For 2008 we are introducing the concept of "Daily Driver Challenge" events. Daily Driver Challenge events (also referred to as DDC) are designed to get anyone interested in off roading out and about and try something different. The day is designed for vehicles that have not been modified although there is nothing to stop heavily modified vehicles from entering as long as they fulfil the DDC Rules and Regs.

The aim of the day is to have FUN, not damage anything, meet new people and enjoy yourself. Ideal as either a family outing or just come along with some mates. The day will be designed to allow you to take your vehicle to what ever limit you wish; safe in knowledge that there is help, and if needed, recovery on hand.

There will be upto 40 punches set out over a variety of different terrain and they will vary in difficulty. The most difficult requiring a winch to enable you to get to them. You should be able to expect to drive 1/2 to 3/4s of the punches. The punches will be attached to objects about the site and the punch card will be attached to your vehicle (using a cable tie). To achieve a 'punch' you must get your vehicle to the punch and mark the card with it to prove you were there. Another way of thinking about it is as a Pay and Play day with a greater purpose.

There will not be prizes for the most punches or points achieved instead we will be concentrating on presenting prizes for other categories along the lines of:

1. Most recoveries!
2. The worst stuck!
3. The most Helpful team on site.

There may be voluntary special stages at times throughout the day that would consist of special tasks that may include the likes of blindfold driving, theoretical recovery scenarios, or other similar veined stages.

There will NOT be a class system but there will be some vehicle restrictions.

These are primarily:
1. Your Vehicle must have current road tax, Insurance and an MOT.
2. Maximum Tyre size of 33" tall (255/85R16 equivalent).
3. No Simex Style tread patterns, eg FEDIMAs, INSA TURBOs etc.
4. All vehicles must have suitable front and rear recovery points.
A standard fitted towbar is adequate for a rear recovery point. Front recovery points should be a minimum of JATE rings on each chassis leg if a dedicated suitable winch point has not been fitted. Lashing eyes are NOT acceptable. All tow hitches, whether front or rear mounted, should be bolted to the vehicle (not welded) and must be fitted with spreader plates.)
5. Kinetic Energy Recovery Ropes (KERR) are NOT permitted.

In addition your vehicle must comply with the DDC rules and regulations.

The days will typically run with a vehicle check starting at 08:30, a drivers brief at 09:00 then time is yours until the end at 15:30/16:00 hours.
You should aim to bring your own lunch/thermos'/food for the day along with suitable outdoor clothing including a good set of waterproofs. A change of boots/socks and towel are advisable.

The whole day is non-competitive and all punches/sections are totally voluntary. Depending on the feedback will dictate the way forward and frequency of events. To date the first event is planned for the 29th March 08. Further events are published on my on line diary. All the events will be run in the Devon/Somerset area.

Spectators are welcome unless stated otherwise, please see the diary page for details. However we do ask that all spectators follow these guidelines.

You must pre-enter this event which you can do by emailing me on info@4x4adventures.co.uk. A days entry is £45 per vehicle. If your vehicle should fail scrutineering then your entry will NOT be refunded.

Nice idea this !


I was interested till I saw points 3 and 4. - ie I have 34 simex JT2s - max 33" and no simex ?

While not maybe for me (although it does sound fun ) it did occur to me that many potential entrants may come unstuck on this,
buying a too big a tyre / simex or both - and few people have the luxury of 2x sets of wheelas and tyres ?

Just a thought, but sounds exellent idea

Nige

Cheers for the support Nige

The thinking is sort of two fold, one being that as a daily driver challenge there arent many people that run Simex style as a general rule, the second point was that as this is geared between a challenge and fun day you have a different mix of driver and vehicle capability (ie alot of vehicles dont have winches) therefore they attempt the same punch several times with changing run up speeds etc and with simex or similar the ground takes quite a bashing - but then the other argument is that if they had simex they wouldnt need a run up!! but from my experience they will still take it! so the tyre issue is as much site preservation as anything.

Damn, my tyres are too big

This looks good.

