Hi All,

Such a lot has happened since our last Newsletter that I'll probably take a little while updating you on some of the things that have been going on at the Springs 4x4.  So apologies for this months lateness, but we do have a good excuse...we've been flat out!  So I'll go back to the middle of March and go from there.

Mitsubishi 4x4 Club

The Mitsubishi Club returned to the Springs 4x4 for a weekend and they decided to try our roast night again.  From this very evening a tradition has been born.  The last time Mitsubishi 4x4 was here Toni presented them with an outsize pair of ladies knickers which the receiver had to wear.  In jest we asked them if they still had them.... and lo and behold they appeared!  A vote was taken by the Club and the knickers were proudly presented to Graeme Thatcher and a picture tells a thousand stories.

No doubt we will see them again!

Birthday Bash

As most of you all know I hit the grand old age of half a century in March.  In the morning we ran some cars over the competition tracks, just to see how they would get on.  With some minor teething problems over marshalling and communication we managed to complete some of the tracks.  One individual, and I do not know his name decided he would do his own thing.  He came hurtling down the track...eyes fixed on some spot on the horizon...I was standing at the edge of the track, stop watch in hand.  Wow he's coming fast...surely he's got to slow down soon.  I'll wave my hands to tell him this is the end of the comp track.  Flash.....Bloody hell he's gone!  I turned round to see him disappearing over another hill!  With some consternation I wondered what competition he was doing!  I listened to the sound of his motor going further and further away...and then silence.  The radio crackled...."help me please I've rolled it"..."Are you OK and where are you?"  " I don't know"!!  Willing helpers went off in the distance to find the stranded vehicle and recover him.  Thank you!  I have to say this was perhaps one of the strangest things I've seen on the Park!  When asked afterwards what he was doing, the reply was "I was concentrating"!  The man in question was recovered and sported a large black eye for his great efforts to extend the competition track to 2kms!

After the excitement of the days events we moved back to the campsite for much needed refreshment.  I think that I felt I had missed out because I had been marshalling so decided I would take the Cruiser out for a play in a small gulley near the campsite.  Oh I forgot to mention this was full of large rocks and had not been driven before!  Anyway the ol girl went in no problems and I crossed a few smaller rocks.  Then I found some much larger one's.  The testosterone must have been running as I decided...let's go for it!  Damn it I'm wedged.  I've got one large rock changing the shape of my door and another one saying..."go on and I'll rip your diff off!" 

Well when you're well and truly stuck and you know going backwards will cause just as much damage as going forwards what do you do?  Go forwards of course!  With help of the winch and other balancing weights I made it through.  Not without damage... 2 CV's, 1 hub, 1 shaft, bent tie rods, swivel hub bearings, wheel bearings, shattered steering arm studs and of course a much better shaped door!  Oh well live and learn!  But the day still didn't stop there...

Back to the house ready for the evening bash.  Toni had prepared some scrumptious food and the band, IN2 played on.  After copious food and drinks I was ready to make a speech.  It's all a bit of a blurr, but no one seemed to take offence, so I must have said the right things!  I was then reminded that I would sing...Oh no...well of course I did, and to a male!  It's amazing what you'll do when when you're oiled!  3.30 am came and a few hardened people were left.  By 4am we were all gone...a great night!  Thankyou to everyone who came and for all the Birthday gifts and a big thanks to Toni for all the work she did..  I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and I'm sure I can think of another excuse to do it again soon!

Easter 2007

The following weekend was Easter.  We were booked out and had a roast to do for the Getaway Club and others.  Prior to that we had a car treasure hunt around the property, then two night runs and an Easter hat parade.  It certainly kept us busy.  Both night runs were nice and simple as the Cruiser was still needing some TLC from the previous weekend.  For many this was ideal as a lot of people had not had a go at one before.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it and for the boys who want to go harder come along to our Night Warrior run!  The treasure hunt as before went down well.  Kids just love looking for balloons whilst the adults had to solve the clues to get to them!

On the Sunday we ran the kids hat parade.  I was stunned at efforts they had made on their hats and this made the judging really hard.  In the end we had to choose one , but to all the kids well done!  Many thanks to my co-judge Mel from Queensland 4x4 Club, for performing the difficult job of choosing the winner!

After finishing all of the organised events I thought Toni and I could put our feet up.  But no!  Someone had gone down Canyon Climb and was stuck.  Out came the Cruiser, only operating in 2wd at this time.  Off to the back of the property.  Imagine my surprise when I saw a stock standard Prado with nice road wheels sitting at the bottom of the Canyon!  I asked the driver why he went down there?  His answer was that his wife was map reading and she told him to!!!  We both agreed later in the day that when you descend a 50 degree hill it is worth looking before you go to see what is at the bottom!  Anyway, he had tried to reverse out and had snapped his diff so with no power from the vehicle we attempted to winch him out backwards.

Many thanks to the guys who helped that day.  I couldn't go too far down the hill because I was in 2wd, so I was attached to another vehicle which pulled me up every time I had to move the car.  After attaching nearly 100 metres of straps we took some two and a half hours to winch the Prado out of the Canyon.  Much relief all round and back to the office.  There I found Toni running around doing food and coffees for lots and lots of people and with no help!!  It never rains but it pours!

Finally, thanks to everyone who visited us over March and April.  We hope you all had a good time and hope to see you again soon!

Keep on trackin!

Best Wishes

Iain, Toni and Jordan

www.thesprings4x4.com.au

Tel: 07 4685 2558

Email: info@thesprings4x4.com.au