Western 4W Driver Ebook 107

107th EDITION Winter 2018 WA’s own 4WD Magazine April at Ningaloo Navara Series 3 Knife Making 79From Forge to Finish Across the Tough Madigan Line for Touring Print Post Approved The Noble Patriot 602669/00784 How to speak 4WD Weekend at Bee Keepers RRP $9.95

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WINTER 2018 CONTENTS DESTINATIONS E-BOOK!Now in: April at Ningaloo Go to:wFesoterrnM4wodrriveer.com.au - A rejuvenating week on the beach__________________________ 8 Across the Madigan Line - with Denis Bartell__________________________________________ 82 A busy Bee Weekend - over and under the limestone ____________________________ 150 A Look at Cook - The Kerrs on the right side of the tracks____________________ 184 TESTING Series 3 Navara - Rob Robson checks out Nissan’s latest incarnation__________ 68 The Noble Patriot - Alex Garner looks at a Military style camper______________ 112 Eclipse Cross over__________________________________________ 177 4 Western 4W Driver #107

FEATURES Tom’s Truck - 79 Tough for Touring_________________________________________ 26 From Forge to Finish - The Ed tries his hand at Custom knife making_________________ 42 A Load of Hot Air? - Ben Broeder on Pollution controls___________________________ 103 How to Speak 4WD - Susie takes an irreverent look at our sacred lingo______________ 131 Outback Adventurer - Ron Moon chats to a Legend_______________________________ 171 Weighty Issues - A reader does some adding up____________________________ 180 REGULARS 35 COLUMNS 57 Over the Bonnet 110 EdSed 6 What’s New 126 Wildtrax 51 Popular Botanics 137 What’s in a Name 53 Happy Dayz 145 Bindon’s Lore 95 Gear to Go Camping 194 The Things you See 123 Fishy Business 196 Clewed Up 167 Goings On 198 Subscriptions 200 BITS & BOBS Advertisers Index Silly Snaps Clearing the Air 163 Western 4W Driver #107 5

Westate On Particulates Publishers Pty Ltd Got a call the other day from the bush. Some ACN 009 360 169 mates were well off tracks out in the Great PO Box 510, Victoria Desert when one of their vehicles Kalamunda, lost power and started pumping black smoke. WA 6926 Turns out the catalytic converter was blocked up Phone: (08) 9291 8303 and had to be removed before the vehicle could Email: continue on. Just another one to add to the many [email protected] anecdotes circulating about the pitfalls of diesel Editor pollution control. Others include Diesel Particulate Nick Underwood Filters igniting the bush and the vehicle during the Contributing Writers regeneration process - fire fighting vehicles now Phil Bianchi have exemptions, I’m told - through to Exhaust Gas Peter Bindon Recirculation carboning up and ultimately blocking Linda Bloffwitch inlet manifolds and EGR valves. John Bormolini Ben Broeder Each story another nail in the pollution control Amanda Burton coffin and a tick for the anti-4WD sentiment in Graham Cahill our cities. Jo Clews It’s been a long road to diesel efficiency from Ray Cully the days of the naturally aspirated oiler. From Neil Dowling improvements to injection to turbos to common Ian Elliot rail and ECUs and the refinement of fuel to Alex Garner allow these systems to develop, engines today Chris Harwood are pumping out power and torque figures the Colin Kerr stuff of dreams in the 70s and early 80s. They’re Kristina Lemson also apparently pumping out far more refined Lyn Mitchell particulate matter that has specifically caused Ron Moon a noticeable spike in lung cancer rates of diesel Rob Robson mechanics prompting the regulations we now see. Susie Underwood I’m not going into detail here because there’s no room and you’ll read all about it in Ben Broeder’s Advertising series starting this issue, but I’m interested in the Nick Underwood attitudinal aspects of what’s evolving. Administration We all hail to the Europeans at the forefront of Marilyn Dawson diesel pollution research and the establishment of Typesetting Euro standards currently being exported around the world. It’s easy to understand how massive BENSON population densities in Western Europe and the ADVERTISING Printing Vanguard Press Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Westate Publishers Pty Ltd or the editors but those of the authors who accept sole responsibility and liability for them. While every care is taken with images & photographs, and all other material submitted, Westate Publishers Pty Ltd accepts no liability for loss or damage. Edition 107 Winter 2018

