of trip Proposed leader September 2-4 Melbourne National 4x4 show Melbourne Showgrounds FYI September 10-11 KTM Cancer Care Strathbogie Ranges Medium Noel and Irene Ham September 13 Tarrawingee - North East Car General Meeting Club rooms September 18-19 Strathbogie Broadside Medium/Hard Tom Barnard September 27 TBA Committee Meeting October October 5 Interchange day- Special children 4wd adventure Easy Noel and Irene Ham October 2 or 8 Observation Day Killawarra Easy. Family fun Day Social Coordinator forest. October 11 Tarrawingee - North East Car General Meeting Club rooms October 15-16 Cut and Roll Track Clearing Easy driving but could be Craig Cheetham hard work October 18 Rotary rampage Beechworth David Blore October 22-23 Observation Day Killawarra Forest Dean and Jackie October 22 Typo Station Open Day Information only October 22 Mt Buller-Missing Person Tom October 25 TBA Committee Meeting November November 6 Day at the Gardens Benalla November 7-11 Snowy River Medium Bruce Gooday November 8 Tarrawingee - North East Car General Meeting Club rooms November 11-13 Jamieson to Woods Point Very Difficult Not for the faint hearted Tom Barnard and David Ashford November 22 TBA Committee Meeting December December 3-4 Santa Surprise Easy Committee January 2012 January 28-29 Wang Outdoors Show APEX Park Wangaratta Committee Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 15
TRACk Torque Track Torque November 2011 Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club A0001052D PO Box 494 Wangaratta 3676 www.wangaratta4x4club.org.au Responsible Four Wheel Driving And Family Touring Wangaratta Four Wheel Drive Club Inc November 2011 Page 16