Apologies on the delay for this one! I’ve been making my truck look really cool for the next round this weekend 🙂 – Dan
Dry or wet, there has only been one winner at Ohinewai in the past two seasons, as Mitch Caldow & Jamie Elms take their second win of the Lucas Oil NZ 4×4 Trials Series at Round 2!
The scene of last season’s opener, the location near Huntly has been on the calendar for the past seven year earning a reputation for dry dusty conditions – only for another spin to be thrown into the mix as the Thames Valley 4WD Club hosted the first wet rally of the season. With wet conditions often favouring those with the most power in the lack of traction, the stage was set for the contenders to make their faces known for the year ahead.
Slip’n’slide action made up bulk of the day, as most teams struggled to get through the stages, with only the Top 8 teams averaging a score of getting further than half way! As such lovely weather, three stages were pulled during the day.
Winners of the first round Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross lead the way after the morning with a score of 528 points (their total score for the last round was 453!), as the Thames Valley team looked to win their home event and further cement their title chase. Hot on their heels would be the usual suspects, as fellow Round 1 podium buddies Mitch Caldow & Jamie Elms followed on 609 points with defending champs Scott Biggs & Phil Walton in third with 629 points.
By the end of the afternoon Caldow & Elms would rocket up as the only team to crack sub-500 for the afternoon, for a total score of 1107 points. Biggs & Walton would also gain a place, taking 2nd for the afternoon just some 40 points back. Tonkin & Ross would settle for third after a lowly afternoon score. With the Top 3 from Round 1 all on the podium again for Round 2, the unique order sees them all tied on points for 1st place heading into Round 3!
After missing the first round thanks to engine parts still in transit, Nathan Fogden & Mike Gibbons stormed back to take the win in C Class and finish 8th overall for the day. The Zook-Sport CowperTruck had a precautionary engine tear down leading into the Hawkes Bay opener, with Gibbons discovering the worked Mitsubishi Evo motor in need of some new pistons. With the buggy run in by the end of the morning, the team from Te Puke would claim 4th in the afternoon bragging rights.
Shayne Towers & Tony Hadland would finish 2nd in Class and 12th Overall after battling through the day, with Rhys O’Brien & Clarrie Vazey 3rd and 16th Overall just some 30 points further back.
Behind the Top 3 in D Class, Chris Tomalin & Richard Verner would cut their way through the pack to score their best result in The Ninja claiming 4th on the day, with their afternoon score good enough for 3rd.
Chris Gifford & Shaun Joblin were 5th to back up their Top 10 appearance at Round 1.
Rocking up for the day and leaving in 6th was the No. 6 of Russell Luders & Neil Moratti in their CowperTruck,
Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford were 7th in their Nitro Custom, also finishing once again in the Top 10.
Wayne Weatherly & Tayla Weatherly bounced back after their pesky fly-by-wire troubles at Round 1 to finish 9th.
With 3NZ Craig Potter & Mike Hill making their first Top 10 appearance of the year in 10th.
The only other class represented on the day was with Paul Taylor & Danielle Taylor in their F Class Toyota Prado, with the father-daughter pairing managing to finish ahead of a couple D Class trucks!
In the Biggs Family Cup, the Counties 4 Wheelers took their second win of the season in commanding form. EBTDC took second with a strong result just 1 point behind! With the Mt Egmont 4wd Club securing third thanks to a full house this round. Last round’s podium placers Off-Road Wairarapa & Levin 4×4 both placed towards the bottom, a result of each being a team short.
Round 3 and the first for 2025 takes place on Wellington Anniversary weekend, this January 18th near Mangaweka in the Manawatu.
