Hill proves too steep for many +Photos

The dust and mud flew as 4WD crews tried to reach the top markers of the vertical obstacles during the Classic Hits/CowperTrucks National 4x4 Trial on Saturday. Photo/Rae Cliffe

It was the power to drive up the vertical and the drive to power through the muddy horizontal that made for an exciting Saturday in the hot Turakina Valley for the Classic Hits/CowperTrucks National 4x4 Trial.

The dust kicked up plenty of times in the warm conditions as around 77 drivers and co-drivers attempted to climb straight up near-sheer cliff faces to get their front tyres past the highest markers, or stop their wheels spinning in place as they navigated through muddy gorges.

There were a few casualties as the modified 4WDs either turned over backwards or took some rolling tumbles down the hillside.

Even some of the best met that fate, as Wanganui 4WD Club president Grant Harrison and co-driver daughter Renee crashed during the afternoon session on one of the vertical obstacles.

The recovery cranes and front-end loaders kept busy as about 16 vehicles were unable to finish their day.

The Harrisons recovered from their scary but minor setback by strapping on some duct tape and finishing third in the C-Class (0-4 cylinder, Super Modified), where Wanganui's Kevin Hermansen and Kirk Grant were the winners, while South Waikato's Darrell Osborne and Gary West were second in the 17-entry field.

Locals also tasted success in the seven-entry F Class for the big 5+ cylinder Super Production Modifieds, as Wanganui's Dave Hintz and Wayne Weatherly were the best, followed by Steve and Kevin Morley (South Waikato) and Whakatane's Paul Taylor and Ryan Clark of the Eastern Day Twin Diff Club.

The largest group was the 44-strong field for D Class (5+ cylinder Super Modified), where it was Taranaki's time to shine as Bryce Hunger and David Smith of the Mt Egmont 4WD club were the winners, followed by clubmates Rowan Huckstep and Hendrick Hofstee.

Valley 4x4 Club's Mitch Seymour and Matt Wilson were third, while the Wanganui team's of John Cowper with Barry Greer and Hamish Auret with Paul Barnes came in fourth and fifth respectively.

As this class had the best performers, these five crews also finished as the Top 5 in the overall stakes for the day.

The E Class (0-4 cylinder Super Production Modified) had nine entries and was won by Bay of Plenty's Nathan Fogden and Mike Gibbons, followed by Glenn and Phillipa D'Ath (South Waikato), with Pierre Le Lievre and Becky Templeton (Eastern Bay) in third.

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