TTRC RALLY WITH 4 X 4 TRAIL BLAZERS – RALLY ON REGARDLESS!
By Barry Mckenzie, TTRC President
An invitation was extended by the Executives of the 4x4 Trail Blazers to the members of the Trinidad & Tobago Rally Club to participate as their co-drivers in an Offroad Adventure through the Central Forest Range last Sunday.
Off-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on un-surfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand and gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.
Ten fully Offroad prepped 4x4 Suzuki Jimnies and Samurais belonging to Members of the Trailblazers gathered at Wilco’s Gas Bar on Montrose Junction Chaguanas for inspection prior to the start of the Trek; TTRC members were paired with Trail Blazers – Barry Mckenzie (President TTRC) codriving for Curtis Wong, Jackie Alexis with Winston Medford (Treasurer), Sherida Hyatali with Bisram Ramlagan (PRO) and Latiff Khan with Reyard Khan (Vice president) - each vehicle held 2 passengers only.
Pleasantries were exchanged, supplies and equipment packed, prayers said and we were off.
The line of Offroaders headed for the planned trail through the Tamana Forest to end in Guaico Tamana Side of the Central Range, just about 7 km of Offroad challenge. Our Route took us through the Caparo Valley Brasso and Todds Station Villages then to the Talparo Four Roads junction, which was just about our last Stop for anything required before entering the Trail.
The Tarmac road changed abruptly to Gravel as we entered the forested area at about 11:00am. And now the true skills of the drivers were evident as they manoeuvred their vehicles through tracks made impassable by years of erosion, Log Haulers , large stones, mud, mud and more mud and Mother Nature with the occasional Fallen Trees and Landslips.
The Vehicles’ preparation is an important factor for the terrain and looking at the 4x4s that turned up for the Trek, were of a very high Calibre as breaking down in the forest is to be avoided at all costs. Stories have been heard of overnighting in the Forest if problems with a Vehicle occurs whether by mechanical failure or by a stuck vehicle.
The Forest under the midday sun and the previous days’ showers raised the Temperature to a body drenching high and the underbrush poked their twigs and fronds through the vehicles’ open windows. Wild Life was evident everywhere, just one encounter with a baby mapapire, a foot long and slightly less wider than one’s last finger, coiled on the warm mud – a very good reason for wearing tall boots.
Riding with Winston Medford – one of the founding members of this motorsport club - he explained to Rallyclub PRO Jackie Alexis that they operated a “buddy” system, where each driver ensures that he always has the vehicle following him, in his sight. So it was, the line of Suzuki vehicles made its way through the trail, making slow and steady progress due to the terrain and obstacles in the path.
Several times during our trek all the occupants would come out and help in moving the logs and fallen tree trunks, making light work with cutlasses and axe, the air full of camaraderie, team work and high morale, sometimes ribald comments, jokes and laughter kept the fun in the mud going.
The last section of the trail was the most difficult – it looked relatively easy until you attempted to cross it and you realised that you are trying to drive over 3 feet of mud covered in water – a surface that offered no traction. The incline itself which would have taken all of 3 minutes to traverse on foot, was also covered in layers of mud and it actually took more than three hours to get to the top at the very last obstacle point on the route.
The choice of Tires is an important aspect of this sport and it is the deciding factor on whether a vehicle will make it through the Trail on their own merit or will need the attention of a Winch to haul them past. Vehicles that suffered damage along the muddy areas were all repaired on the fly - using either parts that were brought along or lent by another driver – a true display of cohesion and team spirit.
Once we reached the top, we were home-bound…home in this instance was about a mile away at a forest ranger’s camp in Tamana. Trailblazer members who did not make the trek had gone there via the Paved roads to prepare a feast to greet the now very hungry and muddy Trail Blazers and equally muddy guests.
Ending at 5:40pm – approximately 7 hours of Offroading the Trail Blazers’ way and I would do it again. An experience not to be missed!
The 2 clubs had partnered in Rally Trinidad 2011, a relationship that has continued into the subsequent High Speed Stages Rally. The attending Rally Club members would like to express a very warm thank you and appreciation to the Trailblazers.
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