RE: Land Rover Defender Challenge: Time For Tea?
Thursday 20th March 2014
Yup, it's looks just as good as expected. Today's Time For Tea? is a short highlights reel from the first round of the Land Rover Defender Challenge from the Mid Wales Stages Rally. Once over the shock of seeing rallying Defenders (that don't look like mad Bowlers), it's a great spectacle; water splashes, mud splatters and gravel flies as the car tackles the stages adeptly.
Welsh water splashes not normal!The first round of the Defender Challenge by Bowler featured five cars, with hopes to get 15 starters by the end of the year. It was won by Edd Cobley and co-drive Allan Jackson, their 66:16.5 across the five stages nearly 12 minutes ahead of Damien and Simon Taft's 78:13.5. The inaugural Challenge podium was completed by Andrew Wicklow and Simon Armstrong.
Land Rover Defender Challenge: Time For Tea?
The 2014 Defender Challenge season starts spectacularly!
Welsh water splashes not normal!
Of his win, Edd Cobley said: "Today was absolutely fantastic... There were a few interesting moments on some of the hairpins but we had a really good day. In these wet conditions the Defender was in its element".
Ah yes, the rain. As it was Wales in March, there was plenty of precipitation. It caught out Richard Hayward and Matt Lister, who slid off the road on Stage 4 and, though they continued, didn't make it to the next stage within the allocated time.
With some drivers having already competed desert rallies and others on their first stage event, there's a wide array of experience on show with the Defender Challenge. There are six more rallies to follow in the 2014 season, with the Somerset Stages next on April 12. Next stop Dakar, right?
Discussion
dukebox9reg said:
That jump looks quite impressive. Hoping they've moved on alot since the Army Landrovers I used to drive as they used to really hurt to jump lol.
I'd think the Bowler-fettled suspension including expensive dampers would take care of that. Did you drive a 90 or a Series Landy in the Army? If the latter then it's a world of difference!the article said:
Yup, it's looks just as good as expected. Today's Time For Tea? is a short highlights reel from the first round of the Land Rover Defender Challenge from the Mid Wales Stages Rally. Once over the shock of seeing rallying Defenders (that don't look like mad Bowlers), it's a great spectacle; water splashes, mud splatters and gravel flies as the car tackles the stages adeptly.
When's that video being posted then?We have the fast road version on our demo fleet at work. It's like no other Defender I have ever driven (or rally car come to think of it!).
The bespoke suspension system that Bowler have come up with, transforms the vehicle. You just have to re calibrate your brain to have faith it will go around corners quick!!
Big grin factor with ours
The bespoke suspension system that Bowler have come up with, transforms the vehicle. You just have to re calibrate your brain to have faith it will go around corners quick!!
Big grin factor with ours
diff lock said:
We have the fast road version on our demo fleet at work. It's like no other Defender I have ever driven (or rally car come to think of it!).
The bespoke suspension system that Bowler have come up with, transforms the vehicle. You just have to re calibrate your brain to have faith it will go around corners quick!!
Big grin factor with ours
It's interesting though... that it is essentially the same vehicle with some very basic modifications.The bespoke suspension system that Bowler have come up with, transforms the vehicle. You just have to re calibrate your brain to have faith it will go around corners quick!!
Big grin factor with ours
Suspension changes on a defender take literally minutes with air tools.
Other than new springs, shocks and anti-roll bars and a new chip in the motor, this is just the bog standard defender land rover has been building since 1983
A quick video by Britspart demonstrating rallying in a Defender with their suspension set up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pehL7dhu36w
Turn you defender into a rally car for less than 200 quid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pehL7dhu36w
Turn you defender into a rally car for less than 200 quid
usualdog said:
You could spend the same on a pukka Mk2 Escort, go faster AND sideways! Not a dig at LR, love them to bits but you wouldn't take an Escort green laning, so er . . . tell me I'm wrong!
A couple of reasons...Firstly... if you really want, you can buy a 2WD/4WD kit from ashcroft for your transfer case, thus you can go sideways
http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/miscellane...
Defenders make good candidates for this sort of thing because
1. they are plentiful (unlike escorts)
2. parts are cheap and plentiful (good for beginners and the wallet)
3. They are easily modified/maintained (good for the wallet)
4. They are very tough and can take a beating (good for beginners)
5. If you bend it, you can repair it easily (good for beginners)
6. Speed and risks will be low (good for beginners)
Basically, it's an entry level series into rallying designed to be cheap and accessible to as many people as possible.
skyrover said:
usualdog said:
You could spend the same on a pukka Mk2 Escort, go faster AND sideways! Not a dig at LR, love them to bits but you wouldn't take an Escort green laning, so er . . . tell me I'm wrong!
A couple of reasons...Firstly... if you really want, you can buy a 2WD/4WD kit from ashcroft for your transfer case, thus you can go sideways
http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/miscellane...
Defenders make good candidates for this sort of thing because
1. they are plentiful (unlike escorts)
2. parts are cheap and plentiful (good for beginners and the wallet)
3. They are easily modified/maintained (good for the wallet)
4. They are very tough and can take a beating (good for beginners)
5. If you bend it, you can repair it easily (good for beginners)
6. Speed and risks will be low (good for beginners)
Basically, it's an entry level series into rallying designed to be cheap and accessible to as many people as possible.
IIRC it is 50k or something. Out of most people's reach. A half decent Escort is £20k although you can get in much cheaper. There was even an M-sport Freelander for much the same money recently, which would do largely the same job, but better.
Just don't get the Defender, but happy for each to their own.
Small Car said:
There ain't nothing cheap about doing this.
IIRC it is 50k or something. Out of most people's reach. A half decent Escort is £20k although you can get in much cheaper. There was even an M-sport Freelander for much the same money recently, which would do largely the same job, but better.
Just don't get the Defender, but happy for each to their own.
As far as spec racing goes, it's cheap.IIRC it is 50k or something. Out of most people's reach. A half decent Escort is £20k although you can get in much cheaper. There was even an M-sport Freelander for much the same money recently, which would do largely the same job, but better.
Just don't get the Defender, but happy for each to their own.
Freelander is not as good as the defender for many many reasons, but that's another argument
Small Car said:
skyrover said:
usualdog said:
You could spend the same on a pukka Mk2 Escort, go faster AND sideways! Not a dig at LR, love them to bits but you wouldn't take an Escort green laning, so er . . . tell me I'm wrong!
A couple of reasons...Firstly... if you really want, you can buy a 2WD/4WD kit from ashcroft for your transfer case, thus you can go sideways
http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/miscellane...
Defenders make good candidates for this sort of thing because
1. they are plentiful (unlike escorts)
2. parts are cheap and plentiful (good for beginners and the wallet)
3. They are easily modified/maintained (good for the wallet)
4. They are very tough and can take a beating (good for beginners)
5. If you bend it, you can repair it easily (good for beginners)
6. Speed and risks will be low (good for beginners)
Basically, it's an entry level series into rallying designed to be cheap and accessible to as many people as possible.
IIRC it is 50k or something. Out of most people's reach. A half decent Escort is £20k although you can get in much cheaper. There was even an M-sport Freelander for much the same money recently, which would do largely the same job, but better.
Just don't get the Defender, but happy for each to their own.
I've rallied the AFRT Defenders - no they won't worry the top boys but it sure as well scares a back marker when they see the word TOW in their rear view!
I've rallied a Range Rover Classic off and on for a while, and admittedly it's slower off the Mark than 95% of your average escorts! going sideways on gravel in a 2 tonne truck on gravel at any speed is enough to get the blood pumping.
skyrover said:
A quick video by Britspart demonstrating rallying in a Defender with their suspension set up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pehL7dhu36w
Turn you defender into a rally car for less than 200 quid
At least that ones sounds proper. Sounds like carbs on a 3.9. It does look as if it needs a bit more damping on the front as there is a bit of porpoising going on. As someone who marshals at Comp Safaris and sees the difference a really good setup makes (and I used to be one of the timekeepers). These new dampers coming on the market make quite a difference. The best ones seem to be the Donnerre Lithiums but they are a bit expensive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pehL7dhu36w
Turn you defender into a rally car for less than 200 quid
Fox and King do some nice ones but it is down to the testing and twiddling that really count.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff