Exciting news for Jonkers trialists! My recent survey returned more "yays" than "nays" for availability on this date, so we'll go ahead and aim to have a fun day dodging hi-viz canes on Sunday 26th 🙂

For those who aren't familiar with this event - which ran last year for the first time since 2015 - it is a grade 2+ event with a mildly competitive element (in so much as a winner will be declared) but which is mostly meant to be just good fun for competitors and spectators alike.

The essence of the trial is a series of short "hazards" - gullies, climbs, tight turns etc - through which a course is marked with coloured canes. Each pair of canes constitutes a "gate", and for every gate the front axle passes before coming to a standstill or knocking over a cane, 10 points are awarded. 

Since shorter and narrower vehicles are generally at an advantage on these tight and twisty sections, the final score for each vehicle is multiplied by its wheelbase expressed as a fraction of 100 inches...so an early Series 1 will have its score multiplied by 0.8, a Discovery 1 by 1, a 110 by 1.1 and so on.  

The course is laid out with largely standard Land Rovers in mind; this is not a winch challenge or extreme off road event, and cars on road tyres have done well in the past, but ATs or MTs would be more appropriate. 

A big part of the fun of this event is watching others have a go, so spectators are welcome to come along for a drive around the farm. Koha for competitors will be $50 (per driver) and for spectators $30 (per vehicle) - cash only please and the correct amount would be much appreciated to save finding change.

Meeting time and place will be 09:30 at Waitakere Station carpark, next to the fire station off Township road:

There is a dairy over the road for emergency supplies; bring lunch and fluids. No dogs on the farm, sorry.

Keep an eye out for email updates nearer the date - if it's too wet, we'll have to postpone as we must not cut up the farm.