New Zealand 4x4 Trails Championship heads to Waihi

The Bay of Plenty Four Wheel Drive Club is gearing up to host the second round of the New Zealand 4x4 Trials Championship this weekend.

The national event, which is headlined by the spectacular Super Modified Class D and C trucks, will be staged at Mathers Rd (off Trig Rd) near Waihi on Saturday December 10.

Event organiser Zane Edlin says the club has secured the use of land belonging to Gary Mathers Contracting and has laid out a course that comprises 30 hazards designed to challenge competitors and provide some excellent spectacting.

A 4x4 Trials event involves hillclimbs and mud bogs that test horsepower and traction along with technical sidelings and time trial sections.

The majority of the entry this weekend is made up of trucks competing in Class D where V8 engines are the norm along with high-tech four wheel steering systems and massive tyres.

The opening round of the national series was staged by the Waikato club near Whatawhata in November and saw a day of mixed conditons with the course remaining mainly dry in the morning and rain making the hazards very slippery in the afternoon.

The Auckland crew of Scott and Jarred Biggs claimed the first round honours with their 6.0-litre V8-engined Homebuilt Class D truck while Wanganui’s Hamish Auret — the 2014-15 national champion — was second his 7.0-litre Corvette powered truck.

The lunchtime points leader was Wanganui’s Kevin Hermansen in his 2.0-litre Nissan turbo Class C Cowper Truck but he slipped to third position during the afternoon hazards.

Following the Waihi event the national series continues with the South Waikato event at Okoroire on January 21 and rounds will also be hosted by the Hutt Valley (Feb 11-12), Mt Egmont (March 11) and Manawatu (April 22) clubs.

The Waihi event will start at 8am and a field of about 40 competitors is expected. The local Scouts will be operating food and drink stalls.

Admission prices are Adults $10, Children $5 and a family pass is $25. No dogs are allowed at the event.