Dust kings on top of their game

The annual December 4x4 Vasbyt delivered the full Monty on Saturday 30 December, with 18 teams in three classes challenged to conquer ten obstacle courses at the old oval track a stone's throw east of Walvis Bay.The well-attended action-packed event managed to test the experienced teams to their limits. The competition was completed entirely on location with no dune riding. The South African pair of Izak and Johan Maritz was the only team that could bag the maximum of 600 points by winning all then challenges in the E Class. Their roaring V8 is an unstoppable, purpose-built 4x4 demon valued at N$2 million, and was a sight to experience. Die-hard dirt enthusiast Izak towed his 4x4 beast all the way from Gauteng on a trailer to compete at the final Vasbyt for 2023 in Walvis Bay. This vehicle is in a class of its own and had no competition in Namibia.Rico Bothma and co-driver Jossie Maritz clinched the overall title with 550 points, securing first place in the C Class, followed by Morné Oosthuysen and Christiaan Labuschagne on 490 points that had to settle for second place. Third place overall went to Dolf Bothma and Jossie Maritz who won the D Class with 470 points, while Floris Steenkamp senior and Floris Steenkamp junior took third place in the C Class with 460 points.The competition concluded at the tyre and mud pits - a huge crowd pleaser. In the former, competitors had to negotiate their way in a straight line over loose tyres and while it may look easy at first glance, this proved to be extremely challenging.The mud pit was by far the tamest obstacle. With a somewhat dry challenge, the custom-built 4x4s did not have much trouble getting through this one.Results by classC: 1. R. Bothma/J. Maritz (550); 2. Oosthuysen/Labuschagne (490); 3. Steenkamp/Steenkamp (460).D: 1. D. Bothma/J. Maritz; 2. Francois du Plessis/Loraine du Plessis (440); 3. Herman Theron/Nico Theron (420).E: 1. Maritz/Maritz (600); 2. Michel Hudson/Dupie Kern (500); 3. Corrie Hudson/Robbie Hudson (380). – tielman@republikein.com.na

Dust kings on top of their game

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-09

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Dust kings on top of their game

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-09

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