4x4 - without a club at Harbor Hill (56k beware)

[Dusty]

Went along to the local '4x4 - without a club' off-roading event the other day with Ste. The weather was perfect (for the time of year) and mud was present in abundance. Arriving we parked up next to another shiny L200 with the more dedicated off-roaders unloading their vehicles from flat bed trucks. Ste went and checked in and we started out.

https://dusty.my-site.me.uk/pics/offroad/4x4offroad/001.jpg

To get in the only condition vehicle wise was that it be 4wd and be under three tons (afaik). The routes round the venue were divided into three difficulties: red & white (suitable for most 4x4s), red (only suitable for off-road biased vehicles with off-road tyres) and black (roll cages and helmets only). Although having seen some of the black marked trails I think you'd have to be fairly brave to try them.

We'd arrived pretty early in the day so things were fairly quiet to start with, which was good because we had to do a fair amount of backing up when we realised we weren't going to get through.

https://dusty.my-site.me.uk/pics/offroad/4x4offroad/025.jpg

Things got busier around midday so we headed down to the lower ground where the more hardcore mud and drivers were. Didn't see anyone roll their 4x4s all day but saw plenty of people needing rescuing from the mud.

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All in all a good laugh, a small cheap 4x4 could be a lot of fun at one of these things.

Last picture.. a guy that fell into one of the worst patches of mud near the end of the day. Apologies to whoever this is, but pictures like this need to make it to the Internet.

The rest of my pictures are here:
https://dusty.my-site.me.uk/gallery.php?sn=4x4offroad
This is the organiser's site:
https://www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk/

https://dusty.my-site.me.uk/pics/offroad/4x4offroad/023.jpg
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Gallery

[McGee]

Looks like great fun

The few times I have been off-roading have never been that dirty
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[MarJay]

"Lets... Off Road"

Looks good fun, but with four wheels you need to go fast, two wheels are more universal in that regard!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Ant]

Nice to see 4x4's been used properly!
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04 ZX10R ~

[queen of string]

You know you want my L200 Dusty, it's calling you, I can hear it when it goes quiet outside . If youre not quick someone else might buy it and then you will cry.
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"Eat food, not edible, food-like items. Mostly plants."

[quacker_boy]

Wicked photos, i like that little buggy, that looks a laugh!

Good write up as well!
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wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

[Ste]

Mmmmm that was a fun day.

There's another day there on the 11th March if anyone else is interested.

[Resurrection]

Me and Johnny GSXR have done one of those days

Johnny get the pics out

Res
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ZX9r

[Johnny GSX-R]

Oi 'Ballast Boy' I have no idea what your on about.

ROFLMAO, what a cracking good day that was, i must weld that floor up too, you did get a tad wet didn't ya
I have now re-ruited the exhaust inside the car with the exit from the rear wing, no viscous fan now so the engine won't get swamped, waterproofed the dizzy and got the rear brakes working.

This year will surely see my Rangie on its roof, if not, i need to try harder.

[Johnny GSX-R]

Ste, what area??? I'm interested in taking part however not on the 11th March as i'm working. Any other meets after then please let me know, i can drag the RR down.

[Ste]

Its about 15 minutes drive from Reading (M4 J12) and there's an event there on the 8th April and 10th May, seems they run days there once a month. Not sure if I'll be going to those but if you're interested then I can send you a PM nearer the time.

[Johnny GSX-R]

Ste, i had a quick look at the website, looks ok. We have loads of places up North too. I'm willing to drag the trailer down to play if its gonna be a few BCF mongs getting covered in mud and having them shit themselves for a day, sounds like a plan.

[Ste]

I seem to have blown the engine up.

It's gone off to Mitsubishi to be fixed and I'm expecting it to need a new engine.

Offroading or fording in the next few days anyone? Am getting a courtesy car to (ab)use, should be a like-for-like one but whatever it is I'm sure it'll be suitable.

[Johnny GSX-R]

LOL how bizzare, i've popped one or both head gaskets on mine at weekend and i have no brakes either now due to me rushing loading it up and caught a brake pipe.
I'll wizz the heads off one evening and get them skimmed, new brake hose and she'll be fighting fit again. I'm just hoping the block isn't cracked

[Ste]

Seems that its the head gasket on mine as well.

Not had problems with it since I've had it, it was serviced about 700 miles ago by the Mitsubishi dealer who said there weren't any problems (well, they complained about it being muddy ). Sunday morning going to Brands Hatch it started over heating after being on the motorways a few miles, coolant level had dropped a bit when I stopped and checked. Carried on it was still overheating so had to drive slowish and be putting the clutch in on downhill bits to let it cool down.

Mitsubishi recovery guy said they have lots of them having these problems, the original head gasket it very thin. Said they fix it with a thicker gasket which fixes the problem or just change the engine which is usually easier.

And I now have a Nissan X-Trail sat outside.

[TOM M]

[Dusty]

[Johnny GSX-R]

The problem with the uprated gasket is that it will lower the compression ratio, i'm having my heads skimmed to try and compensate for the lower ratio.
Mine looks like 'Thomas the Tank' with its puffing steam, still it kept on going.

I'll sort the brakes out whilst the heads are in the machine shop.
Has the mud blocked your rad?? If the core is plugged with mud it will overheat and pop the gasket, lets hope it hasn't cracked the head or the block eh

[Johnny GSX-R]

I'm not too fussed about rolling it as long as it can be recovered and put back on the trailer.
I'm just looking for a beavertail recovery truck, the poor Discovery was making odd noises dragging almost 3 tons around the Derbyshire hills. I went over the legendary 'Cat & Fiddle' with it, it pulls like hell with the mods i've done but suspension was a bit squiffy and unpredictable

There's no way i'd fetch it down behind the Landy. Watch this space

[Ste]

Don't think it was blocked, I know it was a bit muddy but it hadn't been having overheating problems. Running quite normally in the week then for whatever reason first thing on Sunday morning it decided to overheat. Would have thought that if it was going to overheat due to mud then it would have done so sooner.

Not too bothered about what the damage is, just need Mitsubishi to cover it under warranty without too much hassle.