Particularly SEd ed with Nick Underwood regulatory power of the E.U would combine to force manufacturers to come up with pollution efficiencies that would lead to cleaner air than that haunting major cities in industrialised regions. The process however is fraught with difficulties and Volkswagen, as an example, soon worked out that reducing pollution and compromising fuel economy figures didn’t sell enough cars in countries where Euro standards were still catching up (ultimately to their detriment). Population density is the heartland of anti-pollution sentiment and understandably so. There’s already talk of banning diesels in London altogether and I think if I had to sit in slow-moving traffic twice a day on the commute, I’d be going electric with a very good filtration system. How cyclists weaving their way to work through the congestion and fumes are faring in the respiratory department I shudder to think. Further from the cities in the cleaner country air, the issue of air pollution probably has less import. Those working the land would (or should) be very conscious of global pollution and its effect on climate change and therefore flow-on to season and sustainability, but even that is overshadowed by the immediate need to make hay while the sun shines, keep food on the table and the wolf from the door. The other issue is our aversion to being told what to do. We love to celebrate our democracy by railing against regulation. It’s the fall-back position we use even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. To support our argument here, we dig into our bank of anecdotal evidence (which in this case appears to hold a fair amount of water) and put that up as a challenge to the regulators and manufacturers to come up with answers that won’t adversely affect our vehicles or our wallets. On the face of it, pollution control systems like EGR and DPFs have flaws to be overcome before Australian diesel owners can have faith in their efficiency, can accept a DPF replacement cost that doesn’t look like blatant gouging (current prices are well in the $1000s) and can embrace regulations that should ultimately have the effect of improving the health risks associated with diesel pollution. The good news is the solution is not entirely out of our hands and over the next two editions Ben Broeder will explain how you can contribute to the effectiveness of these systems on your 4WD and potentially add a positive anecdote to the conversation. Western 4W Driver #107 7

Eyes shut, drifting off in the shade, touch and sound take over. The heat and the white sand day burn through. Canvas and pole flap, flex and squeak, a bushfly does two laps of my head and through the rush of the sou’ easter, the soft background roar of the surf at the reef pins us down in... APRIL AT Ldccooroiorvarkesuitwgnliagantyeiboie(snmnsaiagnbinynet,fPhoNiircnien:ggySbaooluuuottorhweSaLictteahhftr3iaoo2ydnkeBmlaigyoh).ftful 8 Western 4W Driver #107

NINGALOO Words by Nick Underwood Images by Nick & Susie Underwood Western 4W Driver #107 9

he end of March was probably a Narrowly escaping a head-on on the bit early in the season to head to tight tracks next morning we took Ningaloo with April still within a restorative truckie’s breakfast at Dongara and beelined for Wooramel Tthe cyclone season and daytime Riverside Camp and an even more restorative hot spa with a side of temperatures maxing out in the high champers to clear the dust from our thirties but combining Easter with a throats. Enroute a Pink Floyd shuffle pre-school holiday period seemed like was a welcome distraction from the best time to get in before the rush. discussion of cricket heroes sullying With a bit of luxury (for us) in the form our national pride and allowed the of a Cub hard floor camper in tow and mulga miles north of the Murchison to topped up with our kayaks we pointed slip by in a steady stream of green. the Cruiser north late on a Thursday No good rain for three years was the aiming to beat the Good Friday rush. gripe from Wooramel Station owner, Justin and it showed. The goat-ravaged Even then Sandy Cape north of Jurien was heaving with campers and we had The spa at Wooramel Riverside no choice but to head bush for the night. Retreat is a great spot to unwind after a long day on the road. country north of the Wooramel was a dry, barren dustbowl where high wind-driven topsoil streaked low level across the highway leaving a waste land in its wake. This scenario repeated itself on the Minilya Devastated by wildfire, Giralia Station topsoil was on the move thanks to high wind. 10 Western 4W Driver #107

Dingos on the way in were unfazed by our presence and looking healthy on a diet of lambs and kids (much to the station owner’s dismay). Exmouth Road where vast swathes behind me, we escaped south in high of Giralia Station were on the move anticipation of an extended stay at following a bushfire two weeks earlier. Ningaloo Station. On an overnighter in Exmouth we The turn-off to Ningaloo Station is contributed to the local economy in fine 100km south of Exmouth and the style. A bit like Perth fuel prices leaping corrugated driveway runs 32km to inexplicably just before holidays, the homestead. Easter in Exmouth in some quarters Here’s a TIP: Don’t be in a hurry. Let all is a licence to gouge the unfortunate your tyres down to beach pressures traveller. Late-booked accommodation and give yourself an hour to lumber was a small, two single bed room with slowly along at 25-35 km/h picking a noisy aircon for the kingly sum of your way through the land waves. We $165 per night. Walking up the road to saw plenty of car parts littering the the local, they took a potshot at us with roadway - some probably from the two G & Ts at $33.50. We were shaken likes of the vehicles that raced past, and stirred. And if you want to avoid a suspension shuddering madly and fuel price slug at the main servo, grab with highway-pressure tyres doing some card-only fuel at the depot just their bit to increase the severity of the south of town. The bright spot was corrugations for us. friendly service and a good price (for At the homestead we met Jane Lefroy an Easter Sunday) from Kim Watts at who, with husband Philip continue the Exmouth Service Centre and Towing Lefroy family’s 84 year history with where we had a spare tyre replaced Ningaloo Station. We touched briefly and balanced. My last impression on the State Government’s ongoing of Exmouth was of my own making attempts to relieve them of some prime when I narrowly averted disaster at coastal real estate and a vital income the servo-my sixth sense pointing out stream, hired a porta-potti and took the petrol nozzle in my hand and the directions to our campsite at South 100ml of unleaded I’d just mixed in Lefroy Bay. with my diesel. Putting that near-miss 14km later we popped out onto our little piece of paradise and home for the next seven days. A soft, white sand beach led the eye Western 4W Driver #107 11

