Header Image: Provided by Matt from his Facebook profile.
An interview with Matthew Gillan (aka: Mad Matt)
Around our great Country there are thousands upon thousands of 4WD enthusiasts and some of them become quite well known. Pretty much all of those that end up in the public eye have some sort of presence on social media and websites. This is the first of what I hope will be many interviews with well known four wheel driving identities.
It is my great pleasure to introduce Mathew Gillan, also known as Mad Matt. Firstly, I would like to thank Matt for being kind enough to take the time to do this interview and share a bit of himself with our members and also, anyone else that happens across this website. Matt is a Sydney based 4WD enthusiast that Runs his own Facebook page, website and youtube channel. Links to these will be shared below.
So let's ask Mat a few questions...
Bearing in mind that our members can read about this is more detail on your website, can you please tell us a bit about yourself and briefly outline your 4WD'ing background?
Thank you for allowing me to share with your community. I grew up in Papua New Guinea where I started driving at around 10 years old. I always loved driving. Being a 3rd world country there was also lots of mud so 4wding was a part of life. When I moved back to Oz in 1988 and started my apprenticeship as a mechanic I made my cars go faster and soon realised that I would kill myself if I kept it up. That’s when a neighbour took me wheeling and the rest as they say is history. I bought my 1st 4wd (1982 Jackaroo)around 1990 and fell in love with the lifestyle of wheeling camping and hanging out with mates in the bush.
At what point in your 4WD life did you decide that you needed an online presence and why?
With the advent of social media I became increasingly frustrated with the number of people who were sharing dangerous and irresponsible 4wd practices due to ignorance. As they say all the gear and no idea. It's my firm belief that the vast majority of people want to do the right thing but need to be educated in a way that is receivable. Over lunch one day with some friends who make videos we were talking about this and I said do you think we could make some fun YouTube videos to teach people some of the things I've learnt over the years. So we did and unbeknown to me they now tell me I was a natural presenter. That was 2 years ago and we're now in the process of building a business that can allow us to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
We each purchase a 4WD that suits our individual needs or purposes. Please tell us what you drive and why you chose that particular make and model.
I have always had a soft spot for the Toyotas and I'm onto my second 80 series Landcruiser. Petrol auto this time. 3" lift, rear diff lock, Full bar work, Winch is in the shed to be fitted. Set up to wheel hard play tracks and tour. One day I'll have a tourer a rock crawler and a race car but till then!!!! I do also have my favourite 4wd a Toyota Bundera as a project.
What is your favourite type of 4wd'ing? i.e.; scenic, technical, extreme etc.
I love it all, but if you had to pin me down, hard technical driving is my favourite. I love big angles :) I'm about to go offroad racing with Broken Bits Racing in the Ultra 4 and Aust 4 racing series. This is a combination of high speed and rock crawling.
This vast Country of ours has so much to offer. Of the various places you have travelled throughout Australia, is there one that stands out, one that you would put above all others and call your favourite? If yes, which is it and why did you choose it?
I've done most of the east coast from Melbourne to the Cape a few times so can't draw on the rest of OZ but as a family we go to Rainbow beach below Fraser Island most Christmas'. I love that I can 4wd on the beaches and watch other 4wds do silly things like drive through the sea. My boys can surf and swim and in the evenings when everyone has gone home we often head to the last beach east on Double Island point and have a BBQ while the sun goes down over the coloured sands. Mate at that point I'm done. Soooo good.
I think we all have similar views on this but, what are your thoughts on track closures?
I've always said that management is better than open slather or "no go" at all. So I'd like to see things like keyed access to clubs or pay as you go types of ideas explored. I'm very excited to be working with the NSW and ACT 4wd association who are doing some incredible work in NSW to get access to areas that have been closed off.
If you were to offer advice to people who had just purchased their first 4WD and wanted to get off road, what words of wisdom would you offer?
JOIN A 4WD CLUB that is affiliated with the 4wd Association in your state. A 4wd club is an accountable organisation that has access to proper training and experienced members who become your friends. If your not going to join a club which I know not every one does, find someone who is experienced and has a certificate 3 in 4wding to take you out a few times or better still do a few 4wd training courses. The more you wheel the better you get :)
What recovery gear do you generally carry with your on an off road outing?
