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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

4x4 Club Newsletter for November



THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE
Newsletter No: 106
November 2013
P O Box HG 594 Highlands   Harare   Zimbabwe                                     The Motor Sports Club House,  2 Annan Road, Eastlea, Harare.
The Chairman and Editorial Team:
CHAIRMAN:      Peter Benzon                0775.009.218                    petebenzon@hotmail.com
EDITORS       Mike & Pat GILL  (M) 0778.843.843 (P) 0778.731.288  gill@zol.co.zw 
4x4 Club Website http://www.4x4.co.zw                 Face Book Site:             The 4x4 Zimbabwe Club - Zimbabwe
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 regret this epistle; according to M&P will be a bit short.  We have not only been busy, retirement is hell, but we are off to Kenya again.  The Steads have asked us to help them do control points on the East African Safari Classic and we excitedly accepted.  This year there are 65 entries from all over the world and about half are Porsche 911s.  All have to be pre 1975. 
So now we will spare a few moments to update you on the 4x4 activities.


CHAIRMAN'S CHATTER:       -    Peter Benzon
Christmas is coming and the decorations were up and carols were being played middle of October in some shops.  It seems to get earlier and earlier every year that the spending fever starts! So it's now time to tell Santa what you want for Christmas; a new tent; how about a GPS; new winch or set of tyres for your pride and joy.  We have a busy end to the year with the Dungbeetle Jamboree in Mutare. The Mutare guys always make us feel very welcome and put on an entertaining Jamboree set amongst the beautiful backdrop of Smallbridge dam.   And in early December we have the Rumble in the Jungle out on Aldington farm in Harare south. This should be a great fun weekend with a new format this year so please join us for the weekend.  Or even just for Sunday if you don't feel like camping out.
Enjoy your 4x4         Cheers                       Peter


SUBS: 
It is nearly the end of the year and I will be chasing you for your subs before long.  Subs remains at $40 for the year.  We will be there with the Receipt Book and new Membership cards at the Mutare Jamboree and at the Rumble. Have your money ready!!  See the Membership Renewal at the end of this newsletter. 

NEW MEMBERS:
Colin and Dyllas Taylor:    Colin drives a Toyota SWB which we think might be the ex Mac Bailey's Shorty.  We will find out in time.  Welcome to the Club and we look forward to getting to know you as the New Year progresses. 


MEMBER'S NEWS:
It was good to see Jason Young and Toni out on Three Hills, in borrowed Stubby, rather than in the back seat of another car.  They also found out that a camping weekend needs a lot of car space and it was packed to the roof. 
Stubby has had a bit of a busy time recently.
Margie Gibson's Land Rover had to be rescued and towed (NO – not to the knackers yard but to her mechanic) so she ended up using Stubby for the week.  Her comment "The could be life after the Landie"

DISCOUNTS:
Telford Mica has moved into a very large new premises next to the old crowded shop.  They will still give Club Members a discount so ask Jason or Kelvin when you next go shopping with your up-to-date membership card.

TECHNICAL TIP
We drive on dusty roads and our tail lights get dust inside.  Check yours and maybe pull out the bulbs and give them a wipe.  They do get dirty and it might help to keep them cooler and more visible.  When did you last check all your light to find out if they were working? 
(Ed's note:  Thought we had better check our own, and found the number plate light on the Patrol was caked in mud!) 

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.

PAST EVENTS
Three Hills.  Well this was a surprise.  Firstly we had about 17 cars, lots more than in the past, and many new faces.  The weather was great for the night up on Moon Rock and Peter had found a whole new route and area to show us on Sunday morning.  Some good 'wheeling'; always nice to pull someone who has managed to stick themselves in a donga.  Total distance was under 100 ks.  After a lunch and rest period on top of a "First Time" hill,  with a magnificent cliff top view of the country; we meandered our way over some very "interesting" 4x4 trails until we found ourselves back at Domboshawa Rock and then home.  The star attraction had to be the Hanomag 1950s Campervan (referred to as the "Honey Sucker") driven by Mike Brophy with Bumi and Margie Gibson.  Very slow but with Margie waving out of the rooftop turret hole it managed it all without a hitch.  
A lesson for those vehicles with oversize tow hitches that dug in, and then some with no proper recovery points on the front. Come on guys, we know you have a SUV but a small change to the front and rear recovery points would be such an advantage.

