BEAD POPPIN' & ROCK HOPPIN'

THE CREW AT 4X4 AUSTRALIA A INVITE INTO A BUNCH OF ADVERTISERS S TO GET AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS OF OFF-ROAD DRIVING IN THE HILLS BEHIND COFFS HARBOUR, NSW.

- Michael Vaughan

MANY 4WD clubs have an unwritten rule along the lines of ‘whoever is the first to hold the group up self-nominates to write the trip report’. Well, here I am ... that bead-popping incident happened about 500 metres into the first track. First, let’s back up a bit for some background.

Brand Sales Manager for 4X4 Australia, Scott Crowley, has organised a few of these Advertisers’ Trip events over the years. This year it was based at Glenreagh, about halfway between Coffs Harbour and Grafton, NSW.

Scott brought his own VW Amarok V6, but it’s not set-up for 4WD use – more of a dirtbike hauler – so he wisely rotated through the other vehicles as a passenger. Editor Matt Raudonikis was in the magazine’s own black Ford Ranger; Deputy Editor Dean Mellor was in his Defender 300Tdi; Queensland 4X4 Australia representative James Secher and his mate Shannon were in a 3.0-litre Hilux; as was Dave in HEMA’s long-suffering version; Rob from ARB was in a go-faster red Colorado; James and Chris from EFS 4WD were also in a Colorado; Brad of MaxTrax fame was in a current 200 Series; Rob from Narva was in another Ranger; and I, Michael of Piranha Offroad, was in yet another Ranger.

Guiding us was Kev Smith, who hardly needs introduction, being a regular 4X4 Australia contributor and also having 35 years of four-wheel driving experience around the Coffs Harbour area, most lately in his trusty 80 Series Land Cruiser.

Everyone made it to Camp Eagle Eye at Glenreagh on Tuesday night, so after a sleep and breakfast of bacon and egg rolls, we were ready to go for what ended up being a 50km loop of scenic and, in parts, challenging tracks. All of us aired down to be within the 18 to 22psi pressure range, and soon after we were off to the first track for the day.