Rick Tarr

erm - wheels are turning and we have a supplier now we think. They WILL be worth waiting for

For this one event, as this is an event for novices we will waive the requirement for membership, so anyone who has not tried a challenge before will only be charged £30 pre-entry fee. Obviously, you won't get the free t-shirt etc and for future events you will either need to join or pay the £10 day membership. Regards Rick

Done it! The CSW website now takes PayPal, and there is a serious discount for members pre-entering the next event. Rick

Hi everyone Following a meeting last week, I've been working really hard at updating the CSW website and now it will accept PayPal for all entries and subscriptions. We've decided to give a £10 discount to members pre-entering and paying prior to the event. So for the night challenge coming up the fee for non-members is £55, for members £45 and for entering early the fee is only £35!! This means (as I'm sure you can work out for yourselves) that the discount on one event almost pays for a years membership - and there's a free T-shirt to be had as well... Who says the age of bargains is dead? All the best Rick

Hello chaps Following a meeting last night the Night Challenge date has been finally set for the evening of Saturday 2nd February 2008, finishing (obviously) Sunday 3rd. The venue will be Huntsham and it is being set up by Mark Arthurs and Chris Bolt. More details will be available on the website in the next few days. Can I have an idea of numbers wanting to come please? We are also investigating the possibility of setting up the ability to receive payments of subscriptions and entry fees on-line via Paypal. When it's available the website will be re-vamped. Lots of other stuff happening - looks like the Club will be going places!! Regards Rick

Erm - we're still trying to organise the night event and hope it will go ahead as planned. Sorry for the delay but I'm hopeful that all will be well. See the CSW website and go to the forum for some of the comments from concerned members. Regards Rick

Sorry, still need to be patient...don't forget I'm only a backroom bod and I just hope that someone is getting it all sorted

All I can tell you is that we've paid the insurance for next year, and we wouldn't do that if there was going to be a year off now would we?? The events are still in the process of being organised I think - any news will come asap...

Good idea - I'll pass it on... Rick

Not yet Jase - we need to do a lot more work yet before we'll have these. Rest assured that as soon as I know more I'll post it to the forum and the website etc etc Regards Rick

Hi Guys/Gals Here are the (very provisional) dates for next year. Can you have a look at them and let me know if there are any errors/omissions/conflicts? 26/27 Jan 08 Night challenge (night of 26th) 9 Mar 08 One day challenge 13 Apr 08 One day challenge 10/11 May 08 Two day challenge 6 Jul 08 One day challenge 21 Sep 08 One day challenge 19 Oct 08 One day challenge 23 Nov 08 One day challenge Regards Rick

I think that most of the discussion happened before you went - we didn't talk about you (much) after you went Anyway, it was great to have the helpful input from your goodselves and as I say with any luck we'll get it all together for next year. Nigel, me and Chris are hoping to get a calendar planned soon. Rick

erm - no decisions last night but I do know there are no more events set up for Nov. There may be a Mission Impossible at the end of December but due to its nature the numbers will be very very limited. So it's on to the New Year and we hope to have a variety of challenges - not just the 'new' format but also the old depending on the best use of the site. Last night was full of interesting discussion and feedback, and I do think that we have a lot of people down here with some good ideas. I'm hopeful that next year looks bright (I've re-organised the insurance anyway). We've had a year 'off' from membership charges, but the kitty is now empty so next year we are going back to club subscriptions. They won't be high but will give members sufficient event discounts so that competing in two events will pay for the membership. Membership also makes people feel a part of the club. Sound good? Rick

So it's as I thought - it's me going mad

James I just had a look at your website (4x4 Adventures - right?). I see that all your winch/punch events are on Saturdays next year. Did you mean this or is my machine (or me) going mad?

