THE Queanbeyan showground is awaiting transformation for the upcoming 4WD Spectacular. The biennial event will be held on February 1-2 and is expected to attract close to 10,000 people from across the region.
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Chairman of the 4WD Spectacular, John Jedryk, said this year there were more exhibitors than ever. "It's a pretty big event for the region and this year we have 167 exhibitions," he said.
The event boasts 13 new vehicles, sourced from local dealers, that the public can test on the spectacle's test track.
"We make the track with very steep up slopes and down slopes as well as areas where the car leans this way and at angles that you think you might tip out,"Mr Jedryk said.
RobMcKenzie is a 4WD club member and said his hobby had rubbed off on his family, who now take part in four wheel driving. For the past 10 years he has helped at the spectacular and this year will help build the spectacle test track and drive visitors around the course.
"The course is not high speed at all," he said. "The most fun is building it. There are series of logs, climbs and holes like an obstacle course to test the vehicle."
Queanbeyan mayor Tim Overall was hosted last year and driven through the test track by Mr Jedryk.
"It was awesome," Cr Overall said. "It was the first time I had been on a course like that with such a high degree of difficulty. If I was driving I'm sure the car would have been on its side in the ditch."
The Southern Tablelands 4WDClub, the ACT 4WD Club and the Land Rover Club of the ACT have held the event at the Queanbeyan showground for the past 20 years.
"It's a huge draw card right across the region and Queanbeyan are very happy to be able to host it again this year," Cr Overall said.
"It brings several thousand people into Queanbeyan over the weekend and gives a significant boost to the local economy."
The profits raised by the clubs are shared equally, after a large portion is donated to local charities.
"There is a lot of interest for the great outdoors and there are a lot of interested trades people," Mr Jedryk said.
"It generates income each year and 40 per cent of the income goes to charities that relate to outdoors and four wheel driving, like The Royal Flying Doctors Service."
Mr Jedryk said alongside vehicle demonstrations, the event's program included demonstrations of vehicle recovery, towing and remote first aid techniques.
"People are always looking for what's new, whether it's vehicles, different products or just experiences," he said.
"There is something there for everyone."
