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2005 African Offroad Adventure
The 7th African Offroad Adventure took place in October 2005 with a full house of 22 vehicles.
The venue has been changed each year and this year
we selected the Tanqua Karoo and more specifically
the farm Tanqua. The recce team explored the area
and finalized all the details and two weeks later
I flew up in the 172 to finalise all the details.
The farm is interesting with varied terrain and boasts
the biggest privately owned dam in South Africa. The
farm house which is run as a guest house is built
Namibian style, out of the local rock and is really
an oasis in the desert. Flying in to Tanqua told a
different story of the incrediably arid landscape.
Firstly the rugged mountains and terrain around Kagga
Kamma and then about 15 nautical miles further the
flat Tanqua landscape greets you. The farm has two
runways and is used my most of the local flying clubs
as a venue for the "fly in's".
The African Offroad Adventure 2005 participants met
at First Alignment Centre run by Johann Viljoen who
did the scrutineering. Stickers, caps, T Shirts and
instructions were issued and the vehicles then departed
for the Rawson Estates office in Brackenfell for boerewors
rolls and to wait for sunset for the first stage.
(Rawson Dvelopers and Homebuilders were financial
supports of the event).
As the sun began to set the vehicles departed at
two minute intervals for the first stage on farm outside
Durbanville.
The event is based as much as possible on the overlanding
ability of the driver and navigator and each year
we try and create new events. After reaching the farm
the team had to chop through a log before moving on
to the two mud stages.
The stage was set out by Bruce, Russell and Johann
and was enjoyed by all. Next stop Ceres (last fuel
stop) and then a marshal point which was located on
a seldomly used side road.
After departing the marshal point the participants
met at the bush camp, a camp next to the road with
no facilities.
The next day saw the teams on their way with a number
of precision driving stages, tyre changes and log
pulling event. The overnight camp was at an abandoned
farm house located on the farm. The area has not had
any rain for two years and so the dust was hell in
places and the participants with open vehicles were
covered from head to foot.
Sunday morning dawned with some more interesting
events, a team event with the participants divided
into two groups, followed by a flag collection event
which took place on the dry dam. Thereafter the participants
pitted their communication skills and the navigator
"talked" the driver through a rough course.
This event is always interesting watching the techniques
used by the teams. Knowing your right from your left
is a definite advantage.
The last stage was the highlight of the competition,
a series of slate steps, with varing height up to
600mm. The teams had to choose a route through the
slate steps, while driving against the clock.
Before announcing the results I would like to thank the following companies for
their support:
- Rawson Developers and Homebuilders
- Merit Tyres
- SG Signs
- Timika Promotions
- Mediclinic Milnerton
- Zippo
Congratulations to Mike Porter and Gary Bauer who won the event
(again) in a "plaas bakkie".
Results
First Mike Porter and Gary Bauer
Second Elrico Koen and Pierre Genis
Third Gerhard Mitton and Dierdre Smith
Mud (stage 1) Owen Spalding and Piet Smal
Youngest Driver Rory and Brian van Zyl (father and son team)
Oldest Participant Jorgen and Sonja Dahl
Team Spirit Ian McLaren and Veronica van Reenen
For some of the competitors comments, go here:
African Expeditions
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