The Mud Life - 6 - September 2019

THE MUD LIFE ISSUE 6 SEPTEMBER 2019

MAGAZINE

NEWS, REVIEWS & ADVENTURE

Jeepey Jamboree Model Land Rovers Off Road Green Laning New 4x4 & SUV Reviews Meets & Mooches

ALL NEW SSangYong Korando

pages 36-42

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IN THIS ISSUE

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

TURNER'S TORQUE 5 NEWS 6-10 WHAT'S ON 11 SKODA KAROQ SCOUT 12-17 JEEP COMPASS TRAILHAWK 18-23 NISSAN NAVARA N-GUARD 24-29 KIA SPORTAGE GT LINE S 30-35 SSANGYONG KORANDO 36-42 MITSUBISHI L200, SERIES 6 44-49 MODEL LAND ROVERS OFF ROAD 50-59 JEEPEY JAMBOREE 2019 60-65 GOODS & GEAR 67-81 GREEN-LANING - A WEEK IN THE LIFE 82-91 FB PAGE OF THE MONTH 93 PLANES, FERRIES & AUTOMOBILES 94-97 MOOCH -WREAKS LANE 99-103 IN OUR GARAGE 104-105 MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK 106-113 ENZARI MEETING 114-117DINE OUT WITH DAMIAN 116-117 READER'S RIDES 120-125 PAST JALOPIES - TINK 126-133 RETRO SNAPS 134-135 DIRECTORIES 136-137

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

TURNER’S TORQUE Back in the day, and I'm talking about the 80s, when I was much younger and easily influenced, I used to get my 4x4 fix by reading a collection of great 4x4 magazine, some from the U.S. and home grown mags such as Off Road & 4-Wheel Driver and 4x4 & OffRoad Action.

Unsurprisingly I still have them all, neatly stacked on bookshelves ready at a moments notice for me to be transported back to simpler times when Firestone SATs were the tyre of choice and of course, pre the NERC bill.

I was subsequently influenced by the writers of the time. I remember with great fondness, Brian Hartley, the late Tim Webster, Russell Fisher, Colin Dawson and Frank Elson amongst many others, who would transport me to muddy lanes and rocky inclines in their abused motors.

These literary masters not only told a great story, but made it bloody funny and therefore a joy to read, ultimately these guys influenced me big time, especially how I write today.

My point? Yes, I have one. I've just found out that Frank Elson has a blog (frankelson.home.blog) which I've recently subscribed

to, and I suggest you do too, it's full of well written stories about him, his Range Rover and life within 4x4 circles; an utter joy to read.

We have a guest writer this month, a fellow colleague from the sadly missed Land Rover World magazine, Richard Myers. If you don’t remember him from LRW, simply check out last month's issue of The Mud Life as he was featured in our Reader’s Rides section. Richard writes about how he collected a rare M-Sport Ford Ranger from Ireland and drove it to Guernsey for one of his clients.

Lastly, Paula Wood who is a member of the Northern Monkey 4x4 Club, sent me her daughter's photo of a friend's newly rebuild Defender, saying “Laura is 13 and Defender mad. She will soon be doing Tyro trial in our Defender, Henry. She is also getting into photography, so including her photo would put her on cloud 9!” Nice one Laura, carry on like that and I’ll be soon out of a job!

Hope you enjoy this month’s issue, and don’t forget to subscribe via our website - www.themudlife.co.uk

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NEWS

LR Discovery powers mobile malaria research The Land Rover Discovery has celebrated its 30th anniversary by playing the role of mobile laboratory on a pioneering drive across sub-Saharan Africa as part of the latest Land Rover Bursary. The 2018 Land Rover Bursary, awarded in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society, supported the 3 Oxford University researchers on a 4,567 mile trip across Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.

The Mobile Malaria Project team led by Dr George Busby worked with local scientists to extract and analyse DNA in remote locations, generating data within hours instead of the weeks it usually takes from overseas laboratories.

They crossed 4 countries in a specially converted version of Land Rover’s most versatile SUV. developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations.

The one-off Discovery was equipped as a mobile genetic sequencing laboratory, making full-use of its 1,137-litre load space with a fridge/freezer to safely store scientific supplies, a bespoke load space configuration system to hold the team’s equipment and an on-board expedition battery. A purpose-built dual sun awning, rescue kit, winch, sand/mud tracks, roof rack and LED night driving lamps completed the list of modifications. In addition, the scientific legwork was done by a series of compact genetic sequencing machines, MinIONs. Fresh from this success, Land Rover has announced that the winner of the 2019 bursary is an an all women team who will travel through remote rural East Africa with the aid of another bespoke Discovery. They will gather evidence on the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of pest management technologies, focusing on the fall armyworm, the larval life stage of a fall armyworm moth, which is a highly destructive pest threatening food supplies.

Applications for the 2020 Land Rover Bursary which will be the first to use the new Defender will open on 1st September. The closing date for entries is 30 November 2019.

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NEWS

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ZS EV is an MG record breaker

MG Motor UK has smashed its new car pre-sales records by securing 1,000 orders for its sensational MG ZS EV in just 2 weeks. Having officially launched the car in July, wannabe MG owners raced to be one of the first 1,000 customers to benefit from a sensational launch price, after MG matched the government’s £3,500 plug-in car grant with a £3,500 MG Grant of its own. Being quick of the mark also got these first 1,000 customers a complimentary home charging unit, and they should be taking delivery of their new MGs this month.

The ZS EV has a range of 163 miles, the high-tech MG Pilot driver assistance suite, room for five and a full-sized boot, so is definitely being positioned as an affordable, family-friendly electric car.

MG ZS EV can be ordered at mg.co.uk/electric with a fully refundable £500 deposit. The MG Grant offer is open exclusively to UK residents.

MG has announced that the next 1,000 retail customers will also receive the MG Grant (but not the charging unit) ensuring that the £21,495 fantastic launch price will continue. Daniel Gregorious, Head of Sales & Marketing at MG Motor UK; said: “We know that the canny British public can tell a bargain when they see one, but we’ve been blown away by the number of people who’ve moved quickly to secure an electric MG ZS at the launch price of £21,495. By extending our offer to match the government grant for the next 1,000 retail customers, we’re delighted to be able to maintain this offer, even if it’s just for a few more days.To anyone who’s been thinking about ordering a ZS EV, I suggest they do it now!”

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JEEP's Night Eagles have landed The Renegade Night Eagle takes the style of Jeep’s small SUV to a dark place with the addition of 18 inch gloss black alloy wheels and grille surround, tinted privacy glass, gloss black exterior badging as well as a dedicated Night Eagle emblem. Inside the mood continues with black upholstery and gloss black accents on the steering wheel, speakers and gear lever surround.

Based on the Longitude trim, the Renegade Night Eagle comes with 8.4-inch Uconnect Nav with Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility, dual zone climate control and Adaptive Cruise Control as standard. The Night Eagle is also available in a choice of five exterior colours, including metallic paint, at no additional cost.

Following demand, the Night Eagle is available with a choice of two petrol and one diesel engine. The 1.0-litre 120hp petrol and the 1.6-litre 120hp diesel engines are combined with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.3-litre 150hp petrol engine comes complete with the six-speed DDCT automatic transmission.

The new Jeep Renegade Night Eagle starts from ÂŁ23,445 OTR for a 1.0-litre 120hp petrol For more information on the Jeep range visit www.jeep.co.uk.

Jeep Renegade Night Eagle

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NEWS

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Jeep Compass Night Eagle The Jeep Compass Night Eagle builds on the generous standard equipment on the Longitude trim with gloss black grille, fog lights and window surround while the "Jeep" and "4x4" badges pick up the dark theme to complete the look. 18-inch Gloss Black and aluminium alloy wheels further enhance its aggressive stance and a dedicated Night Eagle badge cements its identity.

year warranty, 3 year servicing and 5 years roadside assistance), giving owners extra peace of mind.

The new Jeep Compass Night Eagle is available from ÂŁ27,230 OTR for a 1.4-litre 140hp petrol engine.

Inside, the Jeep Compass Night Eagle is designed for style and comfort with techno leather and premium cloth seats, alongside gloss black bezels. The Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen and Navigation with 3-D graphic, Apple Car Play and Android Auto allows drivers to stay safely connected while on the go.

The Jeep Compass Night Eagle is available with a choice of two diesel and one petrol powerplant. The 1.4-litre 140hp petrol and 1.6-litre 120hp diesel engines combine front-wheel-drive with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 2.0-litre 140hp diesel is complete with unrivalled Jeep 4x4 technology.

The Jeep Renegade and Compass Night Eagle, along with the rest of the range, come with the Jeep 5-3-5 offer (5 THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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Final MITSUBISHI SHOGUN joins UK heritage fleet Mitsubishi UK has registered the final Mitsubishi Shogun, SWB Barbarian, and added it to its fleet of heritage vehicles.

