NATIONAL 4X4 TRIALS SERIES FINAL
This year’s National 4x4 Trials Championship was won by Hamish Auret and Paul Barnes in their distinctive red Cowper Trucks’ Chev.
This year’s National 4x4 Trials Championship was won by Hamish Auret and Paul Barnes in their distinctive red Cowper Trucks’ Chev.
After a fantastic six-round season , driver/ owner Hamish Auret ( Wanganui 4WD Club) and co-driver Paul ‘Barnsey’ Barnes ( Mt Egmont 4WD Club) now hold the NZ1 title and have the privilege of running that number instead of D222 next season. After many requests for more information about their title- winning truck I cornered the pair and asked Hamish for a full rundown. Here goes.
Winning ways
Hamish imported the engine from the ‘ States just before the Cowper Truck build started. It’s out of a modified 2010 Z06 Chevrolet Corvette, a dry-sumped seven- litre V8 with an aftermarket cam and big throttle body and is producing approximately 484 kWs ( 650hp). The transmission is the weakest link in the truck as it still runs the V6 Toyota Windom unit just like everyone else. Considering the hp that is put through it, it stands up very well. Running 35-inch Mickey Thompson t yres, on 12- inch rims instead of the usual 10- inch. Hamish and Paul have worked hard to get the mix right between themselves and the machine and this season won five out of the six events – which shows they have it right. The boys read the ground well and look at the alternative lines and take calculated risks to achieve the optimum score but sometimes misjudge and the throttle is pushed to the limit with some spectacular moves.
Team work
The pair walk each obstacle then use their judgement as to where to apply power, hydraulic steering and fourwheel brakes. Once back in the truck and tightened into their seats each has his individual responsibility but with Paul able to read the ground and feel the machine underneath he has the ability to use the brakes and steering to compensate where necessary and assist Hamish to get that zero, so it is team work all round. It’s been a dream season for the boys right up until the big roll they had at the final. Hamish is quoted as saying: “It’s been a dream come true for me winning NZ1 for the first time, obviously there has been a lot of money, time, and commitment go into it to achieve the title so it feels really good to get there!” “The trucks Dan makes are a real credit to him, and Barnsey has been exceptional and I’m very lucky to have him. He is equally as committed to winning as I am and it ’s been a recipe that has worked in the short time we have been together.”