Left for Swazi on Friday morning after rush hour traffic and arrived at Oshoek border post just over 3 hours later. A quick check out of SA and Check in at Swazi and of we went again. Arrived at the 4x4 club a little while later to find out the schedule for the rest of the day and then went to offload the trailer at the chalet.
At about 16:00 we started with the scrutineering of the competitors vehicles. Here we checked that all the vehicles were in good condition and adhered to the rules. The list included the engine compartment (fire hazards) , battery(properly secured) , interior (seatbelts, seating, equipment tied down), steering (play on steering), brakes (handbrake and footbrake), equipment levels (needed to show jack, wheel spanner, spare wheel, fire extinguisher, medical board, pull strap, water, medical aid kit) and all the proper lighting (yellow rear facing spotlight). A total of 70 competitors to be exact. Some old face and some new face. Even some faces of the forum (howzit Cubs). The scrutineering lasted till 21:20 when the last four vehicles made it to the club. The drivers briefing were held at 21:30 were after some partied and some hit the sack.
Everyday before the competitors set off on the course, two official vehicles do the course to replace route marking that might have come undone since the route was market out and to also check that the route is still passable etc. They are know as car 0 and car 00. I was luck enough to be car 00. (for the record car 0 was a Toyota Surf Mark I). This is basically a backup for car 0 should it get stuck or brake down etc. On Saturday we set off at 04:50. Let me tell you this. It's a totally different ballgame doing 4x4 when it is dark outside.
After about two hours into the route, we came to a section where you do a river crossing and then up the river bang with lots of loose sand, so you are forced to accelerate while still in the water. And as luck would have it, when car 0 went through, his seed net forced the water onto his bonnet and into the air duct on top of the bonnet. Lot's of steam and some more steam. Attached the pull strap and pulled it back through the river to the embankment. Luckily this was the same spot where one of the official photographers was setting up so we commandeered his vehicle. So a quick change of cars for car 0 (to a Nissan Hardbody). So next was I to go through the river and up the sandy embankment on the other side to be able to recover the less capable Nissan should it get stuck on the embankment. I made it on the 2nd attempt as I had just to little momentum first time round. Next came the Nissan. Barely made it out of the water but then we realized the hubs were never locked.
So came attempt two. Still no joy. So here comes car 00 to the rescue and of we go again at an even faster pace as we needed to make up some time. All went well till we needed to cross another stream and car 0 landed in a hole with it's right front wheel. Out with the pull strap and, finding a better line, and off we were. During the day we stop at all the Marshal points to check all stop watches have the same time and maybe answer natures calls. Just before the end of the day, we stopped at place where there were some bushmen drawings. Took some photos and met one of the recovery vehicles (another forum member, Hi Chris) and of we went. Arrived at the last marshal just after 12:00. It took us just over 7 hours to do the 136km of the first day. Quickly did the see-saw and then dropped the wife and daughter off at the chalet and went back to the last marshal. Picked up two guys and off we went to recover and tow back the original car 0. Must say it's quite interesting to tow another vehicle in off-road conditions.
3hours later we were back at the club. Said goodnight and off to the chalet. Sunday we set off at 04:50 again. The day was less eventful in the sense that car 0 and car 00 remained the same. Car 0 now being a Toyota Surf Mark III and a SFA 2.4 Hilux. Day two was a bit shorter but more challenging obstacles. Did the route with out any vehicle problems but did have to wait and also fetch some marshals that got lost and weren't at the spot at the right time. Day two also took us just over 7 hours but this time for only 96Km. So off we went for a quick nap till we re confined later the evening for the price giving and party. Sorry to say but the winning drivers drove a Ford. There were nice trophy's and prizes handed over to the first 3 places and then some booby prizes for varies stuff. From getting lost, running out of fuel and varies other stuff. Of the 70 vehicles entering, 67 made it to the finish line on own steam. An Isuzu broke a sideshaft, a Musso had an engine failure (I think) and a Landy ran out of gas. The last prize handed over was a lucky draw for a set of Bridgestone recreational tyres to the value of R8000. And guess who the lucky winner was
Off the interesting vehicles entering the competition was a Hummer H3 and a Jeep commander. And interestingly enough, these were the only two vehicles that needed to be recovered at a certain river crossing obstacle.
All in all it was a wonderful event and everybody seemed to have enjoyed them selves. There was the odd ones complaining about the routes etc but strangely enough, they're the once entering every year. :)
Unfortunately there wasn't enough time to take photos as we were pressed for time but I did manage to take a few and here they are:
Car 0 with front wheel in hole
Me following car 0 on various places on the route just to give you an idea of the kind of terrain we drive on / over
Some scenery shots (very pretty)
Bushmen drawings
One of the river crossings (loved these)
Me admiring my Lux and trying to be creative with a camera
Hope you enjoyed the insight to the Reg Raid and the photos. Hope to see more off you there next year
. Ek sal probeer om sometime 'n foto te post 