Finished in Frost White, the 2019 Shogun SWB Barbarian has a comprehensive specification that includes leather trim, DAB radio, satellite navigation, reversing camera and climate control.

It perfectly illustrates how the legendary 4x4 evolved over its production to complement its superb off-road capability with high levels of refinement and equipment.

In comparison, creature comforts in the brand’s original 1987 Shogun SWB include a radio cassette, reclining front seats and a height adjustable steering wheel.

The brand’s heritage fleet also includes a second-generation Mitsubishi Shogun SWB GLS 3.0-litre V6 petrol, registered in 2000. Mitsubishi UK uses the Shoguns and the rest of its historic vehicles, which span a 1974 Lancer (the original press car used to launch the brand in the UK) to an Evo X FQ-440, to highlight the manufacturer’s rich history.

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Rob Lindley, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said

“The Shogun was an incredibly important vehicle for us, helping us to be one of the leaders in the 4WD and SUV segments from as long ago as the early 1980s and rapidly grow our brand presence in the UK.The sheer number of Shoguns sold to such a broad range of customers, spanning private motorists right through to the emergency services, and the length of the production run shows how well loved the Shogun is.

We’re delighted to now have the last example registered in the UK on our heritage fleet, its inclusion recognising its significance in the success that we enjoy today and a permanent reminder of just how good it was.”

ALL PLAY & NO WORK ...makes a Mud Lifer very happy Salon Privé 5-8 September

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

https://www.salonpriveconcours.com Salon Privé is the most luxurious of garden parties set against the backdrop of ‘Britain’s Greatest Palace’, Blenheim Palace.

Presenting the finest collection of supercars, hypercars and classic cars, along with a luxury retail village and exquisite cuisine, it is a truly unique experience.

Goodwood Revival 13-15 September

An elegant summertime automotive garden party!

Goodwood House, West Sussex

https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/ goodwood-revival/ The only historic race meeting to be staged in period theme, recreating the romance and glamour of motor racing as it used to be, the Goodwood Motor Circuit comes alive for Revival, both on and off the historic track.

Beaulieu International Autojumble 7-8 September Beaulieu, Hampshire

https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/ international-autojumble/ With over 2000 stands at this signature Beaulieu event, each one groaning with all kinds of vintage and classic motoring ephemera, the International Autojumble is regarded as the place to locate, and purchase even the most elusive motoring parts, accessories, automobilia, literature, tools and clothing.

There is something for everyone - and plenty of bargains to be had. Includes entry to the National Motor Museum!

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Skoda Karoq Scout 2.0ltr TDI 150ps 4x4 What is it?

The Karoq, as you may already know by now, is the replacement for Skoda’s brilliant little Yeti, a car so practical it hurt! Sadly, for me anyway, the Karoq on first impression has lost every bit of individuality that the Yeti possessed and now looks like a smaller version of the Kodiaq - which I guess it is.

As I’m already ‘pulling my face’ and moaning, can it win me over?

On the Road

Our first jaunt was a 6 hour return drive to Millbrook via Liverpool, including a few green-lanes which totalled around 370 miles. The following day we drove a further 4 hours down to Essex for a friends wedding, and it behaved

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impeccably. On top of that, keeping at motorway speeds the on-board computer told me it was achieving between 47 and 53mpg, so not bad then for a biggish 2.0ltr 4x4.

Having the 150ps 2.0ltr diesel lump with a 6-speed manual ‘box, the Karoq handled everything with aplomb. Along motorway hauls I enjoyed a variety of twisty roads on which the light steering offered plenty of feedback and the suspension and overall balance of the car gave me a huge grin. Was I forgiving it?

I mentioned to Muddy Madam that the whole driving experience felt taut and easy to drive - she thought I was being pretentious, like wine connoisseur, but the Karoq felt just right and well balanced.

Off road

Being the Scout version you get Skoda’s ‘rough road’ package which gets you some protective panelling for the car’s engine, underbody and wheel arches, but sadly no extra ground clearance nor hardier suspension.

Having said that, being careful where you place the wheels and you’ll be surprised where the Karoq Scout will take you. I didn’t venture too far afield green-laning wise, but whilst down at Millbrook we did manage some fun lanes near Woburn Sands.

With its rather low approach angle it’s unlikely to rival any true off-roader, but I reckon it’s still decent enough to drive over the Old Coach Road in Cumbria and tow a mediumsized caravan across a mildly soggy field.

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Interior

Just like the outside, internally the Karoq is recognisable as a Skoda, which is no bad thing, if not a little dull. Actually it’s better than usual as the Scout trim brings with it two-tone upholstery, which along with with the not so unpleasant wood veneer for the door cards lightens everything up.

Speaking of the front seats, they are long and wide enough for the bigger people amongst us, and comfortable too, especially for long monotonous journeys.

There’s a lot of usable space in the Karoq and it gets Skoda’s ‘varioflex’ back seats as standard, which slide backwards and forwards to trade boot space for passenger legroom, or can be removed entirely for maximum loading capacity.

On the subject of those in the back, if they’re over six foot they won’t be too cramped as there’s a decent amount of footspace under the front seats.

They also have air vents, a 12V power supply and usable picnic tables that fold out from the front seatbacks.

In the boot, the Karoq Scout doesn’t have the usual variable-height boot floor but it does have a host of useful storage cubby holes on both sides of the loading area, as well as some very handy load-securing hooks. With the back seats flat there’s up to 1810ltrs of space for you to fill, which is pretty decent.

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Engine ’n’ transmissions

The Scout comes with one engine in two flavours, a 2.0ltr diesel, one churning out 150ps and t’other 190ps, both come with the DSG ‘box and nothing else (when I tested this car it had a 6 speed manual box).

As I mentioned above, on a mixture of trips the 150ps version was achieving between 47 and 53mpg according to its computer.

Conclusion

Yeah alright, I liked it, though it still isn’t as characterful as the Yeti.

If I was disappoint by one thing mind, it was that with it being a Scout, I wish it had come with a few inches extra ground clearance, that’s all. That said, will the owner of a brand new Karoq take it green laning? Probably not.

Overall we covered roughly 1,000 miles during the week, most of which were motorway miles, and I couldn’t really fault it, it was quiet, comfortable and as you’ve read above, fairly frugal. price: £33,390 (as tested) more at » www.skoda.co.uk

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Jeep Compass Trailhawk

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A few months ago I was invited to the ‘Lakes’ to drive the Jeep Compass Trailhawk. It was funny, because I thought it would an hours drive to Cumbria, an overnight stay, and after a few green-lanes the following day, I would be home again by teatime. It transpired that I was being invited to Lake Garda, the Italian Lakes, and of course I couldn’t refuse.

Mud, plus the exclusive for Trailhawk, Rock mode.

What is it?

There’s also an increased ground clearance of almost 2.5cm (taking it to a total of 21.cm), skid plates, rear tow hitch, 225/60 R17 All Season tyres, a full-size spare wheel and new front and rear bumpers that offer a 30º approach, 24.4º breakover and 33.6º departure angles.

So, what’s different between the regular Compass and the Trailhawk? Glad you asked.

If the Compass Trailhawk was milk, it would be a pint of full fat Jersey milk, none of that semi-skimmed nonsense.

Putting the Trailhawk badge on any Jeep means that it’s the most extreme version of the model and proudly sports the famous ‘Trail Rated’ badge proving that it’s been put through a series of gruelling tests designed to deliver unparalleled off-road performance on the world’s most demanding terrain.

The most significant feature of the Compass Trailhawk are the two innovative driveline systems, the Active Drive and Active Drive Low that automatically and seamlessly switch between 4x2 and 4x4. And for the times things get serious, there’s also a crawl ratio of 20:1.

The Trailhawk also features Jeep Selec-Terrain, which provides up to five different modes, Auto, Snow, Sand and

On the exterior, Trailhawk models have standard 17-inch alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon front headlights, LED signature headlamp bezels, a chrome exhaust tailpipe and a black hood decal.

On the road

Comparing it to the Compass S that I drove for 1.5 hours from Milan Linate Airport to our hotel for the evening, Acquaviva del Garda, if you’re interested, and straight away I could feel a taughtness in the Trailhawk. Although I gained a fair bit of confidence from both the steering and suspension on the twisty mountain road sections, the 225/60 R17 All Season tyres fought for grip on the greasy roads. But that’s fine, you make compromises when you opt for hardcore!

Engine and gearbox wise, 170bhp, 2.0ltr diesel mated to the 9-speed auto box offered decent performance, though it would have been nice to have driven more on-road miles to give it a thorough work out, but as the focus was about its off road capability, I wasn’t complaining.

