Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge 2014 Episode 9: Land Rover Owners Club
Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge 2014 Episode 9: Land Rover Owners Club
Round nine of the 2014 Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge, hosted at the Leeuwenkloof 4×4 facility near Hartbeespoort Dam, saw enthusiasts from the Land Rover Owners Club of South Africa battle it out for top honours in the competition – and a chance to take part in the Club Challenge Final, in November.
The Land Rovers ranged from old classics to much younger models. Jaco van Zyl had travelled all the way from Lichtenburg and brought along his 1965 Land Rover Series 2A. Despite boasting only 50 kW worth of engine the 50-year-old Landy drew admiring glances from the Landy faithful. Ditto with the Series 2 of Johan Castwright, with a sticker on the tailgate proudly proclaiming: Going everywhere slowly.
The 4×4 driving action kicked off with a series of steep and rocky climbs, followed by even steeper descents, on tracks lined with rocks. In this first section of obstacles the Defender teams especially had to aim and plan some – with the turning circle of an oil tanker, the 110s had a tough time getting through some of the gates.
The second obstacle also proved to be a challenge. A combination of a cross axle, some precision stops, reversing and another cross axle, the obstacle seemed particularly tough on the longer 110s. The shorter 90s and the handful of Range Rovers breezed through the tricky first cross axle without too many pains.
The last series of obstacles was located next to a dam, and it started off in a unique fashion. The driver had to stop his 4×4 next to the water, get out of the vehicle and with one hand in contact with the 4×4, make his way around to the passenger side (and the water), pick up five rocks and attempt to hit a pole with a carefully aimed throw.
Each ‘hit’ was worth five bonus points. Alas, much fun was had at this obstacle, as teams found ingenious ways of ensuring they score those bonus points. Like almost driving into the dam!
The final results proved to be a turn-up for the books. First though, the environmental prize – a R2 000 voucher from Bridgestone South Africa. This went to the event’s only lady driver, Geraldine Castwright. She had driven a Defender 90 Puma in tandem with her dad in the classic old Series 2 – when he drove the Series 2 in an obstacle she was the co-driver, and when she drove the 90 he was the co-driver. The Landy blood clearly runs thick in the Castwright household!
And in third place overall, and booking the first Landy seat in the 2014 Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge final where a Conqueror off-road trailer and a R20 000 voucher from Opposite Lock will be up for grabs, were Brian and Shelly Cotton, in a cool Defender bakkie. The Cottons won a Mean Green recovery kit from Opposite Lock.
Second place belonged to Adriaan Aucamp and Gerrit van Wyk, in Adriaan’s famous “free breast inspections” Range Rover. Adriaan and Gerrit are Bridgestone 4×4 veterans, and they won a set of Opposite Lock driving lights.
And in a surprising coup d’etat it was the 50 year-old Landy Series 2A that took overall honours with an outstanding score of 885 points. Jaco van Zyl, partenered by the infamous Wimpie Olivier for this event, not only ensured his spot in the Club Challenge Final, but also won a R10 000 tyre voucher from Bridgestone South Africa.
Yep, that old saying ‘it’s not the size of the boat, it’s the motion of the ocean’ certainly rang true for the classic old Landy Series 2A.
More information: www.bridgestone.co.za