I don't know many people who run Simex on an everyday truck, so the tyre limit and size makes sense if you are trying to attract new faces. Most people who have not done an event yet that I've seen seem to run ATs or MTs.

Richard

Hi James,

I believe Ian will be entering with either Chris or Frank Bitching for him... Which leaves me free to marshal if required- If so stick me down.

See you on Saturday in any case.

Shrek

Also will be game for a DDC,, with daughter having a go in the hot seat,, as she has the impression , that it's easy !!!

Dates dependent I may also enter on the 255's
Tim chuck the 255s n the RR job done

That's a idea,, but mean work !!
One advantage on having 2 vehicles !! Simex on the RR,, MT's on the Hybrid !!!

are you having a modified class as mentioned in the DDC regs?

If the a vehicle with diff locks as a standard fitment has it's lockers disabled throughout the event, by removing the relevant fuse for example, would it still be eligably for entry?

Sounds like my kind of challenge, something a bit more involving than a play day but as hard as you want to make it. Shame there are down in the southwest can your expand up north a bit more or would be tempted by some in the summer so i can combine it with holidays in the south west.

Fridge just use the freelander, it is a daily driver challenge after all, and you might as well explode the old engine completely!

Jon

Jon

My co-driver used to travel up from Somerset to compete in Gigglepins events in Kent. Just make a whole weekend of it and it's not to bad then

Puggy - i am lost - what modified class?

Um it was a quote in the DDC regs that you linked to above;



i wondered if this was maybe an incorrect entry and perhaps a throw back for when these rules and regs were used for another challenge?

Puggy you are correct on all accounts will get that changed.

you can bring what you like, its not a competition there wont be any classes.

thank you for the highlight.

Like the sound of this James.

Any ideas on dates?

Jos

I'm up for this, definately

Don't post the dates too soon, it will give me time to get my new truck together

Its sort of in the title and the third para from the end

but dont tell anyone else!

Glad someone else can see the date,, i was beginning to wonder then !!

Don't tell them the date, would make life easier then,, just send the entries in !!

Well by 29th March I should be sorted

James,


Wonderful idea ........... I will be up for this ..........to me it puts the fun back into it and will encourage more thought and skill into the driving to avoid damage........... I would also encourage you to add a rule that rear winches will not be used ..................thus allows the rear winch equipped vehicles to enter, but relys on their good will to play by the rules..............





Ian

Ian - cheers for the support, i was sort of hoping the guys with rear winches wouldn't bother really or certainly not plan on using them as its a DDC, i think Tony is about the only one i know with a rear winch on a DDC (plus maybe Nige cant remember if his is a DD though)

poo Another set of event's i'm not welcome at

Shame, as it sounds a good idea.

Dave you`ll be alright with the Iceland tyres

Seems to me that looking at the interest, its going to turn into a lockered & winched up challenge truck event for the big boys to let some steam off. Would love to join you but at diggeralnd for the day.

I wouldn't have said that was fair Upnover- i know there will be a fair few people there with pretty much standard trucks with just Mts stuck on- that's what mine is and i'll be making the trip i'm sure.

Mine will be pretty standard too, and probably it's first serious outing as well....

At the end of the day, there will be no winners and no losers, all about having fun!

Yep Cheers Upnover. appreciate your showing your personnal view but that line is enough to put off the exact people i am trying to encourage to come along and enjoy the sport and see what its about.

At the moment its only Bowie, Puggy, TJ, Jos and BBC looking at coming anyway from this thread, 1 of which is a regular Challenge competitor and three of which have never done a winch challenge as far as i am aware - so yep looks TJ is the one letting off the steam - on No hes not even driving hes just in a challenge prepared truck.

What an excellent idea for an event, this would be perfect for me, unfortunately it's too far to drive from Perthshire!

Hope it's a great success.


Phil.

