Volume 21 Mount Lofty Rangers Inc. July PO Box 1150, BlackwoodSA5051 No. 2 www.mountloftyrangers.com.au 2015 In this issue: Prez Sez……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…3 Finke Trip……………………………………………………………………………………………...…..12 Trip Calendar………………………………………………………………………………………..…...20 Training……………………………...…………………………………..…………………………….......23 Guest Speakers…………………………………………………………………………………….…….25 National Parks SA…………………………………………………………………………………...….26 Desert Parks SA……………………………………………………………………………………........27 Funnies..............................................................................................................................................31 For the Ladies.................................................................................................................................34 Editors Note....................................................................................................................................38 Rangers Review 1 COVER SHOT: Eringa Waterhole; courtesy of Steve Brown’s quadcopter drone Mount Lofty Rangers Inc. About Us The Club’s aim is for its members to enjoy all aspects of owning and using our 4WDs while enjoying the diverse surroundings offered by this great country. We are a club of 4WD enthusiasts who enjoy challenging driving, regular trips, camping, camp cooking and a great social scene on and off track. Membership Membership is open to anyone who owns a 4WD (regardless of its make or model) and has a passion for driving. Mount Lofty Rangers Inc is an affiliated member of the South Australian Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs (FWDSA). Club Outings The Mount Lofty Rangers provides regular day, weekend and extended four wheel drive trips, lead by experienced trip leaders. Trips are rated on the level of difficulty and are available to all members and guests. The club has a dedicated social committee which also organises regular events that complement the club trips. Experience and Training Our current members possess a wide range of skills ranging from beginner to advanced. The club has a number of accredited instructors and assessors, and is involved in regular training via the SAAFWDC Driver Training Unit. Meetings Club meetings are the second Monday of each month* and are held at the Blackwood Football Club, Trevor Terrace, Blackwood Time: 7:15 pm for 7.30pm start *Except where this Monday falls on a long weekend then the meeting is held on the third Monday of the month. For more information on the Club please check out our website at: www.mountloftyrangers.com.au MT LOFTY RANGERSUHF CLUB CHANNEL NO 27 Rangers Review 2 Hi all – did you know that its less than six months to Christmas? I’ve said it numerous times before…. Where has this year gone? Well we made it back from our Finke trip, the report can be found in this magazine as well as a few photos to make you feel even more jealous. Before I bore you to tears with my ramblings – go and grab your social calendar and book in weekend of 21st November for our Christmas Show, we have booked the Woodfired Pizza man again and if you were one of the unlucky ones that didn’t join us last year, be sure to get there this year…. These pizza’s are to die for! The other date you need to add to your social calendar – October Long Weekend – the 3rd bi-annual MLR Octoberfest, if you’ve been asleep under a rock and are yet to see any information on this great event – check out the website and get your entry in to ensure you don’t miss out on the limited spots available. Why not offer your services to either Trip Lead, Tail End Charlie, Set up or set down assistance or even to help cook the Big Brekky? As you may have heard on the grapevine or seen on our Facebook page – the Doody’s will be confined to non 4WD trips for the short term as our Patrol has a small engine issue – it won’t run properly, sounding like a very sick chaff cutter and at this stage is parked in the shed at home waiting for a conclusive diagnosis but unfortunately I’m pretty sure that it has turned into a Nissan Grenade. At the time it all went astray, we were doing no more than 25km/h – it definitely wasn’t under load or strain, there is still heaps of oil in it and the coolant is as green as the day it went in. It’s now time to save some money before getting it out of the shed and get it back on the road. At the last committee meeting we talked at length about our upcoming 20 year anniversary and the style of shirt we want to commemorate it with, a couple of quick ideas are in this newsletter, please feel free to let us know your thoughts or your ideas? Those of you that ordered and are yet to pick up the extinguishers, they will be available to collect at the meeting – please organise your payment June to Paul McGregor. 