Initially only about half the group assembled at the Lapa and signed in. After letting down the tyres somewhat and saying our How-Do-You-Do's we set off in the direction of the first obstacles. D&D is just a big field with a variety of obstacles made by a farmer with a digger-loader. Some of the hills are pretty steep and the break-overs were killers. The turns are also pretty tight and you need to get your line spot-on to come through without roll-backs. The entrances to most of the obstacles are pretty steep and mostly with deep cross-axles which meant that suspensions and approach/departure and break-over angles were stretched to the max. During the course of the day, late-comers joined us as we went along.
The event was planned to be a sort of informal "Freestyle" obstacle riding exercise without any hard and fast schedule or plan. Some of the guys came up with some pretty innovative ideas of how to approach some obstacles. The venue lived up to its name, with lots of dust, mainly from quads and bikes riding on the tracks around the facility, but also from the Hiluxes as they struggled for grip on some of the steep inclines. In some of the bigger holes there was still some mud left over from the good rains we had a couple of weeks ago, and it made for fun times. Especially Deon the Wacky-One in his fully locked well tuned 22R had heaps of fun. Kaspaas played along, also getting his new shoes full of the sticky stuff. Although it meant a good hose down was required after the day was over it was all worth it.
Kobus (Tornado) in his 4Y hilux had a ball. He tried everything, and despite his tender age the years of driving experience he got from driving with his dad Louis (Rolbos) is evident. Although he hung his Hilux up a few times, he was just having a great time. Swifty showed us once again what his machine was made of and did some pretty awesome stuff. That is one serious Hilux, and the SAS is working very well. Coenie in his Ford V6 powered Rotbakkie was willing to try everything the others did and he read the lines right first time, and made mince meat of some of the more serious stuff. Not to shabby mate!
Wolfie and his black-mamba also had a good time, that Hilux and driver combination is coming together nicely. Leon get the missus to register on the forum too, she's already reading everything we write here anyway. We'll make het name pink as a special treat!!
Glen and Nigel also joined us, but had to leave early, and I must say Nigel's 2,8 diesel was well suited for the type of driving we did, with oodles of torque he just idled through most of the obstacles. He also got himself hung up a few times, but it just shows, if you dont get stuck you werent trying new stuff. Allan also showed up in his tried and trusted old Rattle and Humm Hilux, now sporting 33" muds on 10" alloys (ex Kaspaas) and a 2.5 Ford Tdi motor. True to form he tried alles and more, with the diesel performing admirably. It was good to see the "old" Allan back in action!
Everybody had a great time but unfortunately Pieter, Martin and some of the other guys had to leave early, which thinned out the club member numbers considerately and with the arrival of some non-club members who joined the group to play along, we decided that the prize giving will stand over until our next event. Everybody was all hot and dusty so at about 2pm the guys pulled into the top obstacle with the big mud-hole and the kids cooled off in the mud, while the Ooms all had a beer to wash down the dust.
Some other friends also pulled in including a guy with an old Jeep Waggoneer with LC suspension and a kickass EFI'd Chevy 327 V8. Awesome power, awesome sound, spectacular climbing abilities and just generally a well turned out vehicle. Wacky/Niel, please post the video clips on this one.
At the end of the day everybody who attended had a lot of fun, everybody got to know their vehicles a little better. Thanks for everybody who attended it was fun and it is always great to get the guys together. If you werent there, it would have been pretty boring all by myself. Thanks to the sponsors, Louis Rolbois from Bantam Trailers for the gesture you made in donating a fine Jerry-Can holder. That will be handed out to a lucky winner at the next event. Lets go big this time...
Then I would also like to thank all the WC guys for all the good times we had on Forum/Club events during 2009. It was good having you all there and a pleasure meeting each one of you guys face to face.
I posted a Hilux-load of pics here http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee26 ... DirtnDust/ for your viewing pleasure. During the course of the day I will post some of them here on the thread, but go vang a loer so long....
..... Of dit nou nie genoeg was, sien ek dat Elismarie nogal lekker rustig daar sit en koerant lees deur die obstacles! 
.... 
... I think it was in anticipation of a 