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Off road

The off-road route was through one of the huge marble quarries that lies within the region, and whilst some sections were tame, there were some challenging parts with a couple of gnarly sections that tested its ground clearance and hill descent control. Occasionally there some buttock-clenching scrapes from underneath, actually there were lots of scrapes, but the ruts were also very deep in places and full of crushed marble.

Down the steep slippery slopes the Jeep’s Hill Descent Control worked a treat and I always felt in control, but how would it cope with the rutted inclines?

As the majority of readers will know, we often require a bit of momentum when we’re driving through mud, but the real test is what happens when you drive too slowly and lose said momentum. Well, with low-range selected and the dial set to ‘mud’ I crawled as slowly as possible up soft and chewed-up rutted inclines expecting the Compass to lose traction, it didn’t. Of course, you could sense as each wheel would momentarily lose grip and straight away, with my foot steady on the throttle, the Compass figured things out and kept us climbing. I love challenging 4wd systems like this, a quick turn of the steering wheel to aid the front tyres find traction and the Compass Trailhawk maintained a steady progress through the mire.

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Interior

There’s no getting aware from the fact you’re driving a Trailhawk as the same bold personality is found inside, with black techno-leather and fabric interiors enhanced by red stitching.

The Compass Trailhawk comes packed with a complete standard equipment, designed to create a comfortable and hyper-technological environment, with Uconnect 8.4-inch NAV system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch TFT colour instrument panel and Function pack which includes an electrochromatic rearview mirror, electrically folding door mirrors, Smart Key, Start Button, 230V auxiliary power socket and alarm system.

Conclusion

Sitting back in my office chair with a Custard Cream in hand, it’s actually quite difficult to think of an SUV in this price range that is as competent off-road as the Compass Trailhawk.You could throw the most basic AWD Discovery Sport into the ring I suppose, but it doesn’t have half the mod-cons the Compass has. Land Rover even charge you £560 for a full size spare!

For the few hours in which I got to play with the Trailhawk I rather enjoyed it, it felt tough and withstood some gruelling tracks and went everywhere I pointed it. price : £36,680 more at » https://www.jeep.co.uk/compass

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Nissan Navara N-Guard What is it?

The Navara has been around for a long time and has gained a good reputation for being a comfortable working truck. Sadly that all changed a few years ago when the previous model was marred with having a weak chassis that would snap in two.

All that has changed, and with this new model, and Mercedes choosing the Navara as the base for their X-CLass, it’s hoped that Nissan can win back some of the trust lost. The N-Guard is a new special edition Navara that offers an enhanced styling pack and a couple of extra features above the top-of-the-range Tekna model.

On the road

During our week together the Navara N-Guard was primarily a motorway hack covering almost 1,000 miles which included a trip to the Adventure Overland Show, the NEC and various other mooches.

On one journey along the M6 the weather turned vile with rain pelting the windscreen and sidewinds trying their best to

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push us from one lane to another, yet inside I felt cocooned in a warm and safe environment. It may sound daft, but it was as though I was watching TV with the weather outside, nasty as it was, not affecting the Navara at all.

With 190bhp on tap from the 2.3ltr diesel, the Navara’s 6-speed automatic ‘box worked well on twisty lanes and through town centres, it was both smooth and responsive. Add to that the Navara’s fancy rear multi-link suspension (on higher spec models only) and it had pretty decent ride quality too, even on rough roads.

I have to admit that I was really impressed with how comfortable and quiet it was on long hauls, and according to the computer it was achieving 35mpg both at a steady 50mph and 70mph.

Off-road

I really don’t have much to say here, once in 4wd and low box the Navara went wherever I pointed it, with ease and comfort I might add. It did take a while for it to engage in low box mind, that was a nuisance.

Of course I always like to snap the wheel-in-the-air photo, and manoeuvring back and forth trying to get it in the right position for the shot it never scrambled for traction once.

Load bay

The N-Guard’s payload of 1,054kg is a tad less than the Hilux and Amarok, but still decent, and measures 1,578mm by 1,560mm (1,130mm between the wheel arches). Access to the load bed is via a lockable tailgate that drops down into a horizontal position with a distance of 815mm from ground to cargo bed.

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Interior

Being the N-Guard model you get a lot of goodies. There’s an Around View Monitor parking camera which means when you engage reverse you not only can you see what’s directly behind you, you also have a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle. You can also switch the camera on when not in reverse whilst moving at low speeds as it gives you the ability to spot potential hazards at the kerbside, which is good for green-laning Then there’s sat-nav, DAB, a 7-inch colour touchscreen, three 12V power sockets and a sunroof. When did you last see a sunroof in a pickup? Have I mentioned the leather handbrake, steering wheel and gear knob? It’s got those too.

Overall then the interior is smart, clean and functional, my only bug-bear was the small plastic holders that are fitted to either side of the transmission tunnel. Although a good idea for hiding your gubbins and loose change, they’re positioned right where your left leg rests against the side and therefore bloomin’ uncomfortable, and I never used them…

Rear passengers may find it a bit uncomfy, especially if those up front have long legs as there isn’t a lot of legroom. I really enjoyed driving the Navara, the seats are comfortable, and big enough, and as I wrote earlier, driving in harsh conditions I got the sense of being cocooned in a quiet cab whilst the weather outside was grim.

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Conclusion

In proper motoring writer terminology, the Navara has an assertive look to it, and adding the N-Guard goodies such as the black 18” alloy wheels, black front grille, black LED headlight inlays and black wing mirrors and so on, it looks even more imposing I find it quite odd that over the many years writing for 4x4 magazines that this is the first Navara that I’ve ever driven, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Price: £35,735 The N-Guard tested here came with a black roll cover and bed styling bars for £2,501, a towbar and TEK 13 pin to link the truck and trailor’s electrical components (£520) and protective bedliner (£269) coming to £39,025

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Kia Sportage GT Line S

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What is it?

The Sportage has long been a favourite here at Muddy Towers, it’s a well made and refined car that combines plenty of internal space with above average road manners, and of course Kia's 7-year, 100,000 mile warranty.

2018 saw the introduction of a mid-life facelift for the Sportage that included an improved infotainment system, mild styling changes and a revised engine line-up which includes this, the 48v mild-hybrid setup in the 2.0ltr diesel.

On the road It was a fairly wet week when the Sportage arrived at Muddy Towers, and with a thorough Mud Life style testing planned, there was no doubt the striking Blue Flame paint job wasn’t going to stay clean for long.

Of course it’s worth mentioning that I was driving the AWD GT-Line S fitted with the 2.0ltr diesel, 8-speed auto with 182bhp on tap, so it’s bound to feel sporty and agile.

The Sportage took me to school for the usual commute, did the weekly shop and on short hauls was an pleasure to drive, as you would expect.

The ride was firm, yet comfortable, if that makes sense. The new electric steering set-up is quick and offers you plenty of feedback, which is great when you’re having a bit of fun on twisty lanes. The suspension and new chassis really do work well together, in fact, the Kia Sportage remains a fun 4x4 to drive and in my opinion is up there with the best in its segment.

Fuel wise, on a long run we achieved the heady heights of 51.2mpg, which is impressive for a big 2.0ltr SUV. Another point that I’ve recently started to make is how cruise control works, and I’m happy to report that in cruise, the Sportage will keeps you at your desired speed no matter how steep the road that you’re driving down, unlike others

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Off road I’ve always said that Kia should have a press day that focusses on their off-road abilities as they’re really very good, both the Sorento and the Sportage.

Like most AWD vehicles these days, the all-wheeldrive system normally delivers 100% of engine torque to the front wheels, but when things become sticky or slippery, the torque can be redistributed up to a maximum of 60:40 front-to-rear. This works seamlessly both on roads and off them. If you’re going further off the beaten track, then you can manually press the ‘lock mode’ which gives a 50:50 torque split at speeds of up to 25mph.

I’ve driven countless Sportages over the years, and only once whilst green-laning have I ever needed to go full lock mode, and that was when a certain someone else, who shall remain nameless, drove it into an almost headlight deep muddy puddle and lost all forward motion. I ended up climbing in through the drivers side window (it was that deep!), pressed lock mode and with the rear near side wheel flailing in the air, gently reversed out of the mire. If I wasn’t impressed before about its ability off road, I was then.

As you can see by the photos, we didn’t take the Sportage along any challenging lanes, but it was March and the mud was particularly moist and the Sportage managed everything with ease.

Obviously, sitting up to its sills in mud isn't the Sportage's natural habitat, but it’s good to know that when it comes down to it, you can rely on the Sportage to get you home.

