THE
4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE
Newsletter
No: 100
April
2013
P O Box HG 594
Highlands Harare Zimbabwe The
Motor Sports Club House, 2 Annan Road,
Eastlea, Harare.
The
Chairman and Editorial Team:
The
4x4 Club is affiliated to the Zimbabwe Motor Sports Federation - ZMSF
Our
Club is a member of the Mashonaland Motor Sport Association Club House,
situated at: 2 Annan Rd. Eastlea. It is
available for hire for weddings, conferences, kid's parties, 21st
birthdays, etc.
News,
comments and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of
the Club or the Committee
THE EDITOR’S
DESK - Michael and Pat Gill
We
are there, our 100th Newsletter.
It has taken a long time, we wrote out first in July 2001 so it has
taken us nearly 12 years to do 100. The
format has not changed much, is it getting boring, do you want a change??
It
seems to me that we are playing with 4wd and gearboxes that our children will
laugh at sooner than we think. Ferrari
have a 4x4 that has no front diff, a 2 speed front gearbox and power comes out
the front of the engine to the front wheels.
Have I lost you? And the Auto
box, as we know it, is being replaced with CVT.
It is a set up of two gear boxes in one with two clutches. God help you when it goes wrong and the gear
change takes longer than the millisecond they say it should take. I am an old timer and I like to have a
fighting chance of fixing something. Even the old Auto box can be a worry, my
friends have a car that is now on its 3rd auto box and they have not
used it in 4 years. All a bit of a worry
when you are more than 500 ks away from a big city and that big red light comes
on to tell you something you do not understand.
Keep fixing that old Patrol or Cruiser; you might be the envy of your
4x4 friends.
CHAIRMAN'S
CHATTER
It is with great pleasure
that I write the Chairman’s Chatter for the 100th Edition of the 4x4
Club of Zimbabwe newsletter, and my last as Chairman. Wow, 100 and still going
strong, keeping you informed of the club’s activities, in this our 20th
year. A huge thank-you to the Gill’s for keeping us all up to date on all
4x4ing news and info, plus all the workshop tips, etc.
Following the AGM to be
held on the 24th March, I will be stepping down as Chairman, and I
will assist the new incoming Chairman as best I can to the benefit of the club
and all its members. I hope that I have assisted, guided and benefited the club
and all its members over the last four years. We have grown from strength to
strength and have brought new activities and events to the calendar for our
membership to enjoy and participate in. Our financial position has improved
greatly and allowed us to continually improve the site at Donnybrook and to
enjoy our facilities in comfort, and to fund our events without too much
financial constraint.
To our club pioneer 4x4
members, I trust the club has continued to perform its function as a gathering
of 4x4 enthusiasts, and I hope all you Madala oiks are using the latest
technology to keep up with us on our Facebook Group and I hope that you will
continue to join us at our events to impart your knowledge and experience to
our newbies.
As for the fuel price
increase, there is nothing I can do about that, but I do hope that you will be
able to join us on our expedition to Umfurudzi Nat Park in April and all our
other calendared events in the year.
Happy 4x4ing and good luck
to the new incoming chairman.
See you at the AGM. Tim Thorburn (out-going Chairman)
AGM:
AGM (Annual General Meeting)
Sunday 24th March 2013 at our Club
Site Donnybrook
AGM at 11.00 a.m. and then it is
play time.
We need nominations for a new
committee. Be prepared to be nominated and stand.
You will have to pay your subs
before you can vote and I know who you are so will be reedy with my receipt
book and membership cards.
Bring your play cars, chairs, food,
drinks, etc. for a good day's fun.
Be there, we need your
attendance.
A point to remember you can access
Donnybrook on any day (unless there is another event on) to play for $2 if
you produce your card or it will cost you $20.
NEW
MEMBERS:
Troy and Adele Boshoff: Troy came out to see the (non) Mud Fest and liked
what he saw so has joined us as a member.
We look forward to seeing him out in his CJ5 Jeep. Welcome to the club.
MEMBER'S
NEWS:
Ray Walker has been at it again. The Jeep has a new clutch and hydraulics but
the Daihatsu Rugger has been a problem.
