Overview

Here are a few details by way of background on the people and vehicles participating in the trip.

• Number of people: 91
• Number of teams (participating vehicles are divided into teams for the daily sections): 8
• Number of vehicles: 38 team vehicles and 6 marshals
• Youngest participant: Demi Lewton who is 2
• Oldest: well lets just say there are a number over 70

The Teams

	Team A Dave Chamberlain Keith Chamberlain Steve Clarke Brice McKay Eddie Soppert Joyce Soppert
	Team B Alan Stevens Joanne Stevens Cliff Hatton Beryl Hatton Kim Sherratt Frank Van der Meys Lyn Pudney John Pudney
	Team C Arthur Gorton Shaun Pollard Shannon McMillan Glenda Young Gary Young Erin Wishart Leon Zwetsoot
	Team D John Richardson Margaret Richardson Michael Richards Barbara Richards Gae Stephenson Joanna Richards Wayne Stevenson Bob Thynne Joan Thynne
	Team E -Kids Jevan Henare Turoa Keegan
	Team F Andrew Gee Don Kolver Marie Docherty Stephen Docherty Ernie Schicker Heidi Schicker
	Team G Tina Lowe Nick Brough Bruce Tustin Graeme Britton Lee Britton Roger Edge Derek Hick
	Team H Roy Krebs David Wolstenholme Mark Wolstenholme Murray Bengston Trish Barker Neil Barker Louise Hull Simon Manchester
	Team J - Back Row Tony Sims Willy G Wilton Margaret Harrington Chris West - Front Row Carl Furniss Jill Webster Barry Gray Gavin Cooper	- Middle Row Lou Furniss Adrienne Cooper Tania Wadham John Wadham

Kidz Corner

On our trip we have several families travelling with their children, ranging from 2 to 9 years. There have been some very long and tiring days and I have been amazed at how well these children have coped, sometimes better than the adults!

The kids are:

• James Purdie, aged 9 years, Sam Purdie, aged 6 years, travelling with Mom and Dad (Jill and Grant), owners of the infamous VX Toyota.
• Kacie Lewton, aged 5 years, Demi Lewton, aged 2 years, travelling with Mom and Dad (Margaret and Phil)
• Keegan Walls, aged 8 years, Jevan Walls, aged 5 years, travelling with Mom and Dad (Anneke and John)
• Turoa Royal, aged 7 years, Henare Royal, aged 4 years, travelling with Dad (Antony), who has been organising the reports for the Internet.
• Ashleigh Donaldson, aged 7 years, travelling with Dad (Alan), who is one of the main organisers of the trip.

E Team kids, from left Jevan, Henare, Turoa, Keegan

I asked each child which part was best so far:

• James Purdie enjoyed the water slide at Parakai.
• Sam Purdie enjoyed squirting the M team.
• Kacie Lewton’s favourite was the hot pools.
• Demi Lewton liked the trampoline at Redhill the best.
• Keegan Walls’ favourite was the water slide at Parakai.
• Jevan Walls favourite was the hot pools, farms and all the water.
• The Royals enjoyed Mount Tarawera and the volcano.
• Ashleigh Donaldson was only with us for 2 days and has now gone home, so we couldn’t find out what her favourite was, but we think it was her dad!

Well done kids, you are all very special.

How The Maps Were Made

The maps showing the route taken on each days stages were produced from data logged by a  GPS carried by Antony Royal. This data was sent via email to a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) specialist at Critchlows Assocociates who then overlaid it on a map of New Zealand. The finished map segments were then emailed to me for inclusion here. They give a good idea of the varied route followed.
See if you can spot the place where Antony was trying out the new snorkel on his Nissan Patrol in the Tasman Sea!

Acknowledgements

In preparing and running this adventure, a number of North Island 4x4 clubs greatly assisted. In particular we'd like to thank the following for their help:

Kauri Coast 4WD Club (days 1, 2 and 3)

Bay of Plenty Club (day 5)

Whakatane Club (days 5 and 6)

Geyserland 4WD Club (days 6 and 7)

Thanks also to the other clubs who assisted in route finding and planning.

This Web Site was put together by Mark Wilson from the Cross Country Vehicle Club of Wellington using Microsoft Frontpage for the web page editing and Microsoft Photo editor for photo enhancement.

 

Other 4WD web sites

Interested in seeing more on the web on 4WD'ing? Here are some local and international sites you might like to visit.

4x4.net.nz Wellington Cross Country Vehicle Club

Off-road.com 4wd Internet Magazine

 
Hutt Valley Nissan - Williams and Adams - Pudney and Lee Wormalds
Johnson, Lawrence & Elder

The North Island Four Wheel Drive Challenge has been put together by a small dedicated group of 4WD enthusiasts (all experienced club members) on a non-profit cost-recovery basis.

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