PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release 26 October, 2010

A homemade electric vehicle won Australia’s Most Sustainable Ute in 2009 and the search continues on the Saturday 6^th November 2010.  With utes and pushbikes decending on the Murwillumbah Showgrounds to celebrate family fun and community at the “Big Weekend in the Tweed”. Where patrons can celebrate utes and sustainable transport with the Uki Eco Expo offering sustainable lifestyle alternatives on the Sunday.

Our future depends on creating a sustainable lifestyle and the Auto One Murwillumbah Ute and Push Bike Show is the leading the charge to reduce our Carbon Footprint.  Emmisions from utes attending our event will be estimated and three times as many trees as required will be planted as a Carbon Offset.  Recycled materials have been used for our advertising and some prizes. Each year the show will look at ways to reduce our Carbon Footprint even more.

With Utes and Push Bikes share the roads around Tweed Rivers every day.  The only ute and push bike show in NSW is great way to bring people together.  Because when we grow up it is likely we have riden a push bike then mature to a ute or car.  Sometimes we forget how difficult it is to ride a push bike with traffic and this is one way we bring road users together to share experiences.

Earlier this month the search for Australia’s Most Sustainable Ute has taken event organisers to the Deniliquin Guinness World Record breaking ute muster. The champion utes have been invited to the Murwillumbah Show however the sustainable ute couldn’t be found in the 10,151 utes. However Austalia’s Most Sustainable Ute might find us.

In 2009 the most popular class was the Best Ute and Push Bike Show with over 1/3^rd of utes bringing a push bike.  Other classes include most decorated pushbike, best push bike couple, best street, chicks, 4×4, work, feral, BNS, Power assisted push bike and more

Entertainment for this years push bike show will include the Human Powered International Mini Stunt Bike on there miniture pushbikes and towering unicycles. There might even be a push bike ride after the push bike show.

The Tweed Truck Show (www.murwillumbahtruckshow.webs.com) is on the same day. So all utes, trucks and push bikes are invited to attend the 2010 Auto One Murwillumbah Ute and Push Bike Show.

For media enquires contact:

Paige Cape co-ordinator of agricultural development coordinated the Best of the Best Ute Competition with the assistance of many RAS Youth Group Members.

Click to view slideshow.

Entrants

Competition at this level is very fierce as each ute has won shows previously including the 2009 Deniliquin Ute Muster Grande Champion. 

• Rob Conner – Black ute?
• Carolyn East in the “Traveller” a blue holden ute like a WB.
• Bat Mann in “The Dark Knight” inspired commodore ute
• Wayne Anthony in the Bad Cop BA XR8 Reserve Champion ute
• Josh Kochuyt in his Holden Rodeo from Engadine
• Gavin Rosser from Penrith.
•  Crew Cav Nissan Patrol Crew Cab ute from Tamborine, Qld (www.crewcav.com)
• More utes just do not have names at time of print.

Entry forms

Entry to the Best of the Best ute competition can be gained by checking out www.sydneyroyalshows.com.au/sydneyroyalcomps/ute/schedule.html Each entrant had to submit a three page entry form that include one to four photos of the ute, a list of unique ute characteristics, a list of previous awards won and why they think their ute is the best of the best.

 Running of the day

At 07:00 18 utes arrived at the Homebush site to get inside to the judging area.  About 8am utes finally make it through the grounds to the small fenced off area to display the utes.  Then ute entrants spend about 2 hours cleaning utes for the judging at 10am.

At 10am Judging begins and only one person from each ute is allowed inside the fenced area at any one time.  The judges quickly scope out the full field of utes.  Then they go thought each ute and ask questions about the ute, how they got there. Around 12:30 the judging is completed. 

Around 2pm all the competitors where called into the centre of the display area.  Then the organisers presented each finalist with a finalist ribbons and an item of Blue Dog Clothing. The organisers thanked all the entrants for making the effort to attend the show and behave in front of 80 000 spectators at the ute parade. 

RAS media crews and photographers were present during the day taking photos and video of the event.

