Okay... so there I was. It was Friday morning and there was a chill in the air. My bags were packed and all check lists checked and now only awaiting the arrival of the guys from Slaapstad and Gunta, my travelling partner.
So first to show is Mark. So we start chatting about his 7mge conversion and a whole lot of other things while awaiting the arrival of the Slaapstad gang when I got the call that ...uhm... "ons ry nou hier by Mark". Well Mark lives in Roodepoort and I live in Benoni. That is about 70km of the worst traffic you can find at 09:00 on a Friday morning. Any hoo... To make a "long" story short, they eventually rocked up and after offloading the couriered cargo and a "quick" cup of java we got cracking.
The drive to Nelspruit was pretty uneventful, except maybe for the bit where we got lost
None of us bothered to update to the latest map sets on our GPS'e because Nelspruit is Nelspruit. So the new bypass route that was built totally confuses the GPS lady. So after a few phone calls and a bit of follow the leader we eventually rocked up at Bee Eaters Farm. Being late we jumped right in. We got handed our team numbers and the even numbers split from the odd numbers.
So the format for the event was setup like this. Five teams would have a sit down training/quiz session while the other five teams did the physical events. Each session lasts about an our where after the two groups switch to either the theory or the physical events depending on what they did the previous session. The physical events consisted off a skid pan session, Navigation (night drive), Defensive driving, obstacle course, 4x4 basic skills, bush mechanics.
The training / Quiz: This is where you are trained and questioned regarding varies 4x4 related issues. Anything from the different environments we drive on, 4x4 vehicles and their drive trains, laws en regulations regarding 4x4's etc. Every session is about an hour long and at no time were we ever bored or anything like that due to the manner in which the event is setup. I can maybe add here that Mark and Steward walked away with 73 points and me and Coenie with 71 points (this is after all the theory sessions), about 20 points ahead of any other teams and I attribute this to this wonderful forum where we have discussed all the stuff at some point
All the physical events worked on a point system. Some you would get a specified amount of points and they would then subtract as you did stuff wrong. On others you gained points as you did stuff right and at certain events you could bonus points should you qualify. Each team was placed at different event and they were in no particular order
The skid pan: (Gravel surface) I would be lying if I said this wasn't the main attraction. This was Coenie and my first event. Here they first show you the basics of what they require. First off was the emergency stop. You have to travel at 40km/h and then apply the brakes in such a manner that you could still steer the vehicle around a corner and coming to a complete stop within the markers (cones) set out. After this you had to do an emergency lane change where you would travel at 40km/h and jump on the brakes between two markers and then releasing and changing lane within a confined space.
Then there was the time trial where they showed us the route (between tyres and cones) and where I found out that big guys can scream like girls (I will not mention any name…nê Thys). Once they showed you how it's done the driver can practice the first two events as much as he wants and when he is ready, he does them for points. Then you move on to the skid part. Here you drive / drift around the layout as fast as possible. (blikesim this was fun). Then it's the navigators turn to practice and compete. On this event both the driver and the navigators points were tallied for the emergency stop and the emergency lane change and only the drivers score on the "drifting".
After this they take you to the next section of this trial. They have set out a whindy course with white stakes through which you have to reverse. If you touch any marked points are deducted and you get bonus points for finishing under a certain time and get penalties if you stop anywhere in the course. Both the driver and the navigator have to complete this but if I remember correctly only the drivers score counts.
Navigation: This event consisted of two sections and both were driven at night. Firstly they gave each team pace notes which we had to follow to a T to complete the course and find specific markers and demarcated areas. Let me just state here that to find a route at night with the vehicles lights the only light source takes a huge amount of concentration and luck. Then once you complete this section you are handed a map of Nelspruit and some grid references to points you have to find. So off we went for the night drive through Nelspruit to find these places. You had a limited time to finish this trial.
