A Wild Ride in the Outback: An Inside Look from Behind the Camera
This time around, I found myself behind the camera capturing our host Matt as he tore around the Loveday 4WD Park at breakneck speed. It was a ride I’ll never forget, and one I thought I’d share with you all.
The day started bright and early with a meeting with Tony, the park manager. Tony’s a top bloke, and he filled us in on all the exciting activities we had lined up for the day, from a kid’s rally to buggy drives. But the highlight, without a doubt, was the prospect of Matt hitting jumps in a 4WD at 120 kilometres per hour. Now, I've been behind the camera for some pretty wild stunts in the past, but nothing quite prepared me for the adrenaline rush of capturing those jumps.
To give you an idea of what it's like, imagine your heart racing as you watch the 4WD hurtle into the air, the world blurring around you through the camera lens, and then the gut-wrenching, teeth-jarring landing. Let's just say I had a new appreciation for the term 'white-knuckle ride'.
One of the things I quickly learned about 4WD jumps is how the momentum from the tires transfers to the chassis during a jump. If Matt accelerated, the chassis pitched up, and if he hit the brake, it pitched down. It's a delicate balancing act that requires split-second timing, a steady hand, and nerves of steel. Too much drag brake, and the nose pitches down. If he got off the throttle too soon, the same thing happened. It's a lot to remember, and when you're capturing all of this at 120 kilometres per hour, there's little room for error1.
There were a few moments when I thought we had bitten off more than we could chew. But there was no turning back. We had a show to create and a camera that was rolling. Plus, the thrill of the ride was too intoxicating to resist.
But the day wasn’t all about breakneck speed and death-defying jumps. Once the dust had settled from our high-speed escapades, we decided to unwind with some pizza-making back at base camp. The crew and I had a laugh trying to figure out the perfect cheese-to-topping ratio and debating the age-old question: does pineapple belong on pizza? (For the record, my vote is a resounding yes).
As the sun set on Loveday 4WD Park, we reflected on a day filled with thrills, spills, and laughter. And as I packed up my camera gear, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation for our next Outback Escape adventure. It's sure to be a wild ride if it's anything like this one.
Until next time, mates, keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up!