Grand Parade

At 5:00 pm each ute driver was given a passenger from the RAS Youth Group to make sure the ute drivers behaved.  Only two people per ute were allowed which is a little upsetting when you have 6 seats.

The convoy left the show grounds with flags flying and travelled arround the Homebush ring road to come back through gate 10.  After a 5 minute wait to get onto the main arena the doors opened.  17 utes cruised out into the main arena with 80000 odd spectators in the stands for the busiest day of the show.  The utes did half of the arena and pulled up in front of the stands to chat with the patrons.

Presentation

The ring announcer announced the Reserve Champion as Wayne Anthony from “Bad Cop”.  Photos and a ribbon and a $900 Blue Dog Belt Buckle was presented to Wayne for his win.  ‘Crew Cav’ was announced as the Champion ute for 2010 with a ribbon, $1000 cheque and $900 Blue Dog Belt Buckle.

All the utes then left the arena and went their own ways.

Conclusion

The best of the best ute competition in 2010 brought together the best utes of NSW to compete on Good Friday at the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2010.  All competitors had a great time and look forward to competing in 2011.

Special Thanks

• All competitors and the general public for attending the 2010 Sydney Royal Easter Show – Best of the Best Ute Competition
• RAS Youth Group
• Blue Dog Clothing (www.bluedogjeans.com)
• L & D Earthmoving sponsors of Crew Cav (www.ldearthmoving.com.au)

From Saturday 23^rd Jan 2010 to Tuesday Morning 26^th Jan 2010 members from the Queensland Nissan Patrol Club enjoyed a great four day weekend at Rover Park.

 Rover Park, Tenterfield, NSW

Situated on the eastern fall of The Great Dividing Range between Casino & Tenterfield is Rover Park, altitude 720 metres (we rarely experience frosts). On the Bruxner Highway, 2 hours from Byron Bay, 3 hours from Brisbane, 2.5 hours from the Gold Coast and just 35 kms from Tenterfield, Rover Park is a paradise for nature lovers. With 4000 acres of incredibly beautiful countryside comprising fascinating rock formations, valleys, rainforest pockets, waterfalls, breathtaking views, a river and creek, abundant wildlife and many species of birds, Rover Park offers holidays that you’ll never forget. It’s a place that you’ll want to return to time and time again.

Saturday 23^rd Jan 2010

Andy in the White 4.2 Turbo Diesel GQ on 33’s Cooper STT’s and camper trailer arrived on site just after lunch on Saturday.  The GQ Wagon has received a new lease on life with a ATS Turbo upgrade.  A lot more go then the old wagon.  Definitely a good weekend to break in the new turbo.  Cav and Libby in the Crew Cav on 285/75 R16 Cooper STT’s arrive at Saturday lunch time with their awesome roof top tent.

After setting up camp for a spot of lunch everyone wandered over to the flying fox and water slide.  The flying fox was busy and kids where lining up again and again to ride the water slide.  Luckily someone brought two body boards that proved to be very good on the slide. 

After Tea the fire works started late at 21:20.  The fire works where very impressive for the $10 surcharge.  The fire works seemed to go for 20 minutes with a great variety of bangs and whistles.

Sunday 24^th Jan 2010

Waking up at a leisurely hour with sore head, because the cabin we camped beside played there music very loud till after 3am in the morning.  So after a restless night the we broke camp around 10:30am and went in search of the Waterfall. 

This is when we realised how difficult it is to work out the map.  We travelled past the Slippery Dip and down a few tracks then we arrived at campsite 10.  Campsite 10 is right beside the water and a flash flood would clean up any campsite here.

After regrouping, turning the plan around a few times we had another go.  Turns out that we were on the right track but Cav took a right turn instead of keep going down hill.  Cruising past the deserted camp 11 we came over a small bridge.  Another couple of hundred meets was campsite 9 with a GU Patrol Wagon with a tadem axle caravan.  That looks better suited to a F250 on the highway.  How did he get that in here.  Or more importantly how is he going to get it out?

Finally we found the water fall.  The lookout is only an extra 200m and overlooks the waterfall. 

