THE 4X4 CLUB

THE 4X4 CLUB – ZIMBABWE

Newsletter No: 104

September 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, 21^st birthdays, etc.

News, comments and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Club or the Committee

IT'S JAMBOREE TIME   -   7^th and 8^th September

Be there!

If you see this notice another three times then I know you will have read the newsletter.

THE EDITOR’S DESK        -   Michael and Pat Gill

For a long time your committee has discussed having a trailer to keep all our paraphernalia in one place and is able to be transported to events.  At last we have found such a trailer.   Roger Ellis and I decided that the one we saw at a local car sales dealer would do, with modifications, so it was bought.  It has a good set of 16" Land Rover wheels and cart springs and a history of taking camping gear to Mana pools for a Safari Operator.  It is solid, fully lockable and, we think, very suitable for our needs.  We have fitted shelves in side and made up stabilizer legs, painted the inside, fitted rubber mats, etc.   It now has big 4x4 Club signs and all the usual chevrons and GVM stickers so we hope it is legal enough.  Look out for it at events.  It will be used as the registration area and we will be selling club shirts, hats, etc., from it. Ashley Geach is looking after it and all the goodies inside.

CHAIRMAN'S CHATTER:       -    Peter Benzon

Its Jamboree time again. Our premier event of the year is a little later in the year. Organisation is in full swing and a big thank you has to go to Tim Thorburn and his committee for all the work they put in.

We were recently in Mozambique for a holiday, fun in the sun with family and friends. While sitting in camp, enjoying a nice cold 2M, we saw a huge overlanding truck come in. To be honest our first impression was: Oh No! Go and lock everything, we are being invaded by Tourists.  We watched with bated breath, waiting for the multitudes to fall out of the truck but only two people got out!

We were approached by the lady, Ellen, to beg some beer off us. We made friends and they showed us around their truck. It is truly amazing, it has solar power, deep cycle batteries with inverter, 700 litres of water storage, toilet, shower, full kitchen, washing machine, an Engel stand up fridge, Engel 80 litre deepfreeze and 25 litre drinks fridge. He also has a small crane on the back of the truck to allow two Yamaha TW200 motor cycles to be lifted onto bike racks. It really is the ultimate Over Lander. We invited them to share some beach bought fish for supper and we got their story over a lot of 2M Cervejas (beer).

Vince and Ellen were tour guides working in the Caprivi Strip, taking tourists on guided tours. They sold almost everything they own to buy a new Mercedes 4x4 truck and outfit it to tour Africa. They are planning to travel for two years around Africa below the Equator. They have been travelling for 7 months so far and have been to Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique. They then came through to Zimbabwe and are doing the tourist thing, Mana pools, Victoria Falls and various other popular sites around Zim. Follow them on the internet, their blog site is Vinceandellen.wordpress.com.

 It must be a big leap of faith to leave the comfort zone of your home and friends, sell everything and travel deepest darkest Africa. No timetable and basically going where your nose takes you. Their motto is "Our plan is that we have no plan"    . What a way to live!              Cheers;        Pete

MEMBER'S NEWS:

Dear Pat & Mike,

Always great to get the newsletter – but even more special to get a personal mention and thanks!  I really enjoy marshalling, so it certainly is no onerous task, and Roger does a brilliant job of organising the marshals.

The reason I haven’t been at any the 4x4 events recently is that I have been in UK having yet another op on my knee (Flossie still by far & away holds the record).  Anyway I have been given the all clear to fly home tomorrow, and will soon be back on my feet.

I do hope the weekend at Donnybrook goes well,

Thank you again,         Margie Gibson. 

MEMBER'S CARS

It was good to see an old warrior, the 4x4 not the driver, out for a test day at Donnybrook.  The Cournil that became known as Beethoven (Roll over), has had a very interesting history.  The Z.R. Police somehow obtained about 40 Cournil Station wagons from a dying French company. They were a very solid all steel, no chassis, petrol vehicle.  They were eventually destroyed in service and the 4x4 community saw the potential use for these unusual 4x4s in competition.  I remember that Mutare had a large number of them in the Mutare 4x4 Club and the guy who ran the Motor Sports Club in Mutare, Des Spooner, cut his one up to desired size, fitted coil springs off an old drilling rig and Beethoven was born.  There were design faults and our ex Chairman, Rod Chambers, found this out. Hence the name.  Even our secretary, Carol Weare with Rod's late wife Julia, followed the pattern and did the usual "Door handles, roof, wheels" action.  Then Murray Upton started on it, cut it shorter, changed the springs and altered a few chassis bits and it stayed on its wheels for the Jamboree that I co-drove on.  The gear lever was always a joke, coming off the box at odd moments, but you got used to that.