Snatch strap, a number of rated Bow shackles, Winch extension strap, Tree Truck protector, Rated drag chain, Shovel, Winch when it's back on the truck. Oh and a Mate with a 4wd to hook onto the end of my snatch strap :)
What is your favourite local off road destination and why?
Wheeny Creek check out the video on my YouTube channel. Nice technical rocks with lots of different lines to play on. Yum Yum, it's kind of like eating chocolate you can't stop at the first bite.
What is your favourite off road holiday destination and why?
Rainbow Beach, as mentioned above.
Do you have any big trips planned in the future and where would it be?
I'd like to do the Simpson soon only to say I've done it as I doubt it's much of a 4wd challenge. Anyone want to sponsor me to film it? My bucket list is to go wheeling on the iconic 4wd trails of the world. Like Moab desert, Borneo, Alaska or Russia. I've done some of Africa already and not to keen to go back there. They wanted to shoot at me.
What's the trickiest recovery situation you've even been in or been involved with?
15 years ago I owned a Mitsubishi Canter 4wd which is a truck and going across a paddock I found some of that crust mud where it looks like solid ground but underneath it's mud soup. It took us 8 hours 100Meters of cable and a very big tractor to pull me out. Another time in this truck I was in the High Country with a camper on the back pulling up a big climb from a creek crossing.
I was in second low going well but came to a particularly steep section and the motor stalled. The whole rig started going backwards and it took all my force on the brake peddle to get the wet drum breaks to stop the truck just before it jack-knifed the camper. Then I had to do a hill start from there which I did manage but I was sweating by the end of it all. Real close call that one. Watch my video on how to do a hill start recovery if you'd like to know more.
Any final words Matt?
Thanks for your time I hope this has helped you in some way. Please support me by following me on FaceBook and checking out the website madmatt4wd.com.au. Soon we will be releasing a range of MadMatt product. Your support will help us to continue providing education to the 4wd community.
I'm MadMatt stay safe on the trails.
Find Matt on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madmatt4wd/timeline
Find Matt on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MadMatt4WD
Matt's website: http://madmatt4wd.com.au/
It is my great pleasure to introduce Mathew Gillan, also known as Mad Matt. Firstly, I would like to thank Matt for being kind enough to take the time to do this interview and share a bit of himself with our members and also, anyone else that happens across this website. Matt is a Sydney based 4WD enthusiast that Runs his own Facebook page, website and youtube channel. Links to these will be shared below.
So let's ask Mat a few questions...
Bearing in mind that our members can read about this is more detail on your website, can you please tell us a bit about yourself and briefly outline your 4WD'ing background?
Thank you for allowing me to share with your community. I grew up in Papua New Guinea where I started driving at around 10 years old. I always loved driving. Being a 3rd world country there was also lots of mud so 4wding was a part of life. When I moved back to Oz in 1988 and started my apprenticeship as a mechanic I made my cars go faster and soon realised that I would kill myself if I kept it up. That’s when a neighbour took me wheeling and the rest as they say is history. I bought my 1st 4wd (1982 Jackaroo)around 1990 and fell in love with the lifestyle of wheeling camping and hanging out with mates in the bush.
At what point in your 4WD life did you decide that you needed an online presence and why?
With the advent of social media I became increasingly frustrated with the number of people who were sharing dangerous and irresponsible 4wd practices due to ignorance. As they say all the gear and no idea. It's my firm belief that the vast majority of people want to do the right thing but need to be educated in a way that is receivable. Over lunch one day with some friends who make videos we were talking about this and I said do you think we could make some fun YouTube videos to teach people some of the things I've learnt over the years. So we did and unbeknown to me they now tell me I was a natural presenter. That was 2 years ago and we're now in the process of building a business that can allow us to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
We each purchase a 4WD that suits our individual needs or purposes. Please tell us what you drive and why you chose that particular make and model.
I have always had a soft spot for the Toyotas and I'm onto my second 80 series Landcruiser. Petrol auto this time. 3" lift, rear diff lock, Full bar work, Winch is in the shed to be fitted. Set up to wheel hard play tracks and tour. One day I'll have a tourer a rock crawler and a race car but till then!!!! I do also have my favourite 4wd a Toyota Bundera as a project.