Think upnover4x4 has some duff info ,,No "lockered & winched up challenge truck" owner has showed interest as far as i know,,

No steam to let off, and will not be in the Rangie, just the hybrid,

Sorry buddy but you appear to have missed the point completely and worse still in a few unthinking words could quite easily put off exactly the people that this event is being put on for. The lockered & winched up challenge truck big boys have plenty of other events specifically aimed at them... This event is not one of them!

If you take the time to read all the info about the event on James' website then you would see that the rules etc have been careful to ensure that the vehicles being used are far closer to standard than the majority of challenge events- it doesn't really matter what you turn up in (as long as it fits the rules ) as there are no winners and no losers. As has been said TJ101 is the only regular challenge competitor that has shown interest in entering- even then he is not driving and not using his challenge truck...

TBH the most likely reason for any of the 'lockered & winched up challenge truck big boys' to attend would be to offer advice and support to those who are entered on the day...

Just my 2P...

Shrek

And that was hugely appreciated at the January DRD I attended, if the atmosphere is anything like it was then, this will be an excellent event, more than suited for relatively standard trucks.

I don't know about that statement ....................... remember those are a bunch of misty eyed rednecks ..............


I guess in retrospect those that entered would be better off listening to the people like you who care about panel damage and have to put a lot more thought into the punch approach and retreat process.................

My 2p





Ian

I am very much interested in this, I will have to get some rear JATE rings but otherwise I'm set.
I don't see any mention of mandatory MTs? I bought a set of MTs today just so I could start doing exactly this... but guess what, they're Insa Turbo Special Tracks.
If you accept the ATs I'll be on the Lassas, which may be pants if it gets too tricky.

3.5 - ATs or MT no problem just nothing more aggressive than MTs so Insas are out i am afraid. if you drop me an email i can send you an entry form.

Hi James

Can you please add me to you list and e-mail entry form.

I'll be entering in my tricked up Extreme challenge truck of a TD5 90 Hardtop with open axles, massive 255/85 16 BFG MT's and an uber 1/2 twin motor EP9 up front

Cheers

Steve

See. I told yer so .................bloody misty eyed rednecks........................... .....Hello Steve


Ian

Count me in. Can you send a form please
Cheers
Ben

Ah the truck breathes again then ben!! Winch fitted yet??

Shrek

Steve, Ben , 3.5 email sent to all with forms. Shrek you should aready have one - anyone i have missed.

Just as an aside i need 12 vehicles to be registered in order to run this event so if you know anyone thinking about it then please help them decide!

Those that have volunteered to help Marshall - thank you, i will be in contact once event interest is confirmed.

Sorry that you all felt that I was trying to discourage people from the event!!! Have been to a few similar kind of events & always seems that the better prepared trucks seem to get a little competitive. I personally would love to join you as these kind of days are ideal for the likes of myself coming along & improving my driving skills & possibly getting some practice & experience watching how other people tackle situations.
So if I have offended anyone with my comment, I apologise for this but it was not posted in malice to anybody.
Adrian

well come along then, you'll be more than welcome, and if anything else you can laugh at me getting stuck in my lardcruiser.

I would be very very surprised if these events were anything more than friendly ways to get some more experience and see how good a standard truck is.

It's always nice to see a new face too!

James,
Should be okay to marshall/TTP

why don't you come and play Dave?

I was going to say than,,

Because we don't want him stuck all day long on the 1st punch ..........................so its best to stuff him in a yellow jacket and send him around to annoy people



Ian

Nah that'll be me

James, could you mail me an app form please? I won't send it until a later date of that's OK, as I want to make sure I am going to be prepped properly for it

So atm, I am a very light grey pencil mark

Good man Adrian- sorry for being somewhat blunt in my response but it really does not take much to put people off having a go... the whole day is about building peoples confidence and having fun doing what we all enjoy. You coming then or what??? Always good to have new faces around!

Shrek

Unfortunately NO!!! Got a previous commitment at diggerland. Missus & sons b'day. Look fwd to the next event tho.
Hope to see you all there

right drop the kids at diggerland and come to the event- it's all of 10 minutes away at the max!