Our home at South Lefroy Bay. The Cruiser backed neatly up to the awning for easy access. Black shower tent attaches to the LHS of the Cruiser for privacy and convenience. Extra shade cloth was essential. to crystal clear turquoise waters and celebratory champers to across a calm lagoon to a long white watch the last rays of the day line of surf that delineates Ningaloo sink behind a shimmering Reef. Not far along at either end of reef line before retiring to the the beach the sea ran up to dunes luxury of our Cub Camper. I enclosing our space and ensuring say “luxury” because apart we weren’t subject to constant beach from two very brief stints in campers, traffic. Any visions we had of a beach the rest of our 30 years of camping all to ourselves were a pipe dream have been roof-topping and vehicle never to materialise as we manoeuvred based (which could in itself, represent into our allotted space, set up camp luxury to a pup tent dweller) so the and met the neighbours who turned out luxury of being able to get dressed to be a lovely bunch and generous to standing up on a clean hard floor or boot, supplying our larder with fresh- diving onto a queen-sized bed was not caught fish out at the reef. lost on us. Neither was the stainless Our first day finished in grand style steel slide out kitchen under a full as we sat at the water’s edge with a length awning. We weren’t going to suffer under the Ningaloo sun. 12 Western 4W Driver #107 The plan was to stay in one place for seven days - something we hadn’t done for over 20 years and long overdue. The first day rose sunny and windless

Where the desert meets the sea Found at the southern entrance of the Ningaloo Marine Park, Gnaraloo offers the real thing: an Australian outback experience like no other and a retreat from everyday life. Sitting high on an escarpment, with panoramic views of the dunes and the beautiful Indian Ocean is Gnaraloo Homestead. Tel: 08 9942 5927 It offers a range of self contained accommodation to suit all budgets and for groups of all sizes. 3Mile Camp is a rustic oasis nestled along the Coral Coast. Tel: 08 9948 5000 Campsite facilities include hot showers, flushing toilets, wifi and camp shop. The wilderness style sites are complemented by a protected lagoon and great surfing and fishing spots. Bookings: 08 9315 4809 - [email protected] gnaraloostation WA

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so after aligning the solar panel to southern skins reddening we retired to catch the first rays we piled into the our solar prison under the shade of the kayaks and headed out to the reef. awning to read, write and battle it out With no wind and little current, the on the scrabble board. This enforced water was crystal clear as we drifted relaxation took a bit of getting used to over coral bommies where flashes of and by mid afternoon we were ready brilliant blue and stripes of all colours to break out, don the flippers and flap from the abundant fish life dazzled. out for a snork in the lagoon. Obviously used to the presence of people, the fish life went about their business in and around the coral while lemon sharks and stingrays skittered away in On a calm day inside the reef and with good polaroids you can see as clearly as you would snorkelling. On the surface, schools of small silver smelt broke through and flew briefly across our bows while large a cloud of sand. The Ningaloo marine turtles popped their heads up for a life never fails to impress. That night lungful and a look around before diving with my hook baited with a piece of back to the forage. longtom caught We finished our “... the line screamed off earlier, I cast out paddle with the reel and I’m straining to into the dark to a swim in the immediate bites warm lagoon keep the rod from flying off and pulled in a water before after whatever monster was couple of perch. grumbling on the other end.” There followed tummies urged a quiet period of us back to camp for a fish feeding when late breakfast. suddenly the rod arched into the By mid to late morning our window darkness, the line screamed off the reel for frolicking in the sun had closed. and I’m straining to keep the rod from With my beloved recovering from a flying off after whatever monster was melanoma extraction and our delicate on the other end. The weight of the pull Western 4W Driver #107 15

suggested I’d snagged a big stingray A cloudy day signalled the end of our but the mad bursts signalled shark and solar power support. I was on the money. After a 20 minute struggle my adversary appeared in the believed I could pass through this life torchlight just ten metres out in the without the need but there you go - I shallows, side on and easily a metre met my Waterloo at Ningaloo. Next and a half in length. I considered briefly thing we know I’ll be buying a winch. how the hell I was going to deal with this beast when it obligingly gave one last mad thrash, snapped the line and made for deeper water. A stress-free conclusion for both of us. Two days into our stay it became obvious the auxiliary battery with solar assistance wasn’t going to maintain our two fridges plus lighting and water pump. During the day with temps in the 40s the 130 watt solar panel did an excellent job keeping the battery up and the fridges down but at night even with the freezer off, the main fridge rose to 17º and the battery flattened. So on a day when the cloud came in and the occy bait began to pong in the fridge, we bit the bullet and braved the corrugated driveway to scoot up to Exmouth and (horror of horrors) purchase a generator. I actually 16 Western 4W Driver #107

