As the final episode of the 2024 Suzuki Extreme 4×4 Challenge wraps up this weekend, let’s look back at how the season played out for the Top 10 competitors and the Class winners for the 2023/2024 Lucas Oil NZ 4×4 Trials Series.
Season Recap
National Awards
Biggs Family Cup
Lucas Oil Class Winners
NZ 4×4 Trials Top 10
Round 1 – Huntly by Counties 4 Wheelers
The first round of the season kicked off in November, with a familiar face in a new look leading the way!
Defending 1NZ Navigator Mitch Caldow would go out on his own for 2024, reuniting with old C Class navigator Jaime Elms in the ex-Stuart Earle CowperTruck. The team from Mt Egmont would together score their best result by taking the win, and the first for the former 1NZ ‘Mad Wolf’ since Dan Cowper & Andrew Bielby drove it to success in 2016.
Defending 1NZ Driver Sam Thomsen now with Caitlyn Thomsen would finish 2nd, with Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford in the new Nitro Customs buggy taking 3rd on its debut.
In C Class Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss were neck-and-neck with 4NZ Nathan Fogden & Mike Gibbons throughout the day, with the latter out for the count with a handful of sections remaining after transmission failure. Nevertheless, the Wellington young guns would take the class win and 6th Overall for the day – The first Top 10 finish for a chassis-based buggy since 2019.
Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing would be the winers in K Class, in the ex-Jarred Biggs Homebuilt.
Round 2 – Lake Ferry by Wairarapa 4×4
Second time in a row as the second round of the season, saw Scott Biggs & Phil Walton score their first win of the year at Lake Ferry! After a disastrous morning at the previous round, the former 20191NZ duo would salvage a 12th place finish to start their season with the newly rebuilt Nitro Custom. With the teething issues sorted, the team from Auckland would take the win furthest from home in a tightly fought battle!
Hot on their heels was another crew looking to make amends on the first round. Chris Gifford & Shaun Joblin in The Punisher would DNF at Round 1 with a broken diff, now needing to finish the next five rounds if they wished to have a shot at the Top 10. Nevertheless, the birthday boy from the Waikato would put in a stormer to lead the morning only to drop back in the afternoon – The win may have eluded them, but a maiden Top 10 finish & podium would more than suffice!
Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross would take 3rd, and with the rest of the Top 8 would make a Nitro Customs 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8!
Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss would once again lead the way in C Class, although dropping out of the Top 10 places. John Hawken & Haare O’Brien would be 2nd. With Rhys O’Brien & Clarrie Vazey 3rd.
Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing would take the K Class win at home, in front of John Sheridan & Willow Eayrs.
Round 3 – Turakina by Wanganui 4WD
The first dry-wet rally of the season would see the defending champs take their first win and with it the lead at halfway! Sam Thomsen & Caitlyn Thomsen would take the morning win with a landslide of 100 points over the rest, ultimately holding on to win by 40 points over afternoon winners Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross.
Scott Biggs & Phil Walton were 3rd, with the Top 3 all being on the podium at least twice over the three rounds throwing their names in the ring for the 2024 title.
In C Class, Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss did not win as Rhys O’Brien & Clarrie Vazey would beat them to it by 40 points at the end of the day. It would be the best result of the season for the team in the distinctive pink buggy known as Dolly, reigning from the Eastern Bay of Plenty. John Hawken & Haare O’Brien were 3rd.
In K Class Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing would pull out due to COVID, giving John Sheridan & Willow Eayrs the oppertunity at a first win – It was not meant to be, as The Terminator would face an electrical issue putting them out for the day.
Round 4 – Rotoma by Whakatane
The sandiest event of the season took place in the Manawahe Hills near Whakatane, with Scott Biggs & Phil Walton now very much on form taking the win. Although only by one of the closet margins taking it by just 9 points ahead of Craig Potter & Mike Hill! Potter & Hill’s first podium of the year would see them enter the fight for the Top 3.
Sam Thomsen & Caitlyn Thomsen would take 3rd and continue to lead the standings entering the penultimate round.
Last year’s Top 10 debutants Shayne Towers & Tony Hadland would finally take a class win at home, leading the way with their C Class Tombuilt. Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss would finish runners up again, but still lead C Class with a massive 7 points over the rest. Making their debut on the C Class podium was former J Class champs Hayden McGill & Barry Williams from the Windy City.
Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing were back in action in K Class, taking the class win and nipping at the heels of the more capable D Class buggies once more.
Round 5 – Te Kuiti by South Waikato 4WD
The heavens opened leading up to the sports return to the King Country in over 15 years, with the day a slip-n-slide throughout.
After coming close on numerous occasions, the odds were finally in Craig Potter & Mike Hill’s favour as they took their maiden win by the closest ever finish, leading the way ahead of Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford by less than 1.5 points! The win meant that Potter & Hill were now in with a shot of taking the title at the Final Round. Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford’s result brought their campaign back on track, after finishing outside of the Top 10 at the last couple of rounds. The result was enough for them to be guaranteed a Top 10 placing heading into the final.
Scott Dickson & Mike Thomsen were 3rd in the ex-Dave Mckie CowperTruck, taking their first podium finish. The score enough to see them sitting comfortably in the Top 10 with one to go. 4th place finishers Phil Cameron & Todd Charman were a similar story, with their superb result putting them behind Dickson & Thomsen coming into the final.
Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss returned to the top step of C Class, taking the win and the C Class title with one round to spare! John Hawken & Haare O’Brien were up next, followed up Shayne Towers & Tony Hadland.
In K Class Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing would DNF on the day with transmission issues, however would still take the K Class title with a round to spare having completed at least three events.
National Final – Eltham by Mt Egmont 4WD
If a gap of 1.5 points wasn’t enough, the record was broken again with a new face on top!
Ryan Bold & Brendan Austin shocked all to take their maiden win at what was a early end to the season. The National Final was effectively “rained out” after halfway in a first for the sports 49-year history. With points determined from the morning scores, Bold & Austin would win by the new closest finish of 1.27 points over Chris Gifford & Shaun Joblin. In a historic day Bolds win was his first behind the wheel in over 19 years, the first for an Independant Suspension buggy in 16 years and the first for a Homebuilt buggy in 9 years (phew!).
Gifford & Joblin’s result would see them nab 6NZ outright for the season, taking the silver by a slither of 0.02 points over the returning Reuben Mason & Paul Chapman. Mason & Chapman’s sole event of the season would see them take their first podium finish since Round 2 in 2023.
Nathan Fogden & Cody Fogden would score a class win for C Class, ending their season on a high after numerous mechanical breakdowns throughout. Shayne Towers & Tony Hadland would finish 2nd on the day and take 3rd outright for C Class, whilst John Hawken & Haare O’Brien in 4th would seal 2nd outright behind Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss.
K Class would have three entries for the final, with Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing once again coming out on top. John Sheridan & Matt Wilson would finish 2nd, whilst local entry Graeme Goble & Brody Thompsen would come 3rd.
2023/2024 National Awards
Sportsperson of the Year: Gail Smith
Tomalin Engineering Excellence: Daniel Whiting
First Female Home: Rebekah Templeton
2023/2024 Biggs Family Cup Standings
1st
South Waikato 4WD Club
497 Points
The Biggs Family Cup determined by a Clubs Top 3 Class finishers at each event went down to the wire heading into the National Final. Ultimately, the South Waikato 4WD Club would take their maiden title by just two points! From left to right: Shaun Nicholson, Phil Cameron, Chris Gifford, Rebekah Templeton, Glenn D’Ath & Craig Potter.
2nd
Counties 4 Wheelers
495 Points
Two-time winners Counties 4 Wheelers were looking hot to pip South Waikato to the post at the final, however with mechanical issues for some the club couldn’t score representable points. From left to right: Scott Biggs, Reece McKie, Aaron Guest, Shayne Towers, Jarred Biggs (& Neal Turner not pictured).
3rd
Wanganui 4WD CLub
494 Points
The inaugural winners of the Biggs Family Cup back in 2017 had a three-strong team for 2024. Running 2nd into the final, a drop in form or the result of scores taken at midday saw the past champs fall behind Counties by a single point. From top to bottom: John Hawken, Sam Thomsen, Scott Dickson.
