The Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge is certainly one of the most spectacular motorsport events in New Zealand. The Challenge is the brain child of Dan Cowper and is held at his property at Turakina.
The event is filmed for TV and sets challenges for the best trials teams in NZ as well as close up action for spectators.
Competitors are the top 10 in the New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association trials plus two ‘wild cards’. Dan Cowper himself was in that top 10 but opted for three ‘wildcard entries’ to make up the 12 to compete for the honours.
There are 12 purpose-built courses, each with 10 ‘gates’ worth 100 points each (maximum 1000 per course). The starting order rotates ensuring that every competitor is first and last on a course. Competitors are not allowed to touch the course boundary tape and can stop and reverse but must complete the course within a 60 second time limit.
Top of the drivers was Sam Thomsen in ‘Nitro 1’ followed by Neville Mather in ‘The Predator’ both driving Nitro-built vehicles followed closely by Neal Turner in ‘Hijinx’ and Nathan Fogden in ‘The Turbonator’, both Cowper-built trucks. ‘The Turbonator’ along with Shane Towers in ‘Mud Taxi’ were the only four-cylinder powered vehicles with the rest running LS V8s.
The three wildcards were Chris Tomalin in ‘Ninja’, Brent Ward in ‘Fooken Buggy’ and Andy Canning in ‘Lone Wolf’.
Course 1 Andrew Morris Concrete
“Harden Up Buttercup”
A steep climb, turn down off-camber bank, into bog then up over around the side before climbing the stepped banks to finish. Sam Thomsen up first cleared the first three ‘gates’ and ended up in the bog which was deeper that most expected.
Neville Mather had the save of the day when he came down the off camber sideways on two wheels, kept the power on and came back onto all four wheels and into the bog. He collected 600 points.
Many others decided to miss the bog in favour or getting more gates and points. Andy Canning didn’t get a good start and rolled off the hill. Shane Towers, Ash Tonkin in ‘Redback’ and Chris Tomalin all collected 700 points.
Course 2 Optimo
“Heavy Duty Grime Time”
Into and out of the bogs before a tricky off camber wall of death to the top. Neville Mather was up first and hit the mud and stayed there with zero points. Stuart Earle had the best run, missing the first bog and the second gate but cleared the others to collect 600 points. Brent Ward was the first to actually get up the hill and through gate 10 picking up 600 with Andy Canning also getting to the top after sliding off the hill and nearly rolling.
Course 3 Wairarapa Diesel Services
“Time Attack”
The first of three timed courses which was a zigzag course across the side of a series of banks cut into the hillside. Neal Turner in Hijinx was first up. He finished in 32.60 seconds but hit the course tape and was given a DNF. Stuart Earle put up a good time early on with a clear run and 32.90 seconds. Ash Tonkin and Craig Tomalin both put up quicker times but hit a gate and were given 10 second penalties.
Fastest time was Craig Tomalin in Ninja with a 26.96 but he hit a gate so the course win went to Neville Mather with a clear run and 29.50 seconds.
Course 4 Broadway Accounting
“Collateral Damage”
Jump the drain or not? Drivers had to decide before taking on the steep hill and weaving between gates back down and back up through sculpted dug outs. Stuart, up second tried to jump the drain but missed and broke a steering tie rod end.
Only four made it through gate 10 within the 60 seconds, the first was Kevin (Hermy) Hermansen in the only fully independent-axle vehicle “The Gambler”. Neal Turner took the course win with 700 points.
Course 5 Mickey Thompson Tires
“Send it like a Boss”
Stuart Earle in Wolverine was up first and hit the first few gates but cleared the tyres in style to get 500 points. Shane Towers in Mud Taxi struggled in the first lot of tyres and made it over the big tyres but couldn’t get back. Aaron Guest in The Crow ended up ‘beached’ on top of the big tyres. Chris Tomalin cleared the tyres but rolled on landing and broke his steering wheel. Sam Thomsen, Neville Mather and Nathan Fogden would share the course win with 700 points. Andy Canning rolled out of the course.
