The Mud Life - 18 - September 2020

THE MUD LIFE ISSUE 18 - SEPTEMBER 2020

Å koda Superb Sportline Suzuki Vitara History of Jeep pt. 2 Laning Life Reader's Rides Goods & Gear

THE SPLENDOUR of the

DEFENDER

Defender - the first drive pages 48-58

Important information Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Mud Life magazine are accurate, we accept no responsibility for errors or omissions, nor the consequence of actions made as a result of these. When responding to any advertisements in The Mud Life magazine, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers and owners take reasonable care to ensure advertiser’s probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts.

Copyright All images and material on these pages are protected by copyright Š Damian Turner. All rights reserved. None of the images or material within this magazine may be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose that is not expressly authorised by Damian Turner or Karen Lee Turner.

IN THIS ISSUE TURNER'S TORQUE

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WHAT'S ON

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LANING LIFE 16-26 SUZUKI VITARA 28-37 Å KODA SUPERB SPORTLINE 38-46 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 48-58 ACCIDENTS 60-62 MOOCH - SHORT BUT SWEET 63-67 GOODS & GEAR 68-75 JEEP - A HISTORY 76-81 FB PAGE of the MONTH 82-83 YOUTUBE CHANNEL of the MONTH 84-85 MOOCH - AMY, LUKE & TIFFANY TOO 86-95 IN OUR GARAGE 96-97 TIXOVER PLAYTIME 99-105 SIMON SAYS 106-107 READER'S RIDES 108-113 DINE OUT WITH DAMIAN 114-115 RETRO SNAPS 116-117

DAMIAN TURNER Editor-in-Chief, Writer, Photographer, Reviewer

KAREN LEE TURNER (A.K.A. The Muddy Madam)

Creative Director, Layout Designer, Reviewer

F O L LOW U S

THE TEAM

DIRECTORIES 118-121

FACEBOOK - TheMudLifeMag INSTAGRAM - themudlifemag TWITTER - themudlifemag WEBSITE - www.themudlife.co.uk

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Click on the covers to read any of our past issues.

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TURNER’S TORQUE September is here, and it’s almost the end of the summer holidays. For those of us who work in schools, mind (if you didn’t know, I’m also a self-employed school counsellor), it’s been a long, long summer. In fact, I haven’t worked in school since March, so that’s a 6 month school holiday. I’ve both forgotten what it’s like to get up in the morning and go to work - and get paid!

Thankfully we have a small yet loyal group of advertisers, without who Muddy Madam and I would have been barrelling down the creek without the proverbial paddle, and The Mud Life would have disappeared months ago, so I want to give a massive shout of appreciation to them, and dear reader, you can do your bit too - click on their links and buy stuff!

I also can’t forget our devoted Ko-Fi supporters, who every month buy Muddy Madam and I a mug of hot chocolate or two, it not only keeps us going, but it keeps The Mud Life free to read. Thank you all.

motor manufacturers are beginning to get back to normalish. Land Rover was my first car launch since lock down, and this week, Kia held an overnighter for the Northern Group of Motoring Writers, giving us the opportunity to begin socialising again (socially distanced, of course), and also to drive their range of cars.

From now until December I have a whole bunch of new press 4x4s booked, which includes a Wrangler, Land Cruiser commercial and a base model Hilux, amongst many. I’m looking forward to getting those reviews out to you all, as well as more planned green lane adventures, and possibly a few camping excursions, too.

So sit back with a beverage or two, and enjoy this month’s issue of The Mud Life Magazine.

In this month’s issue you may have noticed that I’ve driven the new Defender, which was great, but more to the point

I know it isn’t a 4x4, but I simply couldn’t resist driving the awesome 360bhp Kia Stinger!

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FORD creates custom tyres for RNLI Ford have commissioned custom tyres that can leave key water safety messages imprinted on stretches of sand as part of a new initiative with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

This activity aims to support the lifesaving charity to educate people on, and raise awareness of key beach safety advice. The custom tyres have been designed to leave 3 key water safety messages in the sand, including ‘float to live’, ‘no inflatables’, and ‘emergency? call 999’.

This comes as new research from Ford reveals that 40% of people who would take an inflatable into the sea in the UK have previously got into difficulty. Over a third of people (38%) also said they’d consider taking a swim alone.

Writing messages in the sand is a longstanding tradition, and inspired Ford to create a way of spreading water safety messages quickly across miles of beaches using its vehicles. The custom tyres are made from a mould of each water safety message. The mould creates a rubber tyre sleeve that is wrapped around the Ford Ranger tyre tread and fixed into place permanently.

As people holiday at home this summer, enjoying beaches along the UK coastline the RNLI are asking the public, and parents in particular, to take responsibility for themselves and their families if they choose to visit a beach.

Ford is the official vehicle supplier to the RNLI, and the Ford Ranger is the RNLI’s pick-up of choice for lifeguard beach patrols, supporting their great work on beaches up and down the UK. Since 2018, Ford has provided the RNLI with over 350 vehicles, including the Fiesta, EcoSport, Focus, Kuga, Transit, Transit Connect and Transit Customs plus the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).

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All new KIA SORENTO PHEV revealed Kia has revealed the All-New Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid for the first time, an ultra-low emissions version of the brand’s flagship global SUV. The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is the second electrified model in the all-new Sorento line-up, and sits alongside the low-emissions Sorento Hybrid. The new variant combines a powerful turbocharged petrol engine with a high capacity battery pack and high output electric motor, giving drivers the ability to complete shorter drives on all-electric, zeroemissions power.

The Plug-in Hybrid variant achieves this while maximising space and versatility, with the innovative platform that underpins the fourthgeneration Sorento designed from the outset to accommodate electrified powertrains.

The new platform and large body ensures the Plug-in Hybrid model retains the generous cabin and luggage space and five and seven-seat layouts that define other models in the line-up. It also offers one of the largest cargo capacities in its class, with the larger battery pack not taking up significant amounts of boot space – up to 809 litres (for seven-seat models) or 898 litres (five-seat models) with two rows of seats in place. In seven-seat models, with all seven seats in place, boot space is 175 litres (compared to 179 litres for its Hybrid counterpart).

Visually, Sorento Plug-in Hybrid models retain the same modern exterior design as other variants in the line-up, with ‘eco plug-in’ badges and a charging port on the rear quarters standing out as the only points of differentiation.

Sales of the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid will commence in select European markets in early 2021, with Kia’s unique seven-year, 100,000 miles warranty as standard. UK on-sale date, pricing and specification will be announced in due course.

The engine is paired with a high-capacity 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and a powerful electric motor which produces 66.9kW and 304Nm torque. Combined, these powertrain components enable the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid’s powertrain to produce up to 265ps and 350Nm torque.

Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The transmission allows the full power of the engine and motor to be transferred in parallel, with minimal loss of energy.

The result is immediate acceleration response at any speed, and direct access to available battery power at higher speeds.

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EVOQUE AUTOBIOGRAPHY - the most luxurious & connected compact SUV The Range Rover Evoque is now even more sophisticated and digitally connected with the introduction of the new Range Rover Evoque Autobiography.

The Range Rover family is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the new Evoque Autobiography sits at the pinnacle of the compact SUV’s line-up, embodying the refinement and luxury synonymous with Range Rover across five decades. The Autobiography edition features distinctive and elegant exterior, design accents and a luxurious interior. A plug-in-hybrid version is also available, for customers looking for a more sustainable, efficient luxury compact SUV.

Following the launch of the P300e plug-in hybrid earlier in 2020, additional new engine options are now available for the Evoque. Two updated, efficient next-generation four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engines both feature Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology. Using a belt-driven starter motor and battery pack, MHEV vehicles harvest energy normally lost under deceleration, feeding back to the vehicle’s 48-volt battery to boost the performance and deliver enhanced fuel economy. Available in 165PS and 200PS outputs, these engines are more powerful than the outgoing engines, with improved CO2 and fuel economy.

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Customers continue to have a wide selection of additional petrol engines to choose from with P200, P250 and P300 options, all fitted with MHEV technology.

The digital experience inside the Evoque has been transformed with the introduction of Land Rover’s state-of-the-art Pivi infotainment. The system is ready to go as soon as it’s switched on - a separate data plan and battery mean there’s no delay. Software updates are available overthe-air via the vehicle’s embedded data connection at no cost, and can even be scheduled at a time to suit. This ensures customers always have the latest maps, apps and vehicle features without having to visit a retailer. The system is available as either standard Pivi, or Pivi Pro from S-specification.

Streaming music and media has never been simpler, with Spotify integrated directly within the infotainment menu for the first time, and Bluetooth connectivity for two phones at once. There’s also wireless device charging with signal-boosting option. The new second-

generation Activity Key is also available, allowing customers to unlock any door, lock or even start the vehicle, just by being nearby.

Other technology updates include a comprehensive suite of new Advanced Driver Assistance features for the Evoque, which achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating. The new Rear Collision Monitor uses radars to constantly monitor the vehicle’s rear, meaning the vehicle is primed to reduce the severity of an impact for the occupants, while the introduction of a 3D Surround Camera lets the driver see what’s happening around the vehicle at speeds of up to 19mph, making manoeuvring and even navigating difficult terrain simpler than ever.

The Range Rover Evoque is now available to order priced from £32,100 in the UK.

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MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV still the UK’s favourite plug-in hybrid The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV remains a best-selling PHEV in the UK, out-selling every other plug-in hybrid SUV on the market so far in 2020 and second only to a recently-launched premium brand saloon.

Despite the massive disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, news of Mitsubishi’s withdrawal from the UK market and a more competitive plug-in hybrid market than ever before, 2,662 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs were registered in 2020 to the end of the July, reinforcing this pioneer vehicle’s position as longstanding stalwart of the segment.

At the end of July 2020 a grand total of 51,667 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs had been registered in the UK, double the figure of the next-best seller, making it the nation’s undisputed favourite plug-in hybrid vehicle.

David Rodriguez, Sales and Marketing Director at Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, commented: “The enduring popularity of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV isn’t just down to its technology, reliability and driving refinement, the outstanding service and support provided by our dealer network has been key to its success since day one.

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, our customers, our dealers and everyone here at Colt Car Company, but we’re back firing on all cylinders now and working towards creating a positive outcome for the rest of the year and beyond.”

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BENTAYGA SPEED – The ultimate Bentayga Hand-built at Crewe, the Bentayga Speed combines the W12 powertrain and many of the models luxurious features as standard, including the Mulliner Driving Specification.

Building on a long tradition of Speed models that was born with the Continental GT in 2007, the new Bentayga Speed maintains the performance credentials proved by its predecessor, which claimed the production SUV record at the gruelling Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018.

The new Bentayga Speed builds on the completely refreshed design of the new Bentayga, adopting the same Bentley design DNA now prevalent across the entire model range. Introducing the very latest onboard technology and an even more cosseting cabin, the new model is significantly revised both inside and out.

The 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged engine delivers peak power of 626 bhp with effortless acceleration guaranteed thanks to 900 Nm (664 lb.ft) of torque, available as a plateau from 1,500 rpm to 5,000 rpm.

Maximum speed is also increased to 190mph while the 0-62 mph sprint is delivered in 3.9 seconds.

car to roll or ‘sail’. When the accelerator is reapplied, or the car starts going downhill and detects an increase in speed, the transmission is re-engaged.

Bentley say that the Speed will be offered for sale in those regions where demand for 12-cylinder SUVs remains strong – the Americas, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, no mention of the UK, sadly.

Efficiency is also an important aspect of such a powerful engine; to achieve effective cylinder deactivation with the complex layout of the W12, the engine control unit deactivates one complete bank of six cylinders as required. Switching between A and B Bank using information from the inlet and exhaust sensors, minimises cylinder and catalytic convertor cool down and avoids spikes in exhaust emissions. This not only benefits CO2 emissions but also realises significant economy gains under part-throttle cruising conditions.

In 5th to 8th gears, when the driver releases the accelerator (at motorway cruising speed, for example) the car will open the torque converter, dropping the engine to idle and simply allowing the THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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Britain's fastest & most powerful SUV the LISTER MC STEALTH

Lister Motor Company, Britain’s oldest racing car company, has taken the wraps off Britain’s fastest and most powerful SUV – the Lister Stealth.

Based on the already dynamic Jaguar F-PACE SVR, the 666bhp Stealth is the latest in a long line of stunning, hand-crafted and bespoke products from the Cambridgeshire manufacturer – a lineage spanning nearly seven decades.

Lister’s renowned skill for creating exclusive and luxurious, highperformance cars is already evidenced with the introduction of the Jaguar F-TYPE SVR based LFT-666 coupe and LFT-C convertible. Now, Lister enhances that reputation further with the mind-blowing power and speed of the Stealth.

To claim the title of Britain’s fastest SUV, the Stealth required a thorough update to the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine found in the factory F-PACE SVR. Lister’s core DNA of performance and driving enjoyment is abundant within the Stealth. The company’s team of highly experienced engineers set to work on the engine 12

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and cooling system to ensure it delivers an outstanding 666bhp and 881Nm of torque – a 22% increase over the standard car.

The process began with a custom-built intercooler and highperformance air filtration system for optimising combustion temperatures and airflow into the unit. Upgraded dual supercharger pulleys have the cumulative effect of forcing more air into the combustion chamber for unrivalled levels of performance for this vehicle segment.

