The annual Pajero Challenge was held over the weekend of May 3rd and 4th 1997 in the forests around Mount Beenak to the east of Gembrook, Victoria.
The Challenge is a 24 hour, 4WD family event that covers 350 to 400kms of interesting yet often demanding bush tracks. The event is open to members of any VAFWDC affiliated 4WD club and can be undertaken in a standard 4WD vehicle with good off road tyres. The most challenging aspect of the event is the ability to navigate from detailed maps and to stay awake for up to 24 hours.
The Challenge commenced at Gembrook which is approximately 65kms east of Melbourne and finished at Labertouche 24 hours later. The 45 competitors in a wide variety of off road vehicles were released from the start point at two minute intervals, the first vehicle driving off at 10am.
Reading detailed maps of the area, plotting grid references, interpreting trip notes, answering quiz type questions and compass navigation all combined with sheer determination and endurance to reach the finishing point.
The Challenge covered a variety of driving conditions from good secondary gravel roads to large muddy bogholes and steep rutted forest tracks, the more difficult sections being optional for those wishing to take the easy, less demanding route.
Throughout the course were 17 official checkpoints, a motorkhana, 6 difficult sections and 5 secret checkpoints, with speed and timing being of little importance in finishing or winning a prize. All checkpoints and potentially difficult sections were manned by enthusiastic members of local 4WD clubs, the local CFA and the event organisers, the Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria.
The overall winner of the Challenge was David Officer (Pajero 4WD Club & sponsor), with Geoff Portman (Nat. 4WD) finishing second and Mike Smith (Yarra Valley 4WD Club) finishing third.
The leading vehicles all finished in the early hours of Sunday morning around 2am, with the rest of the field completing the course during the next 6 to 10 hours.
The sponsors of the event were Long Distance Communications, ARB Corporation, Officer Smith Automotive, Brown Davis, Elite Mechanical Services, Mitsubishi Motors, Total Tyre Service, Kevington Hotel, Melbourne Map Centre, Highway Tyre Service and Overlander 4WD Magazine.
Alan Mai (event coordinator), John Burke (Administrator) and the organising committee from the Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria welcomes new participants and supporters to Challenge 1998 and thanks all club members involved in making this year's event a great success.
- Nigel Beresford
Category |
Vehicle No. |
Driver |
Club |
Navigators / Passengers |
|
1st Overall |
3 |
David Officier |
Pajero 4WDC/Sponsor |
Ross Runnalls |
|
2nd Overall |
1 |
Geoff Portman |
Nat 4WDC |
Robin Smalley, Stuart Ferguson & Kevin Sharp |
|
3rd Overall |
2 |
Mile Smith |
Yarra Valley 4WDC |
Chris Hummer |
|
4th Overall Encouragement Award |
41 |
Aaron Carlton |
CFA |
Darren Blitz |
|
5th Overall Encouragement Award |
35 |
Gerard Buile |
Albury Explorers 4WDC |
Kevin Thiele & Linda Thiele |
|
1st Team |
3 & 1 |
David Officer; Geoff Portman |
Pajero 4WDC/Sponsor Nat 4WDC |
Ross Runnalls; Robin Smalley, Stuart Ferguson & Kevin Sharp |
|
2nd Team |
2 & 22 |
Mile Smith; Peter Taylor |
Yarra Valley 4WDC |
Chris Hummer; Bryce Brown & Richard Mansfield |
|
3rd Team |
20 & 27 |
Ian Hulls; Greg Ackland |
Sth Gippsland 4WDC |
Gary Edwards; David Markley |
|
1st Pajero (Non sponsor) |
18 |
Glen Chambers |
Pajero 4WDC |
Brian Richards & Andrew McKenzie |
|
1st Family |
9 |
John McMahon |
Pajero 4WDC |
Stephen McMahon, Sandra Richardson & Louise McMahon |
|
Last Vehicle to Complete Route |
5 |
Ian Garbett |
Yarra Valley 4WDC |
Colin Berry, Paul Jennings & Peter Martin |
|
Most Club Spirited Competitor |
10 |
David Hobbs |
Dandenong Ranges 4WDC |
Neil Purdon & Paul Temminhoff |
|
Best Checkpoint |
53 |
Ian Hastie |
Pajero 4WDC |
Jim Baumgurtel, John Jansen & Greg Salter |
|
Best Organised Recovery Crew |
R2 |
n/a |
Hi-Lux 4WD Club (Adrian Pearson) |
Peter & Daniel Roberts (Pajero Club) |
Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all the competitors and officials who helped make the event a success.
- Alan Mai,
On behalf of the Challenge Committee.
Go to the
cross-reference,
Pajero Club or
pre-event flier
pages