Introduction to Competitive Off-Roading

No wonder, the best driving experience comes from a challenging off-road driving adventure. And nothing can be more exhilarating than experiencing it in a Land Rover. Off-roading is a generic expression that is used for driving an automobile on unequal roads or tracks of sand, mud, gravel, hard rocks, freezing snow and other rough and tough terrain. Thee is a little more to than that of course...

Four Wheel Drive

Only specially designed vehicles like ATVs, 4x4s, SUVs and AWDs like Land Rover and Jeeps can be used to travel through off-road terrains. Such vehicles are designed with extra ground clearance, strong tyres with big buttons, rear and front locking differentials to increase traction and specially designed low gear to survive the obstacles. The most popular brands for the off-road vehicles are Land Rover, AM General, Jeep and Toyota.

Off-roading is considered as normal means of transportation in some parts of the world. In other parts like tropical areas, driving vehicles on uneven surface roads is loosely termed off-roading. However, in UK, off-roading has a great relevance to recreational or competitive pursuits.

Since such pursuits are very popular, there are many categories of recreational off-roading events that are held frequently. Some of them are dune bashing, cross-country, greenlaning, mud bogging, rock crawling and rock racing. Dune bashing is driving through sand dunes and these recreational pursuits are usually connected to tourism-driven places in the Middle East.

Cross country off-roading is usually several days of expeditions through the Sahara deserts. A well expertise four wheeler driver in a specially designed off-roading vehicle is essential for this recreational pursuit. The vehicle has to navigate through the unchartered terrain, which exceeds more than 200 km of tough off-roading.

Greenlaning

Greenlaning or two tracking generally suits only four wheel vehicles. The tracks consist of uneven surfaced forest tracks, village roads, or old unused tracks. The travelers can enjoy the glimpses of the countryside scenery and the places those are seldom used by motorists.

Mudding

Mudding or mud bogging is driving through mud or clay without being struck. Standard 4x4 vehicle tyres are not enough to drive through such roads; instead, specially designed mud-terrain tires are necessary for this type of off-roading.

Another type of off-roading is rock crawling. This is highly technical since it requires a modified vehicle with larger tires and suspension components to provide maximum axle articulation. Classic and 4.0/4.6 Range Rover models are best known for next generation suspension innovation designs and Land Rover parts. Rock racing is similar to rock crawling apart from there is no penalties for hitting cones, backing up, and winching.

Apart from recreational pursuits, there are three types of competitive trials like RTV (Road Taxed Vehicle) trialing, Cross Country Vehicle (CCV) trialing and Punch & winch challenge organized by The Association of Land Rover clubs (UK). In trailing, skill sets of a four-wheeler driver is rather important than finishing first.

All kinds of 4x4 are suitable for off-road events. However, Land Rovers are exceptionally good enough for their off-road capability. The true specialty of these vehicles is its design adherence to off-road ability providing a winch in all its models. The Land Rover models like Series, Defenders, Discoverys and Range Rovers are lauded for their off-road supremacy and prowess. In the US, the 2009 Range Rover Sport received the 2008 Northwest SUV of the Year award in Mudfest at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash.

No doubt, Land Rovers provide an exciting off-road driving experience. They have consistently scored high in the events held in different venues across the UK .