Like in the LFT-666 and LFT-C, Lister’s Engineering Team have applied the brand’s proprietary Lister Engine Management System to the Stealth, modifying the programme mapping throughout the process to exploit the Stealth’s full capabilities.

The result is a five-seat SUV that can deliver a devilish 666bhp with ease.

The Stealth will accelerate with the same urgency as a modern supercar and keep on going to its top speed of 195mph. In a sprint from 0-60mph, the Stealth takes a mere 3.6 seconds,

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making it not only the fastest accelerating SUV Britain has ever produced, but also the most powerful to date. The Stealth adds proof to its claim of being Britain’s fastest SUV after recently beating the Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin Vantage and McLaren 570 GT in a drag race at the renowned testing ground,VMAX200.

Uprated brakes, front and rear, ensure the Stealth stops as well as it accelerates.

A large carbon fibre rear diffuser sits in the middle of an exclusively sculpted rear bumper, creating additional downforce in tandem with the front splitter. Lister has also fitted a custom-designed, stainless-steel exhaust system complete with carbon fibre tips delivering gains in overall power output, giving the Stealth an unmistakable and thunderous soundtrack.

Completing the distinctive exterior look are matching side skirts and wider wheel arches to give the Stealth its purposeful stance. This is all complemented by bespoke, Lister-designed 23-inch Vossen forged wheels – the only element of the Lister Stealth not made in the UK. No expense has been spared in the design of the Stealth’s sumptuous interior. Alongside performance, luxury is one of the hallmarks of every Lister model.

The Stealth features the highest-grade Bridge of Weir Nappa leather interior that is tailored to every customer’s specification. Up to 36 individual colour choices are available with a further 90 different stitching options covering all aspects of the cabin from the seatbelts, sport seats, dashboard, steering wheel and roof lining. With this level of customisation available, each Lister will boast its own unique identity that’s truly personal to each owner.

As with all Lister models, exclusivity is guaranteed.

Just 100 examples of the UK’s fastest and most powerful SUV are earmarked for production worldwide. Prices start from £109,950 for this ultimate expression of luxury, practicality and performance, with client consultation appointments available via the Lister website.

Warrantywise, the UK’s best used car warranty, provides complete peace of mind for customers with an incredible and unprecedented seven-year warranty for this class of performance luxury SUV. Watch the Lister Stealth launch video here.

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DISCOVERY SPORT gets efficient new diesels, plug-in hybrid & petrol special edition The Discovery Sport’s next generation of efficient mild-hybrid Ingenium fourcylinder diesel engines are available in two power outputs, the D165 (163PS) and D200 (204PS), and deliver enhanced efficiency, smoother power and superior refinement, with CO2 from 163g/km. Both use Land Rover’s latest mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology when paired with AWD, featuring a battery to harvest energy lost under deceleration. The result is a smoother stop-start operation and optimised fuel economy.

The new Discovery Sport’s petrol options have also expanded with the addition of the Discovery Sport Black.

Powered by a turbocharged Ingenium petrol engine producing 290PS, the Discovery Sport Black Edition features a host of exterior and interior design enhancements for the perfect blend of eye-catching looks, family versatility and all-terrain capability. It offers a 0-60mph time of 7 seconds.

Customers can now activate the smart all-new Cabin Air Filtration system, via the touchscreen, which will filter out harmful fine particulate matter often found in cities and high-traffic areas.

Other technology updates include a comprehensive suite of new Advanced Driver Assistance features, such as Rear Traffic Monitor with automatic braking. The new Rear Collision Monitor uses radars to constantly monitor the vehicle’s rear, meaning the Sport is primed to reduce the severity of an impact for the occupants, while the introduction of a 3D Surround Camera lets the driver see what’s happening around the vehicle at speeds of up to 19mph, making manoeuvring, and even navigating difficult terrain simpler than ever.

These new systems complement the ClearSight Ground View and ClearSight Rear View Mirror technologies introduced in 2019; smart camera technology stitches together images below the bonnet, while the latter provides an interchangeable rear-view mirror and video screen, for enhanced visibility.

It is now available to order from £31,915 in the UK. Buyers can choose from the Discovery Sport S, SE, HSE, R-Dynamic S (P300e), R-Dynamic S Plus (D165, D200, P200), R-Dynamic SE, R-Dynamic HSE and Discovery Sport Black specifications.'

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WHAT'S ON in september Overland Show & International Campervan Show 19-20th September GOING AHEAD

Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse The Adventure Overland Show includes free seminars, as well as traders galore, Bushcraft For Kids, display vehicles, Travel Author's Zone, Adventure Bike Zone, interactive workshops and more...

Alongside all of that you also have the Campervan Show too! https://adventure-overland-show.com

Simply Days at Beaulieu

6th, 12th, 13th, 20th, 27th September GOING AHEAD

Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire Beaulieu is hosting a series of 'Simply' days to provide a great opportunity to admire a stunning range of vehicles. Each day is dedicated to a different make - French cars, Vauxhall, Ford, British Classics & Porsche.

Tickets must be pre-booked and capacity will be strictly limited to 1000 participants. No tickets will be sold on the day. https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events

Classic Car Drive In Weekend.

18th-20th September GOING AHEAD

Bicester Heritage, Bicester From the creators of Top Gear Live comes a new weekend show for retro motor fans at which they are promising 'the world’s finest classic & competition cars performing live in thrilling and evocative action', but this is not just a classic car show, it's also a motoring themed drive in cinema, with a line-up of films including The Italian Job, Gone in 60 Seconds, Baby Driver & Le Mans 66. http://www.theclassiccarshowuk.com

g n i n Life a L

aton E n e r u a

by L

Read about green laning as seen through Lauren ‘Sunshine’ Eaton's windscreen at The Green Lane Association, and find out what’s hot, or not, in the laning world each month. Enjoy!

The ABCs of laning… laning There have been so many new members signing up to GLASS this year, and it appears that there are many more newbies joining social media groups, so I thought it might be useful to cover the basics of the hobby.

While the action of driving a lane is a fairly simple one, all the surrounding terminology, legalities, and other considerations are many and varied; so much so I receive hundreds of questions a month! So, in this issue and the next, I’m going to bring you an alphabetised guide to getting to grips with the hobby!

This is in no way a definitive guide, it’s just a brief (or as brief as I can make it!) introduction for those who have just joined our community and are looking for some pointers.

• Regular digital bulletins • 2 printed magazines per year • Members website and forum • TW2, the essential green lane route planning tool • • Access to area reps for route planning and advice • Member discounts from selected suppliers • Legal challenges • Extensive knowledge base •

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A - Access for all!

This is the phrase used by various authorities and countryside management organisations in order to attract visitors to the great outdoors. While all should mean all, we often find that 4x4s and motorcycles are forgotten, or in some cases are not quite as welcome as non-vehicular users. But here at GLASS all does mean all, and while we are very much focused on vehicular users, we do consider that our green lanes are used by all sorts of people in all sorts of ways. Remember when you go out you are likely to meet walkers, cyclists, and horse riders too. When you meet these other users slow down, stop and turn the engine off when necessary, and don’t forget to smile and wave!

B - BOAT

Green lanes fall into one of two categories – BOATs and UCRs, both are legal to drive unless they have any temporary, seasonal, or permanent restrictions in place. BOAT stands for ‘byway open to all traffic’, and they are managed by the rights of way department of the local county council.

BOATs are recorded on the ‘Definitive Map and Statement’, which is a physical map held by each county council and can be viewed by appointment. More on the definitive map and UCRs later.

C - Code of Conduct/clubs

GLASS have put together some advice on ‘best practice’ while laning. This is general advice aimed at ensuring that people lane safely and sustainably. It isn’t a list of absolute rules, nor is it legally enforceable, but it provides a general guide to help you enjoy your trips while remaining legal and having minimal impact on the environments you travel through. It can be found here: https://glass-uk.org/about/our-code-of-conduct.html Clubs GLASS isn’t a laning club, although many of our reps kindly do run trips out in their free time. We also have many affiliate clubs who can be helpful when it comes to showing new people the ropes, more information can be found here: https://glass-uk.org/other-info/clubs-who-support-us.html. The Association of Land Rover Clubs (ALRC) is another great place to find a club near you.

D - Definitive Map and Statement (D, or DM&S) This is a physical map and accompanying amendments held by the rights of way department of every county council in the UK that records all public footpaths, bridleways, and byways (BOATs) in that specific county. It is a legal document and can be used as evidence in court. Many councils have an online map too, but these are working copies and are neither definitive nor legal records.

One interesting point about the DM is that although it is the only legally binding record of public rights of way in a county, it is often not actually ‘definitive’; most have many errors or omissions, but until the DM is amended whatever is recorded on it remains the current legal position. This is why it is important to consult the physical DM&S rather than the online version - I’m still waiting for a lane that was downgraded to a bridleway back in January to be changed on the county council’s website! The DM&S and Trailwise2 are up to date, but anyone checking online elsewhere risks falling foul of the law.

GLASS spend a lot of time trying to correct the errors and omissions in the records through bureaucratic processes and lots of research! There is a cut off date for this work, in January 2026 the Definitive Map and Statement will no longer be amendable and whatever each county’s copy says after that date will be definitive going forward even if evidence arises that rights exist elsewhere.

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E - Essential Kit

This has been discussed since time immemorial, and there are hundreds of differing opinions on the matter, but let’s keep things simple! This advice is aimed at newbies, and all you really need to try your hand at green laning is a 4x4 (or motorbike if that’s your thing), everything else is just gravy, or only necessary if you’re planning to try some of the more extreme lanes, which I would advise against if you’re only just starting out! That being said, there are some items that it would be very handy to have with you, especially if anything goes wrong.

The most important stuff first - snacks! Even if you’re planning on having a pub lunch on route carrying something to nibble on is always a good idea in my book. If you have a problem while out you’ll thank me later, waiting hours for recovery after a breakdown is no fun if you’re hungry!

The most useful things you can spend your money on are tyres.

Road tyres are obviously designed to be driven on tarmac, and the whole joy of green laning is driving as little of that as possible! All terrain tyres will suffice for the majority of lanes, particularly those suitable to drive as a newbie, or in the summer months. Mud terrains may be useful on others and during winter, but I must add some of the tractor tyres I’ve seen people running are just overkill. Choose the best type for your needs and the type of driving you expect to be doing. Tyres get punctures, so always carry a spare, and the means to change it.

Recovery gear would be sensible to carry - tow ropes, straps, shackles and waffle boards may all come in handy at some point. Laning isn’t off roading, and in the vast majority of cases there is little chance of getting stuck, but there are places it can and will happen, plus there is always the chance of a breakdown, particularly if like me you drive Land Rovers.

Being prepared is always the best course of action, so take a friend and take something to pull each other out, or recover each other to the nearest road in case of breakdown (the AA aren’t big fans of laning!). If you’re a complete newbie don’t rush out and buy a ton of gear, go out with people who know what they’re doing and carry stuff with them. Ask them to show you what they use, and how they use it.

Driving off tarmac isn’t just a matter of owning a 4x4 and pointing it down a lane, and recovering someone isn’t just about owning the gear, doing both well and safely require knowledge and skill, so ask someone who has both!

Hand tools - these can be many and varied: tools to fix your 4x4 in the case of a breakdown, or to change a tyre.

Cutting tools to remove overhanging branches and/or trim back overgrowth.

A shovel in case of 'stuckness', and finally a trowel (there are no public toilets on green lanes!).

Other useful kit includes: first aid kits, CB radio (particularly useful here in North Wales where phone signals are less reliable than the local carrier pigeons), phone charger, paper map and compass as a back-up. In winter hot drinks, extra clothing and/or blankets, and a snow shovel, and during the current covid situation a mask, gloves, and hand sanitiser. are a must. There are countless other items you may find useful to have as you lane more often, you will likely expand your collection as you lane more frequently and in new areas.

I’m trying to keep this bit short and with first trippers in mind, anyone who knows me knows I have enough in the back of my Landy to survive anywhere for at least a week, probably two if I’m frugal with food (as if lol!) and still be quite comfortable doing so – in fact because I can I usually do, never lane with me unless you don’t mind taking a week’s holiday! But for a day trip as a beginner in a group of more experienced laners the basics will suffice.

F - Find my Street

This is a very handy website that records every street in England and Wales held by the National Street Gazetteer. It will show you the location of a street, its name, and most importantly the maintenance responsibility of that street. If you’re researching routes this comes in very handy to confirm legal statuses!

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G - Group sizes & Gates

GLASS advises groups sizes of four to six vehicles: four during wet weather and on sensitive terrain, six on more sustainable terrain. It really is a matter of common sense and practicalities as to how large a group can become. Some areas require travelling through people’s farms (even physical buildings like barns!), or through villages, and rightly or wrongly large convoys are not necessarily looked well upon by some local residents in these cases.

Other areas may be more open and have no local residents in the vicinity, so there is no one around to disturb – what may be perfectly acceptable on Salisbury Plain for example, may not be in North Wales where you need to drive through tiny picturesque villages and then someone’s yard and barn! The same can be said for sensitive national park, SSSI and AONB land.

There are other practicalities to consider too - passing others you meet on route, finding a place to stop for lunch - even if it’s just a big enough layby, maintaining a convoy during tarmacked parts of a route - keeping in contact with all drivers becomes difficult as numbers increase. I personally find 4-5 optimal.

