4x4 Mag - Fearture Article

Feature Article - a "Taste" of Things to Come

Go Off Road ? The choice is yours !

One of the great things about an off-road vehicle is the wide variety of uses to which it can be put. Construction men tow trailers, family people tow boats and/or caravans, and many do both and play off-road. The opportunities for driving off-road are in some ways greater today than ever. You can opt for Competitive Driving with Club events comprising of TRIALS and SAFARI driving, or non-competitive events such as OFF ROAD OPEN DAYS, and of course the hardy perennial "GREEN LANING".It's this latter form of recreational four wheel driving which has perhaps come under the most criticism. However, we must point out that many of the lanes which we could drive ten years ago are now closed, and that is a great shame to those who use their 4x4 to access large areas of countryside for the wildlife and landscapes that can be viewed. We are akin to the walker in wishing to enjoy the countryside, it's just that we travel further during the course of a day ! Anyway, we're not talking about "green-lanes" today, that debate will come later.

This article is about enjoying driving off road, and appreciating that whatever kind of 4x4 you have and whatever level of experience you have gained there is something, somewhere for you.

The obvious first point of call for a total novice is the Off Road Driving Centre, coupled with the local Off Road Club. Both can be a source of information, support and most importantly should give you sensible direction. The Off Road Driving Centre should enable you to try your skills in the Centre's vehicles and a good Off Road Club should give you opportunities to develop them.

Watching others is a great occupation, very enjoyable and one can learn alot from time taken spectating and talking to those who are "in the know". Then what ? I don't want to TRIAL !
Well the Off Road Club may have a "green-lane" day in their calendar. This can be a good chance to show the rest of the family that driving off-road can involve them too, it should also be a more "gentle" introduction for the novice. "Green-lane" outings take on a number of guises and Club outings are generally lead by sensible people who respect the countryside and can advise whether your 4x4 is suitable for the terrain choosen for the route.

If you join a single marque club there will probably be informal "pub" meets too, and often organised outings to Car Shows, and competitive events such as a Hillrally or a stage of the British Off Road Championship. That's an opportunity to meet up with other like-minded owners and share technical tips, often gain discounts for parts and generally talk 4x4 with other people who are enthusiastic about your kind of vehicle. JEEP jpg

Over most recent years the OFF ROAD OPEN DAY has grown in popularity, and so to have the number of locations and organisations which offer this kind of activity. Many Club minded people snort at these events as endangering "Club Sites". Are they erroneous in the belief that huge hire fees are involved and reckless management can jeopardise sites ? Yes, over use can be a serious problem, and the most interested and responsible organisers generally seek out and utilise new venues, often then followed to that venue by the "responsible" Off Road Club who can in turn over use the site ! Huge hire Fees ? Well, who knows, gone are the days when a Club could pay a landowner with a bottle of Scotch and a Box of Chocolates.

Looking about you should be able to find an OPEN DAY somewhere near you perhaps once a month, and generally all vehicles are welcome and encouraged to attend. Once again you'll meet an enthusiastic and helpful gang of people driving all kinds of 4x4 from all walks of life. Many of the keen TRIAL entrants attend these OPEN DAYS to hone their skills and "show off" infront of an admiring audience. Others are finalising modifications to their vehicles and don't want to break down after the first section of a TRIAL and thereby waste their off-road day. These folk know that without a competition there isn't the pressure, just an occasion to play, watch and enjoy. Generally a good informal atmosphere is present and of course, you don't have to arrive by 9am for scrutineering.

You can get just as muddy though with the knowledge that there should be someone on site to get you out at the end. Always a good idea to go first and watch, park up and spectate. That gives you a chance to decide what you want to do. If you're pressed by the Organisers into playing best keep away, there's plenty of choice out there.

Well, that's a brief round-up of off-roading. We'll be developing these thoughts in future issues bringing you reports and features on all aspects of off-road driving. We'll be writing from all view points, always enthusiastic and always as positive as possible. If there's a particular area of off-roading which you are interested in and wish that to be featured contact us on the LETTERS page.