Interior Unlike anything from Skoda, the interior and dash layout design looks special and upmarket. Kia have taken the extra step with the quality of the interior, not just the feel, but the sound too. I

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specifically remember how the doors felt weighty and closed with a reassuring clunk. As I’ve said before, it’s the little things…

The ventilated front seats in the GT Line S are really comfortable, with the driver getting 10-way power adjustable movement and 8-way adjustable for the front passenger. There’s a heated steering wheel too. I also like how the centre screen is tapered towards the driver, which is a nice touch. I’m not saying it gives the driver a cockpit feel, it’s just more driver orientated.

Have I mentioned buttons and more importantly, dials yet?

The Sportage has them, which is a nice touch, especially for someone who believes too many touchscreens in a car is distracting as a naked passenger!

One slight negative is that when I want to shift the gear lever from automated to manual, the gear shift comes over to the right, and consequently touches my left knee which in turn knocks it back into auto. Probably down to my ‘man-splaying’!

In the back there’s ample of room for passengers with long legs, with boot space being about average for the class at 491ltrs. It’s fairly square too and the load lip is low and flat, so it’s easy to drag big items in and out. Being the mild hybrid version means that there’s no underfloor storage, because a battery takes up the space. It isn’t a deal beaker, it just means that, unlike the rest of the range, there isn’t enough space for the parcel shelf under the boot floor.

Engine ’n’ transmissions So, what does 48v mild hybrid actually mean? In simple terms, the diesel engine is paired with a 48 volt electrical system that drives a starter generator and a lithium ion battery.

The battery stores energy that is recouped while coasting and braking, and can then deploy this when accelerating. The extra 16bhp or so reduces load on the engine which helps to save fuel, as does its ability to cut the engine below 10mph to allow fuel-free coasting up to traffic lights and junctions. Refinement is excellent, and because the electrical assistance means that the engine needs to stretch itself less often, it’s quieter more of the time.

Conclusion Although the Sportage isn’t what you’d call a proper 4x4, with long travel suspension and a low box, I have taken a few of them along some pretty gnarly tracks in the past, and as I wrote earlier, Kia should advertise their off-road credentials more.

Overall the Sportage is a good all-round SUV, yes, some of its competitors might be sportier whilst others have a bigger boot, but it remains a well equipped and practical SUV and remains a favourite here at Muddy Towers. prices : £20,670 - £35,020 (car reviewed - £34,545) more at » https://www.kia.com/uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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What is it?

Steering is lovely and sharp and without the wallowing around corners as you might expect. This may have something to do with the high-strength steel construction as the Korando is stiffer than its competitors, featuring 74% high density steel, which not only gives greatly improved body strength but also reduced weight.

On the road

It also comes with three selectable drive modes. Normal mode balances the need for fuel economy and power, this default mode is utilised for day-to-day driving and is not indicated on the dashboard. Sport mode delivers extra power, whilst Winter mode starts Korando in 2nd gear to prevent tyre slippage on icy roads. Non-4x4 models come with an auto-stop system to save fuel and lower CO2.

Now in its fourth generation, the all-new Korando has changed a bit over the years, from the first Jeep licensed CJ-5 which rolled off the production line in 1969 to this, a well styled modern C segment SUV that is built with the modern active family in mind.

As I’ll get to later, the only vehicle that’s currently available is the 136ps, 1.6ltr turbo diesel, and when mated to the latest AISIN 3rd generation 6-speed automatic transmission it proves to be smooth and hassle free along the twisty country lanes surrounding Blenheim Palace.

It’s quiet too, the Korando does a good job of muting out the world outside, including the typical diesel clatter. Actually, ‘clatter’ is the wrong word to use as the new diesel feels quite sophisticated.

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Overall, dashing along country lanes and dawdling through small villages, the Korando behaved just as well and if not better than some of its more expensive rivals, I actually wanted to drive it the 3.5 hours home instead of the Subaru Forester I’d driven down in.

Off road

Sadly I didn’t get the opportunity to play with it on the launch, but I will soon, I’m hatching a plan.

The 4-wheel drive system works like most other vehicles of its ilk. SsangYong’s Automatic Drive Control controls the speed of each wheel and individually monitoring them in real-time. If wheel slip is detected, torque is automatically redistributed to the wheel where it is needed most, thus maximising traction in slippery conditions.

The Lock-Mode Function, unlike Auto-Mode, increases torque delivery to the rear wheels for improved traction and stability.

Drive above 25mph and the system automatically switches to Auto-Mode and will switch back to Lock-Mode when the speed is reduced to 25mph or less.

The new Korando offers approach and departure angles of 18º and 24.5º, not the most aggressive, but I’ll let you know how it

handles green-lanes in a future issue.

Interior

Classy and functional were my first impression. Starting with the dash layout, personally I think it puts anything from the Skoda range to shame. It’s less bland, more characterful and retains buttons and switches, which is always a good thing. That said, the Ultimate does have a touch-screen monitor which are always a pain to use when driving.

The front seats are comfortable, though a little short in the base but wide enough for a big lad, with loads of head space too. On the subject of its sizeable interior, SsangYong have put a lot of effort in to give the Korando a rich and quality feel with a soft-touch dash and seats with either high quality cloth, a combination of faux leather and cloth or premium leather.

Oh, and dependant on trim level they’re also heated, ventilated, powered.

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THE ALL NEW KORANDO * FROM £19,995

THE ONLY KOREAN MID-SIZED SUV TO OFFER: • • • • • •

High power 1.5 GDi-T petrol or 1.6 diesel engines Huge interior and luggage space ‘Blaze Cockpit’ with 10.25” screen and choice of colour mood lighting DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Remote Power Tailgate Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Cruise Control • Upto 2 tonnes towing** • 7 year/150K mile warranty

SURPRISINGLY IT’S A SSANGYONG Fuel consumption figures in mpg: Urban 36.7-47.8, Extra Urban 49.5-54.3, Combined 44.1-51.4. CO2 emissions in g/km 170-144. *Korando ELX including VAT, delivery charge, road fund licence & first registration charge. Model shown is Korando Ultimate priced at £26,545 inc. optional metallic paint at £550. **2 tonnes towing capacity only with diesel automatic transmission. Warranty covers 7 years or 150,000 miles. Prices are correct at the time of going to print but may be modified or changed at any time.

Back seat passengers don’t have to worry about tall people sat in the front as there’s plenty of space, and with the seats down there’s up to 1248ltrs of load space.

The Ultimate has an electronic handbrake, but lower models get a proper hand brake, which I prefer.

Models

Korando ELX from £19,995 The Korando ELX is powered by the 1.5 GDI-turbo petrol engine with manual transmission, available in 2WD only. Finished in a smart woven cloth trim, it includes 17” alloys with all-weather tyres, electronic cruise control, DAB/RDS/Bluetooth radio, six airbags, auto lights and wipers and a range of advanced safety equipment and many more features.

Korando Ventura from £22,995 The Korando Ventura, is powered by the 1.5 GDIturbo petrol engine with manual transmission, available in 2WD only, adds combined Faux leather with deluxe fabric seat upholstery, 18” diamond cut alloy wheels with standard tyres, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, electronic parking brake, 10.25” full LCD cluster, 8” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay / Auto Android, and many more features.

Korando Pioneer from £26,495 The Korando Pioneer, is available the 1.6 diesel engine with automatic transmission, in 2WD and 4WD. Aimed at the caravan and towing market, the Pioneer has a 2-tonne towing capacity, combined Faux leather with deluxe fabric seat upholstery, 17” alloy wheels with all-weather tyres, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, heated steering wheel, full sized spare wheel, 3.5” LCD cluster, 8” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay / Auto Android and rear view camera and many more features.

Korando Ultimate from £26,495 The top-spec Korando Ultimate is available in three variants. There is a petrol 2WD derivative available with manual (early 2020) and automatic transmissions or diesel engine and with automatic transmission, in 4WD only. The highest specification model in the Korando range features luxurious soft leather seats throughout (with driver’s lumbar support) a dualzone air conditioning system and a range of advanced safety equipment. Add to this the premium in-car infotainment with a 9" LCD multimedia display with touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android auto, makes a spirited deluxe crossover vehicle at an affordable price. The Ultimate boasts 19” diamond cut alloy wheels, smart keyless start, rear privacy glass, LED multi-focus headlights, 10.25” full digital cluster and mood lighting and a power tailgate.

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Safety stuff

Engine ’n’ gearbox

Internally, the Korando includes six airbags on all models and an emergency call system, reversing camera, alarm, immobiliser, tyre pressure monitoring system. Stop and and take a deep breath, then there’s rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, automatic speed sensing door locks, electronic parking brake with auto hold, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, parking aids front and rear and ISO FIX.

The diesel achieves a CO2 emission level of 144 (NEDC) and fuel economy of up to 48.7mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and achieves 0-62mph in 12.01 seconds.

With new technologies and features ensuring excellent levels of safety, SsangYong are expecting the Korando to achieve a 5*EuroNCAP safety rating.

