A few years ago Robert Clarke had told me stories about this thing called “Lancelin Loonies” and the things that would happen in those shifting dunes, I didn’t believe him until 2019 ….
Gary and I had gone up to Lancelin Friday night after work to stay for the weekend. We met Jeff, Tony and about eleven others at the car park Saturday morning. We let our tyres down, had a drivers meeting and the fun began with Jeff’s words clear in my head “it will get harder the further we go in” I took a deep breath and I was away.
Up and down looping around with the dunes getting steeper, we all came to a section that proved to be tricky for a few getting stuck at the top. My turn came and I elected to go around, as I was doing this, Don in his Hilux attempted this dune coming adrift, nose diving into the next little dune over the top setting off the airbags, smashing his windscreen and as it turns out, steering damage making it a write off. The CB lit up with calls for help and we all rushed to his aid, Don was okay but the Hilux wasn’t. Tony lead him out to town and we carried on, meeting back up with Tony a short time later.
The next obstacle presented itself and I again elected to not attempt it but going up to the top in time to watch a few others including a Sierra go up and Macka in his jeep get to the top, almost bogging it down but then popped it out and over he went. I got it on video mate.
On and on further north we headed and came to a huge dune. This time I told hubby (Gary) I’m doing this one. I was 5th in line and before long after one or two had gotten bogged and not making it, it had me wondering if I could make it or not… First attempt there was not enough momentum at the top following the previous track so on the 2nd attempt I placed the left side in the wheel track with the right making a new track and again backed it off just that little bit too much and down my FJ went to the axles. Oh no came over the radio and help was arriving before I got out of the car. Max tracks off the top and dug them in, snatch strap was fitted and still no go so another 4wd snatched us both out and down the hill I came.
Time was getting away and everyone was getting hungry so we all headed for the pub, while some stayed out there doing their own thing or headed back to Perth. Hubby and I were buggered so got our own dinner and headed back to our accommodation to rest. I believe a few went back out after dinner to the dunes for a short time but most had decided to head back to Perth.
