The Four Wheel Drive Club of WA was formed in 1971 and is an organisation that brings together a diversity of people who share a common interest in the ownership and use of four wheel drive vehicles. Being a member of the Club offers an opportunity for people with 4WD vehicles and interests in the outdoors to share their experience and participate in recreational activities as a group. For the inexperienced this has the added advantage of providing an element of safety and eliminates the risk of being stranded in an isolated part of the bush by yourself. The major use of our vehicles is for access to environment-based, not vehicle-based, recreation.

As a Club member, all club driver training and offroad awareness courses are free. Club trips and tag along tours (day, weekend and extended) are free except for your own expenditure. You will receive the monthly Club magazine, the Christmas party and other social activities are free or subsidised, you become eligible for 4WD Club Insurance on vehicle and equipment. You will also become a member of the Sportsman's Association (Australia), become affiliated members of other 4WD Clubs throughout Australia  that have reciprocal arrangements with our club, and many other benefits.

By your involvement with us we hope that you will gain proficiency in vehicle handling, and valuable information for the maintenance and general care of your vehicle, as well as an awareness of the beauty and fragility of the natural environment, and enjoy the Australian vast countryside.

Visitors are welcome to attend three Club meetings and two Club trips before joining, visitors must advise the trip leader before attending a trip.

To establish, maintain and conduct a Club of an educational, recreational, social and non-political character for the purpose of promoting and fostering:

Safe and Intelligent Four Wheel Driving.

 

CONSERVATION AND CLUB PHILOSOPHY

We are a four wheel drive club which encourages conservation by education of its members through good example and a strict approach to the way we preserve the environment. On trips as a club or as individuals we practise the rule: "carry out what you carry in". We observe the land owner's wishes and comply with the relevant regulations of the administering authority. We drive on the beaten track -- not off it.

 

The Club holds meetings on a fortnightly basis at 8pm on Thursday evenings at the Sportsmen's Association, Stancliffe St, Mt. Lawley. The meetings consist of a formal general meeting lasting approximately one hour followed by a "for sale" and "wanted to buy" section. After supper (tea or coffee) we have a film or technical talk and time spent socialising. Bar facilities are available at the Sportsmen's Association clubrooms.

The Club welcomes visitors. If you know of someone who would like to join or have a friend who may be interested, please invite them to join you and come along to one of the meetings.

Visitors are allowed to attend three (3) Club meetings and two (2) organised Club Trips.

As there may be restrictions on Club Trips, limited numbers for example, contact the Trip Leader or a Trips Committee Member for more details before attending.

 

Club trips are held approximately every second weekend. During the course of the year we have day, weekend and some extended trips.

With a majority of family members, club activities are designed to cater for all age groups and tastes. Most trips are of an easy to moderate standard, but the occasional harder trip is provided for those who enjoy them.

Other activities include driver training courses, social events, technical demonstrations, motorkhanas and navigation exercises.

The information for these trips is discussed at Club meetings and advertised in the Club magazine and a trip log sheet is posted on the notice board, which is available at the general meetings for you to enter your name as an intending participant. If you need more information about a trip or are unable to sign up at a meeting, please contact the Trip Leader or any member of the Trips Committee before attending.

 

Basic details of proposed trips such as meeting point, destination, date and time of departure, duration and mileage involved and the name of the Trip Leader are provided at General Meetings and are published in the Club magazine.

Trip vehicle numbers are often limited (15-20) and for this reason, trip log sheets are placed on the Club notice board. The notice board is placed in a prominent position at each meeting. Club members wishing to participate on a particular trip should print their name on the relevant log sheet or contact the Trip Leader prior to the trip. If you are unsure of what to take on a Club trip contact the Trip Leader. Help will always be available.

Before you decide to go on a trip you must ensure that you and your vehicle are suitably prepared. There are a few items which you must carry with you; these are listed in the Mandatory Equipment list in this booklet. When you are preparing for your trip you must ensure that you are as self sufficient as possible by carrying adequate fuel, food, water and camping equipment if an overnight stay is involved. It is also desirable to carry emergency fuel and water in your vehicle for the unexpected.

