waky53
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 06-2005
Location: Barossa Valley
TOTAL POSTS: 286
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SA High Range Club Outing
We went on another SA High Range Club Outing today (17/12/2006) 20 AWD/4WD vehicles met at Smithfield at 8:30am & travelled to Gungellan Country (actually Freeling, where McLeods Daughters is filmed) for a couple of photo opportunities. The first at the Gungellan Hotel of all the occupants of the cars & the second with all the vehicles lined up outside the Gungellan Truck Stop.
The convoy then made its way via some main roads to near Eudunda where we left the bitumen & travelled along the ridgetops with good views over the plains to the East.
I was in agony with a bad back so Sue was doing the driving (really her first 4WD experience)when we started to climb a narrow rocky track. After stalling a couple of times & spinning the front wheels,I switched the mode to AUTO & the Exy climbed up OK (ooops)
We then continued on to a lunch stop at a nice shady spot beside a creek where the kids collected tadpoles & dogs had a swim & the adults chatted about all things.
A display & discussion about recovery & other items you should carry on trips like this & also a talk on geocaching was well received, before we headed off home. I drove back as my back had eased up by then.
This was an enjoyable day trip, again not too severe as we are mostly AWDs, (anyone with a normal 4WD can attend as well) I think there may have been 5 or even 6 Exys in the convoy
--- Regards Dave, X162 Oct 04 Series 2 ST
Mods Strut bar_Fuel cap holder_earth wires_No door beep_Bonnet Struts_TBS_bash plate_16" Alloys_Rear sway bar_ F&R fogs
High Range 4WD Club |
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18/Dec/2006, 5:21 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: SA High Range Club Outing
Good stuff Dave. Any pics?
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18/Dec/2006, 5:46 pm
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Fishy05
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 03-2005
Location: Adelaide Sth Australia
TOTAL POSTS: 138
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 Re: SA High Range Club Outing
We went on this trip too - a really great day out!
We were led by Cuffs in his Exy, who gave radio info to the convoy on the appropriate settings for the 6 Exys for the conditions of the tracks we were about to move onto (leading to a few comments by drivers of other participants!), and yes, there were 20 vehicles in the trip - it looked really impressive to be near the front or the back of the line when we went around a 90 degree corner and look along the convoy 
We travelled at a reasonable pace, with frequent stops for everyone to meet and chat at the sites of interest (two at Gungellan; Map the Miner statue at Kapunda, where we met the sculptor who was repairing his work following a fire; Morning Tea supplies shopping; and several other stops to check that we were all OK still - including one for a stumpy tailed lizard so the kids could all see!). We had one driver on L plates, and several who hadn't left the bitumen before, and the tracks ranged from recently graded (like in the last 5 minutes  ), requiring skill to overtake through the dust  .
The group consisted of all ages, with some tourists from Singapore joining us as their host was in the group (with a hired Santa Fe, if I remember correctly) and the kids kept in touch via UHF, making plans for the lunch stop.
Cuffs pointed out highlights along the way (eg Santa on a Stump Jump Plough), and gave all who were new to 4WD driving the opportunity to try different experiences such as a steep climb on a loose surface, and a sharp drop down beside a tree.
We had to leave before everyone else, as we had a 21st to go to, so didn't get to take the tracks coming back.
Many of the kids' tadpoles turned out to be small fish  , so there may be some surprises in the next few weeks when frogs don't seem to appear 
We have a few photos, but don't have technology to remove rego numbers, and don't want to display identifying features of the vehicles for privacy reasons. Would be happy to PM them to you Jalal, if you would like to give them "the treatment" and put the best on the site!
As a side note, it was interesting to see that (as the only Series 1 Exy) we didn't seem to accumulate quite as much dust on the rear window as others in the convoy. It didn't seem to make any difference to have the rear spoiler or not. Air turbulence off our standard roof racks - installed when we bought our Exy - seem to have done something to stop the dust sticking (either that, or everyone else washed and waxed their vehicles before leaving home!). Our air conditioning air filter worked a treat, preventing us from choking on dust in the few seconds before we could press the recirculate button on the aircon when dust blew across the road. (one of our better investments for the Exy - thanks, Jalal)
Anita and Greg 
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Fishy05 X150
His Pathfinder 2013 st-l adventurer
Hers Series 2 ST-S Slate Grey 2007 Bonnet struts Alutec strut bar Roof racks
http://www.hr4wdclubsa.org.au/
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18/Dec/2006, 8:01 pm
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