[tsk1979]

Mud Slush Rocks, it had all.
I did not shoot much, esp in the later stages as bogged down SUVs kept us busy... but anyways here go some shots

Detail report will follow soon!

[sudev]

Nice appetiser Tanveer. More pics please.

The first two relate to a slush zig zag pit with lots of articulation built in to it. None of the participants could clear it. The evening before Gypsy could do it but then at that time the last element "water" was not in play!!!

[sudev]

The 4 Guna 4 event was impossible to conduct without devoted volunteers who were offciating at various challenges and noting the timing and organising rescue tows.

So here one bright young couple, Neha & Puneit, at start of the event:


And soon they earned their reward:


While trying to watch and capture this on camera:


I will post lots of picture Neha & Puneit took as I did not get chance to take any picture myself. They have posted their set of over 200 picture on Facebook too!

"Tau" and his tractor were called to do this innumerable times during the day:


To do this:

[sudev]

Unlike in a rally or similar events the "navigator" gets to play very important and active role in a 4 Guna 4 obstacle course.

Navigating the driver from inside the cabin to stepping outside and giving hand signals to get the vehicle through. Not just this the navigator has to be active too!!

Getting out and guiding the driver over pile of rocks:


Or now that the jeep is bogged down first yell at the driver to gun the engine:


Since that did not work the Navigator takes things in hand and lends her total support to help front wheels find traction:


Here again:


And again trying to rock the baby side to side:

[sudev]

There were seven "in" field challenges and two "out" field ones.

The challenge number one proved to be beyond everyone and was dropped after all had a go at it.

Each challenge had a maximum time allowed and if a competitor was not able to finish within that time or gave up they were alloted this max time plus time of slowest vehicle to complete the challenge as penalty. This way each got fair chance at each challenge and still get to next one even if they got stuck. Going off course was same as not finishing. Option of totally bye passing obstacle was given if the crew thought the challenge is beyond their capabilities, with same penalty as above being applied.

Knocking off a marker invited additional fixed penalty. Cumulative penalty were used for determining the winners.

[khan_sultan]

Wow.!!! This & the Hyd event sure does make the indian off-road scene interesting, with Man made tracks and events.

Eagerly waiting for more details and especially the points system -- even though Sudev has mentioned it, can't seem to get a full understanding.

...Each challenge had a maximum time allowed and if a competitor was not able to finish within that time or gave up they were alloted this max time plus time of slowest vehicle to complete the challenge as penalty...

One more thing:

In Slush based obstacles, people who do later will/might have an inherent disadvantage. Was this taken into account? How was the starting lineup decided?

[tsk1979]

Actually, the way the track was, people doing it later did not have much of a disadvantage. Infact, in the Soft roader challenge, the first two vehicles who did it had to be towed out. The others went fine.
In the extreme challenge nobody could do it without tractor power.

[tsk1979]

This challenge group was divided into two, and I stuck around with one group along with Sudev.
In this group the following vehicles were there
1. Toyota Land cruiser

2. Suzuki Grand Vitara - Raid Extreme edition

3. Mitsubishi Pajero

4. Maruti Gypsy

5. Toyota fortuner

6. Nissan Patrol


The white elephant did not participate, as I am not really confident that the front suspension will survive anything but slush. Even trail driving results in weird noises.

Here the first challenge involved driving over bounders.

As the SUVs lined up, I decided to check some extreme action.

Unfortunately, as you can see, it became a tractor challenge. The first obstacle, was too much for anybody to happen(and later got scrapped).




Was it doable? Well 31" mud tires, front and rear lockers would have done it, maybe. But we will never know

Anyways, first non extreme challenge was going to start, and it was time to position myself.

TO Be CONT....

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

Eagerly waiting for more details and especially the points system -- even though Sudev has mentioned it, can't seem to get a full understanding.

I will try to explain the points system.
Every challenge had a start and finish line.
You started at the start line, your time was noted, and then at the finish line your time was noted.
This decided how many points you got.
Now there were penalties for
1. Pole knockdown - eg if you strayed from the track and knocked down a pole or something
2. Tow required - If you needed assistance from recovery vehicle.
This has two categories. In very small challenges, like cross a rock pile, a tow meant that you would be marked "Failed" in the challenge
In longer slush sections, you could take tow and get out, and continue the next slush challenge. Every towing led to points getting cut
3. Missing Flags in touch flags challenges - you had to complete a course and touch flags while doing so. If you did not touch a flag, there was a penalty

So scoring system was pretty simple.

In case no vehicle could complete a challenge, that particular challenge was scrapped after consultation with all participants.

[sudev]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

2. Tow required - If you needed assistance from recovery vehicle.
This has two categories. In very small challenges, like cross a rock pile, a tow meant that you would be marked "Failed" in the challenge
In longer slush sections, you could take tow and get out, and continue the next slush challenge. Every towing led to points getting cut
3. Missing Flags in touch flags challenges - you had to complete a course and touch flags while doing so. If you did not touch a flag, there was a penalty

These two were only for the Soft Edition (mainly for SUV's) only. As it is after seeing the challenges two GV's did not even take a start. The rock pile looked too dangerous for them to risk and so they just stood by and handed in their time card.

@KS: No matter what system is brought in some element of differential will remain. To equalise challenges we had driven through all man made challenges multiple time and created slush. Fixed penalties with a max time limit also meant clear understanding of and adherence to time lines.

As it was not a team event recovery was organised by marshal's.

[xtreme power]

did arjuns black zuk participate
any pictures of her on the first obstacle

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by xtreme power

did arjuns black zuk participate
any pictures of her on the first obstacle

Yes, but it was a RWD only as the front axle broke and became free.
All the bolts came off or something.
Even in RWD only avatar, it did quite good, probably due to rear diff being locked.

[sudev]

The first of extreme trail challenge was a lake crossing. The entry was through approach channel. You can see the start gate marked by two cones in the background.


The whole trick was to keep even speed and just keep on riding along with the water wave front.After the channel entered the main pond there were two traverses.


Nothing to it really but some hidden ditches if you were not careful to keep to line pointed out at the time of briefing. Lots of participants used plastic sheets in front of radiators to prevent water entering the engine chamber and flooding the air cleaners

[sudev]

Here is a link to video posted on YouTube by Rhandle. It shows his Gurkha on the other end of lake almost at the shallow end:

YouTube - Trax Gurkha 4x4 through Slush 4 guna 4.MP4

[sudev]

The second trail challenge was quarry pit.

First you traversed through thick scrub jungle till you reached first of two drop steps:


First thump and front end is down:


Then to second step:


Watching for the central hump


Gingerly coming down and all the while clock is ticking


Aaahhh made it down


Now speed up to climb out of the quarry pit


Looks easy but it was one hell of slope


All pictures of the quarry are courtesy Lavanya - a waiting in wings driver - who was out supporting her father and sister. Guess who was driving? The sister navigated by father.