One of the toughest events within the Australian winch challenge scene is the EFS Mini XI based at Land Cruiser Mountain Park in Queensland, Australia and run by David Metcalfe’s Xtreme 4x4 Sports outfit. This year’s event, although shortened to two half days, was no exception. Normally eight days, the event was shortened due to the rapidly rising fuel prices a few months ago which have impacted on many events here and overseas in recent times. However nine committed teams lined up for the first stages on Friday night ready to battle the tough winch stages and each other to come out the winner for 2008. Typical of these events Dictator Dave runs a short fast sprint stage to settle the adrenalin rush – and competitors - for the winching stages. These were two stages next to each other with lights in the trees mostly for the officials, but this gave some lighting for the many spectators. The second stage was a steep uphill around a tree right of the start line. Several vehicles hit the tree as they winched up but for Peter and Jane Von Pein in the LWB Nissan Patrol family station wagon they made short work of it and never even got close to the tree. Unfortunately for the hybrid Suzuki bodied Toyota of Craig Kittle and Jason Hayward it was a bad start; Craig got the front of the vehicle up and it sat precariously on three wheels while Jason went to run out the winch rope. The rope jammed and wound back in taking the hook and all into the fairlead, wedging the hook and breaking the rope. Stage three was another steep climb straight off the start followed by a downhill and through a swampy area before going back up the hill and down into a gully, across rocks and winching up to the finish. Most winched the first hill but a couple managed to drive it along with the swamp until a vehicle was stuck and winched. After that most had to winch the swamp as well. For Craig Kittle it was to be another DNF off the start when the vehicle almost drove up the hill before spitting out a driveshaft and diff simultaneously and sliding back down. This saw them retire from the rest of the competition. As if three stages in one night wasn’t enough Mean Mister Metcalfe also had them doing a 1 1/2 hour GPS run before they could get some well deserved rest for day two. For Peter Von Pein, who so successfully cleared the tree on SS2, it resulted in a pushed-in rear door and broken window when he backed into a tree. There were only six stages on Saturday but the first two took all morning, especially the second which required the use of a ground anchor and the driver was not allowed to drive the wheels, instead relying solely on the winch and ground anchor. Most teams struggled here resulting in a thoroughly ploughed paddock, frustrated winch men and women and many DNFs. It really was a steep learning curve for many and one where you needed to consider options outside the normal, such as the ladders or waffle boards carried by several, but not used once to make an easy ramp-up for the vehicle. The afternoon stage again entertained the crowds of spectators and also picked up the pace of the competition for some. Each stage criss-crossed the same gully in different places and had at least two winch hills. For Danny Moore it was a case of too much haste that resulted in a severely dented sill and door. After all this winching it was back to the previous night’s sprint stage, but in the reverse direction, followed by yet another hour of GPS where they had GPS co-ordinates to find and had to punch a card tied inside the vehicle window. Some of the punches required the vehicle to winch up or down to get close enough to punch their card. Sunday was yet another GPS stage before heading to the final two winching stages – again in a gully with good views. Each stage was run separately and each included at least two winches, although the final stage found a boggy patch, and the later vehicles had to winch this at least once if not twice as well. Robbie Marshall, who was leading, could lose everything if something went wrong, and he was first into SS12. He had a good run but wasn’t the quickest by any means and all the others had good runs as well. SS13 would be the decider. The first couple of vehicles had no problems, although Joel Thomson and Paul Espig did have a moment coming down the steep rutted hill, but recovered quickly. It was Marshall who provided the entertainment when he first drove the first winch hill, even after hitting a tree towards the top, and knocked a large carpet snake out of the tree. Unfortunately for Robbie he had broken a CV and lost front wheel drive so when he got to the flat boggy section in the gully he had to winch. He also winched here on the return, slowing him down considerably. The following vehicles then also found they had to winch on the return through this section, adding an extra winch into the stage. At presentation the results were given and every competitor received an engraved torch along with their prizes. Robbie Marshall and Glen MacDougal had done enough to win with Christian Trusz and Terry Kane second, and Michael Camac and Ryan Thomas third. During the presentation David Metcalfe announced the Xtreme International would return to the eight days event again in 2009 but would be held in Rockhampton, Queensland, with EFS continuing their support as major sponsor to the point that the entry fee to the event would be free. Anybody interested in competing or spectating at the 2009 event can check out www.xtreme4x4sport.com.au for further details.