Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge 2014 Episode 8: Jeep Club
Cape Town – Thirty Jeeps of all shades of rainbow, a big old mountain and some 4×4 history books that requires a rewrite marked round eight of the 2014 Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge. Hosted by the Jeep Club of South Africa at the Ou Trekpad 4×4 trail near Melkbos Strand more than 30 Jeeps lined up for this challenging event.
With the famous Table Mountain as the frame for the picture, the teams – ranging for experienced drivers to novice off-roaders – were set to tackle 10 tough obstacles. The obstacles ranged from pointing a laser at a target on another Jeep after completing a tough sand driving test, keeping some tennis balls in balance on an axle twisting obstacle, negotiating some mud in a variety of challenges, and even plugging a punctured tyre.
As if that was not enough, the teams also had to tow a Conqueror off-road trailer through a tough course while answering some environmental questions. And on one obstacle the co-driver even had to complete a puzzle while the 4×4 was making its way through some ditches.
The day started badly for most teams, who clearly found the going and the pesky white poles that are always in the way in the obstacles – and which cost 25 points each if you touch them – rather annoying. The older Cherokee XJs and more modern Grand Cherokees did well, as did the Wrangler Unlimited entries. However, it seemed as if the Wrangler three-door was just the ticket on this track.
Not that the shorty Wranglers were unstoppable – obstacle seven sorted most of them out too. What had started out as a relatively tricky mud test early in the day had progressed to a Jeep trap after one XJ had churned up the ruts quite substantially. As Jeep after Jeep was recovered, it seemed that this obstacle was nigh impossible to complete, never mind score any points in.
Until a wily old crew in an older Grand Cherokee V8 rocked up, that is. Their well-chosen line and just the right amount of right foot saw them conquer the mud that was thought to be unconquerable.
The final results proved to be a turn-up for the books. In third place overall, and the first female driver ever to qualify for the Bridgestone 4×4 Club Challenge, to be held in November in the North West province, was Kim Kelly, with Chandre Mostot in the co-driver seat.
What makes the feat even more remarkable is the fact that Kim arrived at the competition without a co-driver – and young Chandre, who was part of the medical back-up team, was roped in to fill the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon’s passenger seat at the last second. The all-lady team also won a Mean Green recovery set, courtesy of co-sponsor Opposite Lock.
Second place belonged to John and Michael Ramshow, in an older Jeep Cherokee XJ. The Ramshow brothers won a set of Light Force Striker 170 driving lights (also courtesy of Opposite Lock), and also reserved their place in the final, where a Conqueror off-trailer to the value of R50 000 will be up for grabs.
And the winners, in another classic, were Mark Hulton and Jodie Pienaar, in a Jeep Wrangler TJ four-litre. The team scored a highly commendable 770 points on the tough obstacles, and won a tyre voucher worth R10 000 from Bridgestone South Africa. And of course, they also get a shot at that Conqueror trailer in the final in November.
More information: www.bridgestone.co.za
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