The annual Rust de Winter 4×4 jamboree is one such event that takes place up north, just outside of Pretoria. For the 4×4 enthusiasts in the Western Cape, the Atlantis 4×4 fun day is a yearly highlight and I was fortunate enough to attend the 2019 event.
The event consists of various challenges that take place in the dunes of Atlantis, a few kilometres outside of Cape Town. It is a beautiful area that forms part of a South African national park hence getting permission to participate in the area is challenging and the approval does come with many conditions to which the 4 Wheel Drive Club of South Africa have to adhere to.
I was handed the keys to a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado after I landed at the airport on Friday, October 11 and proceeded to head out to Melkbosstrand where I would spend the night with representatives from Toyota as well as other motoring media. The next day, we rose early and proceeded to the dunes which were only a few kilometres away. When we arrived at the entrance we were greeted by various other competitors that would be participating in a range of vehicles; from Suzuki Jimny’s to modified Jeep Wranglers and Land Rover Defenders, built to tackle the dunes.
Once we decreased the tyre pressure on the cars, to around one bar, we headed into the dunes. What laid before us, could only be described as a playground with Table Mountain in the background. There are 10 obstacles at the event and attendance is limited to 150 participants, which means that it is a long and busy day but it is undoubtfully worth it. The vehicles are divided into groups and team leaders are chosen, which guide their teams to and through all the obstacles.
Each obstacle has an activity for the passenger to complete while the driver needs to focus on completing the obstacle itself without getting stuck, touching a pole or reversing. Sounds easy? Well, this year the organizers decided that they would introduce a time limit to most of the challenges, allowing participants only 1 minute 30 seconds to complete the obstacle. For every second under or over that time, 10 points get deducted from your total score and you are not allowed to stop. With my wife having to complete a puzzle it was difficult to keep time so I enlisted the help of a fellow motoring scribe’s son to control the stopwatch.
What I enjoyed about the Atlantis 4×4 Fun Day is the fact that it requires the help of all who attended. My wife got behind the wheel on the high-speed sections and, although far removed from her comfort zone, managed to do very well improving her confidence in conditions like this.
The trusty Toyota Prado also formed part of our team and thanks to its clever terrain response system which has a dedicated option for sand driving. We managed to complete the day without getting stuck, which was a first for me. The Prado is powered by a 3.0-litre turbo diesel D4-D engine and those who know sand and dune driving will know that a high revving petrol engine is the preferred choice, yet the Prado impressed nonetheless. The event provided Toyota SA with the opportunity to celebrate 10 million sales of the Land Cruiser model, a rather commendable milestone.
After a long day in the dunes, we headed to the main gathering area for prize giving. What I appreciated about the Atlantis event, is that all who participated received prizes which made me realize, it’s not about winning, it’s about having fun with friends and family in a beautiful setting. If you haven’t yet attended the event, then it is a must if you have a 4×4, even if you are not an avid off-roader the event is well worth it.
