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Sandturion Off-Road Saturday January 16th

Open Events arranged on the Forum that are not Club Events
Triton1
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#46

Post by Triton1 »

Good evening Manny,
I will be attending with 2 cars, payment will follow shortly...

Thank you

Triton1

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Mad Manny
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#47

Post by Mad Manny »

Great stuff George, you made it JUST in time!

This event is now CLOSED for new bookings.
"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

Bugger
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#48

Post by Bugger »

Manny could you confirm if there are save parking to leave my tow vehicle and Trailer inside the property while we Jolly Patrollie up the Mountain.

Syncro Cox Camper
SJ 410 TarzanTiny
Millennium Beetle VR6 T Liberty
And a few VW Air cooled Toys

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Mad Manny
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#49

Post by Mad Manny »

I'll save you some parking...
"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

BushWacker
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#50

Post by BushWacker »

... Tik .. Tok ... !
... Famous Fiver VoorLoper ...
... Veni Vidi Vici ...

Anthony Forgey
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#51

Post by Anthony Forgey »

I'd like to book for a friend too. Alex Roux.

His fee is paid.

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Mad Manny
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#52

Post by Mad Manny »

...and then we were 14!

I'll send you guys a Pin Drop, via WhatsApp, on Friday...


"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

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Mad Manny
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#53

Post by Mad Manny »

It are time.
See you all in one and a half hours...


"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

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Mad Manny
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#54

Post by Mad Manny »

Here...

Image
"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

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LesseW
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#55

Post by LesseW »

Where’s Colin’s Disco?
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FJ Cruiser
Bushlapa Baobab 4

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Mad Manny
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#56

Post by Mad Manny »

Colin's Disco had suffered it's 2nd break down in 200m & was being repaired...
"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

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Mad Manny
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#57

Post by Mad Manny »

OK Mad Manny's Full Length Report on our visit to Sandturion4x4 Off-Road venue on Saturday January 16th

Background:
Anton Bodenstein called me on Thursday 7 January & a suggested we go to Sandturion.
The venue has, amongst it's other activities, two 4x4 Options:
The Track.
The Mountain Trail.
Anton had done the Track & wanted to return to do the Mountain Trail.

I contacted Peter of Sandturion & he agreed to the special rate of R350 (normally R400) to host us, with guides & include coffee on arrival & a lunch braai.

I started the Thread the very next day & the rest is the history you have read in the 56 previous posts above.

I was MOST impressed, given that the event was in week 5 of a 9 week month & given the 'Rona & Lock Down etc, with the very good turnout I received.
14 vehicles is very good, under the circumstances.

Obviously, people were keen to get out after the long absence, however, this long absence was about to take it's toll in ways we never imagined... more on that later.

Unfortunately, the instigator, AntonB, could not make it.

The Arrival on the Day:
I realised I was running early when I saw how quick it is to get there, 30mins, 38km from my house.
So I took my time, took an easy drive & arrived at 08:10 only to find everyone was already there.
Everyone, except Colin Striker.

We deflated, greeted in a Socially responsible way, had coffee & caught up.

I was under the impression the Mountain Trail was an easy scenic grade 3 obstacle & had nearly left my recovery kit at home.
But I was in for a surprise...

We got everyone together for the reading of 10 Commandments of 4x4'ing.
Cedric the Entertainer then ran through what would happen next & we headed off in convoy.
Peter of Sandturion in his Jeep & two other Sandturion vehicles joined us.
I brought up the rear. :)

The Mountain Trail:

We drove through veld & on roads for 8.5Km to get to the start of the trail.
500m in (9km) we had to engage Low Range.
Progress was slow, the trail is very rocky & not the smooth pebble-like rocks - those sharp ones that either teach you tyre placement or tyre replacement.

Kells struggled to get her Shorty Paj into LR - Henri assisted & finally those troublesome Pajero Solenoids kicked in.
But all was not well.
This is the problem with infrequent use, stuff starts packing up. First case.

We came across a very interesting cave and a man made Bivouac used in the Boer war by the Boers as a hide from which to shoot the British.
Interesting piece of "Africana History"...

