THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE
Newsletter No: 111
May 2014
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
The latest 4x4s look after us so well that many drivers have
no idea if they are being clever or the car is. One recent concern is the fact
that Air Bags can be triggered by several types of 'impact'. Not just a head first crash, and the cost of
replacing the bag is often prohibitive.
Come to our Recovery Day at Donnybrook and see what can be done to safe
guard the passengers from a 'false alarm' deployment.
CHAIRMAN'S
CHATTER: - Peter
Benzon
No Chairman's Chatter this month. Our Chairman is far too busy getting
married.
Campers: Nature's way of
feeding mosquitoes.
NEW
MEMBERS:
Bruce Grobler:
Bruce has just acquired a new family member, an HSE Range Rover, with
all the bells and whistles, is this for the expedition? Is updating our Web Page, this will still
take a little while to get going but I am sure will be a winner. You will always find Bruce in the close
company of Robyn Weare and Chloe.
MEMBER'S
NEWS:
Jason Young: has just purchased his first 4x4. Although Jason has been on the Committee for
a number of years he has never been a proper 4x4'er. It is a beautiful deluxe Hi Lux Surf. Again with all the bells and whistles. Where do these youngsters find these lovely
cars??
Benzon Peter +Tamara: Married last weekend and what a party. 4x4s
brought them in and many pics of them in The Blue Series 1. Well done guys and all of us wish you the
best for the future.
Vaughn Bessell, Our Radio man,
is trying to recover from Shingles.
Having had that plague I wish him a speedy recovery.
I pulled into the crowded parking lot at the local shopping
centre and rolled down the car windows to make sure my
Labrador Retriever pup had fresh air.
She was stretched full-out on the back seat and I wanted to impress
upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the kerb backward,
pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically,
centre and rolled down the car windows to make sure my
Labrador Retriever pup had fresh air.
She was stretched full-out on the back seat and I wanted to impress
upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the kerb backward,
pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically,
"Now
you stay. Do you hear me?"
"Stay! Stay!"
"Stay! Stay!"
The driver of a nearby car, a pretty young blonde,
gave me a strange look and said,
"Why
don't you just put the handbrake on'?"
TECHNICAL
TIP:
Actually camping tips. Our Makuti Expo has revealed a large number
of members keen to do this. Many are
very experienced but there are several 'Newies'. When I look into some 'Oldies' cars there is
room for space savers too so here is one idea that save space.
Breakfast Cereals: Boxes are a No-no. Pack several choice types in small
Ziploc bags and keep them in a small container. If it is not full then the box is too big. We put a small Honey bottle in there too but a
small container of sugar could fit.
Go back to our June 2013 Newsletter
and learn more.
SUBS:
I am still after the late
payers!! Defaulters: did you get my
emails?
PAST EVENTS:
Training
Day for Marshals:
Roger was very pleased with the way this went. We had enough people to have a good session
and discuss many debatable points that the Marshals see while observing a Test.
So you see, Drivers watch out at the Jamboree! Many of the poor suffering Marshals take this
matter very seriously. This was held at
our Donnybrook track and then finished off with a good lunch of hamburgers and
drinks. The HOT (Harare Oval Track) had
a meeting on the same day so I gave my V8 Lightweight to Blaize Thomas to race,
some pics were posted on Facebook, he came midfield in the races. It looked so odd to see this big car leaning
at 15 deg. round the corners chasing a V8 single seater racing car.
FUTURE
EVENTS:
Second Course building to
fine tune courses for the Jamboree 17 / 18 May
Jamboree fever is hotting up. We need the courses to be marked out. The organisers need willing hands to
help. Flyers have been sent giving
details.
Course Building from
09.00: Bring along
your big hammer and spike, a watering can be useful to soften the earth; and
any gear you think might useful to help build some interesting courses. If
you are an entrant it will be beneficial to know beforehand where the courses
will be, and if you are a marshal it will also be of assistance. Don't forget
to bring your hats, sun-block, drinking water and lunch.
Braai fires will be
lit Saturday 17th May session, be there.
RECOVERY TRAINING DAY - Also
on 18TH MAY
We will
incorporate the Recovery Training Day
to be held in conjunction with the Course Fine Tuning Day. See below.
Recovery Training
Session. This will incorporate all the
normal recovery gear – snatch straps; D and Bow Shackles; recovery points; how to disengage your Air Bags; etc. This training session will be very useful for
all the members who are going on the Makuti expedition.