Gates - The countryside code states that a gate should be left as you found it, but unless it's tied back, or there is a sign in place asking users to keep it open, it is most likely that the land owner will want it to be closed after use, especially when there are livestock in the neighbouring fields. Escaped livestock can be a huge problem for farmers, and other motorists. Cows or sheep on the road pose an obvious problem to road users, but issues of separating a mixed flock of hundreds of sheep, or interbreeding are serious, costly, and timeconsuming problems too! Always close gates behind you!

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H - Honeypot lanes

These are the lanes everyone knows about and everyone wants to drive. They usually have a name too: Strata Florida, the Wayfarer, Happy Valley, Whitestones, Ramsden Road, Parkamoor, Gatescarth Pass....the list goes on. They make up a tiny percentage of the overall number of lanes legal to drive, but they get the most traffic, and therefore the most problems and as a consequence require the most maintenance.

In fact of those I've mentioned three are currently closed for significant maintenance, one is illegally obstructed due to a local issue of gates being left open, two have recently received work, one has more work planned and one has a permit scheme imposed upon it.

While these lanes are iconic, and without question excellent drives, there are many more fabulous places to explore that so many laners miss! When planning a route by all means take in a honeypot or two, but don't forget the thousands of others! Trailwise2 has almost 20,000 lanes recorded, yet only a handful have a name.

Many of these nameless lanes require maintenance for the opposite reasons honeypots do - they become overgrown and almost forgotten by anyone above the most intrepid of green lane explorers due to lack of use.You could be missing out on some really great lanes by only driving popular routes, in fact some of my personal favourites are largely unused by others.

• • • • •

PC, smartphone and tablet friendly Toggle between BOAT, UCR and Legacy layers Information on restrictions and closures Multiple mapping options including OS Easy to zoom in and out

• • • • •

Add comments and photos against routes Extensive coverage of England and Wales Share a lane on Facebook or Twitter Available exclusively to GLASS members TW2... TrailWise, but smarter!

WHERE WILL YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?

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I - Initialisms

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

One thing that you'll see a lot of in the world of laning are initialisms, so here's a quick guide of some of the most common ones that you're likely to come across:

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AONB - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty BOAT - byway open to all traffic CC - County Council. This is often preceded by the initial of the council, for example - CCC Cumbria County Council, WCC Wrexham County Council DM or DM&S - Definitive Map, Definitive Map & Statement ETRO - Emergency Traffic Regulation Order HA - Highways Authority LAF - Local Access Forum - Local Access Forums advise decision-making organisations (such as local authorities) about making improvements to public access for outdoor recreation LARA - Land Access & Recreation Association set up to represent motorsport and recreation. GLASS are full members LoS - List of Streets MPV - Mechanically Propelled Vehicle NGR - National Grid Reference NPA - National Park Authority. Often preceded by the initial(s) of the local area, for example LDNPA - Lake District National Park Authority, SNPA - Snowdonia National Park Authority NERCA or NERC (2006) - Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 NIMBY - A term derived from 'Not In My Back Yard' applied to anyone who is an objector to something because of its proximity to their home etc.

ORPA - Other Route with Public Access - a designation used on OS Maps to indicate some but not all UCRs (unclassified roads) OS - Ordnance Survey OSGR - Ordnance Survey Grid Reference (also known as National Grid Reference) PbCR - Public Carriage Road PRoW - Public Rights of Way PVR - Public Vehicular Rights RB - Restricted Byway RoW - Right of Way RoWIP - Rights of Way Improvement Plan SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest TRO - Traffic Regulation Order TTRO - Temporary Traffic Regulation Order UCR - Unclassified County Road VR - Voluntary restraint. This a promise made by users that they will refrain from using a lane for a period of time for repair, over winter etc. It is not a legal closure and is preferred to using a TTRO as the vehicular rights are never altered during the period of restraint, nor is there any difficulty in lifting the restraint making the lane easier to reopen. It also shows goodwill from our community which can help prevent official closures.

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J - Jaffa Cakes

Essential kit! They provide energy and contain oranges which have lots of vitamin C, and as they contain fruit it makes them one of your five a day. What's not to love?!

(Disclaimer: the nutritional advice contained within this column may not be as accurate as the laning content!)

K - Keep to the legal route

"Off-piste driving", driving off the legal line, is a serious offence punishable by law. Not only could it be trespass, it could be trespass onto SSSI land which holds fines of up to £20,000! It is also one of the main reasons people call for closure of a route and can be extremely expensive to rectify when damage is done to surrounding land.

L - Leave nothing behind

Leaving no trace is essential for the preservation of our lanes and also our rights to drive them. Litter, open gates, signs of off piste driving, remnants of fires or camps, are all things that should not be visible or left for others to complain about or clean up after you. Leave the area as you would wish to find it.

M - Map reading

As essential skill for a laner! From route planning and plotting, to navigation on the day, and of course during emergencies or when lost, maps form an integral part of a laner’s skill set. We can't rely on there being a signal in some of our most popular laning areas, so be prepared with functional off line or paper maps!

Join me next month for N to Z! If there are any topics you’d like me to cover please do get in touch via email: lauren.eaton@glass-uk.org. GLASS are here to help educate anyone interested in green laning, so if you want to know anything that relates to the hobby I’d be more than happy to oblige!

That’s all from me this month folks.

N to Z will be coming in the next issue.

Happy laning!

Lauren x

For more information on green lanes visit:

www.glass-uk.org To join GLASS go to:

www.glass-uk.org/join-glass.html

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L i f e g n i n La

s w e N g n i k a e r B

by Lauren Eaton

A ‘GLEAMing’ example of national park management

Laning in the Lake District has been an ongoing battle for many years. While it is and always has been a popular area for 4x4 drivers to explore, it remains a stronghold for those who would like to see us banned from driving unsurfaced rights of way completely, and things have been getting progressively more vocal from the anti’s side over the last few years.

The best place to start is at the beginning......

Several years ago a petition was created calling for a ban on green laning in the park, these calls centred around two lanes - High Tilberthwaite and High Oxen Fell. Many accusations, quite a number of them inaccurate, were thrown at 4x4 drivers and motorcyclists.

These included that their use within the national park was risking its UNESCO World Heritage status, despite green

laning having been an active recreational pursuit in the park at the time it was granted. Other protestations included allegations of vehicular users 'tearing up the countryside', 'ruining the park', the use of motorised vehicles being a danger to other users and a detriment to the cultural and artistic heritage of the area.

Over half a million people have signed the petition, although many of the signatures were found to be duplicates, and many of the comments were not commensurate with the situation on the ground, and proved that the signatories had obviously not visited the area, in some cases the signatories admitted as much!

But the numbers warranted an investigation, and so the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) went about a two year assessment of the situation.

The review was extremely comprehensive, it can be found here (https://www. lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/ things-to-do/green_roads/ future-management-oftilberthwaite-and-oxenfell-roads), as can the judicial

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review documents, for those who wish to check out the full details. The LDNPA addressed and investigated all allegations and evidenced their findings within the report and a suite of appendices.

To cut a very long and complicated story short, they found no evidence, or not enough of it, to warrant closing the two lanes, let alone impose a blanket ban on MPVs in the park. What they did instead is outline a management plan going forward; a promise to monitor the situation and revisit it should things change.

This was not acceptable to those who created the petition, notably the Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM), who refused to rest until MPVs were banned and the lanes closed. Their only option was to begin a costly judicial review of the LDNPA’s assessment report, which is exactly what they did, using public money crowdfunded online to the tune of around £90,000.

That judicial review took place in June, and the findings were released during August. The good news (for us laners) is that the judge dismissed all claims made by one Patricia Stubbs who was acting on behalf of GLEAM, and upheld the findings of the LDNPA’s assessment report.

Simply put, we won, or the LDNPA did on our behalf. The judge concluded the matter very succinctly “Having considered each of the grounds upon which this application for judicial review has been pursued, I am satisfied that each of them must be dismissed”.

Game, set, and match!

Both the LDNPA and the judge upheld that the vast majority of people who visit the park drive to their destination, numbers that amount to almost 20 million in an average pre-covid year, and only an average of 40 vehicular users were recorded using the two lanes in question over a period of a week, a mere 2,080 a year compared to many millions on the numerous tarmacked roads that snake through the very same park without hinderance or campaign against them. The impact of this comparatively tiny number of motorists was dismissed as being negligible both by the park authority, and this point was upheld in court.

Claims that non-vehicular users were at risk were countered with the park being unable to provide evidence of this claim, “no actual evidence of any accidents, incidents or injuries to any users of either of these roads”.

Most interesting was the bias that was noted by the LDNPA, “…there are no comments about not wanting to see vehicles on surrounding roads, such as Wrynose Pass, or on the road to Tilberthwaite Car Park (or indeed in the car park). It is therefore difficult for us to judge the actual impact of around 40 a week 4WD vehicles using these roads, when compared to the vastly greater use of the surrounding road network.

Both have an impact on the views of the valleys and fells, and it is difficult to say that prohibiting vehicles on Tilberthwaite Road would substantially enhance the views and the landscape as a whole”.

The LDNPA also added that, “the use of roads such as this for off-road driving in the Lake District had developed soon after the development of the car” and that as such “it could be argued that the use of roads was part of the cultural history of the Lake District”.

This victory has some wide-reaching repercussions in how legal cases are fought, especially where recreational activities are alleged to clash with environmental concerns; something which comes up a lot in rights of way cases. These are judged against the Sandford Principle, which states that where the two clash, the conservation of an area should take precedent.

In the case of Stubbs vs LDNPA the judge ruled that the LDNPA had acted correctly in their

interpretation and implementation of the Sandford Principle into their assessment, and that there was no evidence to conclude that MPVs were having such dire effects on the national park as had been alleged by Stubbs and GLEAM. Despite having lost two battles GLEAM insist that the war is not over, and they are planning to appeal. Based on what evidence remains to be seen; neither the LDNPA nor the judge were able to find any to back up their claims at the assessment phase, or in court.

This begs the question as to what grounds the appeal will be made upon?

Just like any subject in the world of RoWs nothing is a simple as it appears.

The press heavily sided with GLEAM in the run up to the court case, although this does prove that the media may make a lot of noise and apply copious amounts of spin through its own platforms, but it also proves it does not have the ability to change facts in a court setting.

The case has also set an example for others to follow in cases of proposed closures based on public opinion, rather than the facts of the matter. This is particularly important as public opinion, bias and ultimately ignorance on what green laning is, and for that matter who does it, does drive many calls for lane closures.

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The most notable, and potentially most contentious matter this case raises is the expenditure of vast amounts of public money on a case based on little to no evidence. Not only has this case cost GLEAM supporters, rather than the organisation itself, circa ÂŁ90,000, it will have cost the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria County Council, not to mention interested parties such as the TRF, similar amounts.

Just imagine all the positive and necessary work that money could have funded within the park!

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The millions of visitors who choose the Lake District as a destination every year could have benefitted from that money, yet instead it was used to attempt to ban one minority user group where there was no evidence to back up the claims made; above the bias of the complainants that is.

While this is a matter of an organisation pitting one user group against another, we all have several very important viewpoints in common (or we should have!); that the Lake District National Park should be there for all to enjoy, that it should be preserved and respected, and that public money should not be spent on personal vendettas.

I’ll leave you with this thought: Is it right that despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary that a six figure sum of public money has been spent on this matter already through assessments and court cases?

The LDNPA, like all other national parks, has suffered financially during covid, I should have thought those who profess to want to protect it would not wish to further compound a difficult year by adding to the costs incurred by the managing authority; unless of course there was some proof that it was the right thing to do.

Sadly in this case it appears that right, wrong and evidence are being overlooked for the sake of personal opinion, and most alarmingly this action is being funded at the cost of the public purse.

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suzuki vitara

Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Hybrid SZ5 What is it?

The Vitara has been with us since 1988 when it had a proper low ‘box and genuine off-road capability. Then, in 2015, Suzuki got rid of their superb Grand Vitara (click here to read our really old review!) and replaced it with, in my opinion at the time, a softer, more trendy version. It didn’t have a low ‘box, neither did it have the same ground

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clearance or internal space as the long wheel base Grand Vitara.

With that being said, the ‘new’ Vitara remains a firm favourite here at Muddy Towers. It may not have the same ‘off-road’ prowess and rugged charm as the old model, but it excels it in more ways.

The new Vitara is lighter, more agile and arguably better suited for today’s buyer, and recently Suzuki gave it a bit of a styling upgrade and a 48v self-charging hybrid system that promises to cut emissions of greenhouse gasses by an impressive 20%, so let’s have a closer look.

On the road

To be honest, it’s business as usual. The Vitara’s ride has always been firm but comfortable with light steering. The latter does help around town and parking in particularly tight spots, though not necessarily for zooming around country lanes. That said, you can have a lot of fun on the right road.

Due to more stringent emissions, the turbocharged 127bhp 1.4-litre petrol is down 11bhp on the previous 1.4, but you’ll never notice. This is because it has an extra 11lb ft of torque to improve low-rev urgency and the sprightly 0-62mph time of 9.5secs is exactly the same as the outgoing model.

As I mentioned above, on the open road the Vitara is quite eager, and around town I noticed the improved smoothness of the start/stop system. This is because the hybrid system restarts the engine, which it does without fuss. The hybrid battery also powers some of the accessories when stationary that helps to keep the engine off for longer, meaning further fuel savings.