We all headed to the bottom of the waterfall to check out the cool waters and the trees that have grown over the rocks.  Two motor bikes arrived at the top of the fall and peaked over into the cool waters bellow.  A Two families had a chat to us at the bottom of the fall.  Funny both of them had GU patrol wagons.

Ridge Road (easy) past the slippery slide to a gate leading out of the park.  Backtrack 50m and run right into Colesys way (Extreme). Down some good slopes, cross slopes through a creek and again over the fenceline then follow the fence line out to an intersection of XXXX way and Red Rock Road.  Follow Red Rock Road all the way to the highway.  Crossing a few fallen trees.  Andy had a chance to break out the drag chain.

Turned around at the highway found the Western Fire Trail.  There was a cool bridge made by Royal Australia Engineers in 17 Troop 2 CER Combant Eningieer Regiment.  Not too sure why they would build a bridge in the middle of nowhere.  Following the trail to Crooked Creek Road.  Take a right turn throught the gate and past the waterfall con crooked creek road. 

Andy decided to have a go at MErv’s Hill (extreme) which looked like an easy entry and exit.  Andy launched up the hill taking a left turn near the top and pulling up at the top.  Cav followed to the left hand turn then walked the track.  Camera ready Cav got through the rough section and was just on top of the hill when the line too far to the right landed him on a rock.  Not a problem until the rock cracked in 2.  With a big piece behind and in front of the drivers side front wheel.  The read pumpkin siting on antoher rock with the rear left wheel off the deck.

After a nice drink of water and a few laughs the team worked out the recovery…..

The team walked the final part of the track. Andy cruised down the hard side of the hill.  There is a tree you have to line up with the bonnet and turn sharp left for a drop down. Any guided Cav to the bottom. Return to camp  Lib and Cav went to the slippery slide for a swim.

The music from the cabin was cranked up as everyone tried to get to sleep.

Monday 25^th Jan 2010

Breaking camp around 09:00 the team travelled on a medium track through the no mercy hill section to check out campsite 2 and 3.  Heading North to Peach Tree Cove.  A great little picnic area with swimming.  Or take a stroll along the Calarack River bank through trees and rocks to other campsites.

Our next stop was the Beach Cave, however to get there we had to go through the play pen.  There wasn’t much mud in the play pen however it looks like it could be quite tricky in the wet.nt

The Beach Cave is located on the Calarack River.  We walked past the caves to River edge drive which is a driveable beach of silicon.  Looks like this is where the owners remove sand for the park.  Across the river / boundary fence is a hill side covered in dead tree trunks.  A very alien looking area compared to the Rover Park Side.  Why are the tree’s dying?

Near the car park is the Rapids very rock yet shallow water.

Back into the vehicles and to the Bush Beach which is about 500mm down hill from the car park.  This is down hill with steps about 600mm deep.  At the bottom was a variety of families with kids swimming in the cool waters on a hot day.

Andy stay in the cool of the trees to enjoy the tranquillity of the beach with its own silicon sand, while Lib and Cav took the body boards up to the water fall.  It gets tight through the rocks at the waterfall end.  However the reward of showering in your own waterfall is something to be experienced.  Paddling back to shore and collecting some rubbish as we all headed back to the vehicles.  There where two Coke Can’s at the beach left behind and it can make you cry.

Just about to leave the car park for the trip to camp for lunch.  A mufti convoy of 5 four wheel drives and a 200 Series Landcruiser arrived making the car park, um.  Very full.  After negotiationed our release from the car park we checked out campsite 5 which is about 12 vehicles, small water tank, not many trees and 1 compost toilet.  Lib and Cav went drove down to the creek to find the Cataract Point – The sandy beach from earlier that morning.  While Andy found a camp fire still alight and proceded to put it out.  Once the fire was out we checked out campsite 6.  Campsite 6 has room for 3 vehicles with no water or facilities.  It does overlook a massive rock overlooking the river.  Looking at the map the campsite numbers are different.

