Friday 1st May 2015

Defender Challenge: PH Blog

Having driven the Defender Challenge, PH is now having a go competitively - Dan's off to Wales!

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What have you got planned for the bank holiday weekend? I'm going to be doing this. Having never driven a stage rally or competitively off-road before in my life.

Wet Bank Holiday in Wales looks better now

At which point you'll be thinking "all well and good but who's the poor sod sitting next to you?" As am I. He's apparently a chap called Quinn Evans and I'm told he's competed several times in the Dakar, is a driver and coach himself and has worked with Race2Recovery. He may well be about to face his toughest challenge yet as I try and mentally prepare myself for 130 stage miles in a Bowler-prepared Defender Challenge with zero experience. I hope Land Rover is paying him well!

S'alright though, I've been reading Sean Carson's PH drive story in the car and some of the comments from PHers with more off-road experience than I. "Having driven army Defenders off-road in anger you really, really have to be fast with the steering wheel," says dukebox9reg. "Rallying one there are bound to be a few bruised elbows!" That would tally with my limited time in Landies, sharp metal bits never far from soft fleshy bits and interaction between the two frequent. And painful.

And the weekend's accommodation

Then there's some scary sounding advice on how to drive the things. "There's one thing you need to learn very early when off-roading, and that is the tyres only clear themselves of mud when they're spinning fast - you get to some muddy braking zones and the tyres fill up and you may as well be on slicks," advises PhillipM, somewhat ominously. "You'll find you have to actually blip the throttle in the middle of braking to spin the mud clear of the tread and regain some grip. It scares the hell out of the circuit boys the first time they go around and realise you can't always brake as hard as you can accelerate!"

Just how much damage can be done in a 170hp, Transit-engined Defender though? It's hardly a Group B monster is it? Going by the videos they don't hang about though. And things look rather ... bouncy. Fun though. And for once the promise of a wet bank holiday in Wales actually sounds more fun than if it was going to be sunny. Which it won't be. I'd say I'll keep you posted via Twitter and the rest but I'm not too hopeful of signal for my phone. Guess I'll have to see you on the other side.

Wish me luck. And wish Quinn double.

Dan

[darthdicky]

Good luck!

Saw these at the Somerset Stages and they are surprisingly quick but it's a shame they don't make any noise. The older TD5's sound great with a straight through exhaust, these seem to just be silent

[KrazyIvan]

That looks like awesome fun...

[James72911]

Looks like great fun! And you are in safe hands with Quinn

[Reardy Mister]

Does anyone know the rough costs associated with this series? Do you pay an arrive and drive package, lease the car, own the car etc?

[loskie]

You are one lucky boy. The Army Rally team at the end of many BRC rounds is a joy to watch. Often wondered how big army blokes (and ladies) manage with the confinements of the cabin.

Have a great time.

[loskie]

Reardy Mister said:

Does anyone know the rough costs associated with this series? Do you pay an arrive and drive package, lease the car, own the car etc?

http://www.bowlermotorsport.com/motorsport/defender-challenge/