With the 2018 season fast approaching we asked Mainland Superwinch Challenge correspondent Vicky Newport to background the popular South Island-based series.
It was timely when Editor Ross got in touch asking me if I wanted to write up a bit of a backgrounder on the our series because each year since I have been covering it for the mag I get asked the same sort of questions.
What is it? Who runs it? Where are the rounds held? What sort of truck do you need? To answer these and any of the 101 questions you might have here it a potted history of the series and how it got to where it is today.
Back in the day
Twelve years ago a bunch of guys down in Southland got together and decided they wanted to start a Winch Challenge. At the time Mud Plugs were all the go but they didn't use winches.
Some of the guys wanted to use their standard Club Trucks while others wanted to compete in their more Modified Trucks, so two classes were formed. Clubman was for the standard trucks, Open for those that were a little bit more modified but in both classes the trucks were to be road legal with WoF and Rego.
Tuatapere, way out there in far Western Southland, was where the first event was held. And over the next couple of years clubs from Dunedin, Queenstown and Mid-Canterbury got on board and joined in the fun.
Soon enough they had three or four rounds happening each year and the need for another Class was there. The Outlaw Class was then introduced. This was to allow the home-built buggies and un-registered/non-WoF Trucks to enter, though they still had to come up to a certain standard. For the first couple of years the Outlaw Class wasn't included in what they were now calling the Mainland Winch Series. It was an invitational class. But as more and more guys were attracted to it, it soon became part of the series.
Rules & regs
Soon enough, too, came the need for their “rules and regulations” to be written up. The base rules started using the North Island rules but as the years went on they were changed to cater for the South Island series’ own needs.
They organisers also got on board with the NZ4WD Association. To run an event the hosting club had to be affiliated with the NZ4WD Association. And to compete the driver had to be a financial member of an affiliated club.
By the fourth year the winch challenge bug had dragged a few teams in from up the northern end of the South Island so rounds soon started in Blenheim, Nelson and Hanmer Springs. By this time too there were about five trucks/teams in each class.
Series entry
To enter the Series you pay a small fee at the start of the season. This fee pays for admin costs and trophies. This fee and a series’ entry form has to be filled out before your first round is started. Once you have done this your points start.
The Driver has to be the same driver at each round but you can change your co-driver. After each round scores are done (series entrants only).
Round entry
Each round has a hosting 4WD club. They organise everything right down to dinner at prize giving. They set out the stages (10 +), organise volunteers for marshalling, prizes, trophies for that round, dinner, accommodation recommendations etc. A fee will be charged by them as they do have costs to cover.
Each Round is scored and these results are released at prize giving.
Superwinch sponsorship
Our “Series Sponsor” is SUPERWINCH - TRAXION who have been with us now for four years.
This has worked out great for both the Series and Superwinch. We have given away a “Talon Superwinch” plus loads of other prizes supplied by Superwinch at each round for the past four years. That’s a total of about 18-20 Talon Superwinches. And we have had marshals, drivers, co-drivers, organisers all win one at some point.
Because we are a Winch Challenge Event these prizes are great.
Teams
Don’t think you won’t fit in or can't do it, either. Our teams are made up of all sorts; we have mates, husbands/wives, fathers with sons/daughters, brothers, etc. with ages ranging from 15 to late 60s.
Trucks
Trucks range from the basic wee Suzuki on 33” tyres to Nissans, Jeeps, home-built buggies, Can-Ams UTVs to an Ultra 4. We have people on very low budgets with no sponsors to very expensive trucks with huge sponsors.
For most out sport is all about having fun, getting dirty, using and/or improving your driving and winching skills to just good plain old socialising.
The weather
Obviously, a Winch Challenge is all about winching. In saying that though, sometimes the sport is weather dependant. Why we do it in the winter, for instance, is being hopeful re the right amount of rain.
We need bogs to winch through, and hills to winch up, but sometimes this doesn't happen and a lot of driving is done. Which is not quite the point. Ours is, after-all, a Winch Challenge, so the more winching the better.
Classes
Clubman Class is an entry level class so after a couple of years those teams are expected to jump up to the next level which is Open Class. Clubman don't do the real hard tracks.
Open and Outlaw Class do harder tacks, and because of the fact, will do a lot more winching and tend to get a lot dirtier.
Safety first
Safety is our number one priority and that is why we have rules and regulations to follow.
If you are keen to give it a go or want more information regarding entering email mainlandwinching@gmail.com and we will email you the information you need. We also have area reps throughout the South Island. These guys are there to point you in the right directions.
Growing fast
We are about to go into our 12th season with a sport that is growing very fast. 2017 saw five entries in the Clubman Class, all entries fairly new to the sport. A couple of them will go up into the Open Class this season.
We had a whopping 21 entries, meanwhile, in the Outlaw Class. Never before has this happened, though at the same time it was sad to see no entries in the Open Class. Most chose to compete in the Outlaw Class for the competition and some had no choice as this class does not require WoF & Rego.
AGM
We hold an AGM at the last round of each season. This is to discuss any issues that have arisen, amend any rules or regs to keep up with the times, lock in a series’ sponsor, elect area reps and committee to handle any series issues for the following season etc.
So one thing we committed to do at the AGM last year was to get the Open Class back up and running. With a few changes we are hopeful the Open Class will come back and in doing so take some heat off the Outlaw Class.
A note from the President
Before I wrap this up, here are a few words from our President.
“It's been eight years from when I first got an intro into the sport and not that much has changed in the way that all competitors seem to get hooked and come back year after year. There are a few things that have changed though, namely the level of driving/winching and the reliability of vehicles and the team work. We have mates/fathers/sons/daughter/partners and husband and wife teams out there doing it.
I would also like to say thanks to the guys that started it, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have what we do now and also thanks to all that have had any input over the many years the sport has been running. As I know full well it takes a lot of time and effort to put on and run a round. And to anyone that are thinking about coming out in 2018 I say do it! Just get in touch with an area rep and they will get you up to speed with the rules etc.” Malc
That’s it from me (Vicky) then. If this all sounds a bit like you jump on Facebook and check out our page, “Mainland 4WD Winching” and see what we are all about.
To read every story in the March 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (Feb 16) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
