Story & photos by Andrew Gee
The Wellington Jeep Club (WJC) was formed in 2004 even though there already existed two other Jeep clubs in the country and Wellington is well served with maybe seven other 4WD clubs.
We have survived and continue to serve our Wellington and out-of-town members with something that they don't get from other clubs.
In the early days a number of prospective members came from the Jeep Jamboree events that the Jeep dealers used to provide for their customers. These people didn't want to belong to a traditional club and enjoyed our preference to go away camping for the weekend and longer trips. Our trips and vehicles still must meet safety standards and we give driver training as required.
We also have run our own Camp Jeep events open to all interested people not just club or NZFWDA members in an effort to revisit the good times at Jeep Jamboree. We have run six Camp Jeep events in Rangi Woods, Wanganui, Wellington and Waiouru which have all been well attended and successful in covering their costs. A lot of these events have been covered in the magazine by Ashley and Cathy.
The club is affiliated to the NZFWDA in the Central Zone and a number of our members are regular competitors in the Central Zone Club Truck Challenge. Club member Dave McGinnity has won individual rounds and the overall championship in the past.
We have also put on two rounds of the Club Truck Challenge at Orongorongo Station which have been very popular with the competitors.
Life member of the WJC, Barry Greer, has been around 4WDing and 4WD trials almost as long as fellow pioneer, Steve McMinn according to official Jeep NZ history (written by Steve himself). Barry actually re-entered the National Trials last season when he navigated for another living legend, Turakina's John Cowper, go Grey Power!
Don Morgan was the first president of the club and still contributes heaps. He is a collector of vehicles and a constructor of cool machines like his off-road racers, vintage 42 Willys or Willys pickup truck.
His workshop is the site of regular shed missions for the club and they manufactured a production run of military styled camping trailers for our SWB vehicles.
We hold meetings every two months in Petone in a room furnished with my mum's old lounge suite. The club is run via an internet group for financial members.
2017 office holders
President Andrew Gee, Secretary/Treasurer Tony Field. To contact the club try emailing at wgtnjeepclub@yahoo.co.nz
Club Corner
If you would like your club profiled email NZ4WD magazine editor Ross MacKay at editor@nz4wd.co.nz
To read every story in the July 2017 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (June 16) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
