A TWEED VALLEY-BASED four-wheel-drive team is set to test their skills against some of the best off-road drivers in Australia at the Cliffhanger Super Tourer 4WD event in Cobar next month.
Cliffhanger takes place every two years from April 7 for seven days and involves some of most hair-raising four-wheel-drive action in the country.
The Tweed team consists of professional drivers and locals Mal McCalman and Joel Mongan with racing marshals and long-time racing team members Clay Mongan and Rob Beilby.
The team has purpose-built a monster of a machine for which they may have required many off-road accessories for 4×4 vehicles. The final built is known as The General, which is an early model Nissan Patrol.
Joel said the team purchased the Patrol for $500 in 2017 and spent the past two years building it into a performance super tourer with help of modifications from places like RaceMe to get it event-ready.
The modifications likely include installing heavy protection gear for the vehicle – accessories like 4wd mud flaps and rock sliders that are considered a must to brave the rough, rocky terrains. Along with that, the vehicle seems to have a powerful engine and excellent suspension which should help the duo get through the trails, powered with adrenaline.
The event includes winching up rocks and through mud, speedy creek runs, navigational tasks, rally stages on farm trails and through virgin terrain, but is most famous for its vertical winch walls.
The stages are all long lasting and typically combine several facets of winching, navigation and speed.
The Weekly recently caught up with the local Super Tourer 4WD team for a preview of The General’s capabilities.
“It’s the first time for us to take part in the Super Tourers 4WD challenge this year,” Mal said.
“We were bumped up a category after they had too many entrants, but it’s a good challenge for our skills and the equipment this year.”
Mal said the team were already ranked in the top ten, but the competition would be fierce from start to finish.
Drivers are pegged against each other in a series of difficult terrain courses to navigate through while keeping the pedal to the metal.
Mal took The Weekly editor Jonathon Howard for a spin in The General at their home training grounds on Old Crystal Creek Road.
“It was a thrill charging across some of the difficult terrain,” Jonathon said.
“The suspension is amazing to experience, easily mounting small cliff faces the size of the car itself and maintaining control and speed the whole time.
“It’s a big credit to the team for creating such an amazing vehicle and I’m sure they will produce a great result or have a hell of a time trying.”
Mal said the event is taken seriously by drivers attracting some of the best in the business.
“It’s a proper competition and drivers take it extremely seriously,” he said.
“There’s also twice-daily breath testing – it’s not an average camping trip it’s serious racing.”
The team also wanted to acknowledge their committed local sponsors including FSP Fresh Print & Signs, Darren Cormicks Auto Panel & Paint, Auto One Murwillumbah, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, Mal McCalman Bobcat & Tipper Hire, Rods Metal Fabrication, Murwillumbah Car & Truck Electrics.