Defensive Driving: Here you are taken out for a drive on gravel and in the city streets. You have to basically do a K53 test. You also have to a certain stages describe all you see while you are driving, like road signs, pedestrians which could be a danger, cross sections and possible dangers etc etc. Let’s just say Coenie and Thys (Thys just went along for the ride) gave a sigh of relieve when the instructor said I could shut up now. Both the driver and the navigator gets turns to drive. You are also asked questions while you drive and are given points on your answers.
We then head to a gravel road where you get asked some more questions one of which is how far you think it takes a vehicle equipped with ABS to stop on a gravel road from a speed of 60km/h. Let’s just say we would have stopped in time should it have been us in the situation with room to spare.
Obstacle Course: Here you were taken out on a short trail where you had to complete various obstacles. You need to build roads etc as you would get points deducted should the under carriage of the vehicle scrape at any time or damaged the vehicle in any other way
The first obstacle was a log bridge with a very muddy incline with a camber to the left just after the bridge. This was a very tricky obstacle. Some of the participants needed to be recovered here. After this there was a water crossing. Just as we were about to walk the obstacle Uncle Rob (the trainer / accessor ) told us it’s fine, we did not need to get our feet wet as he saw we wanted to do the check. Then halfway through the crossing (about 30 to 40m) he stops you and tells you that your vehicle is now stuck and need to recover it and there are hippos and crocs in the water. So it’s a race against time to recover your vehicle. So you are timed on how long it takes you to set up the recovery equipment (they had a bakkie parked on the other embankment).
Due to the distance between the two vehicles you had to join several ropes / straps together. The idea here was to see if you can safely setup the recovery equipment. Coenie and me aced this one although we were slightly slow.
After this you take a drive to a rocky trail where you physically have to build the road as to not have the bakkie scrape. This is to see how well the driver navigator combination functions. The score for this part was for whom ever was driving. I took the route up and Coenie the one down.
Safety was also pertinent and we had to use our seatbelts in a proper way. You always wear it except when traversing water.
4x4 Basic Skills: This consisted of an obstacle course set out with markers through cross-axles, side slopes, inclines and descents. You had to drive the bakkie through white stakes while using the proper 4x4 skills like running against engine compressions on downhills, which gears you used, clutch usage and your general 4x4 skills one of which was the stall start manoeuvre. Between me and Coenie we also aced this one and scored some bonus points. We also got a nice compliment from the accessor.
Bush Mechanics: This trial was split up in two sections. First you had to jack up a vehicle, take of the “Puntured” wheel, find the hole (a separate wheel placed there), fix it and fit back onto the vehicle and jack the vehicle down and putting all the tools away when finished.
Secondly we had to remove a tyre from a rim and then refit it to the rim. So you have to debead it, strip it of the rim, put it back on the rim and bead it and inflate to 2 bar.
Both these had a time restriction where you had to complete it within a specified time. Coenie and me did it in 6 minutes and 14 minutes respectively (no… there were no TWT in the area).
This was the end of the competition but not the end of the event. On Sunday we wrote a theoretical test and then did a practical test to see if we are competent. We were all found competent and were awarded with a TETA approved certificate.
Then it was time to travel back. After saying our goodbyes and loading the vehicles we set of for destination home. Mark and me arrived home just after 16:00 on Sunday where as the contigent from Slaapstad only arrived back in Cape Town by 11:00 on Monday. Thys, Dirk, Steward, Coenie and Mark…. Thank you for a memorable weekend. Coenie… here’s holding thumbs that we remain in the second position and move on to the final round in Mozambique.
This was an awesome experience and the best “training” course I’ve ever attended. It was great fun right through, yes, even the theoretical bits. A great thanks to Johan, Thinus, Lettie, Andries, Uncle Rob, Pietman, The Stig (aka die Stokkie) and Anton. You were all brilliant in what you do. Looking forward to seeing you again.
PS: Do not go there if you are on diet, the food was outstanding
PSS: The pictures will follow in due course. I did not have time to take pictures and are trying to source from the other guys.
PS: This is how part of the alphabet would have looked like if there were no Q and R
when you next drive thru' Klerkies....
