Bridgestone Night Challenge - August 2009 Since Bridgestone came on board for the 2008 Bridgestone Night Challenge the Western Cape 4x4 community have been waiting for the 2009 event. This was the 9th competition that we have organised and it was definitely the best, taking the format of the original Camel Trophy with lots of driving, navigation and exciting stages. The event started with scrutineering at Bridgestone's Monatgue Gardens HQ. Lots of Bridgestone goodies were provided to the participants, Bridgestone's Errol Monsen and team were making boerewors rolls and soon after the briefing the first vehicle pulled away from under the Bridgestone arch. First stage was a navigation stage to Atlantis Dunes where the vehicle participated in a dune climb, sand driving skills event, somoe precision driving and finally an event which tested their navigation and driving skills, where participants had to drive between two points in the shortest distance. A task not so simple when one considers that there are dunes and bush in the way. As the sun started to set the vehicles made their way to a bush area behind the Atlantis Industrial Complex. The first challenge was to find the way in as only a waypoint had been given, then cross the railway line and participate in Mike Porter's precision driving event. Not that easy in the day and NOT easy in the dark. Another few stages with participants navigation abilities being tested, a quick tyre repair and special stage through the dense bush. By now it was 9pm and the first vehicle departed via a Paarl to a marshal point located next to some old water retention dams, with definitemud holes if the wrong line was taken. Just before midnight the vehicles started arriving at Wiesenhof outside Stellenbosch. "Set up camp and then get your instructions". This involves paddling across the bass dam in a canoe to find your next waypoint, paddle back against the clock and then off to the next stage. The next few stages involved some very interesting and challenging driving with a fairly radical descent in the dark and then a special stage through a river bed. The quiet of night was shattered by the V8's doing what they do best and the last vehicle finished the night stages at 3am. The camp area was buzzing with fires blinking in the night sky. After a long day the marshals decided to braai at 3am and finally got to bed at 4.10am. As dawn broke and the darkness disappeared the teams were ready for the last two stages. The steady throb of motors warming up filled the air and soon the vehicles moved to the area below the dam wall. Johann and his team set them off while Greg set out the final stage which involved a reverse through a narrow course. While the points were being finalised the teams returned to the camping area and soon gathered to hear the results. The winner was Elrico Koen and Manus in a Discovery. Second was Peter Sherlock in a Gelandewagen The Bridgestone Toilet Roll award for the participant who caused the most chaos went to Hermie Koen. All in all another fantastic event which was very well organised and did the Bridgestone brand proud. Watch this space for the 2010 event.