On Labour Day, some IRC members explored the trails around Sooke while hosting the Warn group and their friends from the US. Joining us were Tom, Mike. Rob, Rich, Doug, Don, Lin, and Frank, among others.

The three Robs decided to demonstrate some of the different techniques used to negotiate Cleavage Rock. First, Rob McFadyen cruised through without hesitating, but that just made it look too easy. After all, our guests didn’t come all the way from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon and elsewhere to experience wheeling without challenges! Next, Rob d. provided some entertainment by showing how carburettor coughs can lead to tire slippage. Next came Rob Brooks. Believe it or not, his mirror was still intact after supporting the whole weight of the pickup! It was a pleasure running with our guests, and we hope to wheel with them again some day!

Last month, we told you about the conquering of “that Rock” on the trails around Sooke near a mud puddle we call the frog pond.

Well, it turns out that it has been conquered a few times before, but the evidence never made it to the newsletter gang until quite recently. So, in fairness to Troy, Tim, and Steve, here are some pics of their feat. By the way, Tim’s front diff is not locked. Wow!

Upcoming Events

South Island

Contact Events Co-ordinator
for more information.

Sept 2000

Sept. 7 - Monthly Branch meeting at Sooke Community Campground (note location change!) 7:30pm.

Sept. 8-10 - Club Only Rock Creep, location TBA

Sept. 24 - Classic Beaumonts and Chevelles and VI Mustang Club 3rd annual Toy Run, assembling at Mayfair Mall at 9:15am. Bring a fun toy for a lucky girl or boy at Christmas.

October 2000

Oct. 7 - Annual General Meeting meeting at Victoria Fish and Game, 700 Holker Place, 7:00pm. See our Upcoming Events Page for more details.

Oct. 8 - Post-AGM Club run, leaving from Victoria Fish and Game at 9:00am

Mid-Island

Contact Steve Duifhuis for more information.

September 2000

Sept. 9-10 - Club Only Rock Creep, location TBA

Sept. 21 - final Monthly Branch meeting at 7:30 pm at the CVI Station Pub in Duncan

Sept. 24 - Monthly Club Run, call Steve, meet at 9:30 am at Tim Hortons in Duncan

October 2000

Oct. 24 - Monthly Club Run, call Steve, meet at 8:00 am at Tim Hortons in Duncan, travelling to Sooke to run Hill 35 and area.

The following article was published in the Sooke News Mirror on Wednesday, August 23, 2000 after the club president appeared before Sooke Council on August 21 to ask for support in keeping Harbourview open and accessible to all types of recreation.

Rock Crawlers want to keep access to lands

Local four wheel drive enthusiasts are concerned any potential sale of “Harbourview” lands to the Land Conservancy and subsequently turned over to the Capital Regional District could see the loss of access to the lands. The club, which boasts about 67 members, is worried that if the land is ever transferred to the CRD, their group, and others who use the lands will be banned from taking motor vehicles onto the property, representative Rob deLange said in a presentation to Sooke Council on Monday. “There’s plenty of recreational groups that do use the area now and have for many years”, he said. DeLange said the lands are important because they are the only accessible areas on the lower island that are not subject to closures by logging companies or parks regulations. DeLange also noted the important economic benefits their club, which he described as a family-oriented group, brings to the community. The annual Rock Crawl event brings an estimated $50,000 to Sooke, he noted. It has also been featured in international publications. “People consider Harbourview on par with some of the world class venues featured in magazines these days,” he said.

Island Rock Crawlers have made sure they have had a voice on parks planning issues in the CRD, most notably, with the CRD master parks plan. But they were unable to convince the CRD to allow motorized usage in parks, deLange said. He noted the club has had a strict code of conduct and organizes an annual clean-up of the lands which are often used as dumping grounds for garbage and stolen vehicles. Mayor Ed Macgregor said council already supports the creation of an off road vehicle park within the CRD. He noted there are issues that will have to be addressed, including the management of the lands and impacts on others who are not so enthusiastic about the off road activity. “We’ve got a major problem with the neighbours at the end of Harbourview Road,” he said, noting noise complaints he receives from many of the residents living there. “I’m not suggesting your group is doing it,” he said. “Unfortunately, everyone gets tarred with the same brush.” “I think we’ve got a real self-disciplinary job to do. How are you going to manage the mavericks,” he questioned. Macgregor said it will be important for responsible users to try and develop a program to show that the lands won’t be damaged.

Regarding this article, there are a few points I would like to clarify. First, the IRC’s aim while participating in the planning process for the Capital Regional District’s Parks Master Plan was not to convince the CRD to allow motorized vehicles in all CRD parks. Rather, in light of the usage by many different recreational groups of the Harbourview area, we suggested that if the CRD would ever gain control of Harbourview, would they consider a special provision to allow continued use of motorized vehicles in just that one area?

Second, the intention of our sport is often misstated in articles such as this one. We do not drive off road, we drive off highways—a subtle but important distinction. In Harbourview, as in many other areas, the attraction to four-wheelers is the vast network of old logging roads. The Island Rock Crawlers’ code of conduct obliges members to travel only on these established roads. Granted, some of these roads may have fallen into a state of disrepair, making them impassible to regular vehicles, but therein lies our challenge.

Last, people unfamiliar with our sport may mistakenly be under the impression that off-highway driving means competitive racing or mud drags. In fact, for rock crawlers, quite the opposite is true. To successfully negotiate the roads we like to drive on, they must be traversed as slowly as possible. A more accurate description of a our pasttime is “a slow-speed tour through trails and obstacles of varying difficulties”, all the while enjoying and preserving the natural beauty of the areas we travel through.

The Island Rock Crawlers’ committment to preserving the beauty of the Harbourview area has been evident in the massive clean-ups we have organized over the past five years. We would like the chance to prove that an area can be enjoyed and protected without putting up gates and closing it off to the public. I wish to thank the Sooke Council for giving us the opportunity to voice our concerns about the possible closure of the Harbourview area. We look forward to participating in discussions regarding a suitable place and management plan for an Off-Highway Vehicle park near Sooke.

Rob deLange

See also the August 2000 Rock Review article, The Future of Harbourview.

Click here to read more about Harbourview and the History of Sooke Mountain Park.