Contents
Equipment Required On Trips
Tow Hooks
Trip Fees
Trip/Convoy Rules
Trip Categories
Skills and Experience Pre-Requisites
Cancellation Service
Trip Departure Times

Land Access

No matter where you go, please remember that land access is a privilege, not a right. We have a saying about this:  "Abuse it and you'll lose it"

Equipment Required On Trips

The following equipment is required on all Club trips,although generally an exception is made for visitors and prospective members on "Family Shiny" trips only.

• Front and rear tow hooks 

• Shovel 

• Fire extinguisher 

• First-aid kit

• Basic tool kit 

• Tow rope

• Roll bar for all open / soft top vehicles

• Spare tyre and tyre changing equipment

If these items are not present in your vehicle at the beginning of a trip, the trip leader has the authority to exclude you from the trip. Details are set out in the club’s Vehicle Safety and Equipment Inspection document. All member vehicles going on club trips must display a current club vehicle inspection sticker.

Tow Hooks

The club has found that tow hooks are essential equipment for our trips and all members are required to have hooks that meet our specifications.

See all the details in these documents...

• Introduction to Snatch Recoveries
• Minimum Standards for Mounting Tow Hooks
• Specifications for Tow Hooks
   

Trip Fees

A Trip Fee is payable for every vehicle, including helpers and the Trip Leader. The Trip Leader sets the Trip Fee to cover costs with a minimum of $5 per vehicle. Trip fees are used to cover land access costs where they apply. Any surplus is put into a pool to provide for extra refreshments on some trips and to underwrite the annual childrens christmas party.

A Visitor Fee is payable by all non-member vehicles in addition to the Trip Fee, except for visitors from other 4wd clubs. The Trip Leader will record details of all vehicles on the Trip Sheet.

A current Membership Card may be required if the Trip Leader does not know whether the person is a member of CCVC or another club.

Trip/Convoy Rules

Please read and memorise the following trip & convoy rules:

• The trip leader is always in charge. Please recognise their authority, follow their instructions and give him/her the respect they deserve.
• No dogs or firearms.
• Guests on a Club outing are the responsibility of the Club member who invited them.
• No drinking and driving.
• Keep the vehicle immediately behind in sight. This is particularly important when you come to a turnoff. There's no excuse for vehicles taking the wrong track because of the driver in front not obeying this rule.
• Keep your position in the convoy. No passing.
• Watch the vehicle spacing on public roads so that public vehicles can pass in safety.
• Make sure the vehicle in front has cleared an obstacle before you attempt it.
• If you must leave the convoy, inform someone.
• Respect the environment.
• Expect to provide a write-up and/or photos for the Club newsletter from time to time if you participate in Club trips.

Click here to download the club's Code of Conduct (10kb pdf file)

Trip Categories

The Club Committee decided in May 2002 that the trip category definitions will be enforced, for safety reasons. The Committee also decided that any additional requirements for each trip as detailed on the Trip Information Sheet for the trip will be enforced.

The Trip Leader is able to waive a particular requirement for a trip, if the circumstances of the trip permit. This will be shown in the details on the Trip Information Sheet.

The Committee requires Trip Leaders to turn away vehicles or drivers that do not comply.

• Description: Family trip. These trips will be straightforward and will usually include some degree of guidance in driving techniques as necessary.
• Drivers: Particularly suited to family outings and drivers new to off-road driving, this category is also open to anybody who enjoys this style of trip.
• Members: Anybody is welcome, especially prospective new members.
• Vehicles: An important objective is minimal challenge and minimal risk to vehicles. Club safety equipment is mandatory for club members; it is not mandatory for non-members although it is recommended for vehicles once their drivers have participated in one or two trips. All open or soft-top vehicles must have a roll bar or roll cage.

• Description: More difficult family trips, for shiny wagons and drivers with some experience who want more challenge and don’t mind minor bush marks etc on their vehicles.
• Drivers: Must have some experience, preferably from the driver training provided by the club. Particularly important are experience in stropping, failed hill climbs, steep descents and sidlings.
• Members: These trips are for members only. Prospective members and visitors are welcome if they can demonstrate to the Trip Leader they are members of another club and have adequate experience.
• Vehicles: Vehicles must have mud tyres, tow hooks and all the required equipment per the club’s document "Vehicle Safety & Equipment Inspections". This applies to all vehicles on the trip. All open or soft-top vehicles must have a roll bar or roll cage.

