Last Wednesday, 32 grunty vehicles carrying 57 drivers and passengers took off from Gisborne’s Awapuni Speedway on a trek that has been more than two years in the making.
By the time the engines were stilled they’d raised over $19,000 for the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (EHRT) and made important community connections throughout the East Coast.
“Committee member Grant Brew came up with the idea as the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter service is of benefit to the whole East Coast community,” says club member Russell Bailey, who has taken care of the tricky paperwork involved.
“But we had to wait for two years after Cyclone Gabrielle to allow landowners time to rehabilitate any areas damaged by the storm.”
When planning did begin in earnest, plotting the route for their four-day trek came together quickly and took trekkers from Gisborne, up through Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay and Tikitiki, before hitting the finishing line at Waipiro Bay.
“As it turned out it wasn’t hard to get access to land suitable for the vehicles,” says Mr Bailey. “The moment we said it was a fundraiser for the Eastland Rescue Helicopter the farm gates just opened.”
The fundraising philosophy doubled down on the keep-it-Coastie approach, with organisers opting to use local businesses and groups for everything from accommodation to catering.
“Though EHRT was to be the main beneficiary, Grant was determined the trek should reach out even wider into the East Coast community,” Mr Bailey says. “So as well as getting our requirements looked after, we’ve made some really awesome connections.”
The trek was a study in contrasts with vehicles ranging from Mr Bailey’s relatively new (2021) 70 Series Toyota Land Cruiser to the classic 1992 Toyota Hilux Mr Brew prefers to drive.
“Even those older vehicles are hugely capable and we enjoy seeing all the different ones do their stuff,” says Mr Bailey.
“Regardless of their age, we make sure all have the proper equipment and drivers follow safety protocol to protect the land and make sure we don’t end up on the helicopter ourselves!”
While they plan to avoid that, Grant Brew has had a number of whanau airlifted by the Eastland team and says he’s long been planning a fundraiser for EHRT.
“What really kicked me into gear was seeing a story about a young fulla in Northland who was rescued after getting bashed around in a motorcycle crash,” he says.
“After he recovered he was fundraising for the rescue helicopter up there – and had vowed never to ride again out of respect for those who had saved his life – so I thought if he could do it, we had better get cracking.”
And for Russell Bailey, the jumping-off point at Awapuni Speedway had special significance.
Now based in Christchurch, he left Gisborne 30 years ago but has fond memories of racing at the site, driving the production saloon he bought from speedway stalwart (and EC4WD’s secretary/treasurer) Chris Miller.
“Having family here, as well as my speedway and 4WD club ‘family’, keeps bringing me back,” he says.
“But I wasn’t the only visiting driver . . . people came from all over the country to take part in our fundraising trek.”
EHRT chair Ian Parker said the trust was humbled by the 4WD club’s incredible effort.
“Community support is vital to a service that covers both the Tairāwhiti region and well beyond our borders,” he says.
“We are grateful to the East Coast 4WD Club for thinking of us, and for conducting their trek in a way that benefits the community at large.”
CAPTION: READY TO RUMBLE: Launching the East Coast 4WD Club fundraising trek from Awapuni Speedway are (from left) EHRT chair Ian Parker, pilot Loic Ifrah, club member Grant Brew, air crew officer Leah Kortez, club member Russell Bailey and president Rod Dear, and critical care flight paramedic Lorrin Kelly.