Met them out at Donnybrook where they were playing in the Mud that the
Mud Fest failed to provide. Seems the
Rugger broke its front diff, replaced; then still with no front drive and the
gearbox out they found a broken wire. This switches in the
4x4. Duh!
Flossie Greenway: Spare
a thought for Flossie who has been back in hospital for another hip
replacement. This is on the right
hip. All the rest of her problems were
on the left. Neil tells us she is doing
well and it should not be too long before she is home again.
SUBS: Have you paid your subs yet???
FACEBOOOK
Are you keeping a look out on our Facebook page? The4x4
Club-Zimbabwe.
Members
are always writing little bits and pieces.
NDEIPI
MAGAZINE:
There
should be a short write up on our club in the April Issue of Ndeipi
Magazine. Suggest you buy a copy.
PERSONAL ACCIDENT
INSURANC E FOR COMPETITONS
Here is a letter from
Rose Rushforth of ZMSF
4x4 and
Drags have special rates for “Day Licence” – in fact you do not have DAY Licenses,
but you do need Personal Accident Insurance. ZMSF has allowed the 4X4 and Drags as a
“special” at $10 for a single event. The cover is $2,000.00 which is for
hospital only.
Competitors may also take out an Annual Personal Accident insurance at $20 – the
cover is $3000 which is for hospital entry only- ZMSF supply a card for this
Annual Personal Accident Insurance.
DRIVING IN
SOUTH AFRICA
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS - - BE WARNED
The AAZ has had many enquiries about International
Driving Permits . They could not locate
any legal instrument but confirmed that the SA Police are insisting on Zimbabwean
motorists having an IDP. Many travelers have been harassed by the SAP, some of
whom have paid a fine for not having an IDP. However it is not clear whether
the ‘fines’ were legitimate or just ‘extortion’. It appears that whether or not
there is a legal requirement to hold an IDP, on the ground the SAP are insistent
that Zimbabwean motorists should be in possession of the IDP. Apparently
many Zimbabwe licenses are fakes.
1. The South Africa Police are insisting that visiting
motorists should be in possession of an IDP.
An IDP is not a “stand alone” document and must be presented
with the holder’s national driver's licence. The IDP confirms the validity of
the national licence.
IDPs are not valid in the country of issue; they are for
the purposes of foreign travel.
IDPs may only be issued to persons over 18 years
old.
The IDP is valid for 5 years.
In Zimbabwe, IDPs are issued at AAZ’ Branch offices – in
Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare.
The requirements for issue are;-
7.1
Production of a valid, original Zimbabwe driver's licence. (Certificates
of Competency (blue papers) are not acceptable.)
7.2
Production of passport or ID to verify identification.
7.3
Two passport size photographs (colour or black/white).
7.4
Completion of the requisite application form.
Two services are available:- Seven day service -
$30
Express/same day - $50
Special arrangements can be made to issue IDPs to
Zimbabweans resident outside the country without the need for them to return to
Zimbabwe.
Note: Some motorists have
travelled to Cape Town and back without being asked to produce an IDP, while
others only going as far as Musina have been fined for not having the
permit.
TECH TIP –
PAST EVENTS
4x4 CLUB DONNYBROOK COMPLEX
In case you
were planning on using our Club House, toilets and earthworks we do hire these
out to companies and outside organisations for $450 per day. After the monthly fees we pay, wages and
grass cutting, repairs and maintenance, development costs, the Club does not
make much out of it, so we are glad to have the bit left over for general
expenses. We recently showed Liam Wilson
of the South African "Land Rover Experience Kyalami" what we could
offer them and he seemed quite happy.
They, in association with the Harare Land Rover distributors, would like
to use the place once a month. This
would be to demonstrate the Land Rover range and they feel it would be most
suitable. Our site has been used before
for this so we are pleased to see they have come back for more. One thing we may have to do is create a
"Track" for any 4x4 to drive round with reasonable safety, no bent
Freelander bumpers. If you do wish to
utilize the track for training NGOs etc. please contact Kelvin or Tim. They
will be able to advise on available dates, if another Club has booked
Donnybrook (i.e. Bogwheelers or Main Track) then there could be an entry charge
at the gate.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
NOTE FOR
YOUR DIARY
EXPEDITION
TO THE UMFURDZI 17 – 21 APRIL 2013
We told you
about this last month and flyers have been going out. If you want to enter please contact Pat Gill. Contact details at the end under Committee
Details.
