“I don’t want anyone to finish” muttered course designer Shane Gerrish prior to the first stage, and he almost got his wish. With obstacles far bigger than in previous challenges, the 43 entries in 2 classes were faced with the difficult task of driving the tracks without winching or recovery. Three attempts at an obstacle and you’re out.

This set the stage for some spectacular action, and it was delivered, with the spectators at Landcruiser Mountain Park in QLD lapping it up.

Continue Reading Add comment July 22nd, 2006

Holden has recalled all Jackaroo models fitted with the 4JX1 diesel engine from 1998 to 2003. This is due to conditions where the internal fuel injector sealing can deteriorate and potentially allow fuel to leak into the crank case contaminating the oil. This may lead to an unintended increase in engine and vehicle speed.

People with Holden Jackaroos matching those being recalled should contact their local Holden dealer for more information.

Add comment July 13th, 2006

ORP (Off Road Productions), the pioneers of hardcore off road videos, have launched their first ever compilation DVD, Metal Fatigue, showcasing action from some of Australia’s toughest events.

Metal Fatigue is non stop 4×4 action backed by a heavy rock soundtrack. It incorporates samples used to promote their 4WD event DVDs, including Tuff Truck, WE Rock, and Woodpecker Gully Challenge, and runs for approximately 45 minutes.

Continue Reading Add comment July 10th, 2006

DirtComp, a magazine dedicated to off road motorsports in Australia, released its maiden issue in March this year. The bi-monthly magazine covers off road racing, rock crawling and 4×4 competitions and events.

A major feature of the magazine is its up to date reporting on events. You’ll find all the latest news and photos from the last few months of competition, and the comp reports make for a good read as well.

Continue Reading Add comment July 10th, 2006

A segment introducing 4WD Links to 4WD TV viewers aired during episode 70. It covered a few of the features of the 4WD Links site, as well as looking at 4WD Accessories stores online.

For those who have never seen the show, 4WD TV covers news and events of interest to the 4WD community, and airs on community TV channels (Channel 31) throughout Australia and New Zealand, including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. It has over 250,000 viewers weekly, and received the community TV viewers choice award in 2005. For more information on the show, visit the 4WD TV web site.

Normally I’m the one on the other side of the camera, filming for 4WD TV, 4WD Links, or for my own collection. It was a strange feeling being stuck in front of one, and I apologise to all those who had to put up with my ugly mug on the show.

Thanks to Simon, Miranda, and the team for the coverage.

Add comment July 10th, 2006

Four Wheel Drivers for many years have been developing their own air systems for faster inflation of tyres, reseating beads, running air tools, and pumping up air matresses. Normally you buy an off the shelf air compressor, or convert and mount an air conditioning compressor. This combined with a good sized air tank gives you the air and pressure you need for a number of important tasks, and certainly makes life a lot quicker and simpler.

Finally a manufacturer has come to the party with an all-in-one air system kit with everything you need to get an air system up and running. The Bushranger Onboard Air Kit comes complete with a 12V compressor, 5 gallon air tank, air lines, and fittings.

Continue Reading Add comment July 10th, 2006

Project Shute began with the purchase of a white 1988 GQ Nissan Patrol SWB in May, 2003. I bought it on eBay as the only bidder for $6K. The guy selling it even stopped the auction a day early as he figured there wasn’t going to be any more bids. It had a 4.2L petrol engine, auto, factory rear locker, and came without a roadworthy.

When I picked it up, I was surprised that it was in fairly good nick. It also had a roof console, and came with an overpowering dog smell.

Continue Reading Add comment July 9th, 2006

The trip up was nothing short of a disaster.. I woke up on the Thursday morning and found my servers were down.. They weren’t back online till around midnight that night so we didn’t leave Thursday.. Friday wasn’t much better waking up to discover someone had been in the back yard and stolen a few things.. I rang the insurance company to check on the policy and found out that it wasn’t current, and they didn’t even have a record of it anywhere Got a new policy organised and in the process had to upgrade the security of the house, so I spent most of the day fitting new locks to all the windows and sliding doors.. Had it all completed by 2pm and took off figuring we’d still make the barge..

We headed up the gateway and came to a complete standstill near Boondall.. After 40-45mins of standing on the side of the road, we finally got moving again.. It turned out a Pajero and caravan had rolled blocking both sides of the gateway.. The caravan looked like a pancake but the Pajero appeared ok.. We then flew the rest of the way turning up on the beach for the barge at just after 5.30pm.. The barges had stopped running so after 20mins of waiting and hoping that the one Fraser side would actually move, we decided to head back down the beach and set-up camp.

Continue Reading Add comment July 9th, 2006

After a false start due to me leaving my wallet at work I finally managed to track someone down to let me in to get it, I finally hit the road northward from the Gold Coast and spent the first night near Mackay, next day I visited Josephine falls before camping at Gordonvale on the banks of the river.

Light rain and high humidity made it too uncomfortable to cover myself with the swag so I made a temporary tent over my bed on the roofrack with a tarp which I improved on next morning, saved a lot of waiting around for things to dry out over the next couple of weeks.

Monday morning I stocked up and headed for the Creb track but rain soon changed my plans and I headed over the ferry for the cape tribulation road with my only stop [and the rains only stop] being the magnificent Bloomfield falls, the piles of splintered wood down stream from the falls gives a good indication of the power of these falls, I would hate to see what it would do to a human!!

Continue Reading Add comment July 9th, 2006