2015 See you at the meeting Rangers Review 3 YOUR COMMITTEE 2015-16 COMMITTEE DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Tom Doody [email protected] SECRETARY & PUBLIC OFFICER Lainie Ray [email protected] TRIPS COORDINATOR Phil Simes [email protected] FWD SA DELEGATE Ron Versteeg [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Gary Light [email protected] TREASURER Paul McGregor [email protected] MEMBERSHIP OFFICER Jordan Ray [email protected] Rangers Review 4 YOUR COMMITTEE 2015-16 COMMITTEE MEMBERS WEBSITE OFFICER EDUCATION OFFICER Michelle Watkin Steve Townsend [email protected] [email protected] MERCHANDISE OFFICER MAGAZINE EDITOR Kym Nagel Kylie Cooper [email protected] [email protected] PROPERTY OFFICER COMMITTEE MEMBER Peter Reed Wayne Ritchie [email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER Linda Nagel Rob Stevens COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER Roger Wilkinson Marianne Sag Rangers Review 5 Paul McGregor Rangers Review 6 UNIFORM NEW DESIGN JACKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE !!! $65 Black or Navy Blue (name extra) SIZING CHART ADULTS S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL KIDS 4 6 8 10 12 14 CHEST 56 58.5 61 63.5 66 68.5 71.5 74.5 CHEST 38 40.5 43 46.5 50 53.5 LENGTH 72 74 76 78 80 82 83 84 LENGTH 50 54 58 62 66 70 Contact Merchandise Officer Kym to place an order: [email protected] Blue Polo Tops = $37$18.50 MLR 1 x Large 2 x XLarge Merchandise Green Polo Shirt = $37$18.50 clearance sale 1 x Large (named Graig instead of Craig) Take 50% OFF 1 x Small (named Trevor) Black Anniversary Polo Shirts = $35$17.50 listed prices 2 x Medium (named Matt) 1 x XLarge (named Dave) Artic Polo Fleece Jacket (Green, full zip) = $50$25 1 x Large Artic Polo Fleece Jumper (Green, half zip) = $50$25 1 x Large 1 x Medium Winter spray Coats (Green/Black) = $85$42.50 1 x Large 1 x Medium Rangers Review 7 20 year anniversary shirt ideas! It’s our 20th anniversary and we discussed at last month’s committee meeting ideas for designing a ‘loud shirt’. Gary Light has drafted some amazing concepts so far. We are looking to prompt some ideas and gather interest. Rangers Review 8 Rangers Review 9 MLR CLUB PERSON OF THE YEAR Criteria: Automatic eligibility for minimum of 1 Trip Leader role Must be a financial member Runs May to April (as per MLR club year) Must attend minimum of 6 MLR events in the 12 months (meetings or trips) Nominated by Club Committee for—trip leader / trip attendance / club meeting attendance/ over and above activities for betterment of MLR Upholding of MLR values & club spirit Can be nominated by general membership Winner by blind vote from club members —one membership = one vote In case of tie, winner by discretion of Committee Club equipment for loan! Grate mates Gazebo 3m x 3m (x2) Uniden UHF handheld radios Hot water urn and kettle Tyre repair kit (large & small) Bead breaker Tifor hand winch and cable Drag chains (x 2) Car Bra Trestle tables, plastic folding 1.8m (x2) Recovery bag (inc snatch straps, extension strap, tree trunk protector and shackles) *All club equipment is securely stored within the club trailer @ Lonsdale For further information on any loan equipment, please email Peter Reed, Property Officer: [email protected] Rangers Review 10 MEMBERSHIPS DUE NOW! Your memberships are now due and payable. They remain unchanged for the 2015 / 2016 Financial year and if paid before the September meeting the renewal cost is $70, after the September meeting the price reverts to a new member price of $80. EFT payments are encouraged For payment by EFT: BSB: 065 132 Account No: 1004 4806 Account Name: Mount Lofty Rangers Inc. *Remember to put your name in the reference field Rangers Review 11 FINKE TRIP Written by Tom Doody After Jordan’s trip for one to the Finke Desert Race last year, there is no way I was going to miss it this year! The plan was for two weeks and to head up through Oodnadatta to Dalhousie Springs, Chambers Pillar and into Alice Springs for scrutineering and pre-race festivities, then back down the Old South Road to watch 2 days of racing (to Finke and return on separate days) then home via The Simpson Desert. As with most trips of this duration you have people pull out for various reasons, but what started as a boys trip in the initial planning ended up with 4 cars – Ron & Michelle Versteeg, Graham Jones, Mike Paul and Tanya and me, it may have been down on car numbers but as the trip was to progress there was no shortage of stories, laughs and even the odd deep and meaningful! The week leading up to when we were supposed to leave was spent packing, ensuring the car was ready and keeping an eye on the weather…. Come Thursday and there were SMS’s going back and forth and plans were changing just as quick – there was a predicted $h*t load of rain for Oodnadatta area and we didn’t need to be stuck in that area with closed roads! DAY 1 We arranged to meet at Pt Pirie at 10ish, for the first bakery stop and to finalise our plans for the first week.