AM MAGAZINE SHELL - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

4WDDRIVE 4 LIFEA group of four New South Wales 4WD enthusiasts formedDrive4Life in 2005 who wanted to promote 4WD use as a legitimaterecreation while helping those not as fortunate as themselves.Drive4Lifeis a not-for-profit organisation running Four Wheel Drive TagAlong Tours raising money to help the disabled.The plans were simple, the logistics were massive; sponsors, advertising,participants and a beneficiary were required.ARB Corporation, the world’s largest 4WD aftermarket accessorymanufacturer, came on board as the principal sponsor immediately and hasremained, while Cooper Tires and Overlander Magazine have also beeninvolved from the outset.Northcott Disability Services was formerly known as the CrippledChildren’s Association of NSW and became the beneficiary of Drive4Life.Funding is specifically directed to the Equipment Loan Pool to deliverwheel chairs to children with muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and cerebralpalsy while amputees as well as paraplegics and quadriplegics are alsocatered for.After a few years of very successful Tag Along Tours in Victoria’sspectacular High Country, the Drive4Life crew held other treks in 2009.In April a weeklong High Country tour took place over a week, startingand finishing in the small town of Harrietville on the Great Alpine Highway.“Following the horrific Bushfires in Victoria, it was great to be able tobring people to a region not far from the devastation of the fires to spendsome money in the local communities,” Drive4Life’s David Dennis said.Drive4life also planned to not only provide the fundraising tours whereeach participating vehicle (organisers included) donate $1000 to NorthcottDisability Services, but to put on a holiday for some of Northcotts clients.An Outback Trek for 16 days through Broken Hill, Arkaroola, Marree,the Birdsville Track and Bourke was organised and the easy chores wereselecting drivers, clients and carers.One difficulty was funding the expedition but Toyota Australia camethrough to make it happen.Twelve of the drivers saddled up in brand new Toyota 4WD vehicles - sixdual cab Hilux models, four 76 Series four door wagons and two TroopCarriers – and Northcott organised the clients with most using wheelchairsor walking frames for mobility along with the carers.“A mixture of camping and motel accommodation was used throughoutthe trek which was now referred to as the Wheelies Trip,” Mr Dennis said.IGA Supermarkets, a long time supporter of Drive4Life, had not onlydonated all of the food for the camping sections of the trek but had arrangedfor the group to be fed by the local stores as they passed through the towns.The key strategies of this trek were to break down barriers andstereotyping of the disable and it was a life changing experience for both theDrive4Life crew and the Northcott clients.By August it was back to fundraising for the Drive4Life crew and a TagAlong Tour into the Simpson Desert had 51 vehicles assembling in Birdsvillefor the six day tour.Again a $1000 per vehicle donation was made direct to NorthcottDisability Services.Besides being the principal sponsor, ARB also offered participants pretripspecials through its stores and Cooper Tires, Overlander Magazine andIGA Supermarkets also helped tremendously.“To do the level of fundraising that Drive4Life is involved in just can’tbe done without quality sponsorship; it is invaluable to have great companiesbacking the team,” Mr Dennis said.This year the Drive4Life crew will hold a fundraising Tag Along Tour tothe Flinders Ranges from October 20-26 and plans are underway for anotherWheelies Trip but this time to the Victorian High Country.TOYOTA KLUGER BULL BAROwners of the Toyota Kluger will now be able to protect theirvehicle in style with an ARB deluxe bull bar.Designed to enhance the versatility of the Kluger, the bull bar has beendesigned specifically to suit the vehicle’s monocoque construction.This meant producing a reduced weight bar with the sameuncompromising protection as ARB’s standard design specifications whilestill carrying a host of features to enhance your four wheel drivingexperience.Incorporating ARB’s renowned multi-fold wing design, this bar providesan enormous amount of frontal protection, while the split pan furtherincreases the strength of the bar while facilitating airflow to the engine. Thepan also incorporates a shorter depth which helps to minimise weight butdoes not compromise the bar’s functionality.A vehicle specific design and mounting system ensures that air bagcompatibility is not adversely affected giving peace of mind to you andyour family. With durable urethane buffers and recessed indicators asstandard, provision for fog lights and dual CB aerials work to furtherincrease the bar’s versatility.To protect the underbody of the vehicle while off road, large under barprotection panels have been included for defence against debris such asrocks and logs.Drop into your nearest ARB store to find more about these products or visitwww.arb.com.auFor more information and full sponsor details www.drive4life.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E F E B R UA RY 2 010 21