b'Sept 2022 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 111/09/20228:32 pmPage 17The National 4x4 and Outdoor Show has come and gone!The show ran over the 19th to 21st of August at theMelbourne Showgrounds. Four Wheel Drive Victoria had itsbiggest involvement with the show to date. This includediamanning our own stand, running the proving ground through-out the entire show, judging and educating at the CustomPlates Show n Shine and also conducting a talk sessioneach day on the Garage Talks stage. We were able toeducate members of the public about the 7 Iconic Four Wheelw Drive Adventures across Victoria. Our new Discover FourWheel Driving book and answered a host of questions fromthe public about their trips and how to go about them whilsttreading lightly.The show would not have been such a success without ourvolunteers once again selflessly stepping up to help out andvolunteer their time. Four Wheel Drive Victoria would like tothank Bellarine 4x4 Club, Central Highlands 4x4 Club,Geelong 4WD Club, Just Mates 4x4 Club, Peninsula 4x4 Club,Sandhurst 4WD Club and Victorian 4WD Club. It was atremendous effort and a great effort by all involved. Many of these volunteers helped out on the Proving Ground.It was a great opportunity for Four Wheel Drive Victoria andour volunteers to take visitors to the show around the trackcreated within the showgrounds. It allowed those who jumpedin cars or watched the recovery demonstrations from thegrandstand to see how to tread lightly whilst four wheeldriving and how to make minimal impact. A big thank you toAlan Mance Motors for providing the cars used throughout theshow. Our own John Toogood from the Yarra Valley 4WD Club wasthe MC to the Outback Stage. Playing host to many crowdfavourites such as Red Dirt Diaries, Sam Eyles (Built NotBought), Shauno and Graham (4WD247) and many othersover the three days. It was a terrific job by John with plenty ofspruiking about Four Wheel Drive Victoria and the many greatreasons to join a 4WD club, something we noticed at the FourWheel Drive Victoria stand with plenty of people coming upsaying they thought about joining clubs after hearing John.Fred de Gooyer and Wayne Hevey also were out on theSaturday and Sunday judging and educating entrants in theCustom Plates Show n Shine. Four Wheel Drive Victoria werepart of the pre- judging process making sure cars weresuitable and roadworthy. The top 40 cars made it through invarious categories. From here Fred and Wayne were part ofthe judging panel which helped selected a winner each dayas well as being able to impart their knowledge on entrants toensure their cars were safe and compliant with VSB 14.It was great to see 3 clubs, Land Rover Owners Club ofVictoria, Nissan 4x4 Club and Offroad and Camping Club ofVictoria take up the offer of a free site at the National 4x4Show. Whilst disappointing more clubs did not take up thisoffer I hope it was a great show for these clubs and manynew members and strong interest found in the visitors to theshow.The dates for the 2023 National 4x4 and Outdoors showhave already been set so make sure to mark it down in bothyours and your clubs calendars. The 2023 edition will onceagain run at the Melbourne Showgrounds over the 18th,19thand 20th of August. Four Wheel Drive Victoria will endeavourto have the same level of participation at the next show as thisone just gone including free sites for our clubs so startplanning your rosters now!Daniel Whitby Projects Officer FWDVTRACKWATCHSEPTEMBER 2022 15'