Now Kelvin Weare has Beethoven, Malcolm Attwell has renovated it and fitted a fancy power steering, painted it bright blue with a yellow roll bar and now we wait and see it in action!!!

CLUB REGALIA

Due to some over enthusiastic buying we hold a surplus of items from passed events.  Please call us if you can make use of some of the 'Extras'.   We have lots of the dark blue shirts for Bush Pig 2011; some of the orange Bush Pig 2012 golf shirts; many wide brimmed hats; some black shorts; a few peaked caps; and cloth Club badges for sewing onto jackets etc.  Help. Storage space in our trailer and financial concerns require us to reduce this stock, prices are cheap so do your bit and help.  Our new Club Trailer will be at most events so look for it and BUY.

TECHNICAL TIP

You are away from home and your hands are dirty from fixing that mechanical beast you love so much.  There are many ways to get your hands clean again but try the latest one I found.  Dish wash liquid with a tea spoon of sugar.  The 'grit' works well and I am told there is something in the sugar that also helps to remove the grime.

IT'S JAMBOREE TIME   -   7^th and 8^th September

Be there!

WATCH OUT

I went to Electrosales, Msasa and purchased  3 x Eurolux light fittings. They have U shaped glass tubes and a porcelain bayonet fitting.  Assuming 220 volt.

Imagine my surprise when fitted at home and it blew itself to bits!!

The mutterings were heard all over the house.

Now I sit down and read the instructions!! The BLUE box quite clearly states:

                                     Eurolux CFL G9 12vDC.

Since when do you go into a shop and amongst the 220v lights of all sizes and colours you find 12vDC bulbs?

For camping, the cigarette lighter for the power, I fitted the 12v lamps to the car. When I show my mates how good the light is, it does not switch ON!

Much scratching of various parts. The box shows 12v DC.   DC indicates that the power will only work in one direction / position.  See now!  So, when you go camping with these lights and they do not work, simply take it out, rotate it 180’ and 'Hey Presto', Eco light at your service!

An awful waste if it was thrown against a wall. The porcelain is marked 12vDC.

Electrosales need a wrap on the knuckles, which will be done when next I go past.

Neil Greenway

PAST EVENTS

JAMBOREE LAUNCH AND FUN DAY.

Our site at Donnybrook was prepped and cleaned and a small display set up for the advertisers and officials at the forthcoming Jamboree.  All a bit like a ripe apple.  Good in parts!  The multi aged and sexed drivers certainly enjoyed themselves.  The 4x4 trails were not too hard and it seems most people won the event, the rest came second. English Rules is a test route driven without stopping, STOP and you are out. Our usual system allows the driver to stop and discuss the route ahead.

There was a bit of doubt about the way the Jamboree Launch was staged and some felt this could have been a bit too low key for what is our major annual event.  However everyone seemed to enjoy the day and thanks to all the time spent laying out about 20 test sections, Roger's band of Marshals, the many cars that were shared, it went off well.  Now we await the Jamboree, our major fund raiser for the year.

JAMBOREE LAUNCH

A fantastic social at the club and good launch for the Jamboree...thanks to the sponsors.  The water system was turned on and three sprinklers started watering the dusty grounds....At last we have water on tap!
All upgrades to the club site are financed from the money we make from our annual Jamborees.....once again, thanks to HP Lubes and the other sponsors!

This year's jamboree will be one to be remembered!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

IT'S JAMBOREE TIME   -   7^th and 8^th September

Be there!

COURSE BUILDING WEEKEND  - AUGUST 24^TH AND  25^TH

After all the fun at the Jamboree Launch the real work began.  We needed a lot of helping hands to put the Jamboree Courses together.  It went very well and was all complete on Saturday.  Now it is the time to test the course builder's efforts.  Thank you to everyone one who helped. 

JAMBOREE         7^th and 8^th September 2013

HI Mike and Pat,

It appears to be going well with new exhibitors and should be good (as usual). The irrigation system is working well so we should have nice green lawns for the event.

Mano Zevgolis (from the DragPro Club) has agreed to do the scrutineering.. Mano and I did the scrutineering at the English Rules day and everyone who was there got the message about things being tightened up and there were no hassles.

SCRUTINEERING FOR 4 X 4 JAMBOREE AND OTHER EVENTS

The form covers all the main safety areas that will be checked, but the scrutineer will also be doing a general check over the vehicle. Any items not passing can be fixed and the vehicle re- presented for approval. If it hasn’t passed by the time the event starts, you don’t compete!! Come early.

Note Scrutineering will be for vehicle safety only. It is up to the competitor to ensure he/she has entered in the correct class for the event. The regs are pretty clear on the classes so there will be no excuses for not entering the correct class.

I am organizing 4 point seat belts from SA at a reasonable price. As soon as I have the final details I will let everyone know. IMPROVISED SEAT BELTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED   i.e. Cross over 3 point belts and such like. There must be only 1 clip to undo to get the belts undone.