After returning to camp for lunch Andy want to go find where he got stuck in the river last time he was here.  Taking Gumnut Driver we head into the bush and crossed the river and followed a variety of trakcs.  Not too sure of the name well because the map and the track names where hard to collate.  IF anything Cav mad a left hand turn to put the ute on a nice side slope.  Luckily a quick reverse and all on the track again. The team moved Polaris Drive past Harmony’s loop.  Which the property owners son didn’t know where it was. And made a right hand turn onto Playpus Drive.

Olys Way (Medium) with Extreme Sections.  If this is medium what is Extreme.  Lots of off chamber and side slopes with tight trees.  Cav got a tree stuck on the tray and had to massage the tree to get out. 

The crew travelled along Olys way chasing the Rover Park fence line.  There was a heavily wodded area which made the track very narrow.  Cav managed to get a tree stuck between the carry bars on the tray.  The tree had a gentle massage to allow the ute to get free.  To make the track a tad more difficult a lot of off camber tracks between the trees makes this a trick track for wide vehicles.  I would like to see a F250 have a go.

On the map this track is Medium.  If this is medium what is extreme?  Climbing out of creeks with long and loose rocky climbs. On the first hill Andy was following a little too close when the ute got bogged down in loose stone.  A quick change of gears and Andy managed to save the GQ in 1^st gear from stopping.

The crew headed back to camp going through creeks and climbing loose rocks to get out.

Tuesday 26^th Jan 2010 (Australia Day)

Andy planned to leave the park and drive home after 10:00.  Where Cav and Lib drove into Tenterfield to see a family friend.  At 11:00 After a few photos with the Rover Park Sign the Crew Cav checked out the free overnight camping location 1.2km down the highway at about 60km/hr from a dirt road leading into the park.  This will be good to know for another adventure.

Accommodation / Facilities

At the main campsite is showers and toilets.  Adequate however I would like to take my own for reliability

Camping wow there are 10+ camping sites to pick from.  Some campsites are so remote that you would only see other vehicles as you passed them near the main camp as it is the hub of the road network.

Swimming

There is lots of swimming available there is the bush beach which has its own water fall and rapids.   A 75m long water slide into the dam on a body board is an experienced not to be missed.  The bach cav and the waterfall are two other swimming locations.

Conclusion

The park has a lot a variety of swimming holes, waterfalls, walking tracks, camping, 4×4 tracks and motor bike tracks. The water slide is awesome and the flying fox

Special Thanks:

Photography: www.Libbymills.com.au & www.crewcav.com

Vehicle supplied by: www.crewcav.com

Andy for coming along to make it a great weekend.

“Crew Cav”, is an ultimate touring rig and the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. This Nissan Patrol 2003 coil cab ute has been modifided to seat six adults, more than one ton of payload and a FOPS (fall over protection system) in the Multicab. 

Phil and the team at www.creativeconversions.com.au increased the chassis strenth by extended the chassis 350mm and keeping a single tailshaft.  The rear axle has been replaced with a leaf sprung Patrol ute axle which is the biggest and strongest Nissan built diff.  Coils have been replaced with a full manual control airbag suspesion for an increase of 50mm ride height and increase GVM to 4.18 ton GVM on this Custom Crew Cav ute.

Brendan and the team at www.svmqld.com.au have hand crafted the multicab.  Which is Australian made, fully detachable with four bolts, three seats, FOPS and 60/40 split bench seat. Gary at www.smashcare.com.au painted the rig with Australian Caterpillar Yellow.  While Dale from www.2dextremefabrications.com.au has custom built the rock sliders, bashplate, recovery points to the tray.  The tray has roll over bar, toolboxes and a removable floor. 

Crew Cav has won a variety of awards from the last ute show that was at Stanthorpe Ute Show 2010.  Awards includ Best 4×4 Ute , Best Crew Cab and third in novelty ute.

Organsing ute show events and push bike shows is a great passion.  As the push bike is a great way to get arround and a lot less parking issues.

Rover Park at Tenterfield, NSW was Crew Cav’s last off road adventure.  There was mud, rocks and hill climbs to enjoy with off camber hills and narrow tracks lined with trees.

I hope you enjoy the website www.crewcav.com and if you would like to suggest changes or would like photos or movies leave a comment in the guest book or drop us a line at crewcav@hotmail.com.

Thanks, Cav