2023/2024 Lucas Oil Class Winners
C CLASS
Caleb Adlam & Jarrod Moss
Levin
Mākara Rare Spares Homebuilt
A Class, F Class, E Class and now C, the young guns from Wellington have worked their way up since starting out in 2016, with their latest achievement one of the best taking on the establishment in a truck with more up its sleeve!
D CLASS
Scott Biggs & Phil Walton
Counties
Nitro Custom
The winning duo from 2019 do it again, with Scott Biggs now a 4-time D Class winner, putting him 4th outright of all time. Phil Walton a winning Driver in his own right has now done it 3 times in the Navigators seat!
K CLASS
Geoff Butcher & Sean Cushing
Wairarapa
Homebuilt
To finish first, first you must finish! The J Class winning team from the Wairarapa would swap seats for 2024, now taking out both divisions of the Modified Classes. A step up to C Class may be on the cards, with Cushing recently rebuilding the J Class champ.
2023/2024 NZ 4×4 Trials Top 10
#10
Phil Cameron & Todd Charman
South Waikato
Nitro Custom
One of the oldest competitors competing still has more to give, with Phil Cameron’s 2nd Top 10 appearance in four years! Todd Charman’s input can’t be forgotten, as the former 1NZ navigator helped turn the fortunes around for the 2nd half of the season.
#9
Scott Dickson & Mike Thomsen
Wanganui
Cowper Truck
Making their debut is Scott Dickson & Mike Thomsen. With Dickson showing glimpses of brilliant car control over the last few seasons, Thomsen’s contribution this year has helped bring it all together with their improved consistency nabbing them a Top 10.
#8
Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford
Counties
Nitro Custom
After a season off for their new build, Jarred Biggs & Fleche Crawford started strong before falling away during the middle of the season. Nevertheless, with teething issues to sort on the radical lightweight ‘Hot Wheels’ the former 2NZ’s are sure to bounce back!
#7
Russell Hall & Glen Hall
Wairarapa
Cowper Truck
The brothers from a Wairarapa make their debut in the Top 10 in the ex-Neal Turner/Greg McDell CowperTruck. The dark horse this season scored 3 Top 10’s, impressive considering it’s the oldest entry having been built in 2010!
#6
Chris Gifford & Shaun Joblin
South Waikato
Nitro Custom
Also making the Top 10 for the first time is Chriss Gifford & Shaun Joblin. Having shown their mettle in the ex-Dan Cowper CowperTruck the last few seasons, the new build has seen them become a familiar face in the Top 10 in it’s first year.
#5
Mitch Caldow & Jamie Elms
Mt Egmont
Cowper Truck
First round winners Mitch Caldow & Jamie Elms would ultimately sit 5th in a result that would reflect a 50/50 season of ups-and-downs. That said, they’re still the highest place team in a new-to-them truck!
#4
Ash Tonkin & Dyon Ross
Thames Valley
Nitro Custom
Tied for 3rd but losing out on countback was Ash Tonin & Dyon Ross. From sneaking in at 10th last season to being a title contender for much of 2024 shows much improved form for the team from Thames Valley. Having learnt a few lessons over the season they will be ones to watch out for come November!
3NZ
Craig Potter & Mike Hill
South Waikato
Nitro Custom
Debuting in the Top 10 and taking 3NZ no less is not a surprise for those that have seen Craig Potter & Mike Hill behind the wheel. Narrowly missing out on two wins last season and falling a round short of a placing saw the duo come alive in the second half – Putting them in serious contention of a late title bid.
2NZ
Sam Thomsen & Caitlyn Thomsen
Wanganui
Nitro Custom
Down one place from last year was not the result the brother & sister pairing of Sam Thomsen & Caitlyn Thomsen had in mind for 2024. However, considering the team were nursing a delayed engine rebuild for the second half of the season shows that even with one arm behind its back the team can put up a fight! The result also sees Nitro #1 take a 7th consecutive Top 3 placing.
1NZ
Scott Biggs & Phil Walton
Counties
Nitro Custom
The 1NZ pairing from 2019 do it again, with Scott Biggs now a 4-time champ to sit alongside Syd D’Ath & Theo Spanbroek. Phil Walton is now a 3-time 1NZ Navigator to go with his own 2009 1NZ Driver’s title. The team’s consistency at the sharp end saw them with five Top 5’s to put them four points clear at the end of the season!