Hi Everyone,

Lots of things have happened this last few weeks so I should be able to chatter away for some time!  Good for me, but maybe bad for you!  Historically, well over the last two years anyway, February has typically been pretty quiet.  Not so for 2008.  What with the Grilla run, Brisbane 4x4 club and other separate groups, Feb has been quite busy!  Then onto the long Easter weekend.

Grilla Run

You're never quite sure when you change something whether it's going to work or not.  The move to Grilla was exactly one of those things.  Bookings were good, (full for the hard run) all I needed was a car to drive in!  Good old Cruiser had done it's cv's...as normal.  Quick afternoon under the tyres on Friday and we're away!  After a great meal from Toni at the Stables we took off.  Because we had a few more vehicles than normal I decided we would get into the run in a quieter fashion and warmed everyone up on a few moderate to difficult tracks.  Moving to the back of the property the group had a go at VB Gultch.  For those of you who don't know this track it has some rather large wombat holes on it and some trees that tend to bite you if you get out of line!

First a recovery...then a tyre, then a cv, then another cv, then another tyre, then another tyre, then a turbo!  This was not quite going to plan!  With a few cars not making it, (mine included), I was able to relax and let someone else do the driving while I talked on the radio.  As we came up Dippa a voice from the radio calls for help.  From the distance it looks like he's rolled so we sprinted up just to see two grinning faces appear from behind the Purple Haze (Hilux).  From our viewpoint it looks like they're stuck but when led round to the other side there is a large piece of wood holding the car on the angle.  Glad to see you care Ian, they say!  On the way to the next track I look sideways at my other rear passenger.  I think the rum and beer has got to him for however much I shook him he wasn't moving!  When I talked to him the next day and asked how he enjoyed the run, his comment was that the swaying of the vehicle put him to sleep.  Where have we heard that before!  Luckily we got him back before he spoke to the white telephone!  All in all it was an interesting night with one mishap happening after another.  Everybody got back safely and with the exception of the Cruiser who had blown a turbo everyone drove home the next day!  The only change we'll make to the next Grilla run will be to go into two groups.  This will quicken things up a bit and with a bit of luck, hope for fewer problems.  So come and give it a go!  The next one's on the 24/25 May.

Brisbane 4x4 Club

Brisbane 4x4 booked for the last weekend in February to do their Drivers Awareness, (DA) program for their new members.  In previous times we have normally had something in the region of 15 cars appear for the weekend.  Imagine our surprise when we had a call from the trip leader Danny Powers saying currently they were looking at 35 vehicles.  On the day it actually turned out to be about 40!  A great turnout from the Club and we think this has been one of busiest weekends outside of a public holiday or competition as we also had a number of bookings from other groups and families.  Thankyou Brisbane 4x4! Judging from your feedback it seems you had a great time and you'll be back!

Brain Box?

We had a few friends around for an evening BBQ at the back of the office and after a few drinks things got down to there normal level... There was much discussion over whether a certain person had a brain...So to dispel these mad rumours I have a picture to prove it!

The dogs by the way, had a very small dinner that night!

Easter 2008

Forecasts for Easter didn't look good with rain and more rain to come over the weekend.  Fortunately, while Brisbane showered, we on the Granite Belt had a dry sunny Easter weekend!

On the Friday Beer o'clock was well attended and provided one real heart stopping moment.  Three quarters of the way up a vehicle stalled, lost it's brakes and drive and slowly started tumbling back down the hill.  For one moment it started turning and the wheels came up off the ground...the first start to a roll.  Luckily, it stopped and with a gentle bounce the wheels returned to the ground.  Whether this was due to driver brilliance or just pure luck I don't know!  On return to earth I asked the driver whether he would like to have another go...I think that's enough for today he said!  If anyone has a video of this please send it to me so that I can post it on the website!

Again on the Friday evening we did the gentle night run around the property.  With so many cars it looked like a long snake of vehicles passing through the bush.

Saturday was slightly different, with Getaway 4x4 club and another separate group coming to the house for one of Toni's special roasts and yummy desserts.  Everything went to plan and another great evening was had by all.  I would just like to make a special thankyou to our friends who helped us with set up and serving of the meal.  You make things so much easier for us!  Also I have a picture that dispels the myth that men don't wash up!

It was also Toni's birthday that evening.  After everyone had returned to the campsite and we had a few needed celebratory heart stoppers we managed to persuade Toni that she really should go wheeling.  So after minimal preparation, Toni clambered into the Hilux and was treated to a great display of driving on Walkerbout, one of the Parks more rocky sections.  On return, she was actually quoted as saying "I was worried but it was really good fun!"  One more fan for the park!

Easter Sunday was the day of the kids hat parade.  A great selection of hats and kids and in this case pictures tell a thousand stories.

 

On our travels around the Park over the weekend and with people sending in pics I've included a selection of the more interesting moments!

Please note, on the last photo that is not smoke but water coming out of his stacks!

Our final event for the weekend was the drag circuit.  The men's were very well subscribed and the ladies...well we only had two.  Good on em I say!  However, both winners of the mens and the ladies beat our best times.  Andrea Gibson sliced .21secs off the ladies, with a time of 1.12.29.  Andrea was definitely a lady with a mission after also entering during Australia day and coming second.  Well done Andrea!  However, in the mens we were all treated to watch some immaculate driving by Ian Clark in his generally stock GU Patrol.  Ian managed to take 2.07 seconds off the best time to date, with a time of 59.28 secs!  It does show that power is not everything, with Ian taking some of the best lines I've seen on the circuit.  Great drive mate!

So Easter was over....On behalf of Toni and myself a big thankyou for everyone who came to the Park.  Roll on (no pun intended), Anzac weekend!

Hope to see you here soon.

Cheers