Not that long ago, an off-road driving series like the Central Zone Club Truck Challenge would have been  an all-male affair. These days however, more and more women are getting involved and/or behind the wheel.
Andrew Gee has the story.

The Central Zone Club Truck Challenge (CTC) is a club activity open to all NZFWDA affiliated members. The event is run like the national trials or what was known as club champs, that is a series of short driving tests, known as “Hazards”. What it is, is very achievable to any driver of any experience in any type of vehicle, it is about turning up and driving. It is extremely cheap motorsport with a lot of seat time and often a fun weekend away if you have to travel to an event.

The current bunch of women entrants has got serious this season, as was noted in an earlier article. Shona is on a health kick, Grace keeps tabs on her closest competition during the day and Kyleen has started practising on the hazards after the scoring rounds have been run. 

Judith Hintz

I’d say that Judith doesn’t practise much but she may have a fair bit of off road driving experience, I’m guessing. A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Judith was living in the back blocks of Taihape shuttling kids to school in a Ford Escort. She said the roads were so poor she often carried a shovel and did repairs to them on the way home! Imagine that on your next school run. These days she has retired to town from the farm and she and John enjoy their days out – Go Grey Power.

Ask people like Shona and Judith what they get out of being in a 4WD club or being in the NZFWDA, they can’t say why, they just get on with it. They do the Club Truck Challenge, club runs and organized public trips, and get good value out of the $35 affiliation fee that supports the NZFWDA to provide club insurance and advocate for land access. 

As JFK said (or didn’t, but you get the idea, Ed!), “Don’t ask what four-wheeling can do for you, but what you can do for four-wheeling.” Your keen club member makes use of the opportunities to use his or her vehicle and to go driving with friends, old or new.

Shona Stone

Shona Stone, for instance, has given long service to the Central Zone executive and Mt Egmont club, and she has picked up another year as CZ treasurer. Her long term view is one of the strengths of the zone and that helps its financial security. She and Alan compete in their Toyota Land Cruiser and also use it for club drives; for tougher stuff they also have a Hilux bush truck. 

Honours are quite even between Shona and Alan but she looks forward to the day that she can consistently beat Alan and the day they find a decent CV joint.

Grace Hintz

Grace Hintz is a cut throat competitor and baby face assassin which she uses to her advantage to psyche out weaker competition. While her driver and his super modified class 4 Nissan are probably her largest advantage, Grace uses all of her experience to tell her driver how hard to press accelerator. I think Dad hears the advice and he just floors it.

The Watchorns

Raewyn, Mikaila and Tracey Watchorn are great supporters who travel to the events and do a lot of the background work, making hazards, taking photos and marshalling and we all appreciate their efforts over the years. 

Gail Smith

Back when she was a miss and Whanganui was Wanganui Gail Smith was in fact Miss Wanganui, and competed in Trials herself back in the stone age (before coil springs were invented) both as a navigator and driver. 

Gail has gone on to be a Whanganui club and Central Zone stalwart holding many different offices over the years including being president of the Whanganui club. Lately she has been a roving reporter and photographer helping to promote the CTC.

Kelsey, Amelia and Kyleen

In years gone by Kelsey van Waas and Amelia Dale have competed in CTC with great skill and almost no damage. Their example should give others the inspiration to compete as well, Kyleen being our next prospective competitor who is giving it a long hard look while she navigates for Ty. I’d be afraid of driving that oil burning Patrol as well, Ky. 

Club Truck events are completely achievable without expensive preparation and you need to get out to one of the events and have a look.

The next series is due to start in October at a location on the West Coast of the lower North Island to be confirmed soon. Thanks to all the competitors who support the continued growth of the CTC and we hope to see you out there. 

Event information, entry forms and series rules are on www.czctc.org.nz or post a question on the NZFWDA forum “Events” page.