Perth 4WD and Outdoor Show.

15-17 November 1996:

Organizer Chris Osborne reports that it was a record for [the show] with an audited crowd of 18,956 persons in the three days.
[...]
stands from the factory/distributors by Jeep, Rover, Mitsubishi, Ford, Daihatsu, Suzuki, Mercedes/SSangyong, Mazda, Lada, Isuzu/GM/Holden, plus a huge 800 sqm distributor assisted Toyota dealer stand.
[...]
Heaps of other new products, plus one kilometre demo test ride track, main grandstand presentations of the Fielder Air Suspension and Bushrangie [...]

Nowhere have the effects of inflation been so strongly felt as in the 4x4 market
- G.Poole

The tracks are a serious exercise by Toyota Accessories division. The new versions due for testing in [Australia] next month are just 85kgs each in weight. They can be fitted in about an hour by one person with a good jack. They use a simple adapter plate. Once fitted to the hubs, special bump-stops are installed for steering limits but these can be left on. Estimated costs I've heard on the grapevine are around $3000 a set and Toyota have strong demand in the snow, and in full time outback situations such as bad mud mining sites. Apparently the footprint is 3 times [ed: I'd say a lot more] that of standard off road tyres, and the steering of the tracks makes them special as well ... most track vehicles being skid steer. Top speed reported as 100km/hr.

- Chris

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