The vehicle boasts Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Active Rollover Protection (ARP), ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane keeping Assist (LKA), Front Vehicle Start Alert (FVSA), Safety Distance Alert (SDA), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).

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As I’ve mentioned, currently you can only buy a Korando with a 1.6ltr diesel with 136 PS @4000 rpm/ 324 Nm torque @ 1500-2500 rpm. More good news is that it has up to a 2-tonne towing capacity which will appeal to SsangYong’s loyal, existing customers from the caravanning and towing fraternities.

Later on in the year the Korando will also offer a Euro 6D-T compliant 1.5 GDI-turbo petrol engine which produces 163PS max power with and 280Nm of torque at 1,500-4,500rpm. I’ll get more details to you when I have it.

Conclusion

After almost a day of driving cars with different trim levels, both the manual and automatic, 2 and 4-wheel drives my conclusion is that the new Korando will no doubt be a huge hit for SsangYong, and not forgetting their 7-year, 150,000mile warranty.

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Find out more at: ssangyonggb.co.uk/countryandfield Fuel consumption figures in mpg: Urban 25.9-29.1, Extra Urban 39.2-40.9, Combined 32.8-35.8. CO2 emissions in g/km 226-211. Model featured is a Musso Saracen Auto at £27,245.**Including delivery charge, Road Fund Licence & first registration charge, ex VAT. *Figure shown is based on 14% discount on Musso Rhino before VAT. To qualify for discount, you must be a member of an accredited organisation associated with agriculture, fishing, equestrian, shooting or other organised country professions or pursuits. Requires proof of membership/affiliation (for example, a DEFRA number might be used for landowners/farmers). Cannot be used in conjunction with any other SsangYong affiliate scheme including BASC, Ringlink Scotland, NFU Scotland, Mole Valley and the Caravan and Motorhome Club members free towbar offer. Warranty covers 7 years or 150,000 miles. Prices are correct at the time of going to print but may be modified or changed at any time.

What is it?

I think I’ve mentioned it a few times in the past that the L200 has always been a favourite pickup of mine because of the way it handles itself, on-road and off it.

The world of pickups doesn’t stand still for long, and not long after the Series 5 was released the question was posed, what improvements can be made for the Series 6?

A lot, as it transpires. Apart from a new bold, aggressive, and dare I say its devisive new look, Mitsubishi had other goals in mind. As well as creating the most capable pickup they’ve ever produced, they also decided to introduce

car-like levels of driving refinement and state-of-the-art safety systems to the segment. With this in mind they would offer the perfect solution to motorists looking for the practicality and versatility of a pick-up without compromising on comfort, driving pleasure or running costs.

A brave and tall challenge, have they succeeded?

On the road

With a new 2.3ltr turbo diesel churning out 150bhp and 400nm of torque, the new L200 is no slouch.

Both the 6 speed automatic and manual boxes

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felt smooth and never left me feeling wanting whilst driving unladen along the twisty roads around Silverstone. I remember commenting to my passenger, who happened to be Liam from Professional Pickup & 4×4 magazine, that straight away the new L200 felt more taut and well balanced. In fact, it gave me the same sense of security and confidence I felt when I last drove a new Toyota Land Cruiser, which is high praise indeed.

It was quiet too, as well as focussing on the little things, like remodelling the door mirrors, Mitsubishi have reduced the gap between the cab and the pickup body. Often it’s focussing on the small things that make a big differences.

Fuel wise, I didn’t check it, sorry. However, Mitsubishi reckon

that during combined driving the automatic will return 36.2mpg (WLTP 29.1mpg) and the manual 37.2 mpg (WLTP 32.1mpg).

The Series 6 also comes complete with the largest AdBlue tank on the market, 21ltrs, so it should only require filling at regular service intervals, around 12,000 miles.

We then had a go at towing. Having not reversed a trailer for around 4 years, it’s surprising how quickly it comes back to you. Towing capacity for all L200 models is 3,500kg, though only with a three-axle trailer; for a two-axle trailer the threshold stands at 3,100kg. With the L200’s revised suspension and larger front brakes maximum carrying capacity is now at 1,080kg.

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Off Road - including Rally Cross!

Mitsubishi haven’t just fettled with the look of the new L200, they’ve upgraded the 4WD system too by incorporating a new ‘Off Road Mode’ and a ‘Hill Descent Control system.

The new “Off Road Mode” features four specific settings: Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand and Rock, which regulates wheel slip, torque and so on.

Silverstone grounds, some sections were relatively easy whilst others not so much. Whilst in low box I tried as much as I could to lose traction, whether that was silly lines or driving far too slow, and in all but one occasion I succeeded. I really can’t blame the car for that, as I said, I was driving far too slow for one particular wet, grassy incline, and after a few more revs and better wheel placement we were on our way again.

Along with revised suspension, the the side steps are higher and the bonnet is 40mm taller than the outgoing model which gives the driver a better view thus making it better to place, either whilst negotiating hardcore terrain or your local supermarket carpark.

Next we set about taking the L200 along a rally cross route, under expert tuition of course, which taught me a few things.

First was that, after messing around in 2wd with traction control off, then on, and then in 4wd, the L200 is an immensely capable and well balanced pickup. Secondly is that rally cross is not only bloody good fun, but it’s hard work too, or at least I made it look difficult!

So how did it cope?

Really well, even shod with its standard 18” road tyres. We took the L200 around a specially created off road course in the

From negotiating deep muddy ruts to drifting, the new L200 proved that it can handle pretty much anything.

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Interior

Jumping into the new L200 and you’ll find that the interior is as comfortable as ever, but it’s the advanced new safety features where Mitsubishi have really gone to town. Why have they done that then?

Well, as well making sure the Series 6 L200 is the safest in class, they also want to tempt car and SUV drivers into the pickup world with car-like levels of driving refinement and state-of-theart safety systems.

For instance, the new L200 is equipped with: • Blind Spot Warning system with Lane Change Assist function (BSW & LCA), • Rear Cross Traffic Alert system (RCTA) • Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM) • Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS) • Lane Departure Warning (LDW) • Mitsubishi Active Stability & Traction Control (M-ASTC) • Hill Start Assist (HSA) • Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) function • Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)

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Models The Mitsubishi L200 Series 6 is available to order now and with prices ranging from £21,525 (OTR CV price) for the 4Life Club Cab to £32,200 for the range-topping Barbarian X.

4Life Club Cab - £21,515 (CV OTR)

Easy Select 4WD system with additional rear differential lock

Colour-keyed front bumper with dynamic shield styling

16” steel wheel with a full size spare wheel

Remote keyless entry Air-conditioning

Electric windows and door mirrors

Bluetooth, USB and steering wheel audio controls

Rear hinged rear doors and silver side steps

Double Cab £22,715 (CV OTR/additional to Club Cab)

16” alloy wheels with a full size steel spare

Cruise control with adjustable speed limiter

Electric rear windows

Full size rear doors with rear bench seating Warrior - £26,400 Manual / £27,800 Auto (CV OTR/additional to 4Life DC)

Super select 4WD

18-inch alloy wheels (with full-size alloy spare)

Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Automatic dual-zone climate control

Touchscreen infotainment system with DAB

LED headlights and LED DRLs

Headlamp washers

Front fog lamps

Automatic headlamps

Automatic wipers

Auto-dimming rear view mirror

LED taillights

Leather steering wheel and gear knob

Piano black and silver cabin detailing

Folding, heated door mirrors

Reversing camera

Rear step bumper

Privacy glass

Warrior door decals

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Barbarian - £29,300 Manual / £30,700 Auto (CV list price/additional to Warrior)

Hill Descent Control (HDC)

Off-Road Mode

Leather upholstery with power driver’s seat

Front heated seats

Tailgate with damper and spring assisted closing

Barbarian mat set

Mood lighting & puddle lamps

Illuminated “Barbarian” door entry guards

Rear USB x2 with smartphone tray

Barbarian door decals Barbarian X - £32,200 (CV list price/additional to Barbarian)

New Barbarian X six-pack leather seats with Alston inserts

360-degree camera system

Blind Spot Warning (BSW)

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)

Ultrasonic Mis-acceleration System (UMS)

Auto High Beam (AHB)

LED front fog lamps

Front and rear parking sensors

Heated steering wheel

LED number plate lights

LED interior light package

Illuminated “Barbarian X” door entry guards

Barbarian X mat set

Barbarian X decal kit including a tailgate decal

Conclusion Have Mitsubishi succeeded in giving the new L200 a car-like driving experience? With a stronger chassis and a more complex rear leaf spring set-up, the ride is definitely improved, and with strong equipment levels and competitive pricing I’m confident it’ll do very well indeed.

But, will it tempt car and SUV owners into the pickup world?