Get fixing!!!   Cheers,        Ralph

IT'S JAMBOREE TIME   -   7^th and 8^th September

Be there!

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

SEPTEMBER 7 -8      Jamboree (A)                Donnybrook

September 22^th                  Breakfast Run (C)               Chinamora

OCTOBER    11 -13                     Jamboree (A)                     Bulawayo (Info)

OCTOBER 19–20                 3 Hills (C)                             Chinamora

NOVEMBER       t.b.a.         CLUB 20^TH ANNIVERSARY   t.b.a.

NOVEMBER       22–24        Dungbeetle (A)                    Mutare

DECEMBER        8               Christmas Run (B)                Local

A =3;            B = 2;           C = 2.  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  gill@zol.co.zw    

E and O.E.

Comments

I attended the St Georges 20/20 cricket over the weekend and not only was it a most enjoyable weekend of brilliant cricket, but I wanted to comment on the excellent job that Environment Africa did on the rubbish collection and recycling the whole weekend – they were very smartly dressed and very polite and seemed to be busy for three whole days Fri, Sat & Sun the duration of the tournament, collecting and sorting into the correct bins for re-cycling.  They even distributed small rubbish collection bags for all spectators vehicles onto all parked vehicles so the public did not litter on their way home.  Well done firstly to St Georges College for supporting such a worthwhile cause and secondly to Environment Africa for a job very well done – perhaps all schools can follow the lead of Saints when they have busy functions which generate a lot of rubbish/trash. Saints Supporter

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Please advised that there are extensive road works underway on the main Harare – Marondera road. These involve lengthy waits at 3 different spots between Ruwa and Marondera. Lights control single lane traffic passing in opposite directions at 15 minute intervals. Exercise patience and caution as minibuses turn the single lanes into a 3-lane race track, pushing cars off the road. Traffic police at these stops would be a good idea. Count 45 minutes on top of your normal travelling time – each way.

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I would like to contact  some good Samaritans who helped us last Monday morning when we had an accident coming home from Kariba. Unfortunately I did not take down their details. They very kindly stopped to make sure we were all OK and then very willingly transported our visitors to the airport to catch their flight at lunchtime. The kindness of Zimbabweans is heartwarming but I do not have a contact number for them to say thank you. My contact email is :  janei@zol.co.zw

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Hi Mike,   We are trusting that the whole of Harare and the rest of Zimbabwe will play a part in Clean Up the World….can you imagine if everyone just collected 1 bag of Litter!!!!!

TOGETHER MAKING A DIFFERENCE….Kind regards Sharon

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I would like to comment on the street kids Some do choose there, I work with a lady who offered a young boy of 12 years a home school education and a future.

The men and woman who sell toilet paper and newspapers at the Corner or 7th Street and Samora Machel ave, laughed at her and told her he would be back on the street.

Their words were not even cold, he stayed for 2 weeks, started demanding money and cellphones and refused to go to school, One day he just packed up his things and left, he sold all the new cloths she bought for him and is now looking so thin we pass him everyday, she has such a good heart and after seeing him everyday on the street for a year, and giving him money everyday of between $5-$10 a day so he can have a good meal, he chose to go back to the streets.

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With regard to motorbikes, doesn’t the Zimbabwean law require all users to have lights on even during the day? I seem to remember this law being implied in the 80’s but I may be wrong. However, it does seem applicable as the older I get, the harder it seems to  see motorcyclists. Maybe I need an optician………..Regards Mike M 

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Arcadia Dam: I think it is high time that the Schools were named and for the ones involved to acknowledge that their pupils behaviour is unacceptable.

When I was at school, any pupil who did wrong and the deed was sufficient enough to warrant it, they were EXPELLED. Or is it once again MONEY talks? Tanganda.

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We were all teenagers at one point and for me that was about 10-12 years ago and to be honest my generation got up to all sorts of stupid things on camping weekends. Most of it was reckless and silly and when we did decide to get fall over drunk we would come up with a plan to do it discreetly and away from all the adults as we feared the repercussions as at a campsite all the adults were watching all the kids. What amazes me is the total disrespect that has crept into our society and the kids are not the only ones to blame as most parents now view it as “well it is not my kid so why bother”. We are turning into South Africa very rapidly where people are too scared to say anything in case these kids go crying back to Mommy’s skirt and Daddy might be well connected.

On a recent camping trip during the holidays my kids linked up with others their age in the campsite so I went over introduced myself and told the other parents that if my kids stepped out of line in their vicinity that they should be put straight at once and that I would do the same with their kids and it was a wonderful trip. I suppose at the end of the day we are not islands on our own in the sea we are all connected and as the saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child” Regards, Village Resident

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We use Arcadia Dam frequently and totally agree with the concerns this parent has of teenagers left to their own devices without some adult supervision.

