History of the CCVC
The Cross Country Vehicle Club of Wellington Incorporated (CCVC) was started 50 years ago in 1971, predating the formation of the NZFWDA by three years. Bob Jeffery put out the initial feelers to start a club and his son and grandson continue to compete in 4WD Trials now. Currently listing 196 ordinary members (without counting associate members) this makes the CCVC the largest 4WD club in NZ.
The club’s most notable event is the Deadwood Safari, the name so synonymous with 4 wheeling that it was officially trademarked by the club. The Deadwood was hugely popular with the spectating public and possibly their only contact with the sport.
The event and 4WD Trials have evolved a lot, the original Deadwood being run as a trip along the Deadwood Ridge stopping for a series of tests along the way, a trip that we re-ran for the 30th Anniversary.
Later Deadwoods were run at Rallywoods, Whitemans Valley, Aotea block and back in Whitemans Valley.
The club has been lucky to have members with good skills and knowledge that have allowed them to put in place formal safety and land access policies and document them, well before the NZFWDA produced anything similar.
The club’s concept of “Managed access” gives land managers reassurance that there is someone they can contact with any concerns and that the area won’t be overused. CCVC has good relations with local land authorities through work they do for the community. The club is an active member of the Central Zone of the NZFWDA and the Akatarawa Recreational Access Committee (ARAC) and is all part of being in the larger 4WD community and having a long-term view.
They have, after-al, been around for 50 years!
In those 50 years many people have been granted Life membership as an appreciation of their outstanding service to the club.
The current Life members are: Tom Adams, Leith Bean, Stuart Brown, Andy Cockroft, Mike Gall, John Hughes, Heather Jeffery, Steve Lacey, Colin Landy, Phil Lewton, Bruce Mulhare, Raynor Mulhare, Peter Osborne, Ross Perkins and Grant Purdie, and we remember past Life members: Bob Jeffery, George Bean, Peter Boniface, Ron Oliver, Vern Lill, Steve O’Callaghan, Ron Wadham, Owen Farqhar, Ron Johnson, Graham Barr and Tony Street.
Current president: Ralph Dobson, Secretary: Shaun Ross, Treasurer: Frank Allan.
Facebook: “Wellington Cross Country Vehicle Club”
Website: www.ccvc.org.nz