4WD Club Focus

The last couple of years has been an interesting time for us as a new club with our launch on 25th September 2019, then Perth going into its first lockdown in March 2020. We really had to be proactive and think outside the box. Luckily with today’s modern technology we were able to keep a very active engagement with our members by dialling in for regular online meetings. The vision of our club has been keeping a focus on 4W driving, camping, social events and training. We are always trying to improve and maintain a very active club, and last year was a real testament with us completing 57 events in total. This year has been an exciting year for the club with our recent rollout of regional subbranches to start catering to Isuzu drivers throughout Western Australia. The new sub-branches are: Pilbara and Kimberley Region - based out of Port Hedland; Mid-West and Gascoyne Region - based out of Geraldton; Great Southern Region - based out of Albany / Bremer Bay. We are also gearing up to launch the Isuzu Caravan Club of WA Inc. and we are really excited about launching a focus into caravanning, as there are plenty of Isuzus out and about towing caravans and many of our existing members currently do so. We bring a great lifestyle that focuses on the great outdoors, social activities and community. We are closely working alongside ARMA (Australian Recreational Motorists Association) with some new community projects in WA to assist with maintaining track access for the future.

Trip Calendar 2022

18th May: Social Event - 4WD Night at Perth Motorplex. 21st May - 12th June: Long trip - GVD Desert Tasting. Club is heading out into the Great Victorian Desert. 28th May: Overnight trip - Dad Overnighter. An overnight trip for dads, grandads, uncles and single mums with their kids. Avon Valley National Park and surrounds. 4th - 6th June: June long weekend - Bremer Bay (Camp Qualinup). A mixture of 4W driving, fishing and track works at our Great Southern Regional Sub-Branch Coordinator's farm that backs up to Reef Beach Bremer Bay. 18th June: Day Trip - Muchea Hill. A fun day in the sand beyond the Gnangara Pines out through to Muchea Hill. 20th June: Monthly Members' Meeting at the Kalamunda Club - 7.00pm at 18 Kalamunda Road, Kalamunda. 22nd June: Social Event - Cannington Greyhounds. Dinner and a fun night watching the dogs race. 10th July: Social Event - Perth Museum. 11th July: AGM. 13th July: Pilbara Explorer. Heading out to the Pilbara Region and surrounds. We have a jammed-packed calendar with more events constantly being added that can be found on our website:

www.isuzu4x4clubwa.com.au

If you would like to find out more about our club, please visit our website or email:

info@isuzu4x4clubwa.com.au

We would love to hear from you.

If you would like your club featured in our 4WD Club Focus, please email: admin@western4wdriver.com.au

GOLDFIELDS TRIP - AUGUST 2021

By Mark Skeels

The plan seemed simple enough and looked straightforward and reasonable; go and explore around the goldfields and take in the bits south of Coolgardie and then head west and finish around Wubin.

Lovely plan and all looked good until the wettest July for a gazillion years meant that the word of the day during this trip would be 'change' - in fact it came to be the word used hourly on some days. But we like change and sometimes it’s good for the soul to not know what is going on, especially when you are trying to lead a trip. The following is a bit of a rundown on how we managed to spend our 12 days on this particular 4WD playgroup and how we ended up in the Great Victoria Desert.

Day 1

After some quick phone calls it was decided that the first night was to be in the caravan park at Hyden. Roads were closed all over the place and it was obvious we were not going to be heading further east to where we were planning on stopping for night one … and so the stage was set for hourly/daily changes for this adventure.

Day 2

Up early (hope they get used to this). North from Hyden via Mount Palmer and Yellowdine to a bush camp between the highway and the rail line. A look around the ruins at Mount Palmer and it was an easy day with a few puddles to get through. A nice campfire was needed as the weather gods had decided no rain for a while with beautiful clear goldfields night skies. This means the potential for morning ice on everything.

Day 3

Up early and get the fire going … to be a morning ritual. Everyone finished brekkie and packed up and was off to explore rocks and stuff followed by a very nice drive up to the rail line. Before the Holland Track became 'famous' this is what it was like. What a pity fame has ruined a nice drive. Big rocks, big salt lakes and what an easy day. At the morning smoko stop it was drop 10 from the tyres, not drop to 10 (lesson learnt by me) - make sure the instruction is understood. Lunch stop and get off the rail line (no names mentioned). Into Jaurdi Station for the night. Nice fire and the promise of another clear night.