The fish whisperer allays some pre- time of year. filleting fears. Back on the beach we punctuated our last full day with a late afternoon drive Anyhow the genny did its job, the out to the ruins of the Norwegian Bay evening ambience was shattered Whaling Station. Established back in (luckily the wind carried the noise 1925 by the Norwegian Bay Whaling away from our neighbours) and after Company, this was one of two whaling reverting to one fridge, our woes stations in Western Australia. The other were over. in Albany caught 4000 whales between Lesson learnt. For future longer stays 1913 and 1916. Such concentrated at camp we need more amp/hours and probably a third battery. That night as we sat in the dark at the water’s edge, rod in hand, a strong, very hot wind drove home the point we were in exceptionally hot circumstances. At the extreme, wind-whipped sand stung our legs as we crossed the beach and canoeing against the wind and current kept us level with camp and there only for the exercise. But without the wind, daytime temperatures would have been in Marble Bar territory and far more oppressive. Station owner, Jane Lefroy later told us the wind patterns had changed over the last few years going from variable speeds to constant throughout the day at this Western 4W Driver #107 17

it out somewhere near the reef. Josh said “GOSH!” (worse actually) and we jumped in a tinny for a fruitless search while Josh anguished over how he was going to break the news. By contrast our departure was quiet with a hint of wistfulness as we wound down the tracks and out to the highway. Not far down the bitumen a sobering sight reminded us of the importance of not driving tired. Clearing a crest, the scene before us was of a large caravan on its side, the tow vehicle, a Landrover, also on its side. The cops were there and the driver looked O.K. We assume he nodded off and in an instant, ruined his holiday. We certainly had no trouble staying alert after that Rusting relics bring IRONMAN their own patina to 4X4 the landscape. YEARS slaughter couldn’t be SINCE 1958 maintained resulting in the industry waxing and experience and wound our way south to waning over much of its history. Norwegian camp near the Murchison River for our Bay had another burst of activity between last night. With no wind, no roar of the 1936 and the mid 1950s before it finally closed, ocean and the familiar song of birdlife much to the relief we’re sure, of the passing in the mulga, sleep in the stillness ofY E ARS whale population. Today you get a the bush was long and deep. SINCE 1958 strong sense of the activity this place generated as you wander through We love the adventure of coastal the rusted iron hulks of boilers and winching gear. camping. The swimming, fishing, IRONMAN Early next morning we were packed canoeing, long walks at the water’s 4X4 up and ready to leave. The day before, one of our neighbours, Josh, sent his edge, champagne sunsets. new drone (a birthday gift from his wife) up for a final run before they left Exciting and romantic stuff but whenY E A R S and he quickly discovered how final all is said and done, you can’t take the SINCE 1958 when the wind took it and dumped bush out of the boy. 18 Western 4W Driver #107 IRONMAN 4X4

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Ningaloo Station is a 4W driver’s and fisher person’s paradise. You need a 4WD to get to camp. Camp is right on the beach. Inside the reef the water is calm and the marine life is stunning. At camp there are no facilities, you have to use a porta-potti and these can be hired at the station for $10 per day. You must take all your rubbish out which everybody does as the place is exceptionally clean. While we visited early April when conditions were still hot and windy, the following months would be milder and more conducive to beachside camping. What price paradise? At the time of our visit $5 per person per night. Compare that with serviced but structured camping in Cape Range NP north of Yardie Creek and as a 4W driver I know what I prefer. To book, go to the Ningaloo Station website or call Jane or Phillip on 08 9942 5936. Excerpt from Hema’s WA State map. Taj Mahal on the Beach Some people do it well. Neigbours on an electrician by trade had no trouble the beach, Reidy, Sally, Mackenzie and keeping their campsite functioning for Tully were down from Karratha on an an extended stay and central to that annual pilgrimage for six weeks. Reidy, was a bank of 130 a/h batteries hooked Western 4W Driver #107 21

Tidiness is essential when you’re camped on the beach this long. Set for the long stay. When his leave is up, Reidy works four on, four off and commutes between Karratha and Ningaloo. Even a six hour drive one way doesn’t faze this fanatical fisher. up to solar with generator back- Sally are kings and queens of the semi- up. Their Taj Mahal on the beach permanent coastal camp. had a Jayco Expanda at its core Great to see. with utility and kitchen room on the left, shaded wide corridor across the front with rods lined up ready to go and on the right, the lounge room all complete with artificial lawn carpet. These guys wanted for nothing. Tinny at anchor, quad for getting around, two vehicles - one to tow the camper, one for the boat and to do food and water runs. If we reckon we’ve got the ‘on-the- move’ camping down pat, Reidy and 22 Western 4W Driver #107