Suzuki have always packed a lot of equipment into their cars making them decent value for money, and sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference. Setting cruise control as an example, you don’t need to worry about braking whilst going downhill, unlike some other, more expensive cars, the Vitara will maintain your chosen speed no matter how steep the gradient, it’s good like that.

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Off road

If you’re a regular readers of The Mud Life, you’ll probably be aware that I’ve been fortunate enough over the years to have driven quite a number of Suzukis, especially off road, and their ALLGRIP 4x4 technology is as good as anything that comes out of Solihull.

With its relative lightness combined with ALLGRIP and a very good Hill Descent control system, it gets rid of the need for a separate low box for all but serious off-roading.

During our week together I enjoyed many a green lane in Yorkshire and over in the Lakes, you’ve just got to be aware of its approach angle and ground clearance. As you can see in the video, it handled the ford and immediate steep incline with loose stones with ease.

Like all AWD Suzukis, the ALLGRIP system works a treat with its four-mode ALLGRIP system.

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- Auto - The auto mode prioritises fuel economy in typical driving conditions and uses two-wheel drive by default. It switches to four wheel drive if it detects wheel spin.

- Sport - The sport mode is optimal for twisty roads. The system makes maximal use of four-wheel drive in accordance with accelerator inputs. At low and mid-range engine speeds, the system alters the accelerator/torque characteristics to optimise engine response and cornering performance.

- Snow - The snow mode is optimal for snowy, unpaved, and other slippery surfaces. The system uses four-wheel drive by default. It optimises four-wheel drive control in accordance with steering and accelerator inputs to promote traction and stability on low friction surfaces.

- Lock - The lock mode is for extricating the car from snow, mud, or sand. A limited slip differential is fitted which helps brake any slipping wheel and transfer torque to the gripping wheels. The system distributes high torque to the rear wheels continually.

Click on the triangle to play the video (34secs) Because Auto switches to four wheel drive if it detects wheel spin anyway, I didn’t bother switching it to any of the modes, I left it in Auto and let the car figure it all out, which it did without hesitation. I can only imagine that you have to be in dire straits to need Lock.

On conventional full time 4WD vehicles, feedback control allocates torque to the rear wheels after detecting front wheel drive slippage. On the Vitara, as well as offering feedback control it also offers feed forward control that anticipates slippage based on road surface, throttle opening position, steering angle and other factors. Therefore, rather than reacting after grip is lost, it controls the vehicle to prevent grip from being lost which results in greater stability.

I particularly liked that Hill Hold Control is available as standard equipment on all Vitara models, especially for green-laning use, it makes hill starts much easier by preventing the vehicle from rolling backwards for two seconds as soon as the driver removes his or her foot from the brake to the accelerator pedal.

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Interior

A I wrote last year about the 1.0 litre Vitara, the only thing about the Vitara to moan about was that the interior was a bit cheap and plasticy. Well, part of the 2019 styling upgrade was focussed on the interior, and now there’s new seat trim design, the upper instrument panel is upgraded to a soft-touch material and the instrument cluster now features a central colour information display.

Making yourself comfy in the Vitara, either up front or in the back, is easy, and there’s plenty of space, it’s quite airy in fact.

Granted, it still can’t compete with the ‘big boys’ when it comes to the touchy-feely stuff, but its a huge improvement and it makes for a nice place to while away the hours whilst you’re stuck on the M6 on a Friday afternoon.

Space-wise the Vitara has plenty, both up front for the ‘big boned’ amongst us, and the back seat isn’t bad either for the long legged.

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Conclusion

It’s frugal, comfy, quiet and practical, and if you opt for the Allgrip model, it holds the road like glue. The new Vitara also comes with a raft of safety features like a Forward Detection System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise control and Lane Departure Prevention (dependent on model) and a tyre pressure monitoring system. There’s also 7 airbags including Drivers Knee Airbag fitted as standard on all Vitara models, so it’s no surprise that the Vitara has a 5 star Euro NCAP score.

The old Vitara was a cracking 4x4, but this is a new car for a new age, and in my opinion at least, is well worth considering if you’re looking for a 4x4 of this size. more at » https://www.suzuki.co.uk price £20,849 press car; £27,349 including options

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Å koda Superb

Škoda Superb Sportline Plus Estate What is it?

2.0 TSI 268bhp 4x4

After driving this fire breathing monster of a Q-car many times in the past, I came over all sensible and asked Škoda if they had a lesser, perhaps more sensible version that I could borrow for a week. They said yes, and their 147bhp Superb SE L estate was duly booked.

Why do I call it a Q-car? Well, this large and unassuming-ish Škoda Superb Sportline Plus Estate will propel you to 155mph in just 5.7 seconds, which is the same top speed and only 0.4 of a second slower than that of a 2.0ltr turbocharged Jaguar F-Type, that’s why.

Then 2 days before it was due to arrive, I received an email telling me that another journalist had damaged it, and would I mind if they sent me the Superb Sportline instead?

The current Superb, which has recently been updated, has been the flagship model for Skoda since its introduction back in 2001, and has become the benchmark car for space, comfort and value for money, especially when compared with its siblings from VW and Audi.

Well go on then, if you insist.

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On road

The keen eyed amongst you will have noticed that this latest model is down on power from last year, and this is purely down to WLTP testing regulations that have forced the fitment of an exhaust particulate filter. So while the environmental benefits are welcome, the changes have knocked 8bhp from the engine’s maximum output, not that I ever noticed!

Select ‘Comfort’ mode, and despite its 19” Supernova anthracite alloy wheels and lowered suspension (15mm), the ride remains civilised, quiet and smooth, it does a great job of soaking up the bumps and isolating them from the cabin, you can thank its adaptive dampers for that.

Select ‘Sport’ and you get a bit more rigidity, it feels planted, stable and grippy, there’s still body roll but it isn’t offensive.

You’ll be hard-pressed to get it to wheel spin, even on wet roads as the AWD system works incredibly well. Around corners it gives you a lot of confidence as it’s so sure footed, and that 272ps on tap to slingshot out leaves you with a massive grin. It's easy to drive quickly, maybe too easy!

Plant your right foot to the floor and you’ll be addicted to its outright speed, your passengers and the fridge/freezer you’re carrying in the back might not be too impressed, mind.

One of my favourite driving routes is to take the B5105 from Ruthin heading towards the EVO triangle that begins at Cerrigydrudion, then the B4407 towards Ffestiniog and end up at Black Rock Sands, Porthmadog. Driving this route in the Superb, it’s never failed to leave a huge grin on my face. And of course it’s equally at home nipping to ASDA, taking old beds and wardrobes to the tip, as well as a multi-hour motorway jaunt.

Fuel wise, whilst, erm, enjoying myself in Sport mode I was seeing figures as low as 18mpg, yet on the long drive home at sensible motorway speeds it achieved 38mpg.

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Off road

Of course I didn’t take it too far off the beaten track, our ‘off-road’ forays were limited to grassy slopes, forestry tracks and the odd cobbled green lane, and it handled them like it was at Sainsbury’s car park. Its lack of decent ground clearance dictates that it’s more at home cruising along on tarmac, but when driving along sloppy, muddy ruts, its all wheel drive system worked effortlessly, not a hint of wheel spin nor struggle.

If however you require an AWD saloon with better ground clearance for more serious tracks, then maybe a Subaru would suit you better.

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Interior

I’ve always said that it’s the dash that lets the Superb down. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just a bit bland, especially when compared with likes of BMW and Audi. Having said that, Škoda have kept everything simple and ergonomic with infotainment technology that’s top notch.

You get a raft of features as standard on the Sportline Plus, and a 3-D sat-nav, colour touchscreen, drive mode select, dualzone climate control, adaptive cruise and CareConnect including Emergency Calls.

The list goes on with stop/start, automatic handbrake, blind spot detection, lane assist and front assist with automatic braking function. Oh, and the usual umbrella tucked away neatly in the drivers door.

As always, rear accommodation is vast and tall passengers have enough space to stretch their legs, and open the hatch there’s ample space for at least a couple of bodies, as proven by Muddy Madam. Don’t ask.

That said, despite having plenty of rear space, there’s around a 4” step into the load bay, and isn’t totally flat.

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Engines ’n’ transmissions

There are other smaller engines in the Superb range that are economical, proficient and feature the very latest advances in fuel efficiency and emission controls and will get you up to around 50mpg, which is fine, I guess, and one day I might even review one, but not today.

Conclusion

I know that I’ve written this before, but I’ve driven quite a few Superbs over the years, from hatchbacks to the estate, and I’ve enjoyed them all. No matter which engine or body style you choose they’ve all had this ability to shuttle you along in comfort and style that you would perhaps only expect from a far more expensive car.

I personally feel that the Superb is a true 5-star car, for practicality, fun and value for money, and in my opinion they don’t get much better.

Website - https://www.skoda.co.uk/new-cars/octavia Price starting at £20,965 Test car including options, £45,655

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LAND ROVER DEFENDER

Defender first drive

What’s in a Name?

The Defender is probably the most controversial vehicle to hit the streets in a long time. Whether it should be named Defender or not is perhaps irrelevant, it’s here, and that’s all that matters - a brave new Defender for a new market and a modern age. Seriously folks, it had to be done.

Everyone knows, even if they may not want to admit it, that the old Defender was simply unsuitable for the 21st century, its lack of any sort of safety features and passenger protection rendered it positively dangerous.

I could waffle on all day about old vs new, but instead I’ll tell you what new Defender like to drive.

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On The Road

Arguable the most important part of the new Defender’s remit was to make it safer with better on road manners. The trouble is, the old Defender always made you feel like you’re about to go on an epic adventure, even if you were just nipping to your local Co-op for some frozen peas.

The interior, which at I’ll get to later, is designed to be rugged and goes some way to making you feel like it’ll handle anything, just like the old ‘un, only with more space, comfort and tech.

The new Defender’s on road manners are light and day in comparison to the old one, and so they should be.

It’s still a tall vehicle, so don’t be thinking that you can throw it around corners at speed, if that’s the kind of driving you’re into, buy a Discovery or Range Rover Sport, that’s their domain, not the Defender’s. By the way, I’m not saying you can’t throw it around corners, you can, but it wasn’t designed for that.

With the 110 fitted with the optional variable ride height air suspension, no matter what road surface, the Defender 110 offers a quiet and relaxing drive, even with the drivers window fully down, there’s no buffeting as you get with many other vehicles.

For my 2 hour drive from Fen End to Eastnor Castle along A and B roads, I had the ‘240’ 237bhp, 317lb ft inlinefour twin-turbodiesel, and it was such a comfortable drive.

After around 130 miles that included many A, B and motorway stints, as well as an almost 2 hour off road course, ‘my’ Defender was showing that it had achieved just over 33mpg, which is impressive considering that I wasn’t hanging about!

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Off Road

C’mon, there was never any doubt that the new Defender wouldn’t be epic off road, was there?

A simple button push engages the low-range gearbox, which activates the off-road mode for the air suspension, giving 300mm of ground clearance, which 40mm higher than the old Defender. Simply switch the Terrain Response system to Mud and Ruts, set the hill descent to a sensible speed, and the new Defender took me everywhere I pointed it.

Unfortunately, the Eastnor Estate had had quite a dry spell of late, so the tracks were fairly easy to navigate.

The critics and doubters amongst us will always argue that Land Rover Experience off road course at Eastnor is built and designed to show off their abilities, of course they are, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t tough.

There were no creaks or groans from anywhere in the vehicle, except perhaps from me, I’d had a terrible night’s sleep, and my neck was a bit stiff…

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Interior

First things first, elbow space, there’s plenty, even for a tall fat bloke like myself!

The interior is where I believe the Defender retains its sense of adventure, that feeling you’re about to go on an exciting drive.

They’ve done a great job of updating the dash layout whilst still retaining certain aspects from older vehicles.

Sat behind thick rimmed steering wheel, you suddenly get an overwhelming sense of space, it’s huge inside, there’s a wide centre console and loads of space for you all your nik-naks, they’ve done a really good job of making the interior as practical as possible.

Despite being a bit posh, The new Defender is still utilitarian with tough, high quality, soft touch wipe-down materials and oodles of practicalness. It may not appeal to everyone, but I love the exposed bolts and architecture.

The now familiar central screen is integrated really well on the dash and sits just above the transmission shift and takes care of the usual connectivity, SatNav and external camera images.

As you might expect, the new Defender bristles with the latest Land Rover technology such as the PiviPro infotainment and up to the minute software updates from the vehicle’s constant connection to its own version of the Cloud. The list is almost endless of self activating apps and appliances, is it all a step too far for some purists?

Probably, but I suspect they aren’t the target market.

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Engines ’n’ transmissions Power is supplied by a variety of the now proven Ingenium engines both 4 and 6 cylinder petrol, 4 cylinder sequential twin-turbo diesel, plug in hybrid and mild or self-contained hybrid mated to 8-speed automatic transmissions.

Conclusion

I went to the launch expecting to drive a well balanced, exceptionally competent 4x4, it had a lot to live up to, and it didn’t disappoint.