I’m not sure as it’s a very different market. That said, personally I could see myself being very tempted, especially with a cab over the rear bed, a roof tent and awning on top, I can see the new L200 making a safe and practical expedition vehicle for the family.

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Model Land Rovers Off Road Lake District Tour

I’ve been a social media friend of Thomas for some time now, on Instagram he’s better known as Model Land Rovers Off Road and tells stories of what his models get up to.

On reflection that sounds a bit odd, but follow him and not only will you understand, but you’ll soon be hooked.

Earlier on in the year, Thomas invited me up to his neck of the woods to take part in his inaugural Model Land Rovers Off Road Lake District Tour.

A bit of a mouthful, but essentially for a nominal sum he and his friend Sam will guide you on a tour of some of the the more iconic greenlanes the Lake District has to offer.

Arriving at Thomas’ home I was introduced to Sam and his Series 2a, Louise and Alan from ‘Mostly Tracks and Trails’ in Alan’s Land Rover 90 and Fred and Anne in Fred’s 90, named Falk.

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Lane 1

In the capable navigational hands of Thomas, we headed for our first lane, SD3389-03 (Trailwise 2 reference number) which I drove the month previous in the Suzuki Jimny.

Heading north to south it’s a pleasant little lane with a good solid base, though there’s a few small steps at the southern end, and normally it’s quite easy to navigate, especially under the fallen tree that crosses the lane, which is always good for a photo. That is unless you have a rather tall roof tent fitted to your 90, like Fred and Ann had, then it becomes a tad more challenging!

After a bit of head scratching we concluded that we couldn’t move the tree as it was too heavy, turning around would be too easy, so all four tyres were reduced to around 10psi which nearly worked but Falk was still a little too tall.

Next Fred removed part of his roof tent, and with Anne and myself stood on the tow ball he managed to squeeze under the tree with millimetres to spare. As I mentioned, the rest of the lane is easy to navigate, even for the most basic AWD.

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Lane 2

Next was SD3187-02 or The Riggs as it’s called on Google maps. Driving past the house on the single track road heading towards the lane I had my first ever video taken by a house owner on a lane. I thought it was a female, but everyone else said it was a bloke. Apparently they’d not long since moved in and didn’t like the fact that the road outside their new house was actually being used to access another road and was trying to gather evidence of people actually driving along it. Nonetheless, I smiled and waved as I drove passed. I would have loved to to have stopped and

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had a chat, but I have no doubt that would have been seen as harassment of some sort.

Anyway, SD3187-02 is again a good solid lane with a few steps and easy inclines here and there that Skoda Yeti could manage. We stopped on occasions to take photos and wait for sheep to move, they can be really stubborn sometimes!

By this time it was around midday and some white fluffy clouds made an appearance to make the photos stand out more, that’s my theory anyway.

Lane 3

Once you reach the end, or northern end of The Riggs it’s only a matter of yards to the start the next lane, SD3088-02.

The first time I drove this was earlier on in the year on the Jeep Wrangler launch, it was easy then and it still is.

Starting on the eastern side, it begins on an incline, with a sharp left bend within a couple of yards of the gate. There steep steps to negotiate, which I think are intended to divert rain away from the farm house which is next to the gate.

I like driving SD3088-02, from a distance this first section looks quite difficult to negotiate as it’s quite steep with some tight-ish turns, but the ground is solid and there’s plenty of space to turn and is no trouble at all.

Just like all the previous lanes, SD3088-02 is one vehicle wide, and again has a solid surface throughout. There are a few deep puddles and a stream to negotiate. Again, nothing too demanding, and on all 3 occasions I’ve driven it, the water hasn’t been any deeper than around 18”.

On reaching the end we all turned around and drove back again, not just because we enjoyed it, but mainly because there was a cycle, or jogging race on and some of the roads were closed.

Following Sam and Thomas to our next lane reminded me of why I want another Series Land Rover, yes they’re slow and fairly uncomfortable, but they have a certain charm about them and they ooze character.

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Lane 4

SD3394-05, or Fox Lane weaves its way through the heart of Grizedale forest. Heading from west to east, which is the recommended route, the lane is quite narrow and rocky with the odd overhanging branch to contend with - especially if you have a roof tent. Sam in his Series 2a didn’t put a wheel wrong on the rocks, and with the odd plume of smoke he and Thomas made the ascent look quite easy.

This was the first time today I had to engage Deux Smurf’s low box and diff lock, and as I crawled up, lurching from side to side a felt a bit sorry for Sam and Thomas in the leaf sprung motor!

As we pulled over for more photos and a chat, 2 groups of Kankku 4x4 tours passed us by, then 2 trail bikes who shot past, going way too fast for these types of lanes. I might come across as an old spoilsport now, but seriously, there’s enjoying and respecting our ever diminishing ancient rights of ways, then there’s treating them like a race track and endangering other users!

Right, I’m off my soapbox now.

Thinking about the last time I was on this lane, in a standard 5-door Wrangler Sahara, I was catching the side steps on pretty much every rock step, but I have to say that it was much easier driving this lane in Deux Smurf due to better ground clearance and my new set of BFGoodrich KM3s.

After another quick group photograph parked by the Fox we headed towards the downward section of the lane where carful wheel placement and concentration were required in equal measures.

On the section alone we were passed by many walkers, mountain bikers and motorbikes, it’s great to see many different users getting the same satisfaction and enjoyment from well maintained yet challenging lanes, and I didn’t see one frown!

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Lane 5 (I don't have any photos of No.5 )

SD3598-03 just outside Hawkshead was our next lane and I didn’t enjoy it, it was narrow and very scratchy in places but an easy lane for all

Lane 6

I’m not sure of the correct name for our next lane, it’s either Knipefold or Arnside intake, but SD3499-01 is a lovely lane with more fantastic views over Tarn Hows. There are some quite spectacular rock sections to negotiate that left Deux Smurf’s rear wheels flailing in the air so if you’re attempting this you’ll require some decent ground clearance.

The only problems we encountered was another low hanging branch which caused a bit of hassle for Fred, Anne and their roof tent, and for a further two groups from Kankku 4x4 tours coming in the opposite direction. Due to the narrowness of the lane this caused its own set of headaches, but we managed to squeeze past each other.

With a variety of rocky bits and plenty of opportunities to flex Deux Smurf’s suspension, this has become one of my favourites lanes to drive.

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Lane 7

Crossing the A593, Smithy Brow takes us onto NY310104, or Oxen Fell End as it’s also known. The going was easy enough, until about half way along there’s a tight and steep ’S’ bend.

In the dry all the short wheel base Land Rovers managed with just the odd scramble from loose stones, but in the wet I would imagine it could be quite a challenge. I was a bit worried on how Deux Smurf would cope, being longer ’n’ all, but I needn’t have worried, she managed just fine.

Reaching the end we turned left and parked up with Hodge Close Quarry on our left. The quarry is just one

of many slate workings in the Tilberthwaite Valley, and due to its massive excavation of light green coloured slate it has an original working depth from ground level of about 300 feet. The 150 feet deep face is a favourite with abseilers, while the 150 feet deep flooded workings which extend below the surface are popular with divers.

On the opposite side of the of the road, Thomas and Sam took us to another quarry site that housed the rave in the cave events. Because of the huge gaping holes I would imagine that the acoustics would have been out of this world!

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Lane 8

Moving on, we continued until we reached High Yewdale, turned right, then doubled back on ourselves. With all the Land Rovers needing at least a 3 point turn we began holding up traffic. Of course, Deux Smurf being the longest vehicle, but with the best turning circle in the group, she made it on the first attempt.

Our penultimate lane was to be Tiberthwaite, or NY300102 from south to north, and by all accounts this used to be quite a challenge, but since the repairs it isn’t the same lane it once was. Currently the surface is just shale, it’s an easy drive that any AWD SUV can manage.

Apparently we still need to be careful as its use is being monitored and final consultation with user groups on 19th October could lead to a permanent TRO if it's found 4x4s are to blame for damage. Today though I saw no evidence of damage nor off-piste driving.

The views heading heading north are nothing short of breathtaking, and as the group tootled off in front I paused for a moment or two, both to take photos and to contemplate on how with just a few irresponsible 4x4 owners we could lose access to roads like this in a single swift motion. It’s sad, really.

On reaching the end there’s two very, and I mean very narrow bridges to cross. If you have a Discovery with 35’s or similar then you’ll be ‘kissing’ each side of the bridge without a doubt.

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Lane 9

Our final lane of the tour was NY3103-03 which is a lovely lane with some small steps on the eastern end. There are the occasional loose stones the size of footballs as you drive down towards the end at Elterwater. From here we joined the B5343 to our final stop at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for a well deserved tea and a pint of shandy.

