admin
The 4×4 club veterans Mike and Pat revealed that the club emanated from its ability to mix the hobby and quality family time.
“When Keith Humphreys, Alan Napier, Ralph Slead and Neil Greenway originally started the club, we were more than delighted to join them a year later. The club struck all our chords as we enjoy the outdoor rush travelling at the same time spending time with the children. What we all had in common was the 4×4 cars we drove,” said Mike
From a small membership of just six in the beginning, the club has grown, to about 90 members today. One family is considered to be one member.
One privilege that the club members enjoy spending a lot of time “off-road” , enjoying rush terrain and driving up and down the bushy areas and other rough-terrain roads.
On these excursions that usually last a whole weekend or more days there are different day and night racing activities. The Nite Xtreme race, the popular Jamboree race and bush pig race are part of the perks. Ashleigh Geach, the current events co-ordinator, said that bush pig was one of the most popular races
“Bush pig is famous for its rareness. It is one of a kind whereby there will be two vehicles in a team. The two cars are timed, the idea behind it is to help each other drive through a radical course passing through bumpy roads along a difficult river bank,” she said
This rare competition is famous because it helps the groups with team building. The winners will be the team that helps each other the best. Usually the teams are made up of father and son teams.
Everyone in a family gets to participate in the club activities. Women also race alongside their partners, Ashley drives together in a competition alongside her husband,
“I will be the navigator, giving moral support. I have learnt to be my own mechanic just from watching as spanner ‘boy’,” she said
Children also get to learn to drive as soon as they are old enough. Learning to drive from the rush courses makes them good drivers when they start to drive on the smooth roads.
The 4×4 club is more than just about racing. They plan at least one environment expedition per year.
“One time we went to Mana Pools with chainsaws clearing old unused roads. Of course, this was made possible by our cars. We were pulling trees. After the clearing we then started driving about up and down the 25km road by the time 12 4x4s had driven past the road was good to drive on once again,” said Pat.
In Hwange they have cleared 50km on the southwestern corner of the Hwange National Park while on a similar outing.
“We are not bulldozers and neither do we own bulldozers, just our 4x4s . This year our eye is on Chizarira. We plan on going to the outskirts and doing the same thing,” added Mike.
The club activities though pumped with adrenalin rush are not just meant for fun and games but for a good causes too. A couple of years back when an aeroplane crashed in the Zambezi Valley the club went and helped out the victims. In another rescue mission the club was approached by a recovery company that asked them to pluck a pick-up truck out of the Pungwe River in Nyanga.
It is evident that the club is not just into extreme competitions, but has also helped in strengthening relations between members and their partners. It has created longlasting relationships. The Gills are an example of the bonds that come from these sporting clubs. The two met 50 years ago in a bike club.
Ashleigh echoed the same sentiments by reflecting on her experiences four years ago when she joined the club.
“My daughter was about a year old then and when we were out I had people carry her in a panic I would wonder where she is and worry she would get lost. The big family helps out a lot children are always in good hands so you can participate in events worry free. Now I leave my two children to run around and have fun knowing they are safe,” she said.
It is clear that the 4×4 club is no Indy with small fast cars racing on smooth roads to make some money. They will be part of the motor show today.
Online Reporter