It creates an environment where an accident is just waiting to happen. The bathrooms are also left in a disgusting state from all the vomit left in the basins. I would suggest the co coordinators of the dam be informed of this behaviour and those perpetrators be banned from entry as one has to sign in and pay on arrival leaving names and telephone numbers.   It is a great shame that this selfish and irresponsible behaviour spoils it all for those of us who go as a family to enjoy a beautiful dam. Concerned Parent

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On a better note we went through about 8 road blocks between Kariba and Harare and the two times we were stopped by the Police, we found them to be very polite and had no problems!  On the other hand, the trucks on that road remain a disaster!

Community Notices

I was at the polox/polox Open over the weekend, standing near the jumping castle, a little boy of around 7 years old walked past and greeted us with a very happy and clear "good morning parents".  Well done to the little boys parents and well done to his school!  Happily surprised!!

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LITTER ALL OVER HARARE I was travelling down Herbert Chitepo to the Harare Show last week and was appalled at the litter outside Prince Edward School and round the corner to the Harare Show, on Samora Machel and opposite between the Show Grounds and the Sheraton Hotel.  Harare was the Sun Shine City and was the show place of Africa.  Now I guess it is up to the Miracle Missions to clean up the city.

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The pink jacaranda (stereospermum kunthianum) on the road down past Marongora is in full bloom - we saw it yesterday on our return from Mana Pools - stunningly beautiful!

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With regard to the story of Mandara – increase in crime – this came with the arrival of the cable “trench diggers” who are still digging weeks later and watching all the comings and goings in the area...........

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Concerning the 'dirty finger nails : while I do agree that nails should be kept in trim is should be noted that many Zimbabweans make their living by doing 'hands on' work which leads to cracked hands that dirt can hide in, despite all the lotions and scrubbing in the world. Judging a potential worker by the state of his hand is poor I think. What if the guy had just been helping a stranded damsel with a flat tyre moments before he walked into the job interview?  Nailed down

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Travelling back from Kariba this week............wondering why all the police road blocks seem to be on blind corners, blind rises or at bottom of hills in 120km zones where 30t freight liners struggle to stop! Also, why do the police slow you down just as you enter the 120km speed limit trying to pick up speed only to wave you on?

It is a matter of time before there is a major accident. Toll booths.....the new system is for a boom and a traffic light......I sat at the Toll booth for 20mins just after Charles Prince as the system had gone down, then 10mins at the Lion’s Den Toll Booth.   Lost for Words!

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Street kids: Having watched it  closely for four years in the UK, seen it  numerous times in  S.A. here, and a few other  countries, begging is big business and  frequently a family enterprise embracing two to three generations.   I agree with SEEN IT ALL.    Regards,  Flip
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This is a tricky situation, as I have found first hand that some of these children are children who are not homeless but are bunking school, and begging for extra pocket money. I know because this happened to my domestic, who found his child begging in town after having despatched him off to school on the commuter bus. Sadly this is not the majority of these children and would also like to know how to help them as I feel giving them money at the robots is not productive. Also concerned.

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It’s frustrating when people dismiss the street kids problem by saying that they choose to be there, that they are dropped off in cars, sent on the streets by parents etc ... I’m not disputing the truth of any of these statements, but these facts are often put forward as though that then makes it okay not care? They are children, and – like animals – actually cannot speak for themselves, they need to be protected by adults. If they are being sent on to the street by adults then they are being abused by their carers – kids in those situations are completely disempowered and cannot imagine a different life, so they don’t even think of asking for help, and live in terror of the consequences of disobeying orders; they return to the streets because of the incredibly psychological damage done to them through that lifestyle – they know no other life, and it is their support network – the level of support that they need to reintegrate is vast – more than just a meal and a bath.  Children are just as innocent as animals and deserve the same level of care and support. And yes, while giving money may even be detrimental, giving food is probably the best thing you can do – even if it’s just the lollipops and sweets that you collect as change, because they can be consumed instantly and not handed over to a third party.  Have a heart

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One reader mentioned the street kids sniffing glue. I have been told that this is a way to ward off hunger pangs so instead of money I give out sweets, oranges, or naartjies to the kids and other

beggars at the robots. They are always happy to receive these items. - (How to Help.)

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Street Kids: My advice to those who want to help (especially drivers) is to have a packet of apples or dry healthy products like breakfast bars etc ready to hand out to these poor children on the street. At least you know the child is getting something healthy to eat and not taking the money to an evil ring leader that exploits vulnerable children. That way if the children are doing it just for the money they will give up but those that are just looking for some food will get a little something. But of course be warned that it could be a trap so make sure you are in a safe place and there are not others loitering close by. So sad, what is happening to this world, where is common decency and honesty gone - Sad reader

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