What is your favourite type of 4wd'ing? i.e.; scenic, technical, extreme etc.
I love it all, but if you had to pin me down, hard technical driving is my favourite. I love big angles :) I'm about to go offroad racing with Broken Bits Racing in the Ultra 4 and Aust 4 racing series. This is a combination of high speed and rock crawling.
This vast Country of ours has so much to offer. Of the various places you have travelled throughout Australia, is there one that stands out, one that you would put above all others and call your favourite? If yes, which is it and why did you choose it?
I've done most of the east coast from Melbourne to the Cape a few times so can't draw on the rest of OZ but as a family we go to Rainbow beach below Fraser Island most Christmas'. I love that I can 4wd on the beaches and watch other 4wds do silly things like drive through the sea. My boys can surf and swim and in the evenings when everyone has gone home we often head to the last beach east on Double Island point and have a BBQ while the sun goes down over the coloured sands. Mate at that point I'm done. Soooo good.
I think we all have similar views on this but, what are your thoughts on track closures?
I've always said that management is better than open slather or "no go" at all. So I'd like to see things like keyed access to clubs or pay as you go types of ideas explored. I'm very excited to be working with the NSW and ACT 4wd association who are doing some incredible work in NSW to get access to areas that have been closed off.
If you were to offer advice to people who had just purchased their first 4WD and wanted to get off road, what words of wisdom would you offer?
JOIN A 4WD CLUB that is affiliated with the 4wd Association in your state. A 4wd club is an accountable organisation that has access to proper training and experienced members who become your friends. If your not going to join a club which I know not every one does, find someone who is experienced and has a certificate 3 in 4wding to take you out a few times or better still do a few 4wd training courses. The more you wheel the better you get :)
What recovery gear do you generally carry with your on an off road outing?
Snatch strap, a number of rated Bow shackles, Winch extension strap, Tree Truck protector, Rated drag chain, Shovel, Winch when it's back on the truck. Oh and a Mate with a 4wd to hook onto the end of my snatch strap :)
What is your favourite local off road destination and why?
Wheeny Creek check out the video on my YouTube channel. Nice technical rocks with lots of different lines to play on. Yum Yum, it's kind of like eating chocolate you can't stop at the first bite.
What is your favourite off road holiday destination and why?
Rainbow Beach, as mentioned above.
Do you have any big trips planned in the future and where would it be?
I'd like to do the Simpson soon only to say I've done it as I doubt it's much of a 4wd challenge. Anyone want to sponsor me to film it? My bucket list is to go wheeling on the iconic 4wd trails of the world. Like Moab desert, Borneo, Alaska or Russia. I've done some of Africa already and not to keen to go back there. They wanted to shoot at me.
What's the trickiest recovery situation you've even been in or been involved with?
15 years ago I owned a Mitsubishi Canter 4wd which is a truck and going across a paddock I found some of that crust mud where it looks like solid ground but underneath it's mud soup. It took us 8 hours 100Meters of cable and a very big tractor to pull me out. Another time in this truck I was in the High Country with a camper on the back pulling up a big climb from a creek crossing.
I was in second low going well but came to a particularly steep section and the motor stalled. The whole rig started going backwards and it took all my force on the brake peddle to get the wet drum breaks to stop the truck just before it jack-knifed the camper. Then I had to do a hill start from there which I did manage but I was sweating by the end of it all. Real close call that one. Watch my video on how to do a hill start recovery if you'd like to know more.
Any final words Matt?
Thanks for your time I hope this has helped you in some way. Please support me by following me on FaceBook and checking out the website madmatt4wd.com.au. Soon we will be releasing a range of MadMatt product. Your support will help us to continue providing education to the 4wd community.
I'm MadMatt stay safe on the trails.
Find Matt on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madmatt4wd/timeline
Find Matt on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MadMatt4WD
Matt's website: http://madmatt4wd.com.au/
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All content on this site is © Copyright and may not be downloaded, saved or used in any way without permission.
If I do not own the image, I will put you in contact with the person that does. Please use the form on the contact page.