Times are difficult for everyone and all manufactures, and I know that JLR would have much preferred to have had an extended test drive for us to get more of a feel for the car, but they did their best considering current restrictions. The 5 hours or so that I spent in the Defender was enough to convince me that they’ve surpassed their brief of building a Defender suitable for the 21st Century, one that you’ll actually enjoy driving down to Morocco and back in, and still be as fresh as a daisy Hopefully, within the next few months I’ll get my hands on one for a full weeks evaluation, but until then, let me raise my beer filled tankard and declare that the King is dead. Long live the King. more at » www.landrover.co.uk

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Lauren E. Darren Jim H. Laf Billy F. LR Asser Edward P Chris M.

All these people supported the creation of The Mud Life Mag by buying us two lunatics a hot chocolate or 2 this month, and we would like to thank you all so much, it really is appreciated so much more than you can know.

y Ta muchl Lee n e r a K Damian &

We want to keep the mag free to read, though it costs quite a bit for the two of us to put it together each month.

If you like what we do, we'd love it if you'd chip in for a hot chocolate every now and then, to help support us whilst we put together the next mag.

Everyone who buys us a hot choc each month will get a name check in the mag.

Buy us 2 hot chocs at one time, or become a regular monthly hot choc provider then you'll get a even bigger mention.

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What to do if you have an

C A CIDENT

This month we’ve teamed up with Heritage Insurance to give you the best advice on what to do in case of an accident.

While most of the fun driving happens off-road, there’s still a lot of getting about to be done on main roads, and however careful you are, you can’t always avoid an accident. When they do happen, you can sometimes be too stressed or frustrated to remember the best way to handle the situation, and what needs to be done for insurance purposes.

With a bit of help from our underwriting manager, we’ve put together a run-down of what to do if you’re involved in an accident to make sure you’re safe, get the information you need, and are able to get your insurance claim started without delay.

Bumps and crunches: what’s the first thing to do if I have an accident?

Whether it’s a bump at the lights, a nudge at a roundabout or a more serious collision, your reaction ought to be the same. Always move to a safe place - pull over to the side of the road if you can, and exit the vehicle safely, on the passenger side if you need to.

Exchange details with the other party Take images of both vehicles, areas of damage and the accident location (make a note of this too; you’ll need it for any claims).You don’t want the other party claiming that damage they’d already sustained was actually part of the accident they’ve just had with you – so be thorough.Your insurer may well walk through the incident with you at a later stage and your photos will help illustrate the related damage (or lack of it).

Call the police if needed If the road is blocked and/or there are injuries, the emergency services need to be notified.You should notify the police of any incident within 24 hours even if the vehicles can be driven away; you can do this by calling 101, the police nonemergency number. Sometimes they may need to appeal for witnesses if you haven’t managed to get any witness information at the time of the accident.

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What information do I need to get off the other driver?

Take the other driver’s name, their address, contact number, their vehicle registration, and their insurer details if possible. Some drivers may be reluctant to provide insurer information at the roadside or might not remember at the time who they’re insured with – let’s be honest, who carries their policy number in their car? But the more information you can get, the easier the claims process tends to be.

Were there any witnesses to the incident?

If so, get their details (name, contact number) too.

Are photos relevant or do insurance companies disregard them now in favour of dash cam footage?

Both are relevant! Insurers do prefer dashcam footage to help give them context on the circumstances of the accident, but images can help the insurers to work out who’s at fault and to determine damage costs to make appropriate payments.

Should I call my insurer straight away?

Call your insurers or legal cover immediately if the vehicle is undrivable; if you can drive the vehicle home, call your insurers when you are home and safe. If you arranged your insurance through a broker you can call them and they’ll usually be able to start the claims process for you.

Should I let recovery companies remove my vehicle or should I arrange my own recovery?

As a rule, we would always recommend you arrange your own recovery through your insurance.You might have a breakdown policy that includes accident recovery; if you have motor legal cover, they may be able to arrange recovery for you. If you’re not arranging the recovery yourself – for example you get recovered on the motorway or as part of a police operation - make sure you get full details of the company and where they are taking your vehicle.

Our motor legal insurance providers, ALPS, also provide our breakdown cover and can make arrangements for accident recovery for our customers too.

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What happens if my accident is on the motorway?

If it’s an accident on a motorway, it’s likely that recovery may be arranged for you, so as above make sure you take details of who the agent is and where your vehicle is going.

The accident wasn’t very severe – can I just drive away?

Driving away from the scene of an accident can get you a motoring conviction, which will stay on your licence for 4 years. If you get an AC10 conviction for failing to stop after an accident, or an AC20 for failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24hrs, you can receive between 5 and 10 points on your licence

depending on how severe the offence is considered to be. All things considered, we’d strongly recommend you stay on the scene and follow the steps above!

The takeaways…

Always stick to the main things: remember to take down the other driver’s details, get details from witnesses, take photos. Don’t just drive off or you could get points on your licence.

All of this will help make sure your insurers can process any claim more effectively, and helps to protect you.

Heritage Car Insurance provide classic, specialist and modified 4x4 insurance cover, including breakdown and motor legal insurance, for motor enthusiasts.

You can find more information by clicking the advert above which will take you to heritagecarinsurance.co.uk or by calling 0121 248 9253.

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h c o Mo

Short but sweet?

Apparently there’s more than one Troutbeck in the Lakes, did you know that?

I didn’t, and neither did Mat from Northwest Overlanders when he organised a day of driving a few green-lanes in the area. This is the reason why the rest of the group who he’d arranged to meet at 10.30am didn’t turn up!

Anyhow, long story short, after waiting for an hour or so with with Mat, and fiance Emma, we decided to head off for the first planned lane through Grizedale (Trailwise 2 reference - SD339405).

Starting from the Grizedale visitor centre, which is always good for a toilet stop, SD3394-05 begins with a narrow rocky climb. I’ve driven it numerous times and it always looks worse than it is. That said, you still need decent clearance as well as proper tyres, none of those low profile, elastic band things or they’ll end up damaged.

It was fun watching Mat and Emma bounce their way up, the joys of having a SWB vehicle like a Jimny!

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It was a dry day, so I didn’t need to lock the centre diff on Deux Smurf, I just pressed the 4WD button and let the auto gearbox do the work.On this section of the lane, don’t be tempted to drive with your windows open as there are plenty of low, overhanging branches that’ll whip you as you drive past!

Once at the top the lane turns to gravel, and this is where we decided to stop for some lunch and wait for the rest of the group to catch up.

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Whilst I had already preprepared a homemade chilli that was kept lovely and warm in my Hydro-Flask food flask, Mat and Emma decided on sausage rolls and soup.

It wasn’t long before we heard the rumble of engines behind us, and soon enough we had a convoy with Rory in his Land Cruiser, who featured in last month’s Reader’s Rides, Chris in his hybrid Land Rover, Simon in his 90, ? in his 110, and Thomas and his partner from Tents and Tread in their very tasty Jeep Wrangler.

After another half hour or so chatting and catching up, our small convoy made our way to the next section of the green lane. Controversially, the next section of the lane has been graded, and by that I mean that all the holes and and drops that made it interesting and challenging to drive have been filled in with stone.

A lot has been written on social media about this, but if we want to keep lanes like this open, then some repairs has to be done, even if the vast majority of users preferred it the way it was. Give it time and Mother Nature will wash the stones away, and in a couple of years it’ll be back to as it was before.

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Anyway, the rocky step near the end hasn't been touched, which always makes for a good photo opportunity. If you’re up this way for the first time, don’t be put off by the pics as there’s a bypass route just to the right of the tree.

Sadly, it was getting late, and whilst the rest of the group headed off to drive Breast High, I had more pressing matters to attend to at home, like putting the finishing touches to your favourite 4x4 magazine!

It's a hard life being a motoring writer..

New Stuff we've discovered this month LEATHERMAN FREE K2 MULTIPURPOSE KNIFE The Leatherman K2 was designed for the folding knife user who wants multipurpose functionality.

The main blade is 8.4cm long, in high-quality 420 steel. There are seven other tools, including a pry tool and Phillips screwdriver. Each tool is housed on the outside of an ergonomically refined aluminium body for ease of use.

The K2 also incorporates a magnetic locking system that allows each tool to open and close seamlessly with all tools being easily accessible from the outside for one-handed opening.

It comes in the 3 bright colours above as well as dark grey. , and don't forget you still get Leatherman’s massive 25 year guarantee too. price: £99.95 - £109.95 more at » www.leatherman.co.uk

ABOUT THE LINKS All the products in the 'New Products' & 'Goods & Gear' sections have clickable links & images that will take you to the manufacturer's or supplier's company sites, and we would love it if you click though and have a better gander at all their lovely stuff.

We sometimes also add a 'buy it at Amazon' link. If you click through, and buy via those links The Mud Life Mag will get a tiny referral fee from qualifying purchases.

This fee in no way affects what you pay, it just helps us, and is another avenue we are using to fund the creation of this magazine, rather than charging for each issue.

Thanks

Karen Lee & Damian

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ROAD VENTURE MT51 TYRES Yet another relative newcomer to the Kumho 4x4 range, MT51 now carries the mantle of being the company’s prime off-road mud terrain offering. It provides the perfect combination of balanced on/ off road driving and excellent off-road traction, while the braking performance is equally impressive on surfaces as diverse as tarmac and gravel.

The stiff sidewall construction minimises punctures, while notable shoulder notching maximises the tyre’s rock crawling performance.

It is currently available in 15 popular sizes to fit rims of 15 to 17 inches in diameter.

Further information on Kumho’s extensive range of 4x4 tyres can be found at : www.kumhotyre.co.uk

US ACTIONTRAX SAND LADDERS Whether you find yourself stuck in mud, snow, dirt, or sand, having a set of ActionTrax can make a huge difference in getting you back on track again.

With melting points at 288ºC and not becoming brittle until 128ºC, ActionTrax can take a beating in any environment.

US ACTION TRAX

Offered with standard polymer teeth, and optional metal teeth, they come in orange, black and tan, and other colours are available on request.

5% OFF Use: MUDLIFE5 Call 07505 973205 or email SALES@4X4OBSESSION.CO.UK 4X4OBSESSION.CO.UK

price: £265 for a pair (£251.75 with 5% discount below) more at » www.4x4obsession.co.uk

READER OFFER use code: MUDLIFE5

to get 5% off everything on the website

RATEL-X 90 HD REAR CORNER PROTECTION BUMPERETTES These handy bolt-on parts add valuable protection to the rear corners of your Defender and can also be used as a step plate.

Manufactured in the UK from 6mm structural S275JR grade steel, these sturdy bumperettes are galvanized, powder coated and designed to fit all Land Rover Defender 90 models and come fitted with an aluminium anti slip tread plate.

There’s no need for drilling either as they use existing mounting holes, and of course all the necessary bolts are supplied.

In addition, the bumperettes from Ratel-X can also be used in conjunction with the Mantec Swing Away Wheel Carrier. price: £122 more at » www.ratel-x.com THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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ARB BASE RACK ARB have recently released their new and ultra sleek, roof rack that boasts a super low profile and lightweight design. Not only that, but the new BASE Rack provides unmatched simplicity, flexibility and personalisation in your roof rack set-up.

Setting a new benchmark in strength and integration, the BASE Rack incorporates a revolutionary dovetail mounting system that makes attaching and removing loads and accessories easier, faster and more secure.

Available in a variety of lengths and widths to suit a growing range of 4WDs, configure the BASE Rack as a flat platform or add guard rails to provide partial or fully enclosed sides – the choice is yours! more at » arbeurope.com

available in the UK from » www.britpart.com

Britpart are delighted to now be an approved stockist for the entire ARB range of products in the UK. For nearly 40 years Britpart has been synonymous with parts for Land Rovers and now we are expanding our range of quality aftermarket parts with the introduction of the ARB catalogue for a multitude of 4x4 vehicles.

ARB’s range of products for the off-road and pickup market includes Air Lockers & > Compressors

Recovery Points & > Equipment

> Canopies

> Roof Racks

> Drawers

> StealthBar Bumper

> Lights

Steps & Side > Protection

Upgraded > Suspension

> Tyre Accessories

> Rear Protection

> Underbody Protection

ARB accessories & suspension products for a wide range of manufacturers & models Ford Ranger / Isuzu D-Max / Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee & Jeep Wrangler Land Rover Defender & Land Rover Discovery / Mitsubishi L200 / Nissan Navara & Pathfinder / Toyota Hilux / VW Amarok 70

arb4x4uk.co.uk

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sales@britpart.com

NEXTBASE 622GW DASH CAM Dash Cam sales have increased by 850% over the past 4 years, and the UK’s market-leader, Nextbase, has recently launched their new 622GW, which is the world’s first Dash Cam to offer lifesaving what3words and emergency SOS alert capabilities, and will call emergency services for you and provide a precise location.

The 622GW redefines industry standards to bring 4K HD recording and Image Stabilisation to the Dash Cam market and features a 3” Touch Screen, Amazon Alexa, Enhanced Night Vision, Intelligent Parking Mode, faster video transfers, and much more.

The crystal clear 4K 622GW is the first HD Dash Cam that captures footage of cinematic quality, recording at 30fps. Playback in Super Slow Motion at 120fps gives you complete control over your video, making it easier than ever to review Dash Cam clips for vital details following an incident. Modules are also available at the best image quality yet, including the Rear Camera Module that films at a quality of 1080p at 30fps. This is thanks to the latest Ambarella H22 quad-core chipset, tuned specifically by Nextbase, which covers the driver’s car from multiple angles at the highest level of filming quality possible.