We continued on, but Cornell in his STOCK Everest (two negatives there, Stock & Everest) had to take it VERY carefully.
Kells in a Shorty, was also STOCK, but being a SWB she was slightly better off. For now...

As we started climbing the mountain we realised Kells couldn't get her Diff Lock to engage.
This is the problem with infrequent use, stuff starts packing up. 2nd case.

Henri Steyn then found that his Paj.............................
This is the problem with infrequent use, stuff starts packing up. 3rd case.

So, halfway up the mountain, where the going was starting to get touch, Henri & Kells decided to turn back.

Just then Colin had is first breakdown (well, his D1 did, he was still emotionally stable, at this point).

Colin got stuck & then his vehicle wouldn't start. He was recovered & we moved on.... for about 50m, the Colin broke down (again).
We decided to bypass him & in going past him I smacked a rock like it was an unloved ginger stepchild.
I debated getting out & beating Colin, but then I though;, "This is no time for fun, you have a mountain to climb!"

We got to the top & took the awesome pic above.

Unfortunately, While recovering Colin, Ant 4Gee radiator started leaking.

So we had two vehicles (Pajero's) limping back, a D1 with a blown water pump & a Patrol with a leak.

We had been on the Mountain Trail for 2hours & had cover ONE (yes, Uno, Een, Eine) Kilometer.

We decided to forego the rest of the Mountain Trail & head back to see what we needed to do to assist & get everyone back for lunch.
Colin was sort of sorted & could limp home.
Ant had his radiator out & was busy attending to the leak.
We decided that Avon (Rubi) would stay with Ant & we headed down.

Just then the Sandturion D2 cut a side wall. Wessel said he'd hang back in support & the rest of us slowly continued the decent.

The bulk of us got back & were soon enjoying lunch, we could see the2nd group heading down in the distance & knew they were OK.

Cornell, (with more damage than he had bargained on) needed to head home. I felt a bit bad for Cornell...
I told him it was an easy trail & the poor fool believed me. Will they never learn? :D

Lunch:
Lunch was surprisingly good, pap, lekker sous, apiece of chicken, a decent piece of steak & a worsie - very enjoyable.

The last lot arrived & ate. it was now just after 14:00 & we had done 2km in low range.

Wessel had a family loss & had to leave, a few others, like Kells & Colin, also went home.

The 4x4 Track:
We spent the next 2 hours on the (Made Made) track. Huge Fun!!!
The best part was this pit - like a bowl with several ways out.
Peter, Avon, Renier, Bugger, Martin, Ant & Alex & others had waaay too much fun there.

Conclusion:
Colin needs a vehicle is a better state.
Cornell & Kells need mods.
Pajero's need to be repaired.

But it was a lekker day out.

For R350 (or even the usual R400) Sandturion offers a lot & I recommend you go pay them a visit.
It's well positioned (close to JHB & PTA) & mommy can even stay at base camp with the kids, their are ablutions, a pub (post Lock Down) and a kiddies area.
But make sure you have, at the very least:
* A mild Lift
* Underbody Protection
* Rock Sliders.
* Decent Off Road Tyres
"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

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Mad Manny
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#58

Post by Mad Manny »

Could I ask the 12 Club Members who attended today to please post;
* The one thing they enjoyed the most about Sandturion4x4.
* One criticism or area you feel need to be improved.


Here's mine
Like: The location & how friendly & helpful every one was (Peter, Cedric, Joshua, the lady running the pub, the guys who guided us etc.)

Critique: Signage (to the place, at the place, on the Trail, on the track etc.)
"No one ever got stuck - in mid air!"

2010 Fortuner D-4D 4x4 'Fearless'
2006 Conqueror Conquest 'Gearless'

Renier_c
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#59

Post by Renier_c »

Nice report Manny!!!

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LesseW
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#60

Post by LesseW »

Likes:

Easy access from Gauteng
Nice “after party” with good food
Nice “track” although i did not do it
Friendly staff

Dislikes:

Rate mountain trail for what it is, yes it is only 2 obstacles but it can cause damage to stock vehicles. Else, get construction equipment and make a chicken run.


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