Slow and steady keeps you unstuck
It's taken the GMC Yukon about fifteen minutes just to get about a
half-mile around the course at Georgian College's Auto Show 97, and I
innocently ask one of the 4x4 club members what's taking so long.
"That's four-wheeling for you," he tells me as the truck climbs up
the side of a huge lump of rock and dirt situated strategically in
the middle of the course. "We're not shooting commercials out here.
"People go out into the woods, think they're shooting commercials,
bring the truck back to the dealer and tell them 'I broke my axle,'
and the dealer asks if they have a pilot's license. No? 'Then we're
not going to fix your truck.'"
It's something of a wake-up call to me as I watch the trucks
circle around the track, two-hundred plus horsepower, moving along at
less than walking speed.
The essence of four-wheeling, I'm told, is just this. It is not
about going into the woods and stomping around. It's about moving
slowly, carefully, and paying attention to what's going on around
you. In the fifteen minutes that I'm at the track, a Ford Expedition
gets stuck, and is rescued by a tiny Suzuki Samurai.
The members of the club running the event have brought along their
own vehicles, and it's an eclectic mix, running the gamut from
Sidekicks and small Jeep Tjs all the way up to what is playfully
called the "big blue bus," a Chevy Suburban decked out with
monster-truck-sized tires, a set of fog lights and a huge winch on
its front bumper.
It doesn't much matter what kind of four-by-four you drive to join
the club, as different types of vehicle suit different kinds of
terrain. While the TJ would be great to maneuver around obstacles on
a tightly wound path, I'm told, it would be a pain to drive it along
a long, straight section. No special equipment is needed, either,
despite the lights, winches and big tires that surround me. If you do
get stuck, there's always at least one truck on a trip that will be
able to extricate you without a problem.
While it's not everyone's cup of coffee, the idea of seeing parts
of the country that are unspoiled&emdash;and the challenge of passing
through without wrecking said country&emdash;is certainly an
intriguing one, and a great change of pace from the hustle and bustle
of urban traffic and the scenery-rushing-by highway rides that most
of us are accustomed to.
Getting involved is easy too. The Central Ontario Four Wheel Drive
Club not only runs trailrides, but also offers rallies, camp-outs and
family days. It's a "beginner friendly" club too, offering
instruction and guidance to novices, even those who do not own
four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Should you be interested in joining, the Club meets the first
Wednesday of every month at 8:00pm. Call 416-410-4108 for more
information, or visit their website at
http://www.aracnet.net/~rugrat/.