Overall, it was a cracking day driving some easy and mildly challenging routes with great company. Thomas and Sam both live in the Lakes therefore they know the routes like the back of their hands. If you are interested in joining them on a Model Land Rovers Off Road Lake District Tour (yes it’s a mouthful), then contact Thomas either through his Instagram page modellandroversoffroad or email him at modellandroversoffroad@yahoo.co.uk Prices at moment are only £20 per vehicle, but the busier he becomes, I’m confident prices will rise, so get in touch soon to take full advantage, you won’t be disappointed.

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12th Annual

Jeepey Jamboree 2019 Steeped in history, this year’s Jeepey Jamboree was held during the last weekend of June for the second time at Carlton Towers,Yorkshire.

It’s very much a family event with all proceeds going to Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and over the years Mike and his team have raised almost £20,000!

Run by Mike and Andrew from jeepey.com, this years event had over 80 Jeeps in attendance that travelled from far and wide with 50 of those venturing on the off-road section.

After a week of torrential rain, a clear blue sky and mini heatwave was a welcome relief for the team, as a dry campsite and muddy offroad course is always a perfect combination.

Giving their time and expertise, Andrew and his team from Ardent Off-Road had set out a pretty decent off-road course along with an off-road driver training track as well as a winch training section that were available all weekend.

Over the course of the weekend there was a Tombola, Raffle and Auction with products kindly donated from numerous suppliers like Crown Automotive, OmixAda, Travall, All Makes, Britpart and MAAS. In total, this years event raised a whopping £4,651 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

There were plenty of food and drink stalls on hand if you didn’t fancy making your own, and Saturday evening should’ve also included a band, but they cancelled last minute, 60

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so it ended up being Mike and a few others singing.

Next year Mike promised to make sure there’s a band and real entertainment!

Sadly I couldn’t attend the whole weekend and subsequently missed all the fun and action. When I arrived late Sunday morning a lot of folks were packing up for their long journeys home, though not everyone, there were still around 20 or so mud splattered Jeeps driving in and out of the woods. After a quick chat with Mike, Andy and Sarah I grabbed my camera and went for a wander.

The tall trees and canopies were a welcome relief from the heat, and as I followed one of the many tracks looking for the action I caught up with Andrew from Ardent who kindly gave me a lift to the mud run. I don’t think it was officially called the mud run, but as it was a selection of tracks in a clearing, each containing various amounts of mud in which to drive through, that’s what I called it.

Offering Jeep Wrangler and Renegade Custom Conversions and Vehicle Sales: 01482 666491 www.StormJeeps.com

I have a thing for big fat tyres, as I think a lot of you do. They make our 4x4s look beefy whilst offering a better stance and a bigger footprint.

However, there are times when skinnier tyres do a better job, and that was proven on a few occasions through this particular section - having a V8 helped to!

On by one, a variety of Jeeps made their way through with varying degrees of success. If you became stuck there was the usual good humoured banter whilst fellow owners either winched or snatched you to safety.

The majority of the off-road route was through the woods and challenging enough for a standard Renegade on road tyres, then there were the other sections. I stumbled across one such muddy quagmire as I following the sounds of engines revving and folks laughing. It was only a small section between trees but it was causing a lot of difficulty as you had to take it slowly, and therefore your tyres weren’t able to self clean. Having said that, a couple of LWB Rubicons with lockers and aggressive mud terrains made it look easy, as they do.

One-stop shop for Jeep parts, spares and accessories.

Jeepey supply market-leading parts, spares and accessories for all Jeep models from 1942 onwards www.Jeepey.com

01482 666491

It was good to watch as all types Jeeps that have been manufactured over the decades were joining in on the action, from new JL Wranglers, who's owners weren’t afraid to test their Jeeps to the extreme, to CJs and older.

It’s a shame I missed Saturday’s events, as Mike put it, “The atmosphere was electric, roofs and windows down, music on and over 50 Jeeps tackling the course that was completely different THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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to last years event.” So for next year I’m seriously considering booking a camping pitch for the whole weekend, whether I have a Jeep or not!

Carlton Towers has already been booked, along with Ardent off-Road for the 2020 Jeepey Jamboree which will take place on the 3rd to 5th July, and with the Saturday being the 4th July, it’ll be a great day for anything American.

If you can’t wait until next years Jeepey Jamboree at Carlton Towers to get your Jeep ‘fix’ you can always come and join them for an Jeepey / Ardent Off Road 4x4 Experience at Carton Towers on the 7th December 2019. For details visit Jeepey.com or ring 01482 666491 to find out more.

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ELVIS & KRESSE

Have you ever wondered what happens to old fire-hose?

No, neither did we until we happened across this company.

COXA STRIP LIGHTS

Modern fire-hose is a composite, so it can't be recycled, but it can be upcycled!

Since 2010, none of London's decommissioned fire-hose has ended up in landfill, instead the craftsmen at Elvis & Kresse transform it into heritage classics and then donate 50% of the profits to The Fire Fighters Charity.

Take a look at their amazing, hard-wearing bags, belts, wallets and other accessories.

These efficient LED strip lights offer fun, versatile ways to illuminate a tent or awning, enhanced by the integrated dimmer switch in the 5m cable they’re supplied with both USB and 230v connections.

prices: from £10 - £350 more at » elvisandkresse.com

prices: 1.5m - £22 3m - £29.99 more at » outwell.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month ROBENS PETA CAMP CHAIR Featuring soft padding for comfort and insulation and a highly breathable centre fabric for warm days, the Robens Peta Camp Chair looks to be the perfect way to relax after a long day exploring.

HANDMADE KEY & COAT RACKS

If you fancy a handmade wooden key or coat rack featuring photo of your pride and joy, look no further.

Upcycled from old pallets these coat hooks and key racks are made by hand by Brad Larkin.

They are the perfect gift to yourself, or for the petrolhead in your life.

Find him on Facebook Marketplace, and inbox him your photo, and one of these cool bespoke racks can be yours from only £20 (+ £4p&p).

With individually adjustable legs and wide feet for soft uneven ground, the Peta not only has a fully adjustable backrest, wide and comfortable armrests, but a sturdy aluminium frame with reinforced corner fabric for long life.

A full review will be in next month's mag as kind folk at Robens have sent us a pair to test out.

the

price : £109.99 more at » www.robens.de THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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GOODS & GEAR A LDER WOOD P URE CHA RCOA L Charcoal is charcoal, right?

You heat it up for around 20 minutes then chuck it on a BBQ and that’s that. Not quite.

Chatting to Edgars at an outdoor show last year it was clear that he was very proud, not only of his charcoal, but more importantly how it’s produced. Basically, Alder Wood Pure Charcoal comes exclusively from sustainable sources of White Alder in European forests.

What is White Alder?

It’s also known as a forest bush, because it grows very fast, and pretty much everywhere, and by producing their charcoal from it they are cleaning the forests, not destroying them.

Now you know its history and green credentials, what’s it like to cook with?

To find out I dug out my Primus Kamoto Fire Pit, called at our local butchers for some fresh meaty goodness, and set off to Abergele beach.

After filling our rusty, and rather battered, chimney BBQ starter, I lit a fire beneath it using just old newspapers and was really quite impressed that, because of its low humidity content, the charcoal only took around 10 minutes to turn grey, and be ready to cook on.

During its specialised production the charcoal is heated evenly throughout, and together with its larger pieces, it means you get an even burning temperature throughout cooking.

It's also purified during the production process, so it doesn’t contain any tar or toxins that can cause smoke, nasty odours or the spitting that you can find with a lot of other charcoals.

On the open fire pit 7 or 8 large pieces lasted around 45 minutes, but it was very windy on the beach, and I suspect if I was using a traditional BBQ, with which I could control the air flow, it would’ve lasted much longer.

If you’re looking for 100% natural and organic charcoal, that has no tar or toxic polutants, that doesn’t smoke and has no noxious odour, then this is definitely the charcoal for you! price: 50L - approx. £22.99 more at » www.facebook.com/alderlinecharcoal buy in the UK at » amazon.co.uk 68

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GOODS & GEAR P R IMUS KAMOTO OP E N FI RE P I T (LA R G E ) Dancing flames and the sound of crackling wood has mesmerised us humans since we first created fire back in the days when either Adam was a lad, or your long departed uncle Ugg was gnawing on dinosaur bones, depending on your preferred theory of evolution. There’s something magical about a large warm open fire that gives us a primal sense of wellbeing.

These days we’re still in awe of an open flame, but creating a fire pit using a circle of stones and lots of wood doesn’t always align with the ethos of ‘leave no evidence’, so the next best thing is a purpose built fire pit, like this Kamoto.

The Primus Kamoto is a portable fire pit for the times and places where you cannot start a fire directly on the ground.