Please ensure that you arrive at the trip meeting place on time and with sufficient fuel and supplies for at least the first stage of the trip or as directed by the magazine information. Always carry out a routine maintenance check of your vehicle before leaving home.

 

The Club conducts various social events throughout the year. These events vary from the formal through to the informal. Some of the more typical are as follows:

• Annual Cabaret & Trophy Presentation:

This is a formal evening usually consisting of a dinner dance where the annual trophy presentation occurs.

• Christmas Party:

This is a weekend usually held locally in November consisting of the Saturday afternoon dedicated to the children. Father Christmas is in attendance along with the usual lollies, cool drinks and ice cream.
In the evening there is a BBQ, films, cartoons or other entertainment for the children and young-at-heart. This is followed by a disc jockey or jukebox for the adults.
There are usually camping facilities for those who wish to stay overnight.

• Other Social Activities:

There are other social activities held during the year such as Dance Nights at the Sportsman’s Club, BBQ’s or Cookouts held in conjunction with a Trips weekend or during one of the Clubs Competition Events such as a Motorkhana.

 

The Four Wheel Drive Club operates via a series of committees. The Executive Committee is the controlling and governing authority for the Club's affairs.

The Trips Committee Co-ordinates Club Trips and inter-club activities.

Other committees such as editorial, social, etc exist to perform these tasks.

 

The AGM is held on the first meeting in May and the membership fee falls due as of the First of May and is payable in that month . Payments received after the end of May will be subject to a late fee.

The fees are used for several purposes including the purchase and upkeep of Club property such as:

Safety equipment......................Two way radio equipment.
Recovery equipment.................Tirfor winch, snatch straps.
Trips equipment........................Chainsaw, motorkhana gear.
Social equipment......................Trestles, tarps, party lights, TV, VCR.
Magazine equipment.................Photocopiers, Computer Equipment.
Library equipment.....................Video’s, books, manuals, maps & magazines.

 

THE CLUB MAGAZINE

The club publishes its magazine as a primary means of communication to members, associate clubs and other relevant groups. The magazine is published and distributed at the first meeting of each month and contains articles contributed by Club Members including reports on recent activities, feature articles of a technical nature and a diary of coming events.

The magazine is subsidised by advertising. Some advertisers offer discounts on their products and Members should identify themselves when frequenting these outlets.

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS.

 

Most members have UHF CB radios fitted to their vehicles and use them to contact the Trip Leader and other members of the club when on trips. In this way the Trip Leader can maintain convoy procedure and inform the group of any dangers along the trail or points of scenic interest that may be a feature of the region. For these and other purposes, the Club uses Channel 13 on the UHF CB radio Band.

The Club CB representative designates a Club callsign to each new Club Member in the form of a NOMAD number magnetic vehicle sticker.

 

The Club library contains videos, books, magazines, some vehicle manuals and a comprehensive library of maps of interest to four wheel drivers.

Members may draw these items on loan at the Club meetings from the Club Librarian. Members are reminded that the items are on loan and our Library works like other Library’s with a fine for late returns.

The contents of the Library is updated throughout the year.

 

The Club has, through the Promotions Officer, a range of items for sale from time to time such as tracksuits, tee-shirts, name badges, caps and drink holders with the Club emblem. These items are available for sale at Club meetings.

 

1. A Trip Leader is appointed for each trip. His duties are to survey the trip area, arrange maps and the recovery gear and is in control of the trip. He normally leads the trip and appoints a "tail-end Charlie" to assist. If you are not sure of what to do while on a trip please talk to the Trip Leader.

2. Convoy procedures as described in this book must be adhered to.

3. Your vehicle should be well maintained. We help all breakdowns but don't expect to spend time doing routine maintenance jobs on Club trips. If a serious breakdown occurs it is Club policy to get you home or to the nearest service facilities.