Navigation Car Rally Whiteman Park to Wilbinga
Trip Leader: Martin & Karen Archer
When: 24th February 2008
Location: Whiteman Park to Wilbinga
Participants:
After a few of stops through Whiteman Park to answer questions on park attractions the vehicles were sent on a circuit around Malaga and Alexander Heights. This was so they approached the Gnangara pine plantation from the West. It would have been quicker to access the plantation from the Whiteman Park end; however this was thought to be a little dangerous having the vehicles crossing approaching traffic on the Gnangara speedway.
Each contestant was provided with a running sheet of directions to follow and questions to answer along the way. An emergency envelope was also provided for anyone who may have got lost.
The tracks followed various powerline systems for about 11 kilometres before crossing Neaves Road into the next section of pine plantation and Wandoo bushland. This section of sand tracks was more user-friendly having been graded for the large logging trucks. After meandering around the various forest tracks the route eventually exited at Ziatas Road, Pinjar.
There were several hill climbs over rutted out sand dunes that posed a challenge for some, but all made it through. That is except visitors Andrew and Jody whose short wheel base Pajero developed engine problems and decided it didn’t want to play anymore.
Russel and Jenny attached a snatch strap and proceeded to tow them over the dunes and along the track until they met a hill that was too difficult to negotiate. At that stage Paul attached another strap to the front of Russel’s vehicle to form a 4WD daisy chain. This succeeded in pulling the disabled Pajero over the hill. When they eventually found the meeting place, it was decided to leave the broken vehicle at the top of the dunes leading to the beach, rather than tow it down and be burdened with getting it back off the beach later.
Upon arrival at the beach four other vehicles, not in our group, had found themselves bogged in the very soft sand. In one instance, a couple of young men in a Suzuki had come ploughing at a rate of knots over the dunes and headed straight for the water. It wasn’t until the last minute they tried to turn…however found themselves sliding deep into the wet sand on the edge of the water. They sat there for half an hour getting washed by waves while their friends reduced their tyre pressures before snatching them out. That will be one rusty Suzuki in a few months time.
At that stage we had erected the house of eleven blue bags while the other participants slowly rolled in one by one. The weather was ideal for the beach with just a slight sea breeze. Many made use of the cool ocean water.
The benefits of experience were demonstrated by our club participants, who upon recognising the soft sand conditions drove appropriately. Some got a little stuck, but not enough to require snatch recovery. Perhaps the incentive may have been the deduction in points for assisted recovery.
Unfortunately for Peter, by the time he got to the destination, it was 4:00 O’clock and things were getting packed away for the trip home. Despite this Peter and his friend said they had had a good day.
Russel, Jenny, Andrew and Jody decided to leave ahead of the group just in case they had trouble towing the Pajero to the main road. After a short delay digging his Nissan Ute out of the soft sand, they headed off.
CAR RALLY RESULTS
|
|||||||
Name
|
Kilometres
|
Distance + 15% – travel dist
|
Questions
|
Bonus sticks
|
Recovery bonus or deduction
|
Total
|
|
|
91.7km
|
|
31
|
2pts each
|
|
|
|
ODOWD
|
94
|
35
|
22
|
4
|
|
61
|
|
KINGSTON
|
94
|
35
|
30
|
6
|
|
71
|
|
KEESING
|
93
|
35
|
27
|
6
|
5
|
73
|
|
REDDINGS
|
94
|
35
|
26
|
4
|
|
65
|
|
McCARTHY
|
99
|
35
|
21
|
0
|
|
56
|
|
LEHMANN
|
100
|
35
|
24.5
|
2
|
|
61.5
|
|
STAMPALIJA
|
92
|
35
|
30
|
4
|
|
69
|
|
THEUNISSEN
|
86
|
35
|
31
|
4
|
|
70
|
|
BELCHER
|
94
|
35
|
29
|
6
|
|
70
|
|
KENNEDY
|
93
|
35
|
30
|
2
|
5
|
72
|
|
JOHNSTON
|
152
|
-11
|
19
|
0
|
-5
|
3
|
|
RYAN
|
92
|
35
|
29
|
0
|
5
|
69
|
|
SHIPTON
|
97
|
35
|
31
|
4
|
|
70
|
|
SCHOSTAKOWSKI
|
|
Withdrawn
|
|
|
|
|
The figures show some interesting results.
Paul Ryan didn’t climb a certain hill to obtain the bonus sticks from a can at the top. He instead plucked a fig from the tree at the base hoping that would suffice. Sorry Paul, no points for that one.
Paul and Russell gained an extra five points each for their assisted recovery of Alphabet Andrew.
I think it may be the first time a ‘daisy chain’ recovery has been performed by the club.
Terry Keesing earned another 5 points for volunteering to help Peter Johnston who was stuck on a distant beach. He didn’t get to recover Peter, but I gave him the points just for the effort.
Those few points gave Terry and Liam the win for the day. The recovery points made the difference, otherwise it would have been the Kingstons taking the honours.
Thanks to all those that participated and to Keith for assisting in pre-tripping the event and helping out on the day.