Course 6 New World
“Super Saver”
Snake around the banks, high is fast and steep or low is slow in the bog before going along a steep sidling to finish. The Gambler is first on this one and went high but rolled off with only 300 points. Brent Ward in the Fooken Buggy only got half points for running out of order after completing repairs. Neville Mather and the Predator would take the course win with 700 points closely followed by Stuart Earle and Chris Tomalin on 600 each.
Course 7 Hermansen Contracting
“If In Doubt, Flat Out”
A soft start, decide whether to attempt the bog or not, then get to top. Aaron Guest would only get 100 points for gate two before rolling back down from the first climb. Ash Tonkin very nearly rolled getting high air under the front as he tried gate nine but saved it before getting up and through gate 10. He still got 600 points however his day was over with a broken transmission. Chris Tomalin got stuck in the bog and put on a show with mud flying high. Sam Thomsen missed gate one and had a clear drive only to hit gate 10 earning him a course first equal with Stuart Earle.
Course 8 BB Construction
“No Time for Smoko”
The second of the timed courses. Mud drags, start on bank and either try to drive along edge of bog or jump off into the bog and power through, loop around and then head up the steep hill climb. Aaron Guest was first up and tried the slow approach to the bog but only made it a few yards and succumbed to the mud. Craig Tomalin in Ninja tried the fast approach along the sidebut was beaten by the mud. Brent Ward took the fast approach and couldn’t be seen due to a high wall of mud and water. When it finally came down he was sitting sideways in the middle of the bog. Hermy Hermansen in the Gambler put on the best show and got the furthest but still couldn’t get the traction to climb out.
Course 9 Explorer Motorhomes
“Off the Grid”
Dug-outs and banks to climb with a steep sidling to the finish. Neal Turner was going well clearing all the gates until he broke a front diff and driveshaft after getting through gate 7. The Gambler and Ninja both managed 900 points but it was The Predator and Wolverine that both managed to get the full 1000 points. This gave Stuart Earle the overall lead on 6050 with Neville Mather holding second on 5900 points and Sam Thomsen third with 5500.
Course 10 4WDBits
“Race to the Sky”
The third and final timed course, a greasy grass hill to race between pegs without sliding into the course tape and then decide to jump the uphill finish or drive it. Lone Wolf and Andy Canning were up first and drove well jumping the finish but broke the front drive shaft on landing. Sam Thomsen set the fastest time of 39.20 seconds but only got half points due to running out of order. Chris Tomalin and Brent Word would also only get half points for being out of order. Stuart Earle would be second fastest with 38.40 secs retaining his overall lead with Neville Mather next with 39.50secs.
Course 11 Biggs Construction
“King of the Hammers”
A series of bomb craters dug deep and competitors weave their way in and out. Proved a tough course for The Predator coming away with zero points. Wolverine managed to finish the course with 400 points giving him the overall lead by 600 points. Brent Ward failed to start the course when Fooken Buggy wouldn’t start. Mud Taxi only managed 300 points after tipping over. Nitro 1 struggled as well collecting only 300 points while The Turbonator took the stage win with 800 points.
Course 12 Goodmans
“4x4 Excavator”
A series of holes and soft mounds up the hill, back down and then up again to the finish. Neville Mather in Predator was up first and did very well until Gate 10 when he went skywards vertically coming back down on the rear wheels and slowly rolling backwards, but still managing 700 points. Shayne Towers made it to gate seven when his left rear wheel fell off .Hermy managed 700 points while Sam Thomsen took the course win with 900 points. Nathan Fogden got 800 points to confirm his podium spot. First place was Stuart Earle’s to lose needing only 200 points to take the win but unfortunately he bellied out on a soft mound and wasn’t able to get moving again before time was called.
Earle and Mather were first equal, and the event went to a tie-breaker.
They would each do the “Race to the Sky” timed course again.
Stuart Earle was up first as he was fastest of the two set 36.20 seconds, 2.20 seconds faster than his previous time. It was down to Neville Mather to knock at least 3.50 seconds off his original time. He did better than that, crossing the line in 35.10 seconds and taking the Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge 2023 honours.
