This may be a minor rant,
Class systems - I was all for this intially. But I then stopped to think for 5 minutes- I want to win and not just the standard class, the whole event thank you. Therefore what ever the class system, it is irrelavent, as at the end of the day I need to beat everyone, portals, fancy winches or not (I don't have any) if I want to make my 'dream' come true.
At the end of the day all these mods suit some events better than others. Get a massive portal axled machine - your stuck in narrow bits and will sink like a stone in a soft bog. Tired of elctric winches, fit a PTO one their great - until you are at an event with no trees (you can't drive assist with out diggin massive holes - ground anchours come out of the ground like tent pegs). At the end of the day use your head and build/buy what ever you want.
However at the end of the event how much difference does it make??? When I think back to events that I did well in and those that I did not, fancy adds on did not make or break it. It was tactic's, teamwork, reliabilty and being fit enough to work efficently non stop all day, or the lack off one or more of these that made the differance.
Tough Trucks 04 - 4th - In a good team, didn't break anything significant and worked dam hard all week end and used our heads on the special stages. Well chuffed.
Bulldog 04 - did the wrong special stage, f**ked it up and spent ages in a bog. Not enough time left to get enough punches etc. Probably about last, didn't check.
Bulldog 05 - Now got fancy simex, ARB's, fancy 1/2 shaft's, 2 winches. Do any better? No, the A frame ripped of the back axle on day two. End of event. I would have been better off spending my money on rebuilding the shed of a 90 rather than spending ££££ on fancy bits as I did better with one winch, 7.50x16's, britpart 1/2 shafts and no diff locks. At least then I wouldn't have had to hold the fuses in the fuse box to get the wipers to work!
The outcome:
1/. Fat (who ate all the pies) navigator sacked and replaced with slimer, fitter, brighter one.
2/. Brighter navigotor about to under go training, i.e. don't ask how you put in a way point on the GPS when I'm driving.
3/. Version 5 of our ground anchor built to get around PTO winch issue.
4/. Working on tactic's for punch hunts.
5/. The rolling restoration continues.......
At the end of the day you can spend loads of cash on add ons/toys/fancy motors, etc. I think the biggest difference on UK terrain is the people in the cab.
Are those who moan about not being able to compete the ones who need to get in the gym???
After all Schumacher does not win F1 races because he has the fastest car, he wins because he is metalaly and physically able to drive right on the ragged edge.
So built what ever you want and I will enjoy challenging myself to see if I can beat you!
Rant over,
Adrian