Hi Lift Jacks are possibly the most dangerous, user hostile objects that
the general public can still buy without special training and a permit. But
used correctly and in the right hands it can be a useful problem solver.
Whether you're a
member, who’s been around the block many times, so to speak, or a new
member, your
attendance at this training session will not only be of benefit to you, but
will also
benefit others as we contribute and share our
experiences.
Sean Quinlan of Big Sky will be
talking on this very important subject. The Recovery Day will be very
beneficial and important for all who are going on the Zambezi / Makuti
Expedition.
Whether you're a
member, who’s been around the block many times, so to speak, or a new
member, your
attendance at this training session will not only be of benefit to you, but
will also
benefit others as we contribute and share our
experiences.
JAMBOREE 23 / 25 May
Now Jamboree is really hotting up less than two weeks
to go. Is your car ready? Regs
and entry forms have gone out so get your forms filled in, get your cars ready
and be prepared. We will be asking for
Membership Cards and Medical Aid Cards at registration. Please make sure you have them with you.
Zambezi Expedition 12
– 15 June 2014
Expedition: Tim and Kelvin are plotting the Makuti
Expedition route –so far about 100km of real bush driving. Thursday night we
will meet at Vuti Camp. Friday night to
Chitake River and Saturday play in the hills – enjoy a day in the bush and
leave for home on Sunday through communal lands. You must all be self sufficient for
water. We have no idea what the roads
are like or where we can get water so take your own. So far we have 28 names of
people who want to go on the Expedition which is far too many. If you have put your name down and feel you
cannot make the trip then please let me know by return as we have
had to put people on a waiting list.
Expedition Fever: What do you need to take? Recovery gear – this is your responsibility
and that includes somewhere to fasten a winch hook or tow rope onto your
car. Please guys, it is not right to
expect others to use their gear to pull you out of a river bed or whatever. You do not
use a tow ball to pull a car out. We
need to see a proper hook or D/Shackle. Tying a rope round an axle is bad for the rope
so don't do it. There are lots of
members who can talk this through with you so please ask.
Watch out for flyers which go out before every event.
Keep an eye on our Facebook site for Club activities.
4x4 Club Diary - 2014
Note the date changes in yellow.
These dates change as the year progresses, but
flyers will be sent out before each event.
(A) Social Family Day. (B) Touring/Camping (C)
Comp Car 4x4 driving.
Sat / Sun 17 /
18 May Course building to fine tune courses
(A)
Sat/Sun 23/25
May Hp Lubes 4x4 Jamboree (C) D/brook
Thurs/Sun 12/15 June Makuti Expedition (B) Zambezi Escarpment
Sat/Sun 2
/ 3 August
Sat /Sun 13/ 14Sept
Training day/ Junior Jambo (AC) Donnybrook
Fri/ Sun 26/
28Sept
Bushpig (C)
Sat/Sun 1
/2 Nov 3 hills (B)
Fri / Sun 7/
9 Nov
Mutare Jamboree (C) Mutare
Sunday 7
Dec Christmas run (A)
Note some
dates may be changed as circumstances dictate.
Expedition dates are still under scrutiny.
No
doubt there will be extra Trail Drives fitted in for your enjoyment
YOUR
4X4 COMMITTEE FOR 2014.
CHAIRMAN PETER BENZON petebenzon@hotmail.com 0775.009.218
TREASURER KELVIN WEARE weare@telfordmica.co.zw 0772.326.687
SECRETARY CAROL WEARE theweares@zol.co.zw 0733.400.496
CHF MARSHAL/D.BROOK ROGER ELLIS ellisr@barzem.co.zw 0772.219.154
MEMBERSHIP WILMA
HOEFNAGELS wilmatembo@hotmail.com 0774.342.648
ENVIRONMENT MUZZA BLACK muzza@zol.co.zw
0772.241.000
EVENTS JASON YOUNG jason@telfordmica.co.zw 0772.918.878
EVENTS JESPER KIRK tsoko22@gmail.com 0772.414.281
EVENTS MATT
KELLY-EDWARDS matthewkellyedwards@gmail.com 0772.384.404
NEWSLETTER/MEMBERS MICHAEL AND PAT GILL gill@zol.co.zw 0778.731.288
JAMBOREE CHAIRMAN TIM THORBURN timthorburn.zim@gmail.com
0772.645.518
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
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.
Michael
and Pat GILL
Phone: 04.494028
(M) 0778.843.843 (P) 0778.731.288
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