4X4 RIDE & CHILL (Lancelin)

The inaugural Royal College Old Boys Association Western Australia 4X4 adventure marked a milestone at Lancelin’s iconic sand dunes. This sand-in-the-eyes event introduced many Old Boys to the mad world of four-wheel driving, creating memories that would inspire the popular ongoing series.

The day began with vigour as pristine and shiny Prados and Landcruisers lined up at Manjula’s house. After waiting around for stragglers, and discussing about what equipment each driver was bringing, the convoy was on its way.

Lancelin is an hour and half’s driving north of Perth, and takes you past the northern most built-up suburbs of Joondalup and Butler. After that, it was a beautiful drive up the coast.

At Lancelin, the convoy detoured down a sand track through the dunes. There the fearless drivers quickly discovered the difference between suburban driving and actual off-road driving in the sand. The first bogging occurred almost immediately. Fortunately, there was a lot of helping hands, and a valuable reminder that the key to driving on sand is to keep proper momentum.

On the hard sand by the water, correct tire pressures enabled better travel. And it didn’t take long to master the changing sand types.

Post-adventure refreshments of Crown Lager and James Boag Draught went well with malu paan and pol sambal sandwiches. Veterans shared war stories while newcomers compared sand-covered vehicles and plotted modifications for future rides.

This pioneering event established RCOBAWA’s reputation for combining adventure with genuine fellowship, setting the standard for future expeditions.