Well, where to start?? What a fantastic weekend!
Wagtail was a fancy dress off road weekend organised to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. All the money was raised via raffles, auctions and competitions etc.
A massive well done to all of the organisers who made it possible!
Well, it certainly wasn't the shortest trip I have been on, over 150 miles! and it certainly wasn't the quickest trip home (I'l explain in a bit!)
We got on the road at about 9:30/10ish and followed Nick Ingram as he knew the way
This isn't quite the route we took but it gives a rough idea.. We went around the M25 more than through London..
When we got there my girlfriend Jenna and I set our little tent up then went went around and socialised a bit with those that had already arrived.
It was then we learned there was a challenge event being held in one of the neighbouring fields that afternoon so we had a little wander over and ended up having a go! Unfortunately I had my camera in my pocket at the time so we didn't get any pics but I will put a few links at the bottom of the page with more pics of the whole weekend (including me getting stuck in the challenge event!)
We first saw Fat Zuke having a little play when we got there and he really was making it look easy..
So a Range Rover decided to have a go, and got well and truly stuck!
As you can see it doesn't look all to extreme but it is really deceiving!!
My truck after I got recovered by Tony with Suzota. I've only been on the site for half hour! This was the cleaner side too!!
After the engine had cooled down a little bit we had a wander back to the campsite to get some food sorted and I realised my spare wheel carrier had broken a little. One of the original welds had snapped and I didn't really want my tyre and jack falling off half way round the site so I called upon Allan Chambers who had with him an on board welder device! great I thought, until I let him near my truck that is!
We connected the welder to the battery as indicated but the clamp was sparking real bad when we connected it to the body, and the ignition was coming on even though I had the keys in my pocket!? 'Odd' we thought, but tried again and smoke started billowing out of the engine bay! turns out the earth from the battery to body had snapped, so the quickest path back to the battery from the body was straight through the accelerator cable! Doh! it melted the plastic sleeve to the cable itself and took us about half hour of squirting WD40 down the sleeve and pulling it around to get it free enough. It still sticks at about 1500RPM but I can live with that till I dig my spare out the garage..
I'll stop going on about it now Allan I promise. LOL!
The auction started at about 5PM and everything was sold with ease! I myself bought a 1600 engine conversion plate!
One of myself and my lovely lady friend in full pirate getup!! GYARR!!
After the fancy dress judging on Sunday morning we went over to the RTI ramp
challenge Allan Chambers had set up
Not too bad at all I thought! I still think I could have got more if I had taken a better line and got my rear wheel next to the ramp rather than behind it.
I love this pic!!
A rather respectable 76inches (I think) up the ramp.
I still can't quite work out how either but I came first place on the RTI Ramp Leafs too!!
Me accepting my trophy. Stupid camera man got in the way! lol
Andy. B also had a go and I am really surprised he didn't win as his truck is designed to flex! SPOA YJ's all round and Macsport Lo-Down links up front; far more work has been done to his truck than mine!
Pete (Bonerattler) also had a go and got a pretty decent score for a standard 413 on 235's!!
Then it was time for the Canal Run! I actually chickened out of this one. Didn't fancy the idea of driving 150 miles home with a knackered engine etc!
Rob and Kim of www.muddyzook.com well and truly stuck!!
Oh dear.. never fun!
Wow that water looks cold!
And still smiling! madness!
The Disco had to pull him out
It just got deeper and deeper though!!
The Disco couldn't quite manage it though so a 'proper' 4x4 was called into action (he he)
Then he had a go.. and got stuck!
Then it was poor snappy's turn!!
Who quickly got stuck!
Quite a turn out to watch the canal run!
That's all the photos I managed to take over the weekend!
When I went back to put the tent away I noticed that my brakes were doing a little less than nothing so had a quick look and the bonnet and saw the reservoir was dry! uh oh!
A quick check underneath and the problem was soon spotted.. the solid copper brake line from the t-piece on the back axle to the hub had been physically ripped off the hub! oh dear!!
A quick wander round the site and we bumped into Dunc who rather kindly offered to take me back to his place when they left to sort me out a new line!
So a MASSIVE thank you goes out to Dunc, Rob and Kim (please tell me I got the names right!) who helped make, fit and bleed a new brake line and supply tea/biscuits etc!! It really was appreciated! If ever I can repay the favour then be assured I'll be there!!
These are the links to other sites with more pics and details of the weekend!
Cheers and Enjoy!!
http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=17081
http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=17065
http://community.webshots.com/user/darrell259
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=18287908&uid=1287625
I've also put a load of vids up in the video section to your left!! enjoy!