4x4 club members

NSW & ACT meeting will be held at Ferndale (near Dungog) this Saturday 19th.

I believe the latest round of 4by bashing will be in the agenda.

Vinnie

I fired off an email to David Koch(head) at channel seven yesterday, in my capacity of president of the YP 4WD Club of SA. Don't think it would carry much weight though. It really does need the state governing bodies to get a wriggle on.

Of course, the other BIG issue is that there are so many 4by's being used as shopping trolleys by people who would not even know that 4 wheel drive clubs existed. (I'm not critiscing those people; good luck to them....all I'm saying is that the vast majority of 4wd owners would be unlikely to belong to any "movement").

The other issue is that, as with so many things in life, it is a few ratbags that give us a bad name. You only need a few nongs with old, souped-up FJ45's or Datsun G60's (being fair) to do a bit of hooning around the 'burbs" and all of a sudden you hear the do-gooders crying that ALL 4 WHEEL DRIVES should be banned from our roads....etc etc etc. It was the same thing with motor-bikes when i was a young bloke.....you own a big, powerful bike and leather jacket? then you just MUST be a bikie & a rapist etc.

All that does not mean that I do not think the various associations should be pushing the point much harder.....this is a legitimate hobby/sport/recreational passtime; call it what you will. We already pay more for the privelige of owning our 4bys if what they say is true (ie: that we drive gas-guzzlers etc) because we buy more fuel....ergo we pay more fuel excise etc = more TAX.

Sorry, I've prattled on too much and probably should go and have a BEX and good lie down!!!!

Cya

Cheers,

Roachie

Steve
Who Say's that 4wd Victoria as not been doing anything about it.

I have been advised via our club delegates at TLC Vic that 4wdvic has advised them that they have spoken to the minister, and the state government has no interest in the media hype.
They continue to monitor the situation and will do whatever is required at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.
This does not include starting a stupid argument with the media over their attempt to ignite the argument for the resultant sensationalist press that would result.

Bottom line is that no government will do anything to negatively impact an already volatile local car market.
Just imagine what sort of impact it would have on Ford or Holden if you banned the All wheel drive Territory or Adventura.

Think about it any law affecting 4wd's or Bull bars for that matter would have to be done at the Federal level.
Otherwise how would you be able to police it, if you could own a 4wd or bull bar in the country and not drive it in the city or from one state to another what a ridiculous situation and completely unrealistic.

Further to my above post please find listed below a copy of an Email I just received from the Toyota landcruiser Club from Michael Coldham.
I think it is self explanatry.

Subject: FW: 4X4
______________________________________________
From: Michael Coldham
Sent: Thursday, 17 February 2005 11:45 AM
To: 'bolta@heraldsun.com.au'
Subject: 4X4

Bolta excuse the familiarity please

My name is Michael Coldham and I am President of Four Wheel Drive Victoria. I hope you heard Ms Jenny Farrar on Neil Mitchell this morning and despair with me at the arrogance of the Greens and their single minded social engineering policies that have the background of controlling the fundamental nature of our lives.

Statements made with bad science and self serving facts are appalling. Consider the following facts:

Length of Vehicle
Commodore wagon 5033
Ford Falcon 4916mm
Landcruiser 4890
Commodore sedan 4876
Territory 4856
Kluger 4690

Issues are

Bad science: All four wheel drive vehicles comply with Australian design guidelines and emission controls.
Tax not fee: separating one group and charging more is a Tax and maybe outside Councils power
Discriminatory: Creating by regulation differing classes of people and their rights and creating social engineering etc etc

Arrogance of control. Like Labour in Victoria such arrogance: my way is right you are wrong you will do as we say. In Victoria you will be fined for 3 k's over speed etc

Public education is the real issue and I addressed this in the Age.

I happen to agree with Neil Mitchell about the group in the community who as four wheel drivers have an aggressive bullish driving behaviour.

As President of the State Association I have been suggesting to Government that we should have a four wheel drive levy of $50.00, just like a fishing license, and that the money is applied to:

1. Driver training. Driving a 4 x 4 is a leant skill both in the urban environment and in the bush. Our Association runs a very good driver training unit and we will be a registered training organisation next moth for that purpose.

2. Drive awareness. To run media campaigns just like the Motor Bike "see me" campaign to educate all people about driving in the urban environment, and lastly

3. An environmental fund to apply to rehabilitation and maintenance of Forests and Parks within Victoria.

Perhaps with this momentum I can ask for your support in that we actually do something about bad driving in four wheelers and you support me to the Government to have the levy imposed and a fund created and managed by our Association and Parks Victoria. I do have the support of Mark Stone CEO Parks for this scheme.

So why do we have them

More space
More versatile interior packaging
Extra seats
Greater towing capacity
Better vision
Safer
More versatile for private and recreational use

On safety issue twice safer that two wheel drives for pedestrians 22% of pedestrian deaths are 2 wheel drive 11% four wheel drives

Have less accidents
Kill less people and why because we have better vision and perception.

Ford Territory is wheel car of the year and we now make up 20% of the market for all of the above reasons.

If you would like to say a few words on the matter I would be wrapped. If you would like a chat please call.

All the best and I love your work.

Michael Coldham
President

Four Wheel drive Victoria
p +61 3 9672 2601 direct
f +61 3 9642 0271
M 0419 500 223
e mrc@andrice.com.au
w <www.fwdvictoria.org.au

Come on, you do not expect the 4wd association to do anything honestly do you? With those megre funds they take from EVERY new member each year, that would mean leaving the air conditioned offices..

I'm considering removing my club sticker off the back window. There are plenty of people who hate 4WD's that look for anything to identify you by in traffic - all in an attempt to be able to complain about your fourby to someone....irrespective of whether or not you have wronged them. The last thing I want is for some idiot to go calling our club with an unfounded complaint - or worse still, complain about the club to the media just to add fuel to the fire.

Sad times.

It is unfortunate but seems to be the way that those not willing to help clubs & Associations with time & effort to keep the tracks open & improve our image are always the ones most critical of the few hard workers doing their best. Anyone who get's involved in the 4x4 Association would know of the hundreds of hours dedicated to the task of keeping "Access for all" on the 4x4 network. Of course if you were to sit on your hands and let someone else do it all then I spose it would appear nothing was being said or done. NSW in the 80's was a classic example of everyone sitting around for someone else to do the work while the Parks closed off 1/2 the tracks in just a few years. So while some on this site drum up a bit of hysteria I know the dedicated few are still out there addressing the issues.
Cheers Craig...........