The 4×4 Vasbyt returns to capital after 8 years

The 4×4 Vasbyt at the Tony Rust Raceway this weekend was one smooth ride.

So says Theuns van Zyl, the event organiser and chairperson of the Walvis Bay Club.

A total of 13 teams took part in two different classes conquering 10 different obstacles.

This included the well-known tyre-and-mud pit, which is considered the ultimate challenge of most 4×4 competitions.

The objective of the event is that a team clears the obstacle with as little as possible mistakes in a set time without touching the border or gates, or rolling back.

These errors could cost any team valuable points.

A team consists of a driver and navigator.

The Vasbyt was the first-ever competition on the raceway’s new tracks.

Van Zyl says they are challenging and well designed.

The team that designed and built the tracks are all 4×4 Vasbyt members.

“So, they understand what the requirements for such a competition are,” Van Zyl says.

Though only the C and D class teams entered, Van Zyl says they working to add more classes to the competition, namely C and D-extreme classes.

This means the vehicles are more technically specced, which makes this class more competitive.

Although the recent event had plenty of spectators, Van Zyl says the organisers would like to see even more.

Safety is of the utmost importance for both teams and spectators.

All vehicles are equipped with safety harnesses, teams have to wear safety helmets, and all vehicles must have roll cages and safety nets.

Officials are deployed at the various obstacles to ensure safety regulations are adhered to.

The next event is scheduled for 12 October at Mariental, and the last of the six events will take place outside Walvis Bay towards the end of December.

Dolf Botha and his team from Mariental are already hard at work to prepare the venue for the second-last leg.

Owners of 4x4s are known to name their cars after something or someone.

And tongue-in-cheek names are often used, such as ‘Bobbejaan’, ‘Farm Truck’, ‘Pumba’, ‘Padda’, ‘Gogga’ or ‘Poetsie’.

Of the 13 entries only three vehicles withdrew from this weekend’s event due to technical issues.

The results are as follows:

C-Class: First place: Morne Oosthuizen and Richard Owen, second: Rico Bothma and Jossie Maritz, and third place: Floris and Floris Steenkamp

D-Class: First place: JR la Cock and Simone Potgieter, second: Mans and Simone Potgieter, and in third place: Cobie and Sue-Allen Mans.