Offroad-Express

Now I know this doesn't look like it should be here, and rightly so but...

I offered a while back to Azhar (the guy who owns 4 and rotary) to have 4wds at next years nats as this is beginning to grow in popularity with the younger people. He jumped at it and said he wanted them this year but he ran out of time. This will be held in January as far as I know at this stage. The 4wd's will be organised through the NorWest Club and will be advertised as so, but I am looking for help and I am more than happy for other clubs to come along and show off too (put up advertising on both days). In fact I need other clubs too. Would ORE like to make an appearance?

I recently caught up with Azhar and he says we need to have everything organised by end of August. He would like some trucks to be on show at the ASB Showgrounds on the Saturday and have a track with 4wds going on the Sunday at Meremere. It is looking like we will have a football fields of space to play with.

Now this is what I need help with at the moment.

1:Track Design
2:Digger/Driver Hire
3:Water Truck Hire
4:Trucks to be at Show
5:Trucks to be at Drags

Now I was thinking maybe do a bit of a inter-club battle on a small course for the Sunday? or maybe just a few mud holes, jumps, hills?

Truck Wise I was thinking bigger the better in most cases. Such as Winch trucks, V8's etc. Stuff to bring in the crowds. Also things like a certain blue 2 stroke Suzuki? Maybe some trials trucks, off road racing too? We will be in front of 10's of thousands of people on the days and afterwards in magazines etc.

This is a great chance to get young people involved and educate them. I don't know of any other 4x4 event in NZ that will have such a big Audience as this will have, so is quite a good opportunity for us and our sport.

Any Questions ask away.

Cheers
Lincoln Prouting
(VP NorWest OHV)

Is the 4&Rotory committee putting any funding in?

I am not too sure, I need to have another chat to ask, but from what he was asking it doesn't sound too much like it.

So if they are not going to fund it, then who is? To be honest, they should fund it, as they are going to benifet from it, ie, spectator fees.

Cheers Daniel

That's what I am thinking now too. They really should.

Plus, where are they going to let you dig/build at meremere? last time i was there, its all a used are, ie, carpark, campground, pits.

Cheers Daniel

The planned area is going to be next to the pits. Once he has finalised his plans he will let me know exactly where, how much space etc.

Where the competitor car/trailer park is? Be interesting to see if meremere know that this is happening, or have given the go ahead.

Not trying to piss on your parade or anything, im just curious.

Cheers Daniel

Its all good. All valid questions.

They have been told about it and he is just waiting to hear the final approval from Meremere, Fram etc.

Sweet, i think the funding is really the main issue. Because a truck/digger aint cheap, and really depends on what 'course' you want to make.

Will be watching.

Cheers Daniel

be very cearful azar is an interresting man to deal with TRUST me.
I would be very suprised if he will fund anything its not how he works. rather than big is better(v8,s) i would be looking at c class trials (turbo 4's)
dont meant to bring a downer to the idear

(do we really want ORE there to bring in even more muppets i think we have enough on here)

Lincoln

get in touch with your Northern Zone PRO who may put you onto other clubs who have done this kind of thing before at various places like Fieldays etc

they may have advice you could benefit from or even offer to help

SKID

skid wrote:Lincoln

get in touch with your Northern Zone PRO who may put you onto other clubs who have done this kind of thing before at various places like Fieldays etc

they may have advice you could benefit from or even offer to help

SKID

that would be Simon Bishop Shore Club

Hey Skid, Thanks for that. I am currently writing something to email the to the other clubs.

and thanks mudlva

hey mazdamike, thanks, yes I would like some c class trucks in there too. Would be good. and muppet wise we have to try somewhat to educate them no don't we? But I know what you are saying

cheers
Lincoln

My past experiences with early 4 & Rotary National meets tells me to stay far far away from them.
Nothing they could do or offer would interest me in trying to work with them again.

Its just not worth the agro ..........

Ralfie wrote:My past experiences with early 4 & Rotary National meets tells me to stay far far away from them.
Nothing they could do or offer would interest me in trying to work with them again.

Its just not worth the agro ..........

aggree. its good to go watch the racing but to be associated with them? nah thanks...

90% of them are just trouble causing wankers... get it??

Bwahahahaha

I'm going to poke my oar in here just because I can... I would suggest if Azar wants a 4x4 display then he should be paying for it. I am fairly certain the FMX guys they normally have don't turn up for free.

I would suggest 4&Rotary ltd should be paying for construction of the course along with a nominal fee toward any of the clubs taking part. I'm sure the boys will be happy to get their trucks dirty for free but some kind of cash should go to the clubs. As already mentioned this is something the company is profiting from and it would be wrong for ORE or the clubs to be shelling out for it in my humble opinion. Not to mention that if it rains as it often does the off road course will be the only thing keeping the punters there.