20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Well done Past and Present members.  We have just enjoyed celebrating our 4x4 Club's 20th Anniversary at the Motor Sports Clubhouse.  Many thanks to Carol and her team who put so much into dressing the place up, arranging the fine details and getting about 60 people to dress up in their finery.  The table setting were beautiful with small square vases of full blown roses interlaced with little sparkling LED lights.  We thank Lynda for giving us a very good deal.  See her details below.
There were pretty ladies everywhere and it was good to see all the formal suits out on display, even if some were a bit tight round the middle.
 It was a great evening and we enjoyed the few speeches about the Club.  Peter Benzon and Neil Greenway, a founder member, told stories of the past while a slide show brought back memories of past events, people and cars.
The MSC put on a good dinner and there were beer and wine glasses with our Club emblem engraved on them as a memento. Your Editors were also presented with mugs "THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS OF 4X4 TRAILS AND ADVENTURES" and later some chocolate for the "Geriatric Delinquent".  The youth these days have no respect for the aged!  
Roger Ellis' mug had        "THANK YOU FOR BEING FATHER MARSHAL".
AND A NICE LETTER OF THANKS FROM NEIL
Thanks and well done to the 4 x 4 Club committee for putting on a great occasion for
The celebration of 20 years since the founding of the Club in Harare.
It was held at the MSA Clubhouse, with lovely decorations.
I noted the club mug which had a special message  " Thanks for all the emails over the years ".
I look forward to seeing the next 10 years in your hands and being at that   “ gala occasion “
Much appreciated, Neil & Flossie Greenway
(If you need flowers for any occasion we can recommend you contact Lynda 0772.374.533 the lady who did the table setting for us.)



FUTURE EVENTS:
Watch out for the flyers they should go out soon. 

DUNGBEETLE Mutare Jamboree  23 / 24 November
Always a great event and we urge you to make the effort to drive to our lovely Eastern Highlands, Smallbridge Dam, and spend the weekend with the Mutare Boys.  Even if you do not have a Comp Car they would love your help or just your participation.   Rated by many as the best social and competitive event of the year and that lovely scenery and those mountains…..


CHRISTMAS RUN   8th December  "The Rumble in the Jungle"
No exact details out at the time of going to press but we hear of plans of a camping weekend with fun drives and the usual Huntin Shooting Fishing Fun Day.  Come out for the day or for the weekend.    This will be at the Kirk's farm at Harare South so get ready.  It is tradition for us to make this the Charity Fund Raising Day for SOAP (Save our Old Age Pensioners) please we need your help.  We would like you to bring tins and boxes of food stuffs and anything else that our destitute old people would like for Xmas.  Just do it!


Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?


CLUB SITE AT DONNYBROOK PARK
At the last Committee meeting a lot of time was spent on what we should do at our site.  A better signage at the entrance, so people can find the entrance, is needed.  It has to be very permanent as metal signs grow legs and we have to avoid it being "rented" from the City, as advertising.  Where to put it and what it will cost has to be decided.
 More trees will be planted; we planted about 50 last year. Now that we have our bore hole a couple of acres of grass is also on the wish list.  This would be between the Mud Run and Flat Track and is part of our expansion of the exhibition area for events like the Jamboree.

4x4 Club Diary -      2013
These dates change as the year progresses, but flyers will be sent out before each event.
Event types
(A). Competition cars.  (B). Social event, any car.  (C). 4x4 Touring/SUV
NOVEMBER       22–24        Dungbeetle (A)                    Mutare
DECEMBER        8               Christmas Run (B)                Local
A =1;            B = 1;           C = 0.  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. 

FACE BOOK
We have a Face Book site  "The 4x4 Zimbabwe Club – Zimbabwe"  which is used daily by members to keep in touch with photos of events, etc. 

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.

Till next time.                   
Michael and Pat GILL
Phone:   04.494028    (M) 0778.843.843      (P) 0778.731.288


THE 4 x 4 CLUB
P.O. BOX HG 594    HIGHLANDS      HARARE      ZIMBABWE
2 Annan Road, Eastlea,  Harare. 
www.4x4.co.zw
Affiliated to the Zimbabwe Motor Sports Federation
MEMBERSHIP  RENEWAL              -         2014

Name:                  ...........................................................................................................

Address:               .............................................................................................

                              …………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone numbers :  Home:  .……........................    Work:: ……………..................  

Cell:...........................………...........           E-mail : …………………….......................       
In order to keep our records up-to-date, please let us know if you have changed any of your details.   

Signed:  ............................................... Date:     ...……..................................

                    Annual subscription for 2014 is                      US$40
Our Bank Account Details, if you wish to do a direct deposit:
Account Name:      The 4x4 Club;  
Bank:                 NMB Borrowdale Branch;
Branch Code: 11106               Account No:  260066827
Please advise me as soon as you have paid, or we will not be able to reconcile the account and you will not get your Membership Card. 
Pat Gill:                Membership Secretary
Phone:  04 - 494028         Cell:  0778.731.288                         Email:  gill@zol.co.zw



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