Event happened last August 4, 2007 – 4×4 trucks and SUVs are becoming more and more popular. It’s actually sad that a lot of these fine vehicles we see on the streets stay on the streets… or in mall parking lots.

BUT, there are quite a few who respect and understand what these 4WD vehicles are made for. That is one of the reasons we have organized a little off-road driving clinic.

The 2007 Off-road Driving Clinic was organized because there have been an influx 4×4 off-road newbies as seen on the 4×4 PH forums. Also, when the idea to do a clinic came up it has been quite a time since the last clinic and we thought a clinic was way overdue. In the planning stages this clinic would also give beginners a taste of how wonderful and exciting offroad driving really is, all this in a controlled environment (called Jungle Base, a.k.a. JB, in Brgy. Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal) with the supervision of offroad veterans, provided by Land Craft 4×4 Adventures, Inc. and Rainforest Challenge Philippines — and this is all free of charge!

At the end of the day of the announcement (via the 4×4 PH forums) we already had 8 participants. One of the instructors posted the final vehicle count in the morning of the clinic: 45 vehicles; and that’s not counting the vehicles of the organizers, instructors, and offroad veteran friends who showed up to give their support.

Driving on the way to the meeting place I got quite a few calls and text messages asking me where I am, what time I’ll be arriving, etc. The road marshals in charge of dispatching the convoy (in groups, to avoid delays and traffic jams) informed me that the last batch of participants have left and only a few people (marshals & organizers) have stayed behind to anticipate late-comers who haven’t been to Jungle Base.

When I got to the gas station my friend Robby, head of Rainforest Challenge Philippines, was on his way to his Land Rover Defender 90 to leave for JB. After handing him the media kits we went on our way. First stop: Calderon Farm along Marcos Highway for phase 1 of the 2007 Off-road Driving Clinic.

As we were nearing the end of the concrete road and start of the dirt road leading to Calderon Farm I noticed some of the vehicles of locals are slowing down. I’ve been here before a lot of times to know that the way they were slowing down isn’t the normal way they do it when approaching the bend. I also noticed one lane of the 2-lane dirt road having signs of being fixed (read: CONCRETE!). Plus I was only guessing as to the sight of that many vehicles parked alongside the road. The picture shows what welcomed us when we reached the “designated parking area”.

After finding a good parking space, almost beside the gate to the farm, we proceeded to go down the trail greeting friends along the way. As we were trekking down we could hear the beautiful, comforting whine of a 4×4 engine having trouble going up the trail covered in slippery mud. Then the spectators started to get thicker. So we made sure we were out of the way of the participants’ path and continued to watch the hands-on lesson on traction, joking with friends, etc.

When we were done with this little hands-on demonstration on traction (rhyming much?) off we went to Jungle Base for lunch, then the “classroom” lecture, then the actual application of lessons! After the little confusion of where to eat lunch we finally settled in the kubo (hut; overlooking this view) that used to be a treehouse everyone started bringing out the food they brought, started sharing, with very little conversations — proof that this bunch of offroaders are hungry as hell.

When everyone was full and had bulging stomachs (though, some have these bulging stomachs even when hungry) we heard the bullhorn siren signaling everyone to get to the classroom for the very important lectures. The basic and general 4WD systems are explained, how they work, why they work that way, importance of certain vehicle modifications, questions asked by the beginners & answers given by the veterans. Everyone here knew the only stupid question is the question that was not asked.

When everyone was satisfied with the lessons shared it was time to see if the participants understood what they (should have!) learned. But also as important is practice makes (almost) perfect. So off we go to the small “steps” for practice, more hands-on learning, and laughs!

The rest is best shown through pictures:

Train ‘em while they’re young!

My turn!

Goliath watching David

The clinic was also supported by Cats Motors/Jeep Philippines by bringing in a 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon & a 2007 Jeep Commander, all brand new, AND tackling the obstacles that were laid down for the participants to conquer.

The rest of the pictures are in the gallery.

And a side note: The Indie Travel Podcast might give me Lonely Planet books for writing this. Be advised, though, this isn’t a sponsored post. It’s a little contest that I got invited to participate in.

Added: The Offroad Driving Clinic receives media coverage.

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