Nissan Trials - Australia

npca-chris malikoff · Post by **npca-chris malikoff** » Mon Nov 06, 2000 5:31 pm

Well, I've just slept off some really sore muscles and a headache from hell after the Nissan Trials in Colo Heights, just Northwest of Sydney. The 4WD event of the calendar here saw 75 competitors from 15 teams (of 5 cars each), and about a thousand wildly cheering spectators. There were three classes - Production, Production Modified and Super Modified, and the action was spead over two days and eight different events to test us and our machines. I was put into Production (as unlike most of the competitors, I actually use my 4WD for day to day commuting and weekend touring) and gave them a really good showing - considering it was my navigator's and my first time in this level of competition! We did very well in the natural terrain type events, and not as well as the Super Modifieds in the man made obstacle courses, given that at just 4" worth of lift on my car (still within "normal" limits) it wasn't going to cut the mustard when they were lifted anywhere from 12" to 18"!!!!! You still wouldn't call them "monster trucks" like you guys have over there, but they still had some inherent problems with turning circles and top-heavyness. The Nissan Patrols, in any configuration but mostly GQ's with a couple of GU's thrown in, were definitely the crowd pleaser, and even if another competitor was on the course from another team, the we and the crowd would all be yelling " GO PATROL!!!!!!!!!!!!" at the top of their lungs. I've never heard a few hundred people yelling for me as I bumped and ground around a course. It was a real rush. There were a few G60's in the lot, but none competed. Most seemed to be original, but were painted in military drab mottle colours. Nevertheless, we didn't come in the places, but had a phenomenal time anyway. I'll be posting some photos and course descriptions as soon as I can in another album on this site. We have some absolute rippers to show you - with everything from roll-overs to complete mud submersion. Cheers Chris

npca-gary · Post by **npca-gary** » Sat Nov 11, 2000 10:43 pm

Chris, Keep up the good work. Nissan Trials sounds like a great time. Thanks. Gary

npca-alex · Post by **npca-alex** » Sat Nov 11, 2000 11:44 pm

I wish we could get something like that going here, would be nice to help raise awareness of Patrols and would be a boost for the hurting Nissan in North America. So Chris, got a URL you could send us to for some press coverage? Would love to see photos and such.

npca-chris malikoff · Post by **npca-chris malikoff** » Mon Nov 13, 2000 7:19 am

Thanks Alex & Gary The event was covered by "Bushdriver" magazine - arguably the best 4WD rag in this country. They will be running an article in the December issue (we have been told), and as soon as I get a copy I'll scan (no-one heard me say that ...!!) it and post it here. Most of the clubs that attended have a website, so when they all put something up, I'll direct you to the appropriate URL. Meanwhile - I should have time to put my photo's in for processing tomorrow. Cheers Chris

npca-chris malikoff · Post by **npca-chris malikoff** » Sat Nov 25, 2000 4:31 am

Some of the heap of photo's are up on my picture album! Enjoy!! Chris