There are dozens of new features, too many to list here, so visit their website for more details. price: £249 more at »www.nextbase.com

GENERAL GRABBER X3 TYRES With an 80/20 off/on-road weighting, the new X3 has been designed with 3 new technologies: “Extreme Mud (X Mud)” for maximum traction in deep mud, “Extreme Dirt (X Dirt)” for driving on dirt and gravel, and “Extreme Rock (X Rock)” for tackling rocky terrain - hence it’s name, X3.

With a 3-ply construction that provides additional strength and puncture resistance, it’s a design that makes for high levels of grip on sand, mud and gravel. Chamfered block edges, wider grooves in the tread and narrow grooves in the tread base help displace stones faster when traveling over gravel and prevent them notching or lodging in the tread. When driving over rocks, grip edges arranged at different angles in the robust tread deliver maximum grip in every direction.

Compared to its predecessor, performance on sand and in loose gravel has been improved by 5% in each case, while performance over rocky terrain has been given a 10% boost. In on-road use the new Grabber X3 is several percentage points better than its predecessor in terms of wet performance and noise, while on snow-covered ground this all-season off-road tyre delivers a 10% improvement The Grabber X3 is available in 19 different sizes for 15- to 19-inch rims. All sizes of this off-road specialist are approved for speeds of up to 99mph. more at » www.generaltire.co.uk/car/tyres/grabber-x3 THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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GOODS & GEAR R O BENS C OOKERY K I N G I'm still trying to reduce to amount of kit I carry in the back of Deux Smurf, and press 4x4s, for camping and days out, so I wanted to give the Cookery King from Robens a try out.

Weighing in at just 980g, it’s lightweight, tough, and made from hard anodised aluminium, and it’s quite a versatile piece of kit.

It’s compact too, measuring just 21.5cm in diameter and standing 11cm tall, and comprises of a 19cm non-stick pan, two pots (1,700ml & 1,400ml) and a lid. Also included is a gripper handle, an alcohol burner, chopping board / pan-protector, stable pot holder (in a soft bag) with windshield, an adjustable grill, strap and mesh bag - phew!

It’s very easy and fairly straight forward to put together with a few innovative features eg. the lid fits all 3 pans, There’s a circular hole in the base that allows you to feed the Robens Fire Beetle stove through if you choose to use gas.

When I’ve used a Trangia stove in the past, if you want to simmer or extinguish the fire you have to drop a cap on the brass burner, with the Cookery King, there’s another much wider hole cut into the pot stand that allows you to feed the simmer cap through which is much safer to put in and remove.

The wide footprint ensures stability, while the wrap-around side provide windresistance and the efficient burn of a choice of fuels.

Any problems? No, the entire system works really well, though having a few tiny holes in the lid so to create a sieve would be useful, but I can work around that. The only problem I had was trying to find some bioethanol fuel to use as all the camping shops local to me had sold out! price: £97 more at » www.robens.de/en-gb

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GOODS & GEAR O UT W ELL C AZA L GRI LL

If you’re looking for a neat and easy to use portable folding grill, then look no further.

Setting up is dead easy, simply unfold the grill and pop open the hinged sides into position, then put the grilles in place, which are always stored inside. You then have a very stable BBQ with a generous 45 x 30cm cooking area.

Just below the coals grille there are 3 smallish vents that allow air in, and in my experience they can also let a small amount of hot ash out. It’s no big issue, but something you need to be aware of if you’re on dry ground.

some wood to help keep us warm in the evening and after around 10 uses it’s remained in great condition, though some paint has burnt off, but that’s expected.

I really like the Cazal, it has a built-in carry handle and weighs in at only 3kg, and once folded it lays flat which is great to transport around, and it assembles in seconds.

My only niggle is that it doesn’t quite slot back into the box that it came in that well, and I ended having to throw if away.

We’ve used it quite a number of times now and we’re totally smitten, but one thing to be aware of, the Cazal is only designed to be a charcoal grill, so if you start to fill it with wood for a proper raging fire, it won’t like it much and may deform.

"Why is this a bad thing?" I hear you cry.

Well I do like to keep this kind of thing in the box if it doesn't come with a bag (and this doesn't), to stop it getting bashed about and to keep it and the car clean, so having no box anymore just...niggles. At some point I’ll ask Muddy Madam to make a bag for it.

https://www.robens.de/en-gb/shop/outdoor-accessories/cooking/ storm-cookers/cookery-king Having said that, I’ve thrown on

price: £43.99 more at » www.outwell.com/en-gb THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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GOODS & GEAR

E F I L D U M IL VE THE For a number of years Muddy Madam has been designing geeky T-shirts for a charity, and for fun. She had a dabble at doing t-shirts for The Mud Life a while back, but never really ran with it, but recently after a number of people mentioned putting the funky toon-style car images she creates for the mag on T-Shirts, she decided to jump in with both feet, and has created a spin-off brand 'Live The Mud Life' to sell quality apparel and artwork.

Although this magazine is about 4x4s, which aren't exactly the most eco-friendly form of transport, it doesn't mean that

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we (and you) don't want to do our bit wherever we can, so after plenty of research, and asking the Mega Mud Lifers in the facebook group about what they would prefer, Muddy Madam has decided to team up with a UK based business with great eco-credentials, Teemill.

They only use GTOS certified organic cotton from India for their fabric, and throughout the supply chain renewable energy is used.

In the UK they own a solar farm, and power their manufacturing operations with renewables, and in India, the factory owns two wind farms and a 150kw PV array.

GOODS & GEAR What does this all mean for you? you?

It means you'll get: - Nice, soft, quality organic T-Shirts, Hoodies & Vest Tops for men, women & children - Distinctive designs that you can't get on the high street - A good range of sizes: Mens XS - 2XL

Ladies 8 - 20, Kids 3-12yrs - A nice mix of colours - Fantastic artwork prints for your walls - Plastic-Free packaging - a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that you are supporting 2 British businesses - us & Teemill There are quite a few designs in the shop now, and more added each week.

www. livethemudlife.co.uk

WIN

a T-shirt of your choice from the

website

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History of Jeep

part 2

The 1950s Written by Simon Hastelow

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1950-1960 GOODBYE TO WILLYS-OVERLAND:

W

illys-Overland ushered in the 1950s with a horizontal grille for the Jeepster, two new engines, a new ½ ton FWD pickup truck and a new one-ton 4WD pickup - an exclusive in its field. A bold look was created by the truck's V-grille mass.

1950 HALF TON JEEP

The pickup featured the new high-compression Hurricane engine, the most economical and powerful standard size four-cylinder automotive engine to use commercially available gasoline.

The Hurricane was developed under the direction of Delmar Roos, the father of the first Willys Jeep military vehicle, and became the standard engine for Willys-Overland's complete line of utility passenger cars and trucks. It produced a "whopping" 72 brake horsepower at 4,000 rpm.

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The pickups represented the newest addition to the W-O line of "America's most useful vehicles?'

The second engine introduced in 1950 was the "Lightning" six-cylinder, offered as an option on the Jeepster and two-wheel-drive Willys Station Wagon.

The Lightning represented increased bore and stroke, cubic displacement, compression and horsepower (75 at 4,000 rpm) over the previous Willys 6.

1956 FORWARD CAB

The name Willys-Overland had become world famous over nearly half a century, but 1953 saw a new owner, a new name and new directions for the company.

For an estimated $60 million, the Henry J. Kaiser interests acquired all W-O facilities, plants and vehicles in April to go with their own line of Kaiser passenger cars. The new name was Willys Motors, Inc., and the new direction was international.

However, Kaiser left Willys alone in its Jeep pursuits, and that was a good thing; in 1954 the CJS was introduced, and became such a popular 4WD vehicle that it endured, albeit with improvements in power plants, axles, transmissions and seating comfort, all the way to 1983. While similar in specifications to the original civilian Jeep CJ2A, the CJS featured softer styling lines, including rounded body contours.

The CJS was based on the slightly larger M38A1 military Jeep, which came into existence in 1951 and later saw service in Korea and Vietnam until 1963, when it was replaced by the M151.

1959 2WD GALA DISPATCHER

Kaiser continued producing the utility line of Jeep Universal vehicles, and the Willys passenger cars through the mid1950s, adding two of the industry's most unique vehicles - the 1955 two-wheel-drive dispatcher surrey, based on the Universal line, and the 1956 FC series trucks.

The dispatcher line expanded in 1959 with a colourful version called the Gala. It actually has fringe around the candy-striped soft top.

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The Forward Control or FC series began with the 1956 FC-150, built on the 81-inch CJS chassis, and the FC-170, which rode on the Willys utility wagon's 103.5-inch chassis.

The FCs' unique cab-over-engine design gave them a hoodless, flat-nose appearance. The FCs were produced until 1964 and may someday be remembered as before their time for the cab-forward design coming into its own in the 1990s.

The mid-1950s also marked the beginning of Kaiser's influence on the future of the 4WD sport utility industry as the company began an extensive research and engineering program to broaden the utilitarian 4WD vehicle market. The fruits of that program would first be seen in the fall of 1962.

Kaiser's desire to broaden its Jeep lineup was equalled by the goal of expanding sales in foreign markets.

Over 16 years, Kaiser established manufacturing facilities in some 30 foreign countries and marketed Jeep vehicles in more than 150 countries around the world.

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acebook Page of the Month Once, not so long ago, if you wanted to catch up with like minded enthusiasts, you’d join a forum. It appears these days however that Facebook has taken over the mantle for the place to go for information. So, in the aptly titled ‘Facebook Page of the Month’ every month I will invest hours of time, effort and energy searching Facebook for interesting and relevant groups so you don’t have to. It’s serious work, or so I tell Muddy Madam!

Yorkshire Green Lanes https://www.facebook.com/groups/Yorkshire.Green.Lanes/ WHO STARTED IT IT? Susan Walker

WHEN? 26th of July 2014

WHY? The group was started as a hub and forum for the green lanes in Yorkshire, and a hangout for the people of Yorkshire, who like to green lane! Apart from discussing the local lanes, we discuss vehicles, techniques, experiences of other lanes in other counties, and serve as networking point for member to meet new people.

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HOW MANY MEMBERS SO FAR? We have 3,683 members at the time of writing.

AREA? The admin team are based in West and North Yorkshire, but we have members all over the globe. But mainly Yorkshire‌ Our team and our members run trips in Yorkshire and other parts of the country too.

ARE THERE PUB MEETINGS? Until Covid graced us with its somewhat unwelcome presence, we held regular monthly pub meetings. We’ve also held seminars and had a group presence at shows. We will be picking this up again when the time is right, CAN MEMBERS ORGANISE THEIR OWN TRIPS? Our members are actively encouraged to organise their own trips. Our admin team are on hand to offer help and advice, and keep a close eye out to make sure that trips are safe and legal. Members are also asked to adhere to a set of rules covering conduct and standards if they are to attend a trip on our page

If you, or your group, would like to be featured as FB Page of the Month send us a quick email to:

POTM@themudlife.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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YouTube Channel of the Month

Who are you and where are you from?

I'm Harry Fisher, my wife is Sam and our pet cow/dog is Fred. We are from Perth, Western Australia, but currently live in Broome, Western Australia (that might not sound like much of a move, but it's about the same distance as London to Moscow).

How would you describe your channel?

I do a mix of gourmet cooking, adventuring, fishing and talking bollocks. Always with a fire and never with a script.

How many videos have you created so far?

Not very many at all, just released number 28.

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When and how did it begin?

It began in 2016 as an idea with a mate with a big channel (Ronny Dahl) trying to convince me to make a proper camping Instagram page with a focus on cooking. Then a few years later I made my first video which hit 100k views, so I figured I was on to something and decided to make a few more.

What’s been the biggest challenge so far?

Probably audio - I have had to give up on a few videos because you just couldn't hear them. Since then I have spent a small fortune on audio gear and everything has become a lot faster and easier.

What inspires you?

Old adventurers like Kingsley Holgate, Malcolm Douglas and Les Hiddins as well as the stunning environment I live in up in Broome. It's nearly impossible to stay inside there.

Can we find you anywhere else?

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCVbGxGVUyKNihPeh7Efa-Zg Instagram - firetofork Facebook - firetofork

Click on the arrow to play the video If you would like your channel to be featured send us a quick email to: YTOTM@themudlife.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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Amy, Luke and Tiffany too I first met Amy, Luke and their JL Wrangler Rubicon named Tiffany last month at a camping weekend, and after learning that they’re based in Leeds and hadn’t driven some local lanes, I offered to show them ‘round when they were next free.

Fast forward a few weeks later and we’d arranged to meet outside the Star Inn, just off the A635 near Shepley, with a plan to drive around 17 green lanes.

I’d had this particular route planned for ages, but because the magazine is such a time-consuming and demanding mistress, and it would take the best part of a day to drive them all, I've never seemed to have the time, so showing Amy and Luke around was the perfect excuse.

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Our first 3 lanes were easy enough and can probably be driven in a 2WD SUV. The first lane was Trailwise reference SE1908-02, a flat, single track lane with a good solid base with pleasant views, and once you reach the end, driving east to west, you cross the A629 and drive straight onto SD1908-03. This is quite wide and only lasts for a few hundred yards, but we still managed to get an odd look from a resident of one of the houses.

Our next lane was a mile or so up the road, SE170804, and is a bit bumpier and longer that the previous 2, but again with a hard base it isn’t challenging at all, but what it didn’t give us in technical difficulty, it does offer some splendid views.