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26 Western 4W Driver #107

OM’S TRUCK In a land of twin locked, overweight, 6 inch lifted ‘tough tourers’, it’s refreshing to see Tom Ledger doing it a different way with his 79 Series. Alex Garner investigates. Western 4W Driver #107 27

om spied the 79 series on a trip quick to snatch it up. The wet season into town outside of work in soon after put ringers out of work for 2015. Work at the time being as a bit, so Tom ventured south in the cruiser to land a job with ARB in Perth. Ta ringer on El Questro Station; Now, you can’t expect to throw a kid in a candy store five days a week, and and Kununurra being the town. The think he won’t take a nibble here and local Toyota dealer had got their hands there. It started with the bar work; on this mint 2012 single cab from 60mm big tube all round, from side the Argyle diamond mine with only steps through scrub bars to the winch 60,000k’s on the clock. The Toyota bar. Tom has cleaned up a few small bullbar was the only thing you could cattle and more roos than he can count; call non-standard; and its daily life dealt yet somehow you’d never know! only with a couple of potholes on the daily run from Kununurra. Tom was 28 Western 4W Driver #107

Slapping on enough lights to An MSA fridge slide gets the fridge overpower the sun, and lining down to working level. up five aerials; four of which do nothing – is thankfully not for a canopy design, all aluminium was a trend that Tom fell victim to. the only way to keep the cholesterol Two aerials link up with two down; but how to deck it out inside UHF’s; one for long distance without bursting the trousers? and one for around town. Tom Well…behind the gullwing doors sees himself driving plenty of lies Tom’s fitout. Now in its third each. When night falls, just a generation; the previous builds were couple of ARB Intensity LEDs too excessive, too heavy, or just on the bullbar, and a light didn’t quite work. Somehow it looks bar on the roof are sufficient to see by. The canopy build Bit of shelter, swag and the Weber is where most single or dual BabyQ cover Tom’s basics. cab utes earn their sumo- sized reputation; a constant battle between an awesome layout and a massive GVM problem. From the original tray, Tom removed the headboard and under tray toolboxes; saving what he reckons is around 120kg of fat. When it came time Western 4W Driver #107 29

even bigger in here than from the Electrics are simple but functional. 120 outside! Tom got handy on the A/H battery and ARB compressor fit screws and glue here; and threw snug beside the recovery drawer. together a plywood frame over which he laid marine carpet. Rather Tom has left room here for future than having a full dividing wall expansion, hoping to install an audio between left and right hand sides, system in the near future. Tom settled on a half wall and only Okay, it’s starting to sound a little two lightweight drawers for his heavier than Toyota first intended; so recovery gear. “Having a full set of we had best turn our attention to the drawers stacked in here before was suspension. There’s an interesting mix just too heavy” he says. of brands under here, that’s because in Generally the right hand side of three years of owning this vehicle, Tom the canopy is where the messy recovery gear, wet swag and dirty has put a staggering chairs go; while the left hand side is 170,000 kilometres for food, cooking and of course the under its belt. Out of bar, where his Weber BabyQ also all that travel and a few ties down. A row of cheap-but-effective different setups; the plastic drawers hold a selection of man has a fair idea of pantry goods; and the 60 litre ARB what components he fridge/freezer sits alongside on its MSA likes. The vehicle gains drop slide. its four inch lift thanks Upon the front wall of the canopy is the to King Springs coils in electrical installation. It’s nothing over the front, and Old Man the top, a couple of fuse boxes fed by Emu constant 600 KG a 120 amp hour battery. The battery leafs in the rear, with receives charge from either alternator two inch anti inversion or some 120 watt folding solar panels shackles. Superior through an Innervolt 25 amp charger. Engineering comes 30 Western 4W Driver #107 King coils and adjustable panhard rod dominate under the front skirts.

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A Smarttek 6 hot water system was fitted early in the build to keep Tom and his dishes squeaky clean. Cab is functional with comfy Falcon seats and the all-important drinks fridge centre stage. to the table for shock absorbers three inch Torqit stainless steel exhaust. all round, and also supplied the Follow it back and you’ll find it falls extended brake lines. Keeping a bit short of the rear at the moment. the axle tracking true at the front “Something was rattling across the is a Snake Racing adjustable Great Central Road. I hopped out panhard rod. Speaking of axle and the back part of the exhaust was tracking….many people probably hanging down between the leaf spring, know what we’re looking at next. and the fuel tank” says Tom. It’s pretty widely known that Another noteworthy mod you can’t see Toyota decided to widen the wheel is the ECU remap performed by AMV track at the front to fit that big V8, but Automotive here in Perth. Tom opted for some reason left the rear a whole to have it optimised for the absolute 100mm narrower. There are various best economy rather than power ways to correct it aftermarket, and gains. Together with an I-Drive throttle Tom’s solution was to take the offset controller to control throttle response; wheels approach. Whether one chooses Tom reckons the beast gets 13-14 litres this, or wheel spacers – you’re always per hundred out of the standard 145 going to chew out axle seals faster with litre tank. Pretty good on a four inch lift that extra stress. Every 20,000k’s or and big tyres! so he reckons! The 315/75 tyres don’t “Well…That’s not a standard Toyota help that either, although the tyres are seat!” is the first thing I remark upon something he speaks highly of. Tom jumping into the cab. “Nope! Ford says: “I’ve done about 40,000k’s on the Falcon XR seats” says Tom. They’re General Grabber X3 muddies and I’m an easy bolt in fit apparently, with the very pleased with them. No punctures use of a bracket made by HuricanFab; yet!” (I hope you’re touching wood if a mob over in Victoria. Supafit Seat you’re reading this mate!) Under the bonnet is about the most Western 4W Driver #107 33 factory looking thing I’ve ever seen on a four wheel drive. Not including ones that have just rolled out of the factory. Not even a second battery lives under here; that is tucked away in the canopy. Look close enough and you’ll see the