Day 4

Up early (if you haven’t worked out by now there is an awful lot of up before the sun on these trips) and fire going and ready for another beautiful day. Surprised a couple of blokes metal detecting at an old mine site, ha ha. When you get out of your 4WD with

hi-vis on some think you are something official. They were very quick to let me know they had permission to be where they were … as if. Another easy run along rocks and lakes and into Kalgoorlie for the night. Some had not been there before so it was off to explore and resupply and do whatever until the next afternoon … sort of like a day off already and it’s only day 4.

Day 5

While some were up before the sun others slept in and as nothing was happening that’s pretty much what happened. Met up in the arvo for a run out to Lake Perkolilli for the night's camp. Another camp of niceness and this time we were joined for a few hours by a family from Kal with their brand new D-Max in a very pretty blue. Nice fire and many stories told (all true with no embellishments). During the morning when others were off exploring it had become obvious that we were not going to be getting into the area south of Kalgoorlie. Just way too wet and silly to be getting bogged and ripping up tracks so a change in plans was hatched. I couldn’t wait for my fellow playgroup attendees to hear it and get excited.

Day 6

Again we (well some anyway) followed the pattern of up and beat the sunrise. During the after-brekkie briefing the maps were pulled out and the Great Victoria Desert became the aim for a couple of nights. It was one of those 'seemed like a good idea at the time' moments. A nice drive along nice dirt roads (dry and dusty) and some even nicer photo opportunities (the drone was getting a workout) and into an old station homestead which many years before I had the pleasure of taking another group into and there was a very recently deceased camel. This time only a few bones remained which was a pity as I think this group also would have appreciated the smell, as did the others. This night our campsite was a bit of a 'take what you can find' and an old geo line was the go. Nice views over another salt lake with a small fire as there wasn’t too much wood anywhere.

Day 7

Do I need to say it? Yep, up early, pack up and an easy drive into Laverton. Sunrise Dam Mine still impresses and what was once a dirt road is now wide and sealed. Showers and coffees and cakes and phone calls and this is where the locals know their business. The Great Beyond Centre manager had foolishly engaged me in a few conversations a year before and most recently a couple of days before this trip. Permits are required and usually take a few days to get issued … 24 hours and it was a done deal. Nothing but heaps of praise for their efficiency. So armed with permits (and full bellies of cakes) it was off into the Great Victoria Desert along the Anne Beadell Highway. Now a bit of a story here … I have made this particular run many times and had only been back from doing this a month before and from what was previously a really crappy, corrugated, sandy track was now a nice, graded track. Thank you mining (I think). What corrugations there were (mainly after the mine bit finished) shook up enough of some of the cars and trailers to sort out a

few things. Yeo Homestead was the camp and with cloud increasing it was a possibility of rain (nothing happened). A roast dinner of immenseness was enjoyed and a sunset of magnificence ended a very nice day.

Day 8

I won’t repeat about getting up before the sun … but we did. The sunrise through the clouds enabled some pretty impressive drone footage to be taken. After brekkie and because today would not be a difficult or long drive it was decided to have a bit of a drive along an old track around the lake. A few hours and lots of scratches and a ruined tyre later we were back at the homestead and it was off to the Great Central Road. Cloud was increasing and the weather looked like it was going to be a bit moist (further west there had been more big rains). On the GCR and with the wind and cloud increasing it was into Giles Breakaway to set up camp. Some moisture attempted to fall from the sky but the wind made sure we were all busy trying to not get blown back from where we had come. The highlight of this bit was knowing (and being able to see) the super secret spy base … and some didn’t believe me.

Day 9

No need to say it again … Bit more rain and plenty of wind and into Laverton via the GCR for showers and coffees and cakes and some fuel. Then a nice easy run into Leonora and a few hours spent around Gwalia (if you haven’t been then make sure you go). With the forecast not too flash it was decided to head off and find a sort of sheltered campsite. So as the sun was getting lower and the wind was now gale force and the clouds threatening it was time to seek shelter in and between some abandoned mining dongas. They did the job beautifully.

Day 10

During the night the storm departed and with the clearing of the sky and dropping of the wind the temperature plunged. A beautiful sunrise but oh so cold. Into Menzies via Lake Ballard (muddy shoes anyone???) where apparently the coffee was very, very ordinary but the sun was out and it was now above 5 degrees. A nice drive to find a campsite and what a great little bush camp it turned out to be … sort of.

