Suzuki 4WD Club of Victoria

Going to Beachport this year, may try for Portland in 2014


TRIP TITLE:
Portland Sand Dunes

TRIP DATE:
early October? open to ideas if October is unsuitable, but the weather should be on the improve and it's a trip we can do while the tracks around Melbourne are still closed

TRIP DESCRIPTION:
Portland Dune Buggy Club has access to the sand dunes just west of Portland. To drive the dunes you need to be a member of the PDBC. Four day memberships are available for $50 each. Camping is available on site, not sure of the fee for this atm. The plan would be to meet in Portland around noon Saturday (Portland is 400km from Melb), drive the short distance to the dunes, spend the afternoon getting stuck in the sand, camp overnight, more dune driving Sunday morning then return to Melb in the afternoon.

I will contact the club to find out about joining, camping, etc.

Some info on the club http://www.portlanddunebuggyclub.com.au/


TRIP LOCATION:
Portland Dune Buggy Club

TRIP RATING:
easy/medium

TRIP MEETING POINT:
Portland

ATTENDEE LIST:
stev125 - GV
Christover _ Vitara
Brad - Sierra/GV
JonH - pushing his Sierra
Mike57 - Jimny

Steve.

Add me to the list please but I will need to decide closer to the date.

Mike

Great trip idea Steve L.

A quick heads up that previous enquiries to Portland found that you can't drive a soft top car on the dunes without a cage and steel lid. It's for rollover protection to stop you from sinking into the sand.

I'd be very keen for this. I'll have to look into the soft top car requirements, I might have to make myself an exo cage.

I think I might still have the vehicle spec requirements on my work pc. I'll have a look on Friday. It's just something worth confirming before driving all that way.

Thanks Greg, I'm struggling for motivation at work today so I sent an e-mail to the dune buggy club to find out what the requirements are. I'll post it up when I get a reply.

Dates may be dictated by availability of the land.

what about a fibreglass top :S

I know it seems draconian to insist on a roll bar/hard lid but from my very limited sand experience, you'd be surprised a) how fast you'll end up travelling and b) how disorientating the angles are. It's really easy to loose a horizontal reference (or any reference at all really) so it's very common to find yourself travelling too fast over a lip or rolling in the valley between two dunes.

Also note how many WA guys who play in dunes a lot have bent front axles from landing unexpected jumps.

I think it would be awesome fun and all - I've seen photos in Dirtcomp from a race held down there - but it is worth being wary of sand.

Steve.

Hi Steve. Sounds like fun. I will go. Had a lot of experience riding 2 wheels in sand, but none at all with 4 wheels. Its still a fair way off, but I will be in it.
Regards, Wayne.