Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge 2014 Episode 7: Lichtenburg 4×4 Club

Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge 2014 Episode 7: Lichtenburg 4×4 Club
Big and scary obstacles that require big, er… tyres. A marble-like, rocky surface on all the obstacles that is ten times more slippery than the average politician. Plenty of blood, sweat and gears. And even some (pink) tears too.
This was round seven of the 2014 Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge, hosted by the Lichtenburg 4×4 Club. The club, renowned for the testing challenges on the old mine dumps outside the North West town, this year set up an even tougher course than normal – even the “Lichtenburgean” competitors complained that it was too tough for their liking!
Thirty 4x4s from all over the North West Province and Gauteng lined up for the start of this event. The two oldest vehicles in the field were a 1961 Land Rover to a 1964 Toyota Land Cruiser – both near original. The rest of the field included a variety of Land Rovers, double cabs of various makes, a few “plaasbakkies”, a barrage of Jeep Wrangler Rubicons and a flotilla of suped-up Suzuki Jimnys.
This event also marked the introduction of Bridgestone and Supa Quick’s Pink Valve Cap Project in the 4×4 Club Challenge. For R60 the contestants could buy a set of pink valve caps – and all proceeds go towards the fight against breast cancer. And in keeping with the pink focus, a prize was up for grabs for the 4×4 team with the most, well… “pinkness”.
Launching this project at the Lichtenburg event seemed like a brave move – North West farmers are not renowned for their love of pink attire. Not in public, anyway. But all the teams really came to party, donning pink hair, fairy wings and there was even a burly North West farmer sporting a pink dress. Vehicles were decorated accordingly, and a total of R3000 was collected for the project.
Ten tough obstacles had to be conquered by the teams, and from the very first obstacle it was clear that the organisers had meant serious 4×4 business when they set up this course. Many score cards sported very few points after the first five obstacles – and it seemed as if the overall averages would be around 50%, if that much.
However, the Lichtenburgeans were in for a BIG surprise. It came in the form of a Jeep Wrangler, and it was crewed by Shaun Niemand and Dominique Cholewka. After all the dust had settled, this team had scored an outstanding 98% – in extremely tough conditions! The team won a R10 000 tyre voucher from Bridgestone South Africa.
Second place belonged to the tiny but very capable Suzuki SJ Samurai piloted by Danie Tait and Wilma Fourie. The team scored an impressive 94%, and bagged a set of Opposite Lock spotlights. The last podium position belonged to another little giant killer – the Suzuki Jimny of Raymond and Anel Martin (93%). This team won an Opposite Lock snatch kit.
Three Lichtenburg crews booked their places in the final, where a Conqueror off-road trailer to the value of R50 000 will be up for grabs. They are Wimpie and Rheeder Oliver (Suzuki Jimny), Johan and Maryke Reichel (Toyota Fortuner) and Johnny Britz from Klerksdorp (Land Rover Defender pick-up V8).
More information: www.bridgestone.co.za