4x4 Club Diary - 2013
These
dates change as the year progresses, but flyers will be sent out before each
event. Note the changes in yellow.
Event types
(A). Competition
cars. (B). Social event, any car. (C). 4x4 Touring/SUV
MARCH 16/17 Arcadia Dam (C) Postponed due to
Elections
MARCH 24 AGM (B) Donnybrook
MARCH 29/APRIL.1 EASTER Info only
APRIL 17-21 Expedition (C) Umfurudzi
Safari
April 27 Night Extreme (A) Donnybrook
MAY 17-18 Motor Show (B) Info only
MAY 25-26 Bush Pig (A) T.B.A.
JUNE 13-16 Bush Clearing(C) Chizarira
AUGUST 3-4
English Rules (A)
Jamboree
Launch(B) Donnybrook
AUGUST 12-13 Away
Weekend (C) T.B.A.
August 24
-25 Course Building(B) Donnybrook
SEPTEMBER 7 -8 Jamboree (A) Donnybrook
OCTOBER
11 -13 Matabele
Jamboree (A) Bulawayo
OCTOBER
19–20 3
Hills (C) Chinamora
NOVEMBER t.b.a. CLUB
20TH ANNIVERSARY
NOVEMBER 22–24 Dungbeetle
(A) Mutare
DECEMBER 8
Christmas Run (B) Local
A = 6; B
= 5; C = 5. Events left this year
DONNYBROOK
To enter Donnybrook Park on
a non-event day it will cost you $2
per car, providing you have you membership card. Non-members will be charged $20 per car. You must sign the book at the gate and put
your name, your Club and membership number.
Do not pay without signing the book.
Please note: If you wish to go to Donnybrook to play and there is
another event on, then the organizing club can charge what they like for you to
enter. They will have hired the entire
complex for that day. Please don’t try and argue with the gate attendant, they
will just be doing their job. Either
pay-up or go away and come back on a free day.
WEB SITE / FACE BOOK
Have
you had a look at our Web Site? Grant
Weare has done a really good job of updating it. Go to:
http://www.4x4.co.zw
Motor Sports Association Club House
MSA Membership: The Club House bar works
on a Swipe Card basis and any member of an affiliated club can join. Pay your $20 Club House subscription and get
your card. Bar prices are double for
non-cardholders.
Hall for Hire -
Hire
our affordable Club facilities for parties, Wedding Receptions, meetings,
seminars, courses and other functions.
Assist us in this way to obtain funds for the Clubhouse.
YOUR 4X4 COMMITTEE FOR
2012.
CHAIRMAN TIM THORBURN timthorburn.zim@gmail.com 0772.645.518
TREASURER KELVIN WEARE weare@telfordmica.co.zw 0772.326.687
SECRETARY CAROL WEARE theweares@zol.co.zw 0733.400.496
VICE CHAIRMAN MASS
KIRK masslisbeth@gmail.com 0772.261.682
CHF MARSHAL/EVENTS ROGER ELLIS ellisr@barzem.co.zw 0772.219.154
MEMBERSHIP PAT GILL gill@zol.co.zw
0778.731.288
EVENTS / EQUIPMENT GARETH GEACH garethg@sunlite.co.zw
0772.283.524
EVENTS PETER BENZON petebenzon@hotmail.com 0775.009.218
EVENTS JASON YOUNG jason@telfordmica.co.zw 0772.918.878
ENVIRONMENT MUZZA BLACK muzza@zol.co.zw
0772.241.000
NEWSLETTER MICHAEL AND PAT GILL gill@zol.co.zw 0778.843.843
Michael and
Pat GILL
Phone: 04.494028
(M) 0778.843.843 (P)
0778.731.288
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