Found at: http://www.rallystar.co.za/article/articleprint/3344/-1/197/
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Club Mykonos Gymkhana Series
With the 17th Hyperformance Club Mykonos Resort and Casino Langebaan Gymkhana set for Saturday 13 May 2006, a adrenalin boosting experience aboard the phenomenal 500bhp Ballistic RIB of Bugaloo Adventures was proposed to members of the media for Saturday 22 April 2006. As was the case in 2005 the heavens opened up and heading towards Club Mykonos in pouring rain had one doubting the logic of continuing.
Positive response from Radio Namakwaland 93.4Fm (based in Vredendal, some 300km away), Radio Tygerberg 104Fm (Bellville), Radio Helderberg 93.6Fm (HHH), Radio West Coast 92.3Fm (New station based in Vredenburg) and Radio CCFm 107.5Fm (Muizenberg) were well supported by Witzenberg Herald (Ceres), Weslander (Vredenburg), District Mail (HHH) and Swartlander (Malmesbury) in regional newspaper terms. As always www.rallystar.co.za and www.gticlub.co.za present for the website brigade.
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Darius van Niekerk - Anette Vermaak
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Introducing the members to Bugaloo Adventures MD, former track racer and renowned RIB pilot, Theo Lötter, saw a few reconsidering this offer. Lienkie Bentz wasted no time and whilst Darius van Niekerk launched the third generation Ballistic RIB the first batch of passengers were kitted in safety gear. Twice overall winners of the notoriously tough Trans Agulhas race and the current Surf world champions certainly provided Bugaloo Adventures with enough credibility irrespective of the weather and though some nerves were evident the suicide seats filled quickly, even the two very front seats! A driver’s dream come true – one steering wheel and ten navigators to scare! Heading towards the harbour mouth saw a sudden silence descend over the water but the effect of their first encounter with open water could be heard in Vredenburg!
Organiser of the VV4 Wolseley Gymkhana events, Danie Smuts, had visions of “Judgement Day” when he faced the fast approaching wall of water and before he had time to recover the RIB was steered over two more by Darius van Niekerk. As in any adrenalin sport the fine line between scaring someone witless and having them enjoy the new experience intensely can only be controlled by skilled operators and Darius did not disappoint. Danie needed half the trip to recover from the initial shock but admitted to having thoroughly enjoyed the experience once the incredible capabilities of this vessel became apparent. Bugaloo makes a gymkhana on water seem viable and it does not require a schedule to deal with any yumps encountered on continuously variable route. The incredible pounding Bugaloo absorbs with each landing would have any rallyist begging for a sumpguard of this quality. Getting up to speeds approaching 115km/h on an extremely inconsistent surface and dealing with serious swell as well as strong wind passed almost unnoticed as adrenalin took over and the newcomers started to enjoy this extreme experience. Amazingly temperatures remained comfortable and dry throughout and it was big smiles all round.
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Bugaloo in action
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Bugaloo Adventures have set themselves the goal to become the preferred provider of adrenalin adventures on water, land and air and given the superb track record achieved in little more than a year their goals seem realistic. Holding the commercial rights to adventure RIB trips from the mouth of the Orange River to Mozambique clearly illustrate their intentions. Bugaloo Langebaan have been joined by a franchise in Gordon’s Bay and will soon be followed by similar activities in Hout Bay and Kalk Bay. There are some very impressive goals set for the future but do not be surprised to see the land element of Bugaloo Adventures get off the ground as soon as 13 May 2006!
Francois Snyman, Witzenberg Herald, Stehan Schoeman, Weslander, and Howard Daniëls, GTi Club Chairman, enjoyed the trip so much they immediately volunteered to fill any vacant seats for the second.
Pieter Lubbe is well known for his humour during the popular Barshou program aired on Radio Namakwaland every Wednesday afternoon but his ear to ear grin throughout this trip said much more than words. Clearly nobody else from this station will ever be able to substitute for him in future! Dirk Gallowitz, Radio West Coast Director, have tried his hand at most forms of motor and water sport but found returning to terra firma the only disappointing element as Bugaloo gained another avid supporter. Francois Snyman, Witzenberg Herald, described the experience as the quickest 36 holes of golf he had ever encountered and Howard Daniëls was still at a loss for words after a second trip.
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BMW Adventure team
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With the wet element completed the media and guests were treated to a short presentation by Theo Lötter and were then invited to a scrumptious lunch before heading off to their various destinations. Given the fact that this event was to last no longer than 30min it was very encouraging to see the last of the visitors depart past 18h00. Now the emphasis shifts to tarmac and on 13 May 2006 another Mykonos King will be crowned. That is if anyone proves capable of beating the now undisputed champion, Mike Nathan, and his incredible Dals Autobody Mazda Rustler 1700. Not only did Mike become the first driver to win all three 2005 events, he now has four Mykonos titles to his name and also became the 2005 Sasol SA GpN2 rally drivers champion in his AWI Toyota Corolla RXi 1600.
Quite a CV, but never discard the intentions and talents of Anton van Bosch (Bosch Automotive Centre VW Fox) and the most improved driver of 2005, Brent Laurings (Opel Kadett 2.0). Dave Köpke and his Power Conversions Mazda R100 Rotary is considered a threat in any category of motorsport but this flame throwing, screaming Mazda is incredibly popular at this venue. Popular Saldanha engineer, André Dreyer, have quietly been improving the Weskaap Bakwerke VW Golf 2.0 16v and could well be the surprise of the day come May.
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The Pro Bugaloo presentation
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Each of the eight classes provide a challenge of its own with positions often determined by fractions of a second after eight hours of non stop motorsport action. Whilst the motorsport enthusiasts battle it out on the tarmac the family can improve on the team budget with a calculated visit to the Mykonos Casino or they could simply enjoy the tranquility of the Club Mykonos Resort. Those with an insatiable appetite for adrenalin could always take a walk down to Bugaloo Adventures. (Bonus is nobody can hear you scream on the lagoon!)