Day 11

Up early (again) and everything was covered in ice … real ice, and some spent the night huddled around the fire because their sleeping stuff was just not up to it … my swag is just so warm and cosy, I should have some sympathy. Off we went to have a look around Goongarrie Homestead and out via the

west track and eventually into Coolgardie. This was to be the last night so it was into the caravan park and then the pub for dinner. Even with new owners the size of your meal is, well, just adequate for a few to share … half the schnitzel saved for lunch.

Day 12

Goodbyes and off they went along the highway to Perth and home except for one. He was not yet done and took the longer way home via nearly 850km of dirt and scenery and water … so much water across the tracks and roads. No wonder the crops broke all records this season (did you know that if it’s wet canola sparkles when using your LED spotlights? Amazing!) I managed to get home in one piece around midnight so all was good.

So ended the first real long trip by the Isuzu 4x4 Club of WA. There had been a 'shorter' long trip at Easter (thank you Seroja) but this one enabled those who came along to get a taste of what it’s like to be 'remote' for an extended period and get to dip their wheels into the Great Victoria Desert.

What did we learn?

1. Plans change daily, hourly or whatever and you must be adaptable to change. 2. Fuel - this was not an incredibly remote trip but still required a decent fuel range. As most were towing it was an opportunity to see just how much you need to carry. Can you easily carry 60-80L extra fuel (not on your roof)? That’s 80kg. The run into the GVD the month before this trip I required a 1600km range. What happens if there’s the possibility that your planned fuel stop is not available? (See #1). 3. Water is for drinking. Get used to baby wipes and taking advantage of what’s around to wash yourself. Work on 3L per person/day minimum. That’s 6L/day if there’s two of you. If it’s 10 days where will you keep 60L? That’s 60kg. What if it’s 15 days? Now it’s 90L (90kg) and what if #1 happens? 4. Comms - as well as the normal UHF in the vehicle there should be a portable unit for each person in the vehicle. This is required because it is so easy to get lost in the remote bits of WA. After a couple of hours walking if you don’t have a GPS with you and your navigation skills are a bit ordinary life can become exciting, and it would be better if it wasn’t. There is sometimes long periods (days even) of no mobile phone coverage so a sat phone is required. 5. Food - whatever you like but you need to be aware that sometimes you cannot replenish your stuff easily and may need to have sufficient for the full trip. But there will always be roadhouses or community places to get some stuff … if they are open and if we get there (see #1).

6. Clothing - needs to be suitable for any/all weather conditions likely to be encountered on the trip … but try and be fashionable. Some questions were asked as to why I favour hi-vis stuff. The reason is a bit macabre but I think sensibly … if the SHTF I would like to think that the helicopter searching for me would beat the wild dogs and pigs finding me (plus I still have leftovers from my previous employment). 7. Sleeping stuff - It was obvious before we left that during this trip the nights would be cold … freezing cold, and with a bit of moisture we had more than a few icy nights. If you can’t sleep you suffer physically and mentally. It is really a fundamental thing that when making the trip into the desert regions of Australia during the winter months you must take sleeping stuff that will handle minus lots of degrees (the set up I had for this trip is not suitable for anything above about 5 degrees … it’s just too hot and uncomfortable but oh so toasty warm when it gets icy). If you are sleeping off the ground, you need to be aware of the cold getting under your bed and make suitable adjustments. 8. Your 4WD - it goes without saying that it needs to be in good condition. It is a very, very expensive recovery operation from some parts of these trips. If you look at the tyres and say to yourself, “They should be ok,” then they aren’t and you need new tyres, and depending on where we go you may need two spares (and plug kits as well). They will be subjected to rocks and sand and spinifex and other yukky stuff, and we deflate/inflate regularly. How’s your compressor? Then there’s the fuel … see #3. How’s your suspension? Can it handle the extra weight and the hours of corrugations? Are you towing? A whole new ball game that requires a lot of extra stuff. The weight of your 4WD when fully loaded and starting out (the weight reduces as we go along). Everything needs to be secured so it can’t move around or rattle. Corrugations will find the smallest thing and potentially turn it into a major issue. Lots to think about. The next 'big' trip by the club is planned for May - June 2022. 22-23 days that will once again take in the western bits of the Great Victoria Desert. If you think this is for you keep an eye on the club calendar and hit up the RSVP. We will arrange for a briefing before if needed (or wanted).

Participants: Steve / Karen - MU-X + trailer Ray / Sharon - MU-X + trailer Mathew / Nathan - Colorado D/cab + trailer Stuart - MU-X + trailer Paul - D-MAX S/cab Philip - BT-50 S/cab Mark - D-MAX S/cab