With other forms of racing such as stock cars and rallying requiring you to cash in that lottery win or re-mortgage your house before you even get your pinkies close to an accelerator 4x4'ing is one of the last remaining motor sports that really allows the little guy to "have a play", whilst still accommodating those who have competitiveness coursing through their veins.
In this sport the dilapidated old Land Rover is no longer laughed off Worcester High Street but can reign supreme; King of the Hill(s) if you like.
Now for some facts; a trials competition offers the discerning driver a way to hone his precision steering and driving accuracy through a course of intricate twists and turns. These classes range from the standard production class for novices wishes to keep their pride and joys in pristine condition to the cunningly named RTV class for road taxed vehicles. This is where a few modifications creep in; roll cages, aggressive tyres (knobbly to you and me!). And finally, the CCV class, in layman's terms they modify it to high heaven then bash the living daylights out of it!
Trials are a skilful and precise art but if you're anything like me you're just not having fun unless you feel that trickle of nervous sweat slide down your back. If this is the case safari comps are for you. A previous driver in this event has articulated it far more accurately than I ever could. He said it is
“A bunch of mindless idiots, racing round dangerous unstable terrain at highly ridiculous speeds, just to see who can write off their motor the quickest”
There are hills, ditches, banks, water and if you're really lucky you will be treated to what can only be described as a 3ft deep bog. However, most importantly, there is that little thing we call speed and lots of it. Granted in this event you would expect the engines to be gold plated the money that has been put into some of them but like all good gritty sports the underdog can often prevail. On days when the rain is lashing down and you can barely see for the tides of mud, a tired old Land Rover can break out of its cow-muck encrusted alter ego and keep getting lap after lap under its belt when its souped-up distantly related 2nd cousin, twice removed, sits on the sidelines with a broken prop shaft and a steaming engine.
If your not entirely sure you or your vehicle are ready for your racing stripes just yet, the sport offers various fun days, over similar courses, where you can simply can stuck in and have a bash (or hopefully not?!) at your own speed and to your own ability. And trust me "fun" is exactly what they are.