Lane 4

occasion rock to negotiate, and even more stunning views to the right looking over New Mill and beyond.

Reaching the end SE1708-04 you have three choices, turn left onto Intake Lane - boring. Turn right down an intriguing gravel track called Scaly Gate that I haven’t driven yet, or carry on along SE1608-01 or Scar End Lane. We chose the latter.

Scar End Lane is quite narrow with a solid dirt base and the

Initially it’s fairly flat, then we began our steep descent at times has a steep descent. With aforementioned solid base, traction is never a problem, heck, I’ve even driven up in a Subaru Forester in torrential rain, you just need to watch out for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

No, the Jeep isn't pulling a wheelie, just a bit of photo illusion going on here.

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Lane 4 Reaching the end SE1708-04 you have three choices, turn left onto Intake Lane - boring. Turn right down an intriguing gravel track called Scaly Gate that I haven’t driven yet, or carry on along SE1608-01 or Scar End Lane. We chose the latter.

Scar End Lane is quite narrow with a solid dirt base and the occasion rock to negotiate, and even more stunning views to the right looking over New Mill and beyond.

Initially it’s fairly flat, then we began our steep descent at times has a steep descent. With aforementioned solid base, traction is never a problem, heck, I’ve even driven up in a Subaru Forester in torrential rain, you just need to watch out for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

Lane 5 Cheese Gate Nab Side, or SE1607-02 is a quite a gnarly lane that seems to have gotten worse over the last twelve months with large ruts and holes forming at the top (east to west).

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Despite it’s worsening condition, both Deux Smurf and Tiffany managed it with ease, though Deux Smurf managed to make it look more dramatic than it was, as she lurched from side to side!

As you near the end there’s an ’S’ bend, and it’s the second bend that’s more severe, as you not only have a deep rut that’s formed into the rocky base, but quite a big step just after it.

This section in particular has been affected by the adverse weather we’ve had that has washed all the dirt away.

We both managed it with ease, though gravity always helps as we were driving downwards. I was tempted to drive back up again, but I was conscious of time and that we had another 12 lanes to drive.

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Lanes 6 and 7 No photos of Ward Bank Road (SE1306-02) and Cartworth Moor Road (SE1305-02) as they’re fairly straight forward and can be driven in a car, though the former is a little rocky in places, so a car with decent ground clearance, like a Forester would managed it.

Lane 8 Again, starting from east to west, Ramsden Road is single track road with a hard surface which in parts has been graded, but as you bear left and head downwards, in the distance you can spot something interesting. Water erosion has cut a deep channel on the left hand side of the track that’s around 4 feet deep, and thankfully the drop off on the near side isn’t that bad.

Now, before I go any further it’s worth mentioning that this is still a sensitive route so if you do venture along it please drive with care and restraint.

As I edged Deux Smurf slowly and carefully into the channel I could feel the off-side rear wheel lift significantly. I remained at quite angle for the following 10 or so yards until I approached the right hand bend and the high bank ahead of me.

With the drivers side high up on the banking I again edged slowly as the passenger front tyre drove up the bank on the left hand side causing the near-side wheel to flail in the air, as usual.

At this point I jumped out and watched the smile on Luke and Amy’s faces as Tiffany flexed her way down the road.

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When you arrive at the end of Ward Bank Road just be careful as you arrive at a crossroad with sketchy visibility at either side.

Cross over and you’re on Cartworth Moor Road which is wide open dirt track that can be driven in a normal car, but it’s a means to an end as our next lane was infamous Ramsden Road.

From here, Ramsden Road changes its character and becomes quite rocky.

There’s a fair bit of off-piste activity here where 4x4s without much ground clearance have driven wide on both sides to avoid the steps.

With Amy walking beside Tiffany taking a video, I did a bit of road maintenance so Luke could safely drive into one of the holes without catching Tiffany’s rear bumper.

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Lane 9 When you reach the bottom turn left and you’re on Rake Head Road and KilnBent Road, SE1005-06, a dirt track with wide puddles in places that can be driven easily enough in a ’normal’ 2wd car.

Before you reach the A6024 (Woodhead Road), there’s a fork in the road with the The Old Gate Track veering off to the left, and I was really looking forward to driving it.

Lane 10 SE1005-05, The Old Gate Track, has been graded.

It’s ruined!

It was challenging and narrow lane with deep diagonal holes that tested the suspension, as you can see in this video we did for last month’s issue, but now it’s as flat as a pancake!

Dismayed, we turned right onto the A6024 (Woodhead Road), and headed towards Meltham and aimed for the A62 towards Standedge.

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Lane 11 Around 20 minutes later we turned right at the car park (east to west), onto SE0109-01. It’s a fun little lane with two large opposing holes near the beginning to catch you out.

My first attempt didn’t go too well as I ended up with Deux Smurf’s opposing wheels off the ground and I came to a standstill. My second attempt was more successful as I kept further to the right keeping my off-side tyres against the banking, and this time I drove straight through without much fuss.

Luke, having beam axles, coils and locking front and rear diffs, had no such drama and managed it on first attempt.

The rest of the lane is easy and leads us back onto the A62 towards our next few lanes that are all interconnecting.

Lane 12 Turning left just after The Saddleworth Hotel we found ourselves on lane 12, SE0008-05 to be precise.

It’s quite a narrow lane with a solid base, and looks as though someone has been up with broken bricks at some point to fill in some of the holes.

Upon reaching the top there’s a green lane crossroad which, if you carry straight through you get to the most challenging lane in this section, Harrop Edge or Hunters Hill Lane as I believe it’s called.

Lane 13 I drove SE0008-04, or Harrop Edge as I now call it, a few months ago in Deux Smurf, we even created a short video of her mostly on 3 wheels!

Once you reach near the bottom there are quite a few deep rain channels that run across the lane that test your articulation. Then, there’s a tight left hand bend that leads to a couple of rock steps that aren’t suitable for low slung 4x4s.

As I’d already driven it, I was more interested in taking photos, so Luke took his time in Tiffany and once at the bottom, turned around and drove back up, again making this technical section look like a trip to Tesco!

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Lane 14 Driving back up to the crossroads we turned left and followed SD9907-06 which is a long and straight lane, when compared to other lanes in the area, at least, and suitable for a 2wd car, with care.

Lane 15 Our next lane is around 1/2 mile further along when we turn right onto Lark Hill, or SD9807-03.

It’s a rocky lane that’s suitable for most 4x4s, and around a 1/4 of the way down there’s a diagonal channel that spans across the lane, nothing too challenging.

What’s annoying though is the amount of off-piste activity that surrounds this lane, it really does resemble a Pay & Play site in places. I wish people would have more respect.

Once at the bottom, we joined the A62 and headed towards Upper Castleshaw reservoir, which was the beginning of our penultimate lane, SD9810-03.

Lane 16 Arriving at the start of the lane we were confronted with the gate lying on the floor. Not wanting to simply drive over, like it appeared someone already had, Luke and I removed all the grass away from the hinges on the wall, picked up the gate and re-housed it.

From here, SD9810-03 rises quite steeply, which isn’t a problem as the ground is solid and well drained, though I wouldn't like to drive up when it's icy, it could be a bit treacherous.

Upon reaching the top we had a choice, carry on on what looked like an easy, straightforward lane, or turn left, we chose the latter.

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Lane 17 Our final lane of the day was SD9809-11 and offers some spectacular views over both Castleshaw reservoirs and beyond.

SD9809-11 was a cracking lane to end the day on as it’s quite narrow between stones walls, with sections where parts of the walls have collapsed leaving them strewn along the ruts creating mini obstacles.

Both the Wrangler and Deux Smurf managed fine, but I wouldn’t like to take a smaller 4x4 or SUV along, like a Duster, say, as the ruts, holes and rocks would make it difficult.

Soon enough we reached the end of the lane, and it was time for us to go our separate ways. What a fantastic day I had, with equally great company, I hope they enjoyed it as much I did.

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IN OUR GARAGE

Springing Int o Act ion Update - 9 months in

I have no idea what suspension was fitted when I bought her, there were no discernible markings, all I knew was that it was roughly a 1� lift and very heavy duty. Driving along smooth country lanes and taking sharp corners, Deux Smurf, our 1996 Toyota Surf, handled like to a sports car with hardly any roll, but when confronted with pot holes, speed bumps and rock-strewn green lanes, it wasn’t a nice experience.

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N

ine months ago, as regular readers may remember, I, or rather Steve my mechanic, fitted a full Pedders suspension kit to Deux Smurf (issue 12), that transformed her ride immeasurably.

So, 2,000 miles and 9 months later, how has it faired?

IN OUR GARAGE She still handles the road really well and there’s a fine balance, unladen she still feels a bit hard, but there’s no more thuds when I drive over particularly high speed bumps or deep potholes, there’s a well dampened softness to her now - I like it. I no longer avoid 3rd world roads (or main roads as they’re also known as in Bolton) for fear of losing my fillings, nor do I have to borrow Muddy Madam’s sport bras for my Moobs! As you would expect, add a little extra weight in the back and she’s smoother still.

Although I haven’t touched it, the new kit has also improved her steering, I have a lot more confidence to take corners quicker than before, which isn’t a good thing really, because as good as the BFGoodrich KM3s are on road, they’re still mud terrains and therefore aren’t too keen on Deux Smurf’s new found handling performance!

Granted, 2,000 miles isn’t a lot, that’s because we have a lot of press cars delivered to Muddy Towers that are used for the regular commute and days out. Deux Smurf on the other hand is now mainly used for both camping and green-laning trips, and except during lock-down, we’ve been out ‘laning a least twice a week since, and it’s on the rough stuff where they’ve surprised me the most. Deux Smurf has far more flex, especially up front.

In fact, the 265-75-16 KM3 now catch on the front bumper extensions when at extreme angles. The important thing is that for the majority of the time, all 4 tyres are always on the ground. That said, she still likes to lift a wheel or two!

Check out the video below, I purposely drove lanes that would lift a wheel or two.

Of course, you could argue that going from knackered and unknown suspension to a new set up will always give a vehicle a much smoother and better ride, that’s obvious. However, the Pedders suspension has given her a new lease of life, she drives and handles more like a modern 4x4, not the 24 year old that she is.

As I wrote in the original article, I asked the question on both the Australian and UK Surf Facebook pages, ‘which brand of suspension would give me a comfortable on-road experience yet still offer a decent off-road ride with a good amount of flex?’

The overwhelming majority said Pedders.

Did I make the right move? Oh hell yes.

Would I recommend Pedders? Like a shot!

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Tixover Playtime

A bonus of having a magazine is that I get invited on lots of jaunts, from camping weekends to foreign car launches, and not only do I have a great time, but I also get to meet interesting people, too.

Last month, Martyn Defurey, an admin for the Mitsubishi L200 owners (International) Facebook group, invited me down to Ketton, down near Stamford. Martyn had organised a camping weekend that included a day at the Pay and Play site, Tixover.

Martyn had found a cracking campsite for everyone that’s only a few minutes away from Tixover called Cuckoo Farm Campsite, a quiet family oriented campsite that’s quite a gem.

After setting up camp and realising just how unfit I am by putting up my Robens Vista 400 inflatable tent by myself, I was able to relax as David and Abby pulled up beside me and began doing the same. It’s always easier setting up camp with two people!

There was a cracking selection of L200s that turned up, around a dozen in total, from those that wouldn’t look out of place

on a concourse d’elegance stage, which includes Justin Smith’s V8 conversion, to John Halsey's highly modified L200 that has a Cummins conversion.

As the evening progressed, beers, laughter and open fire pits ruled the first night’s joviality, perhaps a little too much, as there were the ‘odd’ complaint.

Despite the forecast threatening rain, the following morning’s downpour didn’t materialise, thankfully, and I was able to put my tent away whilst it was dry, which is always a bonus.

Fancying a fry up, I nipped across to the campsites shop to buy some local produce and cured bacon, which was so good I went back and bought some more to take home.

Members of the group will be aware of what happened next, so let’s just say that the previous nights jovialities didn’t go down well with the other campers, and as some members of the group left for Tixover, a few stayed behind to clear up.

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The Tixover quarry is literally only a few minutes away, and by the time I arrived everyone was getting stuck into it and having a ball.

As most reading this will know, the great thing about Pay & Play sites is that you can explore, not just the limits of your 4x4, but around the site without worrying about going off-piste and damaging our fragile green-lane network.

Due to all the dry weather we’d had recently, the majority of the site was dry and dusty with hard formed ruts in some places. That’s not to say there wasn’t any sloppy stuff lying around to catch the odd L200 out, there was, and I believe the first casualty of the day was a young chap who was left with a totally sodden air filter.

Camaraderie rules in clubs like this, and after a few phone calls were made to a selection of local motor factors, the correct filter was located and someone gave the chap a lift to collect it.

Meanwhile, I wandered around the site taking pics of the now, not so shiny L200s. It was great watching owners who cherished their trucks not afraid to get them filthy, like Scott in his mint 4Life single cab. Equally fun was watching John in his Cummins powered L200 tackle some crazy obstacles.

I don’t admitting that the Mitsubishi L200 has always been a favourite pickup of mine, I just love the way they tackle mud as well as tarmac, and it was great watching them tackle some of Tixover’s more technical challenges.

