For those of you who thought this was just going to be a boring old up and down the dunes exercise... think again, because we are going to add some light hearted fun to the mix.
We are going to play some games. At the same time we are getting some sand driving experience which will stand us in good stead at the annual 4WDCSA Atlantis Fun Day which is held in November every year. See this as a practice run for that event.Game 1. - Reverse in a circle.
We all know we can reverse but can you reverse your Hilux around the same circle twice and not touch the tape? Okay, you can, but can you do it without touching the tape, and reverse park in a parking bay? Sometimes slower is faster, and if you really know your vehicle and you know how it behaves in reverse you can do this little task without touching the tape and take home the honours.. BUT beware. You cannot take all day. Be considerate and if after 5 minutes you are still not home in the "Start Box" you will be asked to leave the obstacle and score 0 points for the game.
How it works:
Start in a "Starting Box". Drive forward into the "Stop Box". Put your Hilux in reverse. Reverse around the circle inside the tape, not too tight and not too loose. Go around twice and reverse back into the "Starting Box".
Penalties
Touch the tape adds 10 penalty points.
Touch the tape more than 3 times and you are automatically disqualified.
Breaking out of the "Starting Box" at the end adds 20 penalty points.
Backup (in this case driving forward) adds 10 penalty points.
Backup more than 3 times and you are automatically disqualified.
The Winner:
Is the person who does this with the least penalty points. Obviously Penalties are your enemy, and if you avoided getting any then it counts in your favour. The Winner will get an Honourable Mention in the Trail Report and have bragging rights as the "Backup King/Queen" until next time.....
Game 2. - Blind Mans Bluff
This is where your relationship with your co-pilot is going to be tested to the max. If your co-pilot is your wife/husband/skelmpie/loved-one then chances are that a divorce is on the cards. Believe me, I have seen this. Can you interpret the instructions from your co-pilot in such a way that you negotiate the course in the quickest time while blind-folded? Come show us how this is done. Hilux4x4.co.za can not be held responsible for any broken marriages/relationships that occurs as a result of this game being played. Once again, slower is sometimes quicker.
How it works:
Start in a "Starting Box". Follow the course with some ups and downs and some turns, which means you will have to turn the steering wheel and apply throttle and brake to get around it. All this while donning the latest in eye-wear fashion, a blacked out pair of welding goggles. This will not only ensure that you cannot see the course, but it will also prevent the spectators from having to look at your wide eyes when you hit an unexpected bump. Your co-pilot with his/her hands firmly grasped onto the dashboard, (in panic, no doubt) need to give you clear and concise instructions to enable you to negotiate the course. You challenge starts when your co-pilot says "Go" for the first time, and it ends when your co-pilot yells "STOP" in a panicky voice for the last time in the "Stop Box". Once again you will be removed from the obstacle if you are taking too long.
Penalties
Touch the tape adds 10 penalty points.
Touch the tape more than 3 times and you are automatically disqualified.
Breaking out of the "Stop Box" at the end adds 20 penalty points.
Backup adds 10 penalty points.
Backup more than 3 times and you are automatically disqualified.
The Winner:
Is the person who does this with the least penalty points. Obviously Penalties are your enemy, and if you avoided getting any then it counts in your favour. The Winner will get an Honourable Mention in the Trail Report and have bragging rights as the "Blind Bomber" until next time.....
Game 3 - Dune Charge
Here you can see how far you can take your Hilux up a dune from a fixed point. See how much momentum you can gather with a limited run-up and how far up the dune you can go. Play around with your tyre pressures and you can see what the difference is. Slower is definitely NOT faster in this case.
How it works:
Your modifications will count against you. The more modifications you have the shorter the run-up, it will even out the odds a little. modifications include bigger tyres, engine mods and the likes. Also it makes sense that a 2.7 has a shorter run-up than a 22R etc etc. For stock 4Y's we start at the Wimpy in Malmesbury and for the Lexus V8's we start halfway up the dune. Everybody will get 2 chances to do this. The time between your 2 runs is ideal to tweak your tyre pressures to get the most out of your second run.
