Thread: Coffs Harbour Report '07

Well, what a trip....Coffs is a great place to 4WD, very challenging, beautiful scenery and so close to everything. This was my first trip out with Sharlea and lets just say it couldnt have been a more "extreme" trip for a first outing as there were some brown undy moments for us in the D3 .

Where does one start.....simple. Justin did an excellent job as trip leader, that is one man who is calm under potentially precarious situations, his experience and expertise certainly helped calm my nerves on a few occasions, like having to be snatch backwards up a steep( 45 degree) angle and having him run beside me ( with Sharlea and 3 kids in the back) telling me which way to turn the steering wheel to get back up rock steps, through ruts etc. Mick and Bolts alternated between TEC and again did a great job, thanks to both of them as well for advice and recovering in a few occasions, plus Bolts who had to snatch me up the hill which was a very tricky spot. I managed to get up further on Commando than a double locked, modified Toyota , but pulled the pin when the D3 was doing 6ft wheelies and the tyres just werent aggressive enough to get up a ledge ( plus my nerves where racked at the same time).

Justins guests in their modified Rover ( a beast to say the least) were top blokes and again their experience and help in winching/ track building was excellent, so a big thanks to Eric and Greg from myself and the family for helping us out in a couple of sticky situations. With my hernia I was pretty much useless in helping out, I do appreciate the efforts from all. Sharlea, even though she bailed few times and wanted to bail but hung on for dear life, was really impressed with the mateship and how everyone jumps in and helps. And that really is the focal part of this and most trips. Mick did a driveshaft and it was fixed and repaired in no time ( Ill leave that for Mick to elaborate).

I have to give a huge shoutout to Bolts for saving mine and the families bacon on the way home. I had a flat and pulled into a rest stop and told Mick and Bolts to keeping going. Well what should have been a reasonably simple situation went pear shaped. The D3 went to extended height and I couldnt bring it back down, the jack wouldnt turn any further and I couldnt get the wheel on. So I got a hold of Mick and Bolts and thankfully albeit and hour away, Bolts came back to save the day. Hearing that SA accent on the UHF for once was music to the ears . However in between Bolts getting there the jack crapped itself and D3 plummeted to the ground, door handle wacking me in the head nailing the sunnies, luckily I had a spare under the rear bar that prevented worse carnage, even if the brake drum had ploughed into the gravel. Thankfully a cuppla grey nomads camping near by, one with a D1, lent me their bottle jack to take off the pressure. Once Bolts was there, we got the tyre on and even though the plate behind the disc was...well bent and making a scratchy sound off we went. Whooo hooo on the way home now..................NOT.

About 15 mins out of Tweed I noticed that my fuel guage was showing as full, and I knew it wasnt so obviously something had gone wrong there so thought better fill up at Tweed. Too late, 100k zone car just faltered and lost power. Luckily were in right lane and pulled over and Bolts ahead. Tried motor, started, kept going as servo not to far away. Mistake. Car stopped again, around a blind corner-100k zone, and all I could see in the rear views was cars braking heavily as they saw my car, swerving and I was just praying we wouldnt be hit. Thank F*&k Bolts with clear thinking ( I was having a bit of a panic), jumped out, snatch strap on and towed us out of harms way. He then went and got fuel, we managed to get the fuel in with trucks screaming past us, back on the road and to a servo to top up. Mate, the family and I owe you big time, you ever need something you let me know.

Finally home at about 9 last night. So an eventful trip, I've learnt more about mine and the cars capabilities, a great time all round ( bar the end) but more importantly was the people that myself and my family got to and get to spend time with. If your new to the club, get out on some trips with these people, not just on this trip but all trips as better people you will not find,

Regards

Stevo, Sharlea, True, Ashton and Connor

P.S. Yep got blind both nights as well
P.S.S. Caravan park....what a great spot.
P.S.S.S. Great to have you along Andy (Micks BL), hope you enjoyed

Yep, a great trip from all aspects. Great driving, great banter (Stevo, my BL Andy reckons you need your own stand up show too) great group and great spot to do it all in. Justin, excellently led as usual - your experience and calm head under pressure really helped us all out on the day and so did your extensive spare parts Eric and his brother were good guys also and what a 109 they had..........everywhere you looked on the thing there was something to drool over.
Camp site was first class and so well set up for the families (table tennis comp next time though) and with our cabin having a huge entertaining verandah, the nights were great fun also.....especially hanging it on Bolts after a few beers
Stevo, my respect for you and your driving has risen immensly.......great driving in the D3 through some extremely hairy terrain, just shows how much your skills have improved since you joined the club.
Bolts, you can now officially remove that sticker from your car due to my tail shaft incident......but that's only until the next print run

All in all a great weekend albeit with some small issues.....will be carrying some more spares for the next run.

Cheers again to all for a great weekend, Andrew and Andy enjoyed it very much also.

Aye, Mick