Nissan SA sponsored the Nissan 4x4 Club to Barberton

[Herrie]

The Nissan 4x4 Club was invited to join Task Nissan in Barberton for the Round Table 4x4 Fun Day. Nissan SA sponsored the Club with 3 vehicles including fuel and accomodation to market the Nissan Brand in Toyota teritory.

Unfotunately we were unable to secure a Patrol bakkie and joined Task Nissan with a standard Navara, Hardbody and a NP300 4x2. The Navara kicked ass and did the obstacles with much more ease than the Cruisers, Hiluxes and Fortuner - not to mention the Fords and Pajeros. If we had the Patrol, we would have made an even bigger impression.

Could not believe the amaising comments the spectators made about the ability of the Navara. We told them that the Patrols will do ever better and their reply was: Patrol - what is a Patrol!!! Next time I will take mine if we can not get one from Nissan SA!

[Gerrit Loubser]

The Navara kicked ass and did the obstacles with much more ease than the Cruisers, Hiluxes and Fortuner - not to mention the Fords and Pajeros.

Why on earth would that be? Other than sheer difference in driver skill, I struggle to see how things could turn out that way and in that case the credit would not really be due to the vehicle. Could you perhaps explain, Herrie?

I don't have anything against the Navara, but I just don't understand the physics behind this (and I think I do have a basic grasp of the physics of motor vehicles). I have also taken a Navara around a little 4x4 track...

[Herrie]

Maybe it is because of the saying: the most important thing of any 4x4 "is the nut that holds the steeringwheel".

It was very suprizing to hear the Toyota guys give good comments on the Navara. I think is had a lot to do with the drivers skills as well - and the people stood inline waiting for the chance to join the ride in the Navara.

Toyota challenged us to do 2 obstacles so we took the Navara and the Hardbody and Toyota came with an Cruiser SW and a new Prado. We lost out on one banner touch and only because when the Toyota went through the obstacles all the marshals stood on the one side and did not see the banner touches on the other side. When we went through the obstacles, all the spectators were ask to check for banner touches. The Hardbody I drove did very well even through a very difficult axle twister - I went through slowly and was suprized because the Hardbody did not battle because it only had a LSD and not a difflock!

[Stefan]

This is great news. If the people from Nissan saw value, they may repeat it.

[Herrie]

With the positive reports that Nissan SA will get, they will sponsor the Nissan 4x4 Club for more outings like this. The club is busy with a businessplan to do all training for Nissan 4x4 clients.

Task Nissan already told us that they will organize a training weekend with us for their clients and all the other dealers in that area.

[Stefan]

Awesome! Well done Herrie.