The Son of Trials is a competition which is part Funkhana, part Nissan Trials, but
mostly Funkhana! We use some of the tracks from the original
Nissan Trials but not the bits that are likely to cause you any
grief.
The idea is to challenge and test your driving skills.
There is a point score system where a "mean time" is
set for each of the 8 events. You get 1 point for each second
that your time is above or below the "target" time, as
well as points for stopping, reversing where not allowed, going
off the track and so on. The lowest total score over the 8 events is
the winner - simple!
The Son of Trials is held at River Island Nature Retreat on the Wombeyan Caves Road via Mittagong. This is actually the place where the Nissan Trials were originally run before they moved to SORRA in 1996. River Island provides a magnificent bush camping setting and terrain suitable for this kind of event. Carefully driven 2WD vehicles can access the campsite, as can off-road camper trailers. Towing a caravan there can be risky as the access track is very steep, winding and rocky in parts.
River Island is located on the Wombeyan Caves Road, 39 kilometres from the town of Mittagong. After leaving Mittagong and
driving south along the old Hume Highway for 5 kilometres, take
the Wombeyan Caves turn off. The first 15 kilometres of
road is bitumen and is then followed by a further 19 kilometres
of dirt road. However, the road is quite safe and suitable for
all vehicles so you don't need a 4WD.
Two (2) kilometres past the Wollondilly Tea House is the entrance to
River Island. On the left side of the road you will see the
orange posts on either side of the driveway and a large blue
River Island Nature Retreat sign. Turn into the driveway and
continue for another three (3) kilometres. Follow the "Nissan
Patrol 4WD Club" and "Son of Trials" signs to get to our
camp-site.
The Son of Trials is held on last weekend in February. All 8 Events will be run all day Saturday and on Sunday morning, with the "Climb for Cash" on Sunday afternoon. Gates are open from 12:00pm on Friday.
Any licensed driver with access to a 4WD can enter the Son of Trials. You do not need to be a member of a 4WD Club to enter. The tracks are designed to test driving skills and involve hill climbs, descents, rocky (dry) creek-beds, reversing stages and the like. This is a ideal "first taste" of competition or an introduction to 4WDing - it all depends on how YOU see it.
The Son of Trials prices for 2010 are as follows:
The Nissan Patrol 4WD Club will be selling hot food & cold drinks at the Son of Trials. The menu includes:
You need a 4WD (not an AWD!). The Son of Trials is meant for "factory standard" vehicles or those with only minor modifications normally associated with 4WD touring. Competitors will be split into three (3) classes. These are (not surprisingly):
1. Standard Class - which means just that. Oh OK, we'll let you have a bullbar, towbar, driving lights and that sort of stuff, but you must have original tyres, or at least tyres of the original size.
2. Touring Class - for the modified vehicles. Modifications are limited to:
vehicle must have four of them which are required to remain in close contact with the ground for the entire event. This is real easy for us to check. If your tyres are bigger than 33 inches, either:
we say a maximum of 4 inches combined. For those of you mathematically challenged, 4 is less than 4.5 or 5, so if your car is higher think about it (or we could use the Husqvana suspension trimmer - again, not recommended!)
3. Traction Plus Class - an additional class for vehicles with factory traction control systems e.g. Jeeps, Pajeros, Landrovers, etc.
- Aftermarket Diff Locks - if you have them, make
sure we have some way of verifying that you CAN NOT use them during the event - we consider them to be cheating
and their use results in automatic disqualification (and a
good spanking, so there!)
- Non-factory forced induction systems and/or replacement engines are now permitted, but NOT in Standard Class.
- Fluffy Dice if fitted, cannot exceed
5cm x 5cm x 5cm dimensions
- Bead Locks - a real no-no Well make
you run on bare rims if we see them.
- Hydraulic suspension & steering- rear wheel steering
etc (why are you here?)
- If you need to tow your competition vehicle onto the site it probably means that it is not eligible to compete anyway, so leave it on the road and enter your towing vehicle!
To enter the Son of Trials, you just fill out an entry form (in your neatest writing, because we will throw away ones we cannot read!) that are available at the Gate on the day you arrive. Then pay your entry fee and competitor fee/s and just front up to any of our friendly marshalls at staged at each of the 8 events. You do not have to complete the 8 events in numerical order or anything complicated like that.
Eternal glory, a cheap trophy for
lair value and heaps and heaps of absolutley fantastic prizes, like 4WD electric winches, top quality recovery gear, in car accessories, electronic maps and hundreds more prizes await the numerous winners at the Son of Trials.
We also have the "Climb
for Cash" which is a limited entry event
where the last vehicle remaining after a series of hill climbs
takes the cash pot. Big money can be on offer for the sole winner!
- Credit cards (Visa & Matercard) will be
accepted at the Gate if you smile nicely
- American Express, Diners Club & EFTPOS are not
accepted.
Got a question or problem that's not answered above? Simply CLICK HERE to contact us.