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Even though the majority of the quarry was bone dry, I’d say that Tixover has something for novice 4x4 owners as well as the experienced, and for all types vehicles, too. Just add some rain the mix and it would be quite challenging.

Around lunch time, after chatting to more club members, I decided I’d better head off for home, it’s a 3 hour trek and I had plenty of work waiting for me.

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Overall, it was a fun weekend during which I met some great people. So if you have an L200, why not log onto Facebook and join the Mitsubishi L200 Owners Club UK (International). With just over 9,000 members, their purpose is to bring owners together, to share a bit of fun and advice.

In addition, Martyn has also created a website for the group were members are allowed sell their wares and post pics, etc. It’s relatively new and the app is still being built, but log on and say hello! https://social. mitsubishil200ownersclub.com

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wri t es Simon says

by Simon Hastelow

In this month's musings Simon ponders...

Temptation!

Last month I mentioned that I had started to clear out the shed; a few of you will realise that this can be a traumatic experience. Treasured possessions built up over many years, vital spare parts that were very hard to come by, and often bought for ridiculous sums of money.

However I also told you about a number of parts that were for cars I'd never owned, or had now long since departed. Try as I might I just couldn’t justify hanging on to quite a bit of gear so it had to go.

eBay or skip?

Often the pile it ended up in was a borderline decision.

Obviously with eBay the benefit is finding a new home for your stuff and getting beer tokens in return. The financial rewards then sit in your PayPal account - a kind of no-mans-land for cash.

It hasn’t come out of your current account so spending it doesn’t affect your monthly budget. - free money, if you will.

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But this is a perilous situation.

You have virtual money (which also has the added benefit of being invisible to your significant other), and because you are selling stuff on eBay, you are just a click away from people in a very similar situation to yourself.

You have joined a club that no-one mentions. Its fellow members are probably clearing out similar sheds in other parts of the country. They might have stuff that you ‘need’, so you start browsing.

You start to feel the thrill of retail therapy kicking in.

If you are like me you don’t mess about looking for widgets, you go straight for the big stuff, which in my case is Discovery II TD5s, Land Rover Forward Control campers and even the odd Pinzgauer!

I haven’t quite figured out how having £137 in my PayPal account is going to help when artic trucks go for at least £5,000, but I did it anyway.

I have no room on my drive, and I have no excuse at hand for such an extravagant wishlist.

Thankfully most of the listings I viewed on this occasion were dismissed for one reason or another. Rotten chassis, dodgy modifications, sketchy history, weird colour....the excuses mount up swiftly.

Is this just some kind of subconscious safety mechanism? I know that I can’t have what I’m looking at so I find reasons not to like it.

The odd one slips through, the ones you click ‘watch’. It’s like an online peep show, we get to see the goods, but we’ll never touch them.

But one day....

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es d i R s ' r e Read

Who are you, where are you from and what do you do?

James Ford, Ely Cambs. I work in motorsport sales at Cosworth by day, and automotive writing by night.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 I've had nearly 40 cars, so here are a few that stick out in my mind: - 18 years old, my 3rd car & 1st Land Rover - 1.8 Freelander 1 3 door - 89 VW Corrado - 89 Jaguar Sovereign - 03 Mercedes CL500 - 07 Mercedes S350 - 02 Volvo XC70 - 01 Audi A6 Allroad - 09 Freelander 2 HSE - 07 Discovery 3 HSE - 98 Jaguar XJ Sport - 91 Mazda MX5

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Present 4x4(s) ’96 P38 Range Rover Modifications done Terrafirma extended shocks and steering damper, Grabber AT2 tyres, 3" suspension lift, rock sliders, Facelift lights, D2 bar, LED light bar, CB radio.

Favourite Modifications The suspension lift and bigger tyre combo.

Modifications to do Roof rack, maybe switch the light bar to some spots Favourite green-laning trip Not in the P38, but had a great evening in Bedfordshire in an Isuzu D-Max AT35 recently!

Lottery win 4x4 Either a fully-expedition kitted new Defender or the same spec G-Wagen.

Favourite car-related film Steve McQueen's Le Mans

Favourite biscuits Bourbons

Where can we find more details?

Facebook - Welldrivenonline Website - welldrivencars.co.uk Twitter - well_driven Instagram - welldriven

and

mylandroverexperiences

YouTube - WellDriven

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es d i R s ' r e Read

Who are you, where are you from and what do you do?

Jim Hancock, and since 2008 I’ve run Lanes Tracks and Trails, a 4x4 tour company based around Devon, Cornwall and the West Country. To put something back into the green laning community, I’m also the Area Rep for South Devon & Cornwall for GLASS (Green Lane Association).

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 Cars up to the present date include Hillman Imps with race tuned engines, XR3 XR3i RSTurbo and my favourite a Mk2 Granada Ghia X Executive (which saw out two wives!).

My first 4x4 was a Mk2 LWB Pajero 2.8 Exceed followed by two Surfs a 2.4 and a 3.0, which I’ve now had for 10 years.

Present 4x4(s) Toyota Surf Modifications done Mods include Raised Air Intake, Rock Sliders, Defender Winch Bumper Superwinch E9 Winch, Cat 1 Alarm System, CB Radio, ARB rear locker including Air Pump outlet, Navigation System / Tablet on Gooseneck Mount, Modified Spare Wheel Carrier to mount Farm Jack and rear antenna for CB, BFG Mud tyres and roof light bar.

Favourite Modifications Favourite mod has to be using a Land Rover Winch Bumper!

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Modifications to do No mods to do at present.

Favourite green-laning trip All green laning trips bring memories so I can’t pick one out of the hundreds we’ve done.

Lottery win 4x4 Toyota Tacoma Favourite car related film Smokey and the Bandit of course.

Favourite biscuits Dark Chocolate Digestives Where can we find more details?

Find us at www.lanestracksandtrails.co.uk Facebook - lanestracksandtrails Instagram - lanestracks

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es d i R s ' r e Read

Who are you and where you are from?

I’m Jonny Mckenzie and I’m from Carlisle, Cumbria.

What do you do ?

I’m a full time carer for my mum.

I also set up the Facebook group British Laners, which is a none profit group that was set up in May this year, we hold trips every month you can find us on Facebook or Instagram.

History of cars ? Škoda Fabia Peugeot 207 Dacia Duster Kia Sorento Kia Sportage

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Present car?

Range Rover Sport Modifications done?

Upgraded main beams, LED fog lights and a set of 265-50-20 Radar renegade RT+ tyres.

Favourite modification My favourite modification is fitting the aforementioned new tyres which have completely transformed the truck out on the lanes.

Modifications too do?

An underbody protection kit and Stedi Type-X driving lights are on the list.

Favourite Greenlaning trip?

Has to be the Northumberland Fifty.

Lottery win 4x4 I have two lottery win 4x4s that I would love to own. The first one is a fully locked 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser, and the second one is a Mercedes G63.

Favourite car related film?

Gone in 60 seconds Favourite biscuits?

Custard creams

Where can we find more details?

Instagram - rangeroversport_explorer and

british_laners Facebook - British Laners

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One pot Chicken Alfredo Combining two of my favourite foods; pasta and chicken, this one-pot meal is an easy and filling dish to make.

Each month we give you an easy menu that any buffoon can make whilst out in the great outdoors.When I say ‘any buffoon’, I obviously mean me.

Equipment needed Single burner (I used my new Robens Cookery King stove) A pan - large enough for the amount of pasta.

Wooden spoon or spatula 2 Chopping boards (1 for the chicken, 1 for the rest) Sharp knife Measuring jug

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Although I’ve made this a few times, when I made it for the photos I only had a small chicken breast, and spaghetti as opposed to fettuccine, so it turned out a tad sloppy as the spaghetti didn't soak up enough of the liquid, but it still tasted yummy, and that's all that matters!

Head to the next page for the instructions...

Ingredients (for 1) 200g chicken breast 250g fettuccine pasta 250ml milk 370ml chicken stock 1 large garlic clove, minced 125ml double cream 180ml freshly grated parmesan (fresh melts better) 1 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper (to taste) Parsley, for garnish

Instructions 1. Slice the chicken breast in half, horizontally and sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.

2. Heat oil over medium high heat and add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through and remove & slice into bitesize chunks.

3. Add milk, chicken stock and garlic to the skillet, bring to simmer then add pasta. Stir every few minutes so it doesn't stick. Once pasta is softened, reduce heat to medium and stir every couple of minutes.

4. After around 9/10 minutes, the pasta should be almost cooked but there should still be liquid covering the base of the pan. Add cream and parmesan and mix. 5. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes, until sauce is thickened and pasta is cooked, then add the chicken.

6. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately, garnished with freshly grated parmesan and parsley!

Enjoy!

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RETRO SNAPS Can you spot you or your motor in these photos from bygone mud adventures?

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Fancy an off-road challenge?

Want to get your 4x4 filthy?

Don’t ruin our ancient byways, try out your local P&P site, join a tour or brush up your skills on a driver training day instead.

Over the next few pages we have listed many of the business that you can play, train and holiday with.

If you fancy going along, always find out what you'll need to bring along or which vehicles are allowed: • Does your 4x4 need to be road legal?

• Do you need to show proof of age, vehicle MOT and insurance documents?

• Are your recovery points secure?

• Do you even have any recovery points?

Always check with the individual site before you set off.

Remember, as well as a good quality tow rope, it’s always useful to bring along some rags and a bottle of water to clean your lights and reg plates, so you can stay legal whilst driving home!

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Pay & Play Directory

NORTH

SOUTH

Hill ’n’ Ditch

Essex Rochford & District 4x4 Club

Mouldsworth, Cheshire http://www.hillnditch4x4.com 07974 398201

Explore Off Road

Crewe, Cheshire http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk 07970 286881

Kirton Off Road

Hibaldstow, Gainsborough https://www.korc.co.uk 01652 245022

Frickley 4x4 Off Road Centre South Elmsall, West Yorkshire https://www.frickley4x4.co.uk 07881 590593

Cowm Leisure

Whitworth, Rochdale https://cowmleisure.com 07970 101 879

WALES Ultra Adventure Driving

Wrexham, Wales http://www.ultraadventuredriving.co.uk 01978 358 444

Canewdon, Rochford http://www.4x4er.co.uk

Devils Pit

Barton Le Clay, Bedfordshire http://www.devilspit.co.uk 07764 159478

Avalanche Adventures

Market Harborough, Leicestershire https://avalancheadventure.co.uk 01858 880613

4x4 Without A Club

Aldermaston, Berkshire http://www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk 07887533168

John Morgan 4x4 Driving Slindon, West Sussex http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 01903 812195

Piccadilly Wood

Bolney, West Sussex http://www.piccadillywood4x4.co.uk 07984 543886

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4x4 TOURS DIRECTORY

Highland All Terrain

Trails and Tracks 4x4 Adventures

Single & Multiple Day Tours with Wild Camping 100s of miles of Off-Road Tracks Access to Private Estates

Cambrian Way

The Old Filling Station, Kinlochlaggan, Newtonmore, PH20 1BX

tel: 01528 544 358 mob: 07708 819 157 email: info@highlandallterrain.co.uk www.highlandscenicsafari.co.uk

Ardent Off Road

Activities: 4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences https://ardentoffroad.com Tel: 01405 947 001

One Life Adventure

Activities: 4x4 Tours & vehicle prep training https://www.onelifeadventure.co.uk Tel: 01347 830188

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.cambrianway.com Tel: 01550 750274

Roam Free Adventures

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.roamfreeadventures.co.uk Contact via website

Timeless Overland

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.facebook.com/tloverland Tel: 07508 833 899

Land Tracks and Trails Green Lane Adventures Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.lanestracksandtrails.co.uk Tel: 07855 213355

Ardventures

Compass Adventures

4x4 Adventure Tours

Battlefields by 4x4

Activities: 4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences https://ardventures.co.uk Tel: 01757 638 479

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.4x4adventuretours.co.uk Tel: 07769 336 099

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Activities: 4x4 Tours https://trailsandtracks.co.uk Tel: 07976 393 838

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Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.compassadventures.co.uk Tel: 07508 708 588

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.battlefieldsby4x4.com Tel: 07014 241 418

Off Road Driver Training & Experiences NORTH

SOUTH

North Yorkshire Off Road Centre

Wild Tracks

Explore Off Road

True Grip off Road

WALES

Protrax

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

Tours http://www.nyoffroad.co.uk 07787 555060 Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk 07970 286881

Bala 4x4

Activities: 4x4 Driver Training https://www.bala4x4.co.uk 01536 772238

SCOTLAND Scottish Off Road

Activities: Off Road Driver Training http://www.scotoffroad.co.uk 07711 217759

Far X Four

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.farxfour.com 01450 860275

John Morgan 4x4 Driving

Activities: Pay & Play

Off Road Driver Training http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 01903 812195

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences https://www.wildtracksltd.co.uk 01638 751918 Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.truegripoffroad.co.uk 01233 662251 Activities: 4x4 Driver Training https://www.protrax.co.uk 01536 772238

Avalanche Adventures

Activities: Pay & Play

4x4 Experiences https://avalancheadventure.co.uk 01858 880613

Ash 4x4

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.ash4x4.com 07581 030331

UK WIDE All Terrain Services

Activities: 4x4 Driver Training

4x4 Experiences

Self Drive Tours https://www.allterrainservices.co.uk 01792 862669

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