Penalties
None really, but dont spin holes where you get stuck, you will have to go and fill them in on foot.
The Winner:
Is the person who gets the furthest up the dune. Depending on participants we might do this in different classes meaning that we will have "Class Winners" in stead of an out-right Overall Winner. The Winner(s) will get an Honourable Mention in the Trail Report and have bragging rights as the "Main Dune Dragster" until next time.....
Game 4 - Twisty Drinks Break
Not at all what you think. For this challenge the spectators need to stand far away. Driver do a "twist of death" with a cricket bat, jumps into his vehicle and tries to drives in a straight line. There is a check point and a bottle of water involved as well. You might get wet but it is all done in the name of science.
How it works:
The team runs to their vehicle Le Mans style, jump in and once seat belts are fastened will get the keys to their chariot. You will drive a tight twisty track thru the gates without touching the poles or the tape. Here your finesse with the steering wheel and throttle will be tested to the max. Once you completed the course, you will come to a stop in the "Stop box". Both the driver and co-driver gets twisted around a cricket bat. After 10 turns the team will run to a checkpoint 50m away. Here they both receive a bottle of water. This they must down. No drinking and driving is allowed. Once both bottles of water is finished, the driver and co-driver gets back into the vehicle, and it is over once their seat belts are clicked in.
Penalties:
Not drinking the water adds 20 penalty points
Not doing the "twist" at the beginning will add 30 penalty points
Touch the tape adds 10 penalty points.
Touch the tape more than 3 times and you are automatically disqualified.
Backup adds 10 penalty points.
Backup more than 3 times and you are automatically disqualified.
The Winner:
Is the person who does this with the least penalty points. Obviously Penalties are your enemy, and if you avoided getting any then it counts in your favour. The Winner will get an Honourable Mention in the Trail Report and have bragging rights as the "Twisty Driver" until next time.....
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Please note:
These games are for fun only, and are not intended to encourage anybody to go and break their vehicles in an all out attempt to take top honours. Taking part will help you to get to know your vehicle and its capabilities better, and test your driving skills, which can only be a good thing. Participation is completely voluntary, but rest assured that the rest of the guys will have the right to take the mickey out of you if you dont want to take part.
None of these events are timed events. Although a cut-off time is given it is not an indication that you should race against the clock, but merely to allow enough time for all participants to complete all the games. The quickest time will NOT win you the trophy. Ties will be broken with an additional run at one of the games decided on by the events crew.
Safety is always our Nr 1 priority. The marshalls on the course have the right to stop any vehicle immediately if they deem it necessary. When the marshall tells you to stop, you will do so immediately. If necessary the driver will be asked to withdraw from the course.
Bring your family. After all you will need a co-driver!! If you cannot find a family to bring, or a co-driver, one will be assigned to you. This could lead to new friendships, or to a bloody nose in the Blind Man's Bluff game.
If the group is big enough we will split it in 2 to speed things up a bit. But that will be decided on the day, and once we are there.
We need some volunteers to help set up the courses and with the marshalling and score-keeping at the games. That does not mean that you cannot take part if you want to, you just cannot keep your own score.
We need some flags to mark the courses. Is there anybody out there who can assist with this? Flags are usually made of lengths of plastic conduit. We dont necessarily need a little flag on the top but it makes it look nice, and the red/green flags indicates the direction of travel.
We will also need things like gazebo's, a braai drum or 2, some firewood, cooler boxes, wind breaks, and a few other goodies to make everything run smoothly. As we go along we will ask who can assist.
Now the cherry on the cake, if we can get hold of some sponsors to sponsor prizes for the winners that would be great.
Come on guys, step up to the plate and be counted..
, maak dit voorlopig eks daar)
The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living $H!t out of some asshole that desperately deserves it!
jy soek vir strooi
Die 1ste
