Challenge Event - Sunday 4th October 2009

[Trugga]

Challenge Event - Sunday 4th October 2009

Organised by Shropshire Off Road Club, this event can be attempted by single winch equipped vehicles or a team of two non-winch equipped vehicles. The idea it to get your vehicle to an orienteering type punch to prove you have been there. There will be about 20 or so punches to find.

This is the type of event that my Sport was origonally built for, and although I was origonally going to pop along and watch (take photos & video), having spoken with the organisers, I quite fancy having a go myself.

I have asked one FOG members to accompany me as a "winch bitch", but am waiting for confirmation that they are available. If they are not, then I would welcome another volunteer (form an ordery queue please)

Spectators are permitted, although you'll have to park where indicated and walk down to the competition arena.

Lawrence

[big red fronty]

wheres it at mate?

[damrabbit]

Hucknells Farm approched via a private lane down the side of shrewsbury rugby club on the B5062.

Ain't got a clue where that is??

Was thinking of going for a looksy myself anyhoo so will probably see you there

[Road Hog]

[Sir-Doris]

A nice lady wench???

[Trugga]

The venue is here

Oh, and "winch bitch" (swear filter) could also read "winch biatch"

Lawrence

[Sir-Doris]

[big red fronty]

will pop along sunday for a look. what time does it kick off?

[Sir-Doris]

Ooh... tough cookie, watching Trugga go round some flags or watch Frontydan sweating and covered in oil while changing his engine???

How come all the interesting things seem to happen on the same day?

[damrabbit]

[Trugga]

It was suggested to me to be on site for 09:00, then after signing on and a briefing we'll be let loose on the challenge for 10:00.

My first choice of navigator is unfortunately not available, so is there a volunteer to act as a winch monkey ?

Lawrence

[damrabbit]

Went to have a looksy arrived a bit late which was a godsend as big red fronty got dragged in to be truggas winch b1tch

Trugga did very well and certainly raised a few eyebrows amongst the green oval brigade

took a few pics here they are




not only does drift crap in the woods but trugga gets stuck there as well


with the winch b1tch










trugga stuck




now you can see why he was stuck


winch b1tch doing his tasks


then i went to play down a nice lane on the way home

[big red fronty]

i still reckon you were hiding behind a tree waiting for me to get there first .
had a good day though and am doing this event again in "nancy" the end of november with mega-fronty. might get a few more punches
thanks trugga for a good day
also big thanks to si (mega-fronty) for his help, even though he was on crutches.

[Trugga]

Absolutely fantastic - harder work than I expected though.

Having arrived, I was the only Frontera there, and with SORC keen to let me have a play, set me up with a shared winchman Jeff - then the SORC guys spotted another Frontera arrive and duly persuaded Neil to sign on. It appears that Neil knows a few of the SORC guys and was even asked to "keep an eye on things" as we trundled through the woods.

After a brief briefing, we trundled in convoy into the woods. With the left and straight on routes chocka with 4x4's we headed to the right. Having watched a Jeep get a couple of punches, we followed suit - Neil was out of the Sport and on foot, indicating which way I should point my tires - two punches later we're out of the dip and up onto the perimeter tracks.

Neil wanders off into the distance looking for hazard tape tied to the trees that indicate where the punches are. There a 4 grades of punches, ranging from 10 points each, 50, 200 and 400 - Neil had found a 400: we had to drive through this to get to it though:



6" of water with 18" or more of soft. smelly mud - I got stuck of course, but Neil soon had a tree stropped and we winched towards the punch to gain our 400 points.

For me, it all now goes a bit hazy - I know we spent an awful long time in a 30 foot long bog, but managed to get another 400 and a 200 punch for our trouble







After 3 hours playing in the woods, we (the FOGgers: Me, Neil, Si and Phil) returned to the paddock area for a social and a brew.



As Neil had only popped up for the morning - to watch, he would be now on his way as well as Si and Phil - I returned to the woods, but this time with the intention of shooting some video.

Unfortunately, a number of crews had either retired or called it a day, although there were still three vehicles punch hunting - well one was, the other two were involved in a recovery.

I submitted our score cards and awaited the tally:1350 - not a bad score and possibly 2nd at the time, although there were at least three other cards to be submitted before the 16:00 deadline.

Around 15:30 I returned to the paddock, cleaned the lights and made my way home.







A quick look over the Sport reveals the only damage to be a torn mud flap; considering the terrain and my enthusiasm that is not a bad result.

I really appreciate Neil helping out at the last minute and I definitely learnt from his experience. It was also good to catch up with Si and of course Phil who has supplied a number of photos above.

A Punch Event is hard work (I am so unfit) but was an excellent opportunity to exercise the winch and learn a number of winching techniques (including winching yourself forwards with the winch connected to the back of the Sport )

Cheers guys - a good day out.

Lawrence

[4x4 bobby]

Nice Piccies From you guys, looks like you had a great time. Did you still come in second after all cards wrere in Lawrence???

[Trugga]

I doubt it very much - there was a seriously tricked up Landrover (pictured by Phil above) and the experienced guy (Dave, lives round the corner from me) in a jeep, plus a team of two Suzukis - I'll have to wait for the results to be emailed out.

Middle of the leader board will do me fine this time.

Lawrence

[Krusher]

Well done Lawrence, Looked like some tough s**t to get through there mate. I bet your back seats need a hoover after the mud splatter with the roof down.

[bobbinsjob]

well done Lawrence and guys. Doing the fronty boys and girls proud