Auckland Four Wheel Drive Club was formed in 1969 by a bunch of enthusiasts as the New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Society, but in 1974 ceded the New Zealand name to the newly formed national association the NZFWDA and adopted the present club name.
Since inception, the club has focused on being a family club with a good cross section of 4WD activities. Presently only a small number of the 98 members are involved in competitive activities such as winch challenges, while a core group are involved in tough truck trips to 4WD properties that we have access to. The remainder drive very capable road-based vehicles, and participate in various events locally and around the country.
Contrary to the perception about large city clubs, the club has over the years managed to maintain the culture that the original members intended, by being a very friendly club. Members include people of all ages, some who have completed overland safaris from Asia to Europe, South Africa to Europe and West to East across and around Australia and I’m sure other places we haven’t heard about yet so there are interesting and experienced people to talk to during trips and on club nights.
The club helps the local community by participating in events such as annual beach clean ups and tree planting. A very popular fundraising event, for the Northern and Westpac rescue helicopters, is an event at Waiuku Forest where members of the public can join us on a supervised day around the forest trying out their off road skills.
Local and popular club events include the western beaches, Waiuku Forest, Polaris 4WD Park, the Coromandel and Kaimai areas and weekend trips to places like Pouto Point at the north head of the Kaipara Harbour and far north to Ninety Mile Beach, Ahipara and local off road areas.
Unlike our cousins in the south, we don’t have the fantastic alpine landscapes, where access is not too difficult, so small groups of Auckland members are often seen to be heading south, mainly over the summer months.
Club nights, once a month, are at the Auckland Vintage Car Club rooms where we now manage to have guests and club members speak about trucks, tracks, trips and the latest technology.
Next year is our 50th anniversary and welcome contact with any past members that may like to join our celebrations. (anniversary@auckland4wd.org.nz)
To read every story in the May 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (April 13) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
