Once I had taken delivery of my 06 KingQuad 700, all I wanted to do was to participate in Quads4Quads 07, so I roped in my eager-beaver cuzzin, Zac, who had some leave scheduled at the right time, and we got the planning into top gear.
We travelled up by plane to Jozi on registration day, after ensuring our quads had been dropped off at George's truck depot, to be delivered just in time....
George was a tad late in arriving at Grasslands Driving Range, so we tucked into the all-you-can-eat Prawns and Mutton Curry evening they lay on every Wednesday!!!!
After seeing our quads and getting them onto the truck that would transfer them to the start at Thunder Valley, Benoni, we headed off to bed, at Kumarin's.
Day 1 - Benoni to Standerton - 190kms
We hooked up with Red Chilli Racers Big AL, Crash Bandicoot and Gavin, who kindly offered their support vehicle and Driver' Er (Nina).
Though the start was disastrous on account of the Hawkeye refusing to exceed 25kph, we got going albeit on one quad....we rode 2-up until the lunch stop, by which time Zac's back had taken enough punishment.
During the afternoon, I suffered an accident, rolling my quad when I swerved to avoid a collision with the quad ahead of me, as a result of not keeping an adequate dust gap, and my wits about me. The 2 major effects were a destroyed camera and an alignment problem that had to be treated with counter-steer for the rest of the trip.
I finished the day alone on the KingQuad, at the Standerton Primary School without further incident, and was greeted and assisted by the Red Chilli ones. Kyle promptly adjust my tie-rod ends, to try and improve my alignment, but this only helped marginally, and Gavin and Al helped apply cable ties and duck tape to my damaged auxillary headlight assembly.
A lekker braai and a coupla Capt Morgans served to prep us for bed, and before we knew it, it was time to ride again!
Day 2 - Standerton to Newcastle - 240kms
The breakdown crew didn't receive the replacement carb jet for the Hawkeye, but promised to have us running by the start of Day 3, so we decided to each ride half of Day 2, with me jockeying until lunch, and Zac bringing the Kingie home to Newcastle in the afternoon.
The afternoon session was definitely more interesting, with some reasonable climbs and descents, and a marked improvement in the scenery from the moment the ride entered KZN
In Newcastle, near the Majuba Lodge stopover, we could shop at the Checkers center, for almost anything, including A-grade biltong, and samoosas!
After dinner, and the traditional mid-event auction, the highlight of the evening was getting the Hawkeye back from the breakdown team, and Zac's anticipation of a full days' ride was tough to contain.
Day 3 - Newcastle to Weenen - 275kms
The third day was easily the longest, but also the most interesting, with sufficient technical bits and terrain variety to keep me and King busy. By the time (5PM) Zac and I got into camp at Weenen, we were almost too bushed to pitch our tent!
Though the Hawkeye wasn't sputtering as much, she definitely lost power on every uphill, regaining composure on the flats and downhills - a problem possibly requiring the adjustment of the float bowl mechanism. We pressed on through these hiccups, since she was at least able to keep an average pace of around 50kph.
We both retired before 9PM, eager to get an early start to set us up for an early arrival at the finish.
Day 4 - Weenen to Ballito - 250kms
This final leg started earlier, with the plan being for everyone to arrive a little earlier in Ballito....Zac and I made it there around 4PM, with no real problem and 2 short fuel stops.
It was a real pleasure to reach the canefields, near Cane Cutters Resort, and a wonderful lift to see our families at the finish point, happy to see us after our epic journey.
Besides the dust, my accident and the Hawkeye's temperamental start to the trip, a great time was had by all, and planning for Q4Q08 is already underway....
Overnight on registration day, we had to stack the quads upright in a MANLINE truck, for transporting to the start venue...
Red Hot Chilli Racers at the Thunder Vally start - Gavin, Kyle (Crash Bandicoot) and Alex (Big AL)
Announcements and words of encouragement and thanks from Glen of Family Adventures and Ari of QASA
Before Zac caught me and held me down......
After !!!
Zac, ready to tackle the 900 kays in the dirt....
On the way to the start, at Thunder Valley MotoX Raceway, Benoni, though we didn't get very far, since the Hawkeye sputtered her way to a max speed of 25kph down the main exit stretch....this apparently had to do with the machine having the wrong size carburettor jet....more on this issue in a later post....