Hi James Can you email your list to me (rick@challengesouthwest.co.uk) or bring it with you for the pub meeting so we can make sure there are no clashes. Great stuff... Best regards Rick

Jase - I do appreciate that your ole motors are far too extreme (or broken) to manage motorways - much better in the mud stuff . The Ireland trip looked brilliant - not worth missing Ruggaton for - but good nonetheless. Got any suggestions for next year as to the format you might like (for example - just a couple of 2-dayers or an event every month?) Hope to see you down here sometime regards Rick

Yep - have to agree with your comment about your ground anchor. I think the farmer was hoping you would sell it to him as it did such a good job of ploughing up the fields. It must have been well irritating for you as it just didn't seem to be able to dig into the ground... Just goes to show that you almost need a half dozen different ground anchoring methods. I think you need a good mate with a tractor to attach to. I was well impressed watching the tractor grab being used to winch off last Sunday Best regards Rick

All photos gratefully received - loads o' brownie points to those who help out here!! When you say 'nicked' that's OK. Regards Rick

Hiya James just sent me some photos of the event at Ruggaton so I've put them up on the CSW Gallery. Website address is www.challengesouthwest.co.uk and click the gallery button. Thanks James - any more photos out there?? Regards Rick

Hello everybody As promised, just to let you know there will be a meeting of Challenge South West at The George, South Molton (tel 01769 572514) on Tuesday 13th November 2007 starting at 7.30pm. We will be discussing next years calendar (dates and format), insurance, and how the Club is to continue. Any suggestions gratefully received - clean ones please Best regards Rick

Yep - I think we have to thank Chris for his fab efforts and artwork preparing all the tulip diagrams, and Nigel for being the bloke to bring it all together. The event took a while to set up and the idea was to introduce a new concept in off-road challenge. On the day it was very apparent that everybody was out there hunting punches as always and it took a while for them to realise that it wasn't the punch reward being hunted but the challenge of beating the terrain in the most efficient manner possible. As organisers we thought the route was easy-peasy. But were very surprised how much time it took to scamper around the course we had set, and I think the competitors were surprised how hard it could be to drive through a level (ish) slurry pit. Ruggerton as a site has been used a fair bit in the past and in all honesty it was getting difficult to think of anywhere to go which didn't just repeat old challenges. This new interpretation has given the sport another facet which means that an old and well-used site can throw up loads of new and different challenges. We'd have liked more people to come and try the new concept but those that did seemed to enjoy it (flying branches and all ) We'll be having a club meeting to which all are welcome in a couple of weeks to discuss next year's calendar. Watch this space for further details... Best regards Rick

A popular hardworking chap like you should have no trouble...hope to see you Sunday. Don't forget to ring Nigel to book a place

Hello everybody I know you are all wondering how on earth this Sunday's event is likely to be different from the usual round of chasing punches hidden in the undergrowth. This is the final event on our present calendar, and we've been trying to work out ways of re-energising the excitement of a new off-road challenge. We have spent some time setting up this event to be 'different' to the usual run of the mill event. It's difficult to put a name to the new event layout - the closest we can come is a navigational safari. (Don't worry this doesn't mean a comp safari with people flying around at 100mph+ looking for punches.) Basically, you will be following a route using tulip diagrams and going to certain destinations which may have winch sections, ditches etc, all with varying degrees of punches (these are to prove you've been there). There will be high scoring punches for modified vehicles, but remembering that the entire event is a limited duration one, these punches may or may not be worth wasting time on. All in all, it looks to be a good and different event with the opportunity to drive a lot, both fast and slow, and prove your own versatility!! If You have not entered then ring Nigel now on 07971 480752 to let him know you are coming as the paperwork for the event needs to be sorted. Places will be limited so call now! Best regards Rick

Week Farm is near Torrington, and was the attempt to put together a different type of challenge combining various elements of navigation, challenge and safari. Unfortunately it wasn't well attended but the response was positive enough to make us try again. Ruggerton is near Combe Martin, which is in turn near Ilfracombe. Hope that's all sorted now...