Kwinana driver awareness 4wdriving day (held at the off-road area)
12 September 2026
Our desire is to encourage as many women as possible to come and be involved in these activities.
Participants:
Di - Pajero Sport (trip leader)
Simon - Canon
Dave - Toyoto Prado
Sam - Mitsubishi Triton
Sandie - GU Patrol 3.0 and Wayne who had flown in on Friday night from over east. This was a nice surprise.
Tracey and Alan - GU Patrol 4.2
Jane and Don - GU Patrol 4.2
The Day
The day’s activity began with a driver briefing to provide a general outline of the activities planned for the day. Because the sand is soft tyre pressures had to adjusted down. That done people locked the hubs and engaged four-wheel drive. But … not all remembered.
Quote of the day “It helps to put the vehicle into 4wdrive”
The day began “with a no way!” from an un-identified person when it was suggested that they drive up a rock face. Others decided to give it a go, and with a spotter to assist, they reached the top safely.
A drive around the site was commenced but this was a challenge to navigate due to recent changes to the tracks in the area. Large rocks have been placed to restrict entry in some places. It was a nice flowery drive though.
As the drive continued, people had the opportunity to drive on soft sand, get bogged and recovered with a snatch strap. A first for Sam and Di.
Another area offered a challenge that nobody accepted: A very wet track with head high ruts as measured with stick. The smell was also off-putting.
Surprisingly nobody volunteered to walk it. (It might be possible to drive in summer and I would like to go back.)
The next site provided a variety of terrains. There were up and down hill challenges with wombat holes to navigate. Muddy tracks of varying depths and stickiness were on offer too. I walked in one rut and sunk over my boots.
For the lunch break, an awing and gazebo was set up to serve brewed coffee, buns, fried onions, sauce and sausages. It was a welcome break for lunch. Thanks Dave, Simon and Di, we are definitely going up market.
We finished the day from where we started with options of more rocky slopes to drive. After a group photo, tyres were re-inflated and we all headed for home, except for Di. She was heading somewhere to join her friends for a girls’ weekend but seemed unsure if it was Geraldton, Greenough or Guilderton!!! Hmn, I hope she found her friends.
Last Thoughts
Di wanted to learn more about recoveries so organised this driver awareness day. What would you like to learn or do? You could organise a day or trip to meet your need/desire? There are plenty of people willing to help.
We are already planning the next awareness day with suggestions of when to use traction boards, when to winch rather than snatch, how to change a tyre, how to plug a tyre, what recovery gear should people bring on a trip
Don
