August 2011 - Brett's Run

Sunday 21st August 2011

What a fantastic morning as I pulled up to the Hikurangi weigh bridge, a fine foggy morning with a soft wind chilling past the hairs on your legs, I waited for everyone to arrive. As I walked around the trailer marvelling at the piece of crap (rover) on it I noticed the front right tyre of the trailer was a bit low
, so out with my trusty foot pump and in no time it was full of air and ready to go flat again.

As the coffee cooled down Grant arrived and we started to talk crap about 4x4 as you do, and then the rest of the tribe arrived and finally Colin & Nat turned up in the rocky.

So 8.30am we set off into the rising sun to find to more chaps awaiting our arrival , continued down this lovely gravel road to a gate, through this gate we did go, and to yet another gate we found, every one let down the tyres and unloaded the 4x4, Colin & Nat had already gone in to the paddock and started to sort out the first two hazards, a bit of a wiggle sidling, good start to the day , second hazard a good hazard - had to cross a wee ditch and then round the bend to go back over the ditch and up a wee bump, which Kane & Eugene made look easy. After this Colin & I had a look at yet another crossing of a drain with a rather large but easy turn. We all gave it a go even Colin got into my heap and tried to smoke my P/S belt (I think he forgot it was a rover).We then carried on up the hill to my hazard, a simple straight hill climb.

End of the day results were in, so was lunch, Mark with glory of the day winning 80 points, Grant DNF after blowing a CV joint.

We then cruised up the track over the slip and to the top with a beauty view, then down the other side which was a bit steep and then add a tree and a large stump under the rear axle, Luke & Dan through it look quite impressive, I with the bum up off the ground dancing around (the vehicle not me) every one descended with great care and caution; we continued up and around the track where Kane had to have the tree that had fallen over the track removed so he could get up the track as he was taller than the tree/track with the tree gone. On they trundled along the top ridge down to the bottom where the track had been washed out so back track and down the face which was a bit steep as I had to catch the flask bag passing through the front hoop of the roll cage while hanging in my harness, whereas everyone else took a far easy angle down.

Gave Rodney a little charge as his alternator wasn’t playing the game, whit this Mark followed me (I was walking up the track) up the track to the top where it was over cut by another track; after a few attempts he was over and clear, well done Mark. Dan you can’t go where the big boys go until you have roll cage O.K. Rodney also had a crack but not quite enough travel yet but close with a little goofy footing.

Then for the big drive out the back to see the other side of the farm, and for that well you should have come with us, or someone else might write a story about that end of the day...

Cheers
Brett

Hard Luck Trophy goes to Grant, for breaking his CV joint
Dipstick Trophy goes to Rodney for not tightening up his rear brake calliper pipe
Regal Trophy goes to Mark for winning the day.

Well done to all ..