admin
Collin Matiza
LARGE crowds thronged Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare on Saturday and Sunday to watch what the organisers said was one of the most exciting Castrol 4×4 Jamboree events.
Organisers said they loved the atmosphere during the two-day 4×4 jamboree and promised that next year’s event will be much bigger and better.
Hundreds of motorsport enthusiasts who made their way to Donnybrook witnessed a wonderful event with over 50 entries.
More than 2 800 people are reported to have watched the event over two days.
Carol Weare, the secretary of the 4×4 Club who organise the Castrol 4×4 Jamboree, said the event saw many newcomers and “some who have been with us from our first Jamboree in 1995”.
“On Saturday all classes completed courses including the Volkswagen See Saw a test of balancing Skills, The Tiger Wheel & Tyre Mountain, The NTS tyre Drag, and of course ending the day with the Duceiller Mud Run.
“We had one spectacular roll-over being Gary Johnson in his Red Suzuki Slugger on the Tyre Mountain.
” Gary has migrated from the Long Wheel Base class to complete standard modified this year. In his Red Suzuki 1.2 litre with very little modification, he took on the big boys in this class with great enthusiasm.”
After completing four sections in the morning the special and modified tackled the Toyota Extreme Challenge running three courses through the pit.
Gary, in his Suzuki Slugger, and Jesper Kirk, in Pinky a modified Cournil, kept the crowd entertained with in a cat and mouse game, chasing each other through the Extreme Pit. The mouse in the end had to rescue the cat!
The day ended with great entertainment and vehicles competing for the biggest Splash in the Ducellier Mud Run.
This went to Phil Archenoul as he came flying through the mud and airlifted into the second section of the mud run. It seems an Isuzu can fly as well as drive 4×4 terrain!
The winner of Special Class was Mads Kirk in a Kouna Corna, a modified Cournil with two steering wheels.
Standard Modified saw some excellent driving from the two teams from Mutare in their Jeeps. Roger Barry was in first place and Shayne Weeks was second. For Shayne, that was his first Jamboree event in his recently purchased Modified Jeep Guzzler.
Long Wheel Base courses winner was Ralph and Greg Stead in a Landrover.
Ralph is one of the founder members of the 4×4 Club and organiser of the very first Jamboree in 1995.
This result is a testament to many years of driving experience.
“Our youngest entry was Aiden Collett at 14 years old driving a 60 Series Land Cruiser. Aiden drove very well in this class and his passion for the sport will I am sure see him excel in the years to come,” Weare said.
Short Wheel Base Standard was won by a lady driver, Tammy Hein in her Suzuki Jimny.
The NTS Tyre Drag course proved to be a favourite for both drivers and spectators, dragging a large tyre at speed through canes at high speed with dust flying.
This was won by Isaac Levy Solly Ferreria in a 90 Series Landrover in a time of 37 seconds with no penalty points.
One of the most popular participants at the jamboree, Archenoul, said he thoroughly enjoyed the excitement first hand during the two-day event.
“All good man, we had an amazing two days. The Isuzu ran beautifully well but the driver and co-driver still have a lot to learn about the sport!
“We did, however, got the fastest time on the tyre drag circuit, and the most spectacular mud run!”
Online Reporter