• Description: Challenging trips, for experienced drivers. There will be steep and challenging terrain, modestly deep water and mud, likelihood of bush marks.
• Drivers: Must have experience beyond that required for Shiny 4x4 trips, including water crossings and vehicle recovery.
• Members: These trips are for members only. Prospective members and visitors are welcome if they can demonstrate to the Trip Leader they are members of another club and have adequate experience.
• Vehicles: Must have mud tyres, tow hooks and all the required equipment per the club’s document "Vehicle Safety & Equipment Inspections". This applies to all vehicles on the trip. Accessories such as high-lift jacks, externally mounted spare tyre, bush bars and multiple jacking points are of advantage. Winches are often particularly useful. Generally a short wheelbase vehicle is better suited for the tight tracks. All open or soft-top vehicles must have a roll bar or roll cage.

• Description: Difficult trips with very challenging terrain and surfaces, where winching, digging, and vehicle damage are all a possibility!
• Drivers: Experienced drivers only.
• Members: These trips are for members only. Prospective members and visitors are welcome if they can demonstrate to the Trip Leader they are members of another club and have adequate experience.
• Vehicles: As per the Club 4x4 category. In addition, a roll-bar or roll-cage is recommended for all vehicles on Hard Yakka trips. All open or soft-top vehicles must have a roll bar or roll cage. Often a winch is mandatory on a Hard Yakka trip; this will be specified on the Trip Information Sheet.

Skills and Experience Pre-Requisites for participating in each Trip Category

These trip category pre-requisites are guidelines, so that members and prospective members can judge for themselves which trips are appropriate for them. The Trip Leader has the authority to exercise his or her discretion and allow or disallow individuals on a trip on the grounds of safety.

It is recommended that novices on Family Shiny trips and members new to the Shiny 4x4 category make themselves known to the Trip Leader and are allocated a “buddy” to guide and assist them during the trip.

Note about CCVC Training:
The driver training scheme changes from time to time. The pre-requisite above means that the member must have undertaken ALL the driver training provided by CCVC, whether in the era of two modules, four modules, or the single module as came into effect in 2004.
There is a grandfather clause - these pre-requisites apply only to members not already proficient and experienced in the various trip categories.

Cancellation Service

We have a cancellation service for trips. What! Cancel a trip! It hardly ever happens.

The reality is that sometimes the conditions are just too unpleasant, particularly for family trips on the South Coast when a southerly storm sets in. Or sometimes other contingencies arise that take out the property or the organisers.

So we’re registered with Newstalk ZB who will broadcast any cancellations on the hour every hour from 6:00am. We will endeavour to show on the Trip Information Sheets in the club magazine which times to listen.

Newstalk ZB is on 1035 AM, and used to be known as 2ZB. Cancellations can be placed by the Trip Coordinator, the Club Secretary or the Trip Leader (only they have the PIN).

Trip Departure Times

To avoid people arriving at the last minute for a trip, missing the drivers’ briefing, delaying the trip and generally causing confusion, we’d like to clarify the meaning of the times shown in the Trip Information Sheets in the magazine.

Meeting Date and Time:	The time you are requested to be at the trip meeting point, to give you a chance to get into position, let your tyres down, and to give the Trip Leader time to collect your details before the Drivers Briefing.
Drivers Briefing Date and Time:	The time that the Trip Leader will explain the trip to drivers, including any special instructions, safety briefing and points of interest.
Departure Date and Time:	The time that the trip will actually drive away. Often we do not specify a departure time; vehicles that are not there in time for the drivers briefing are generally not welcome on the trip.

Usually there is little or no time between the briefing and the departure to register with the Trip Leader, make your trip fee payment and let the air out of your tyres.

So the message is – for those of you that don’t already do it, please arrive early enough to deal with the preparations and to be ready for the briefing and departure times. Thanks!

Bumper sticker: "If you can read this, I've lost my caravan!"

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