I know Azar personally although I have never dealt with him in a business environment. And as much as i hate volunteering myself I could probably come along to one of the meetings if that is of any assistance.

vince

Well the way I see it is that if we dont do something then it will just be someone else, maybe not another club just a group of individuals. They could be completely reckless and so on. At least the majority of people in 4wd clubs tend to be responsible people.

And Vince, yes I think that 4&Rotary should be paying too. Quite a few people have said the same thing and I too think it is unfair on the club to pay for a digger etc. Its not cheap and we simply would never make the money back on it.

nobody got my joke...

dumb

wopass wrote:nobody got my joke...

dumb

wanker - wankel
wankel - rotary

got it

So I just heard back from Azhar and it sounds like he will be happy enough to pay for the digger etc. In a couple of weeks I will be going down to Meremere with him to decide on which place will be best. West or East side of track. We might get the West side yet with the hill near the main lots of spectators. SO its looking all good.

And yes Ben I did miss your joke. But I got it now.

if my zuk is going by then i'd be keen to come play

safaripete wrote:if my zuk is going by then i'd be keen to come play

Dito

mean, glad to have you on board. Going down soon to have a look at the sites and suss the best one out etc. Then I can really start to design tracks etc.

Cheers

lincooln wrote:mean, glad to have you on board. Going down soon to have a look at the sites and suss the best one out etc. Then I can really start to design tracks etc.

Cheers

if the zuk isnt done then i could bring my 80 haha

well a small update. Meeting Azhar at Meremere on Friday. Finally

So will take photos of area etc and work out approx size and so on so I can get onto track design and finding diggers etc.

Cheers
Lincoln

So update time,

Date is confirmed as the 28th and 29th of January 2012

On the Saturday we will have some trucks on show. we will be positioned right at the entrance lining both sides. So for this we will need as bigger, badder trucks as possible. We will need to set up on the Friday afternoon and then leave the trucks there overnight and all day Saturday till the end of the day. There will be security and the whole area is completely fenced off as well, so that should be fine.

On the Sunday we will use the area to the right of the strip, where the moto-X have been in previous years. we will be parked up down on the flat, next to where the V tent usually is and we get the hole hill side and top of the hill as well. For this we also need big bad trucks as such, mixed with a couple of more "normal" trucks if need be. I will need help one day to head down and get some ideas on where a track etc should be. Then on the weekend before the show or the week leading up to it we need to head down, mark out the course and drive it a few times to put some tracks down.

So that's it really. Any questions or if you want to help out give me a call or a pm.

Cheers
Lincoln
0210642798

If I can just put my 2 cents worth in,
when I was in auckland I was working for a place called Gt Refinishers which does alot of custom body work for many of the high end cars in the Nats and Azhar himself.

over the past few years it has changed alot from the days of piss ups and wankers in $2000 POS nissans trying to look cool.
there is good organisation, good security and its very safe for spectator and competitors cars alike.

as mentioned earlier it will be no skin off his nose for the 4wd clubs to decide not to show up. and if you want to push your forum, 4x4ing in general and doing it in the right fashion (in a club with expectations of responsibility rather than drunk kids doing stupid shit resultiing in injury and a bad name towards 4x4er's)

I am a member of NZhondas which is NZs largest car forum, and have myself organised a couple stands at the Nats (nothing as big as full on demo) but we got alot of good feed back from it.


oh and a side note for those organising, don't take a "I'll get onto it" from azhar.... he is a good man but in the last week or so before the nats he barely sleeps and has 100 people asking for favours haha

cheers dude, Yes the nats have come a long way. Age group wise it has spread out a bit more too. Isn't it the biggest drag racing meet in NZ?

and I won't, but really the only thing I need to ask Azhar now is maybe a key etc for the strip, should have most things sorted.

Cheers
Lincoln

mazdamike wrote:be very cearful azar is an interresting man to deal with TRUST me.
I would be very suprised if he will fund anything its not how he works.

Ralfie wrote:My past experiences with early 4 & Rotary National meets tells me to stay far far away from them.
Nothing they could do or offer would interest me in trying to work with them again.

Its just not worth the agro ..........

Having been involved in having vehicles and trade stands at the event, and also being involved in a media capacity...it might pay to listen to these comments.

While it's true, there is a huge spectator turnout, and this could be good exposure, you need to also weigh up who your being exposed to, and at what personal cost to those who end up supplying their vehicles.

Security: For those who haven't been involved in the 'backstage' set up for these events, there are literally thousands of people, their friends and hangers on who have full access to all areas during the fit out and set up well into the wee hours...

As an event, i think it is well worth a look, but as an entrant, it's a hell of a lot of work...

Also, to any clubs wanting to be involved; i would personaly contact Azhar, discuss with him what he has in mind and get things agreed and organised as early as possible.

Definate location and dimensions for exhibition area (Vehicles).

Times for set up and break down of your area (vehicles will need to be there for the entire duration).

Number of people who will be involved (and exhibitor passes).

etc...