Made of powder-coated steel it has a nice heavy feel to it yet is easy to fold and carry around. Once in your desired spot unfolding it and preparing it for fires, or a BBQ takes only a matter of seconds (watch the video below).

Once unfolded, you slide in the two stainless steel wind guards on the sides and an air inlet on the bottom, and you’re done.

The Kamoto comes with a cooking grate on which you can either cook food directly or place a pan on top, your choice, and the large flat base offers good stability, and a handy ashtray that protects the ground below.

After using it a dozen or so times how does it look? Used for sure, but still solid, and more importantly, straight. If I have one thing to moan about it’s that it doesn’t come with a bag. It does come with a strap that keeps it all together, but because of its purpose, a fire pit, it becomes quite dirty, so a carry bag would be an ideal option. Personally I keep it in its original box.

It isn’t something that Primus mention, or probably recommend, but because the Kamoto slots together with a degree of sturdyness, once it’s cooled down I found that when turning it upside down it makes a rather splendid foot stool, much to the amusement of Muddy Madam!

Overall it’s a great piece of kit that resides permanently in Deux Smurf ready for adventures.

2 sizes - Standard - 53 x 39cm Large - 65 x 47cm prices: from £115 more at » www.primus.eu buy in the UK at » amazon.co.uk THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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GOODS & GEAR S K INN ERS S OC K SHOE S Muddy Madam here, well what can I say about these strange sock shoes?

When I first saw them I thought the idea seems rather odd, I mean are they socks or are they shoes, and why would I use them? After getting hold of a pair I now know the answers to these questions.

Skinners are made in Europe, and were created after mounting a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, becoming the most funded footwear project on the platform ever, so there are definitely people out there who saw a need.

They aren't really socks, socks are something that you wear when you put on shoes, and you can't really put shoes on with these. They most definitely need to be thought of as shoes, but then again, wearing normal shoes you can't do the things you can do in these.

Skinners tagline is ' Freedom of socks. Protection of shoes.', and that nails it.

I decided to test them out on a British beach, a place where shoes are useless, but also damn necessary. Our beaches and shores are usually a mix of rocks, sand, seaweed, grassy dunes and sometimes carelessly discarded rubbish, and to cope with it all you could do with a wide range of footwear - flip flops for the sand, trainers for the rock and water shoes for the underwater terrain.

I found out, to my delight, that you only need Skinners as your one set of footwear. The rugged polymer that coats the base, sides and toe cap of the foot is amazingly tough, yet squishy underfoot.

When they present them at shows the Skinners team have a little area laid out with those little foot crippling demons of torture, Lego, and you are encouraged to walk on them (with the Skinners on of course, they are not sadists) to show how little of the sharp pointy bits can be felt. I've always chickened out at the shows, but I decided to do my own Lego style test by walking on small sharp stones leading to the beach, scrambling up rocks and climbing over logs, and I couldn't feel a thing.

They say you can run, walk, do workouts and play water sports in them, and you definitely can, all without getting stinky feet, especially as they contain fibres impregnated with pure silver for antibacterial action, and can be washed (inside out) in a washing machine at 30º.

A quick note for the ladies (and possibly a few men too) - these are perfect for keeping in your handbag for those times when you desperately need to get those wretched agonising heels off; believe me, get some, your feet will love you. They roll up into a small sausage shape that can be packed away in the handy little carry/storage bag that come with them.

Skinners are so versatile that they are now going to be another of my 'must haves' stashed in the car for when out'n'about. This is a product I never knew I needed, but now I've tried them out, it is a product I will never be without. price: £42.90 more at » https://skinners.cc buy in the UK at » amazon.co.uk & www.satorial.com THEMUDLIFE.CO.UK

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GOODS & GEAR W A T ER-TO-GO W A T ER FILTRAT I ON SYSTE M B OTT L E I came across this bottle in a surprising way. I was at an outdoor trade show (that’s not the surprising part), but as I passed by this stand I saw a large fish tank filled with murky water containing mud amongst other things (I think there may have been an old sock in there, but I couldn’t be absolutely sure), and there was a man who invited me to take a drink from it.

I gave him a look that showed I thought him a mad man, but his question made me stop, allowing him a chance to explain the product, and how it uses a unique ‘3-in-1 Filter Technology’ - three different technologies, 1 traditional & 2 nano, made into one filter - to remove over 99.9% of all microbiological contaminants in water. The filters used in these BPA free water bottles are created using technology originally developed for the NASA space programme.

The 3 technologies used in a Water-to-Go filter are: Mechanical filtration - a very small pore size which stops contaminants passing through.

Electrical (by a positive charge) which reduces the pore size even further and attracts the contaminants like a magnet would, trapping them inside the filter.

Activated carbon - instead of using adhesives to glue the carbon particles together, which vastly reduces the carbon’s efficiency, their carbon is contained within the membrane, helping to reduce contaminants whilst eliminating bad tastes and odours.

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Is this another boring water bottle?

Definitely NOT!

After he had bamboozled me with all the science he scooped some of the dirty brown water, and poured it into the bottle, and asked me again to take a drink.

I did, and there was no bad taste, no nasty smell and actually it was a pleasant drink of water (the surprising bit).

Now this isn’t just a marketing gimmick, it has a very serious purpose. It removes bacteria, viruses, water borne disease, protozoa, heavy metals such as lead and harmful chemicals from any water (though not sea water) making it an invaluable tool around the world in places where safe drinking water is hard to come by. In places where water is safe, like the UK, this bottle also removes chlorine and fluoride from tap water.

Why is it great for the outdoors and travel?

With this bottle, if you are out’n’about, and run out of water, you do not have spend time finding fresh drinking water, you can drink water from lakes, dirty rivers and even puddles though it will feel really weird doing so at first (take a look at my video on the next page).

There’s no need to boil the water, no need for water purification tablets and you can fill it up and drink straight away without having to worry about bacteria, which is especially useful if you travel to parts of the world where water can a bit dodgy, and you want to avoid the possibility of getting ill.

Just remember to keep the top part that you drink from

GOODS & GEAR away from the water when filling, because although the bottle can filter the water inside, it’s not magic, and can’t help you if you contaminate the bit that your mouth touches.

The bottle we tested was the original black 75cl version which is a great size for taking on your travels - there's also a handy drawstring carry pouch that you can get (with a discount if you buy it at the same time as you buy the bottle) to protect your bottle, which can be attached to your bags or belt.

Better for the world…

This one bottle can save hundreds of plastic bottles going to landfill. Just one filter gives you 200 litres of clean water, which is roughly 3 full bottles per day for 3 months, so that’s potentially saving a whopping 1,095 bottles per year.

the compost heap.

If, like me, you have a memory of a goldfish, and will never be able to remember when to change the filter, as long as you register your 75cl bottle on their website, the company will send you a handy little reminder email after 3 months.

If you don't remember to change the filter there's a ‘sensory prompt' for you to change the filter, as gradually your water will start to taste and smell as it did before using the Water-to-Go bottle. The filter will still be filtering bacteria, cysts and harmful contaminants it just won't taste or smell too great.

As for cleaning, the body of the main bottle is dishwasher safe, but the top is hand wash only (ensure you remove the filter before cleaning).

They also do a 50cl more ‘gym friendly’ looking version called Go! Bottle, which comes with a clear body with four colour choices of tops, filters & band, great for distinguishing bottles between family members.

We haven’t had the chance to get our hands on this smaller bottle, but it has all the same technology as the bigger bottle, so I reckon it’ll be just as great, and as an added bonus, it also has a timer indicating when to change your filter (filters for the Go! will last 2 months, or 130 litres).

Unlike the Water-To-Go bottle, with the GO! the whole bottle is not suitable for the dishwasher, so it’s hand wash only for this version.

Eco Credentials I also like that as a company they support the work of various charities. They support smaller organisations such as Child Aid Gambia and have supplied Médecins Sans Frontières with Water to-Go products for their emergency packs.

The filters are changeable, and a year’s supply of 4 filters (1 for every 3 months) costs only £34.99, which works out at approximately £2.91 per month, which is less than one cup of coffee!

Before you say that the filters aren’t that eco-friendly, the company has tried hard to minimise any waste, so they’ve made the end caps and shroud cover recyclable and the membrane can go on

Can you use other drinks in the bottle, other than water?

The filter will become inefficient if used with additives such as isotonic powders, cordials, juices, however if you want to use the Water-to-Go bottle for other drinks, you can simply unscrew the filter, take it out, and use the bottle as a standard sports drink bottle.

prices: Water-To-Go Bottle - £27.99 Go! Bottle - £14.99 more at » www.watertogo.eu To get a 15% discount and support SeaChangers, a charity supporting UK based marine conservation work, use code: SEACHANGERS during the checkout.

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GOODS & GEAR S OM A GIC HEND A YE P LA N CHA Arriving at Muddy Towