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Off-roading is about as much fun as you can have in a car at 5mph! It’s not about speed, it’s all about getting the car you’re driving to climb up the steepest banks, splash through the deepest water troughs and come out of it all muddy, but in one piece. Clearly, your average family car can’t cope with all this off road mayhem, so you’ll need a properly adapted vehicle to take on these challenges off road.
A rally sprint day is off roading with a difference. These buggies eat dirt for breakfast, lunch and dinner – they love it! They might look fragile and you might feel a tad precarious as you sit in the open top single seat cockpit surrounded by roll cages just inches off the floor, but believe us, these are serious capable machines.
A 600cc Honda CBR motorbike engine pushes out over 100bhp on a superlight frame. Combine that with a six-speed sequential gear box, limited split differential and a double wishboned suspension and you’ll be having some serious fun driving these crazy little buggies. Of course, you will be strapped in (with a proper four-point harness) and kitted out in overalls and full face helmet.
If you already own a 4×4 and spend most of your time behind the wheel stuck in traffic watching the fuel gauge drop faster than Sebastian Vettel drives, you wouldn’t be blamed for dreaming of some real off road action. There are actually purpose built circuits where you can take your own vehicle and one of the best we’ve tried is the Forest of Dean off road course.
Set deep in the heart of this lovely forested area in west Gloucestershire, this course has been specifically designed to offer various levels of challenges for the driver. Taking your own 4×4 on it is a fantastic way to realise the full potential of your car, learn how to drive it properly and have fun at the same time. We think it so beats those motorway jams!
Those of us who aren’t lucky enough to have our own 4×4 vehicles, can go off roading in a wide range of off road 4×4 vehicles by booking an experience voucher. Everything you need to tackle the twists and turns of an off road course is included – the car, the petrol, the challenging course and the eternally patient off road driving instructor!
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never driven a big off roader like a Land Rover or Jeep before, the instructor will be in the passenger seat next to you to guide you and offer tips. You will more than likely start off quite gently to used to the feel of the car and by the end of the session, you’ll be amazed at the gradient of terrain you’ll be tackling. Also a great gift idea for anyone who loves 4x4ing and would cherish the chance to drive one in their natural habitat!
Once you’ve had a go at off road driving, you might find yourself so taken with it that you’ll want to find out more. On the internet there is a great off road forum for enthusiasts that has all the information you could possibly need. Run by owners of Range Rover Sport vehicles, the site is packed full of event details and news, as well as forum sections on tips and tricks, faults and fixes and even a ‘spotted’ section! Even if you haven’t quite got your hands on that Range Rover yet, it’s a good place for research and has a superb community feel.