covers knocked up the a setup that’s served him well, and I’m camo canvas seat covers sure it will do so for many more years. for them, and Tom crafted Tom would like to thank the following: his own centre console to Andrew Fardon at Off Road Equipment, fill the void between them. Scott Montgomery at Redarc, A Waeco thermo-electric MarkTaylor at AMV Automotive, cooler sits here to keep Tim Crabtree at Rhino Rack, his drinks somewhere Simon Ash at Midland 4WD Centre, below Kimberly cool. The Jason atTLC (Toyota Landcruiser Care), factory stereo is swapped Ian Glyde at HEMA. out for something a bit nicer from Pioneer, Tom’s phone mounts on the dash for GPS duties, and an MSA dash organiser keeps everything somewhat tidy. Better not forget to mention the Outback Accessories roof console, that’s the communications hub! So where to now Tom? Well with two or three holidays a year booked to explore out of state, it sounds like the 79 has its work cut out! “There are a few little things I’d like to add, and change; mostly in the canopy” he says. But it’s FTuNColiSlysrueroAsaiatavsnaatnegiCLrPleaaoaanbvotnderfldeors.l 34 Western 4W Driver #107

WIN A UH 9080 UHF Radio from our mates at With their wealth of experience at punishing drivers for their ‘keeping you connected’ misdemeanours, this could equally be applied to contractors so they also On Reflection stuck to the rules. Perhaps a precedent set in court - not Nick. I noticed in the section “Over the guilty your honour, blinded by a road Bonnet” people discussing the sign - might get things moving. disturbing feature of reflective road Cheers, signs and higher powered light bars Nick which create vision problems for drivers. Congratulations Pete. You’ve A similar problem existed at Tom Price mine site pit in the early 80s and we won the latest UHF Radio resolved it by applying the Australian standard which advises on the correct from and a 12 installation of road traffic signs which required the sign to be erected with month subscription to a 5 degree offset to the direction of travel. The point being that one’s lights Fourbies and Greenies were then directed into the bush instead of back into one’s face. Hi Nick I listened to a Police dept radio talk-back I was amongst the invited participants show some years ago and this that attended the weekend and question was raised by a caller, the disagree with the conclusions that have Policeman was aware of the offset been expressed by Phil Bianchi. solution but indicated it was all too 1. His article implies that environmental hard and not done anymore. co-operation between the “greenies” I don’t have access to the AS now so I and 4WDrivers is unusual when in fact am not sure of the current situation the WA4WDA has established a very Regards successful model of mutual interest and Pete Stainthorpe support with the Black Cockatoo Society out at Kaarakin. An interesting perspective Pete and 2. Phil writes of the “sadness and confirmed in a call to Main Roads. shock” of 4W Drivers on discovering It points to an apathy among the damage to the environment. contractors and sub-contractors I would say not all 4W Drivers are employed to erect signs who are happy unaware and I, as an experienced 4W to cut corners and ignore the rules Driver, have strived to minimise but it also confirms an apathy on the damage to the environment for as long part of the authorities who are quite comfortable dropping their standards Western 4W Driver #107 35 and putting drivers at risk.

as I have driven off the bitumen. Renewed Interest 3. Phil continues by saying that the damage is done by 4W Drivers and March last year my dad passed. That’s motorcycles. While this might be true, another story ..... he fails to acknowledge that Quad While helping my mother decide what bikes, people traffic ( walkers), pets, to keep and what to give to Vinnies, I feral dogs and cats also have an impact came across his library of 4wd Driver on the environment. All factors need to magazines, WOW! You folks have been be identified rather than purporting busy. He had kept every edition blame to a convenient group. since 2004. 4. Finally Dr Mic Payne and others claim It’s not your typical glossy, correct the Hill River estuary as a pristine area. English, incorporating more ads than Yet at the time asking for volunteers to stories magazine. There’s actual good, map the area because the area has not reliable information from a variety of comprehensively mapped or assessed knowledgeable people. I feel like I’ve from a biological point of view. missed out over here in N.Q. Regards Don Speldewinde I’ve now become a subscriber and look Thanks for your feedback Don. forward to starting my own collection. It’s great to hear you’re building bridges David Johnson with others keen to preserve the natural environment. Your dad was obviously a discerning On points 1 & 2 I think we could safely reader David, so welcome to the fold, of say Phil was generalising in contrast to people who value the written word and your quite specific examples. the experience of others. As an aside, without the Wilderness And yes we have been busy in a most Society’s involvement in the fight to enjoyable way - exploring the explorer save the Helena and Aurora Range, a in us all and our empathy with the place enjoying high 4WD visitation, the Aussie bush. good fight could have quite easily been It’s a great lifestyle to share and we lost. I think the workshop and whatever trust you’ll share our little mag with flows from that proves there’s plenty of others who might enjoy its content. common ground to be explored. All the Best, On your third point I think Phil might Nick have been saddened because 4WDs were pinpointed as causing damage and he’s Dusty Dilemma a 4w driver but I’m surprised that he was ‘surprised’ to “learn of damage caused G’Day Nick, by 4W drivers”. I read what looks like a disappointing On your fourth point, Mic stated that and I guess an expensive looking “... the Hill River Estuary was a pristine headline on your web site. I hope it’s estuary because of little impact on it not that bad but I know dust of any caused by Inland land use and run-off”. colour in any make of engine is not the Be all that as it may, the story has happiest of outcomes. Trust you will done its job of informing, giving food be back on the track somewhere very for thought and has encouraged you soon, with the bent eight in full song. to respond giving the whole subject a Some of the plastic air cleaner further airing and that’s a good thing. housings are easy to misalign and/or I hope we see a lot more cross pollination the clips fly off and you’re in trouble. on behalf of our environment. The new style air cleaner elements on Cheers, Nick the new headers and tractors are pulled into place by suction, a big worry when 36 Western 4W Driver #107

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it’s really dusty, particularly during interesting people who are being atmospheric inversion as evening sets relegated to the status of inanimate in. Still pretty warm and dusty out in objects. Everywhere we read and the wheatbelt. Plenty of snakes about hear, “the people that...” everybody still. Good luck and keep up the good that....the person that.... when it work or should that be good stories. should be ‘who’ for people and ‘that’ Cheers for everything else. In magazines, John Flockart newspapers and on T.V, people who we respect as serious commentators are Yes John, it was an expensive lesson reducing us to mere ‘things’ . in awareness. How can we have faith in politicians, It’s interesting that manufacturers the people who we charge with looking who put so much effort into creating after the interests of the country’s vehicles with features that pander populace (lying and conniving for their to our continuous craving for own self-interest notwithstanding) convenience, (some under the heading when they continually refer to us as of safety) are essentially saying, objects (not even subjects) through “you don’t need to know how to do their lazy language skills? this anymore because the car will Please teachers, let’s stop the rot and do it for you” this contrasts with our pin down who’s who and what’s what. need for heightened awareness of Let’s make the people who matter, manufacturing failures in these same matter and maybe the world will be a vehicles. The Takata Air Bag scandal slightly better place for it. comes to mind. The People ‘who’, the things Maybe we need to unscrew those ‘that’..... - easy. plastic covers adorning most modern Cheers, motors and have a bloody good look. Nick Knowledge is power and I’d imagine you wouldn’t be worth your salt Well Nick I think you’d get a warm as a cocky if you didn’t know your welcome at the Pedant’s Society machinery inside out. although I think the entry exam could Here’s to a good season. be arduous. As an editor I must agree Cheers, with your sentiment. Enthusiasm for Nick correct use of language is on the wane. Maybe English is evolving to a simpler ‘People that’ drive form so all I can say is, “their, they’re, there, don’t fret”. In a thousand years’ me Crazy time we’ll all be using phonetics. Ed. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Power Points Dr Who. Dr Who who? Hi Nick, Exactly, and please labour the point. Help please. My son is thinking of putting The world is sliding off a literary a second battery into his Ford Wildtrack. precipice and dragging our relative He has been looking at a CTEK to control pronouns with it. This is the sort of things. A few mags ago I recall you (or thing that English teachers who value somebody) recommending something their craft must see as the beginning of else. Can you recall please. the downfall of the English language Kind Regards - human beings, intelligent, creative, Nev Western 4W Driver #107 39

Hi Nev, I was thinking of putting some in just to Many people recommend CTEK and help keep the heat away from the fridges. I’ve not heard anything bad about them. Cheers. Back in edition 99, Lyn and Ron Mitchell Damo & Kaz. checked out the BM-Pro Battery/check by Setec. Piranha also do a similar Hi Damo, thing. If your young fella is a bit of a The insulation comes in rolls from the tech head he’ll appreciate the APP used big hardware store and is very efficient. to monitor batteries via hardware on I glued it on with liquid nails and it’s the battery itself. held on for 340,000 km including It really depends on whether he’s corrugations. looking for a simple monitoring system Cheers, or full on battery management system. Nick So long as he has a good idea of projected power usage, any good auto Got a question? electrician should be able to put him on Got an opinion? the right path. Cheers, Send your letter to: Nick [email protected] Cooler Coolers Everyone’s a winner! Hi Nick, Hope I find you in good spirits. Just a question do you have insulation in your ute canopy and if so what type? LET’S MEAT AT YOUR CAMPSITE PLACE OYRODUERR Select from our extensive menu Get all your trip meat from the little and we will: butcher with the big reputation. • Vacuum pack your meat by the meal. • Tag each pack by contents and day. Eg: breakfast - bacon & sausages, day 4. • Freeze for your convenience. 354 MARMION ST. MELVILLE Phone/Fax orders: (08) 9330 3863 40 Western 4W Driver #107

