From the heat and dust of the third round, mud was back on the agenda at the fourth round of the National 4x4 Trials series in the Hawke’s Bay in February.
Hosted by the Hawke’s Bay 4WD Club on 15th Feb at Tangoio just out of Napier a field of 63 prepared to give the fourth round of this season’s National 4x4 Trials series their best shot. D Class once again was dominating the field with 38 competitors, C Class – 15, E Class - 6 and F Class - 4.
The weather was great, a little chill in the air first up but it rolled into a cracker day. If you stood in the right place there was even a chance of a mud pack, as one of the volunteer marshals discovered.
This course could always be relied on for some mud and some difficult if not near impossible obstacles to be set, so draw could be very important.
Down in the far corner there was an obstacle that caught many unaware. Not only did you need to have a bit of speed up to get round the tree half way up the hill, it was an extremely tight turn and it dropped down the hill, flicking the rear up, before a sharp right at the bottom.
You then had some options of either going up a gut or trying to go up the side - if you didn’t get it right your vehicle slipped either into the hole sideways or dropped in backwards, leaving you in an uncompromising position.
Obstacle 12 in the afternoon was not only a challenge just to look a; many spent time on the end of the rope hanging from the digger as they were lifted out from being upside down!
The day was won by Hamish Auret and Paul Barnes on 614.25 followed by another D Class pair, Andrew Garner and Paula Hadland on 658.84, with Phil Conwell (aka Fireman) from C Class third with 685.84.
Currently Hamish Auret and Paul Barns are leading the overall points for the season and only two rounds to go.
ROUND 4 RESULTS TANGOIO HAWKE’S BAY FEB 15.
OVERALL
1. Hamish Auret/Paul Barnes 614.28
2. Andrew Garner/Paula Hadland 658.84
3. Phil Conwell/Paul Chapman 685.84
To read the full story in the April 2015 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (on sale March 23) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
