Torque N' 4WD. Part1
07 February 2008
4 wheel driving is one of the fastest growing recreational activities in this great country of ours. It does seem a pity that so many people want to disparage 4 wd drivers and their vehicles. Everyone from the Pedestrian Association to journalists looking for a story, have had a go at putting us in a bad light. It is not helped by adverts and the like, which portray the 4wd driver as bush bashing ‘hoons’. I have to admit that there is an element of our 4wd community who do not conduct themselves as they should and thus leads to the criticism of all 4wd owners.
This image of 4wd drivers needs to be addressed because by far the greatest portion of 4wd owners are responsible with a passion for their recreational pursuits and the places that they can visit because of the vehicle they own.
By being involved in a 4wd club like the Mount Gambier and District 4wd Club you can become a member of the South Australian Association of 4wd clubs, which is affiliated with the National Council. The people who make up these associations work diligently toward promoting our recreation and maintaining access for all 4wd drivers.
Club members are governed by a constitution and a code of ethics. These guide lines promote the responsible use of 4wd vehicles and being affiliated with the Tread Lightly organization encourage a caring environmental attitude.
Part of being a responsible 4wd driver is to be able to drive the vehicle correctly and most importantly in a safe manner. The South Australian Association was one of the first to realize that its members should be trained to drive their vehicles in the appropriate manner. To this end they formed a Driver Training Unit to fulfill this function. The driver training program has evolved over time to the point where they now offer a nationally recognized and accredited course which is conducted by qualified members of the DTU.
This training package includes things like daily maintenance, sand driving and recovery procedures.
Over the coming months using this forum members of the Mount Gambier 4wd Club DTU will cover some of the skills required to drive a 4wd responsibly and attempt to promote 4 wheel driving in a more positive manner.
Take care,
Don Martin
DTU Mount Gambier and District 4wd Club.