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FROM FORGE 42 Western 4W Driver #107

You apparently can teach an old dog new tricks as the Ed discovered when he wandered down to Walpole recently to try his hand at CUSTOM KNIFE MAKING Words & Pics by Nick Underwood TO FINISH Western 4W Driver #107 43

y first knife came with a caution - strong, practical working knives I enthusiastically ignored. elegantly wrought. So it was with two friends Lee and MA gift with misgivings from an Harvey we fronted up to Thomas’ forge indulgent aunt, I set to work to produce two knives each from forge hacking the flesh out of a coconut just to finish in two and a half days. Starting before hacking the flesh of my right each with a billet of steel (which can be index finger resulting in two stitches anything from leaf spring to a circular and a stern warning to take more care. saw blade) welded to a length of rod My fascination for knives grew from we began the forging process. From there accompanied by more scars and a furnace to anvil many times over we bodgy attempt to create a dagger out of hammered our billet of steel roughly an old file in the teens. into shape. First the point, establish Today I have more knives than I will blade length, draw down the edge, ever use but none of them were made allow a space for the ricasso (the thick by me - until now. part of the blade just before handle) I recently renewed my acquaintance before creating the tang - the part of with master bladesmith, Thomas Gerner and his wife Elizabeth down at Walpole and discovered in the process that I could, with his guidance, create my own bladeware. Thomas has spent a lifetime honing his skills (not the sharpest pun, I know) as a bladesmith and one must assume the desire to create fine bladeware courses through his Norwegian veins. The attraction for me and many others who admire Thomas’ work is his traditional design Lee heats her blade in the furnace while Harvey (left) goes at it hammer and tongs under Thomas’ watchful gaze. 44 Western 4W Driver #106

Fresh from annealing and a long way Blade is ground to final shape using to go. The hammer mark on the tang rough to smooth grit values. Regular is the sort of thing a confident smithy wetting keeps the heat down. can avoid. Harvey files his tang while his tongue helps with the concentration. the blade that fits into the handle and is usually ¾ the length of the handle. Sounds simple but the art of the smith is anything but to the rank amateur. From the furnace there’s only a short window to master the relationship between hammer, blade and anvil before the work cools and it’s back to the furnace. For Thomas (who’s gentle handshake belies his hammer strength) the hammer is an extension of his arm controlling the force and angle of every blow. Side taps on the anvil give pause to study the work and where to strike next. Skill in the forge could be defined as shaping a blade as close to the final product and requiring minimum reduction by grinding. Post grinding, the blades are re- tempered to create a hard edge and a softer spine. Western 4W Driver #106 45

Needless to say we did plenty Ricasso and tang filed and rubbing of grinding. back started. But before the grinding the next artform of tempering comes into play. Filing the front edge of the ricasso At the end of forging the blade is even both sides. annealed in ash then tempered through a process of heating and quenching to Then on to the bench for filing and toughen the metal. rubbing back. If the hammering in the Once the blade is tempered it’s time forge was hard on the hands, rubbing back was murder on the thumbs. While Lee got blisters on blisters, I managed to amalgamate a piece of one knuckle onto a grinding belt but in the end our toil produced blades that bore little resemblance to what we brought out of the forge. Fitting the handle brought me back onto familiar ground as I really enjoy working with wood. Lee and Harvey chose sheoak - Lee for sentimental reasons as sheoak was her grandad’s favourite timber - Harvey because Thomas found a piece of lace sheoak with a grain that was quite A slice of buffalo horn is glued onto the tang before the handle is drilled and fitted flush with the horn. to grind down to a finished shape. Grinding takes place first on the wheel then on the belt moving through coarse to fine grit before taking the job back for final temering to harden the edge, keep the blade straight and the spine softer. 46 Western 4W Driver #107

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Before and after. Handle is ground down on a belt sander then finished by hand. Our weekend’s effort. Harvey’s at the wooden handle butted up back are for hunting/skinning and to that, glued and clamped. feature that beautiful lace sheoak I think we were all quite handle. Lee’s at centre - good working surprised at the quality of knives with an excellent match of bone our finished product and and sheoak. justifiably proud of our effort, but Thomas wasn’t surprised. He’s seen magnificent. These handles started as many students equally excited by what blocks that were drilled, the tangs glued they’ve achieved over a relatively short in then ground, shaped and sanded to suit their grip. period. For My handles were acacia, cut, shaped this supreme and polished in advance, which seemed craftsman, like a good idea at the time - except his thrill is, that they had to be reduced and shaped I’m sure, in even more to suit the blade, then re- sharing a oiled and polished to finish the job. knowledge Each of our knives had a slice of bone refined over or horn fitted up to the ricasso with the decades with My two came out quite well and I think enthusiastic I’ve got the bug. Stone in the lower knife would-be is chrysoprase. bladesmiths 48 Western 4W Driver #107 and that they may grow to take the tradition into the future keeping the age-old art of bladesmithing alive and slicing.