4WD Club Focus NEW

The Out and About 4X4 Club celebrated its 15th anniversary in July 2020. It was founded as The Holden 4X4 Club of Western Australia in 2005 when a Holden Jackeroo, Frontera or Rodeo was a member’s vehicle of choice. Fast forward to 2012 and the Out and About 4X4 Club was born when the members decided to open up the club to owners of other brands of 4WD vehicles. Our club’s mantra is to foster a steady growth in membership and to maintain its friendly social culture in a safe and responsible 4W driving environment. We welcome all new members whether they be experienced 4W drivers or inexperienced and new to the joys of camping and off-roading. Our experienced members are always willing to help with advice and training.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Although many of our members’ vehicles have had improvements made to them to make them more capable we are not a hard core 4WD club that seeks out the most difficult tracks to conquer. We are about enjoying our 4W driving in a safe, fun and responsible manner. Day trips can vary from coastal and dune driving to challenging gravel tracks in the hills. Somewhere in between are the meandering minor roads and tracks taking in the scenery and wildflowers when in season. Weekend trips are a regular feature on our calendar. Some involve touring and camping only, while others include some 4W driving. Many of our trips away are off road caravan and trailer friendly for those who have them as well as tent and swag. We may stay at a caravan park, a country station, the beach or an off-grid bush camp. Past extended trips have included the Kimberley, Canning Stock Route, Connie Sue Highway, Holland Track, Goldfields, Gascoyne region, Karijini, Birdsville and the Simpson Desert. Future planning will include revisiting some of these areas as well as discovering new destinations to explore.

CLUB MEETINGS

We meet monthly on every 3rd Tuesday at 7.30pm at the Beechboro Scouts Hall, Lot 17 Lord Street, Caversham WA. Visitors are always welcome. If you would like to join us on a trip or attend a club meeting, please contact our Trips Coordinator for further information: trips@outandabout4x4club.org.au

4WD CLUB FOCUS

If you would like your club featured in our 4WD Club Focus, please email: admin@western4wdriver.com.au

Visit our website at www.outandabout4x4club.org.au or check out our Facebook page Out And About 4X4 Club Inc. for more information.

Julimar Journey

When: March 2021 Destination: Julimar State Forest Departure Time: 9.40am

The trip began with the usual social gathering opposite the Checkers Hotel in Bullsbrook and an impressive array of 4WD vehicles gathered for the pending adventure. It was great to see several visitors joining us for the day, who were warmly welcomed and introduced to club members. With the pleasantries dispensed with, there was movement at the station as eleven assorted 4WDs headed off. The usual parochial vehicle owners’ banter soon followed with the two Y62 Nissan owners generously offering to console and support the owners of other vehicles when they needed their assistance on the tracks. With that competitive zeal set in motion, our convoy of vehicles set off up Great Northern Highway for what was to be a great day in the hills. Present were the usual LandCruisers, Prados, a Troopie, a Hilux, a Triton, a Pajero, a Jeep (yep! he bought a Jeep) and a couple of allegedly superior Nissan Y62s. A long trip proceeded through the forest to the eastern side of Julimar and one obstinate emu that nonchalantly raised its head to scoff at us for daring to disturb his tranquillity. There were numerous trail bikers weaving their way through the seductive curves and we eventually pulled off the road to air down for the mainly hard gravel based tracks ahead. We headed off the main track into the picturesque forest along lesser tracks. With our visitors in mind, the club’s usual track etiquette was explained and we soon embarked in convoy mode with our headlights blazing. At this point a LandCruiser driver could contain himself no longer and took the opportunity to fuel the Toyota/Nissan debate with a few jokes

aimed at the Y62 drivers who treated them with absolute disdain. Some tracks were easy, some not so. Some in the convoy drove the harder sections and others chose not to. There was one treacherous hill that most avoided. It was steep with deep ruts that managed to swallow one of the Nissans when it bottomed out. Low range and dual lockers proved their worth in tackling this engaging slope which once conquered in one direction had to be driven in the opposite direction (once or twice more). One cheeky Pajero managed the climb by straddling the ruts and easily driving up the slope proving that where there's a will, there's a way. As we continued on, the tracks seemed to become narrower and narrower with ominous pin striping threatening the wider vehicles. We came upon some more heavily rutted tracks which the Y62 drivers relished driving whilst others drove the side tracks.

The day was heating up around lunchtime so we all gathered under shared awnings for a delightful lunch in the beautiful Julimar Forest. Rigorous conversations ensued about vehicle dynamics, brand superiority, health issues (personal, not 4WD) and of course, life and the universe in general. Soon it was time to move on so we enthusiastically piled back into our vehicles, reformed our convoy and headed back into the dense bush. Another steep rutted climb soon followed. With expert spotting by our trip leaders and careful wheel placement, we were all able to negotiate this challenge without vehicle damage. The tracks continued on in much the same manner with a variety of challenges, but none insurmountable, presenting themselves to us. The trip finished around 4.00pm and we were able to drive home listening to the Eagles win their first game for the year against Gold Coast. A fabulous day was experienced by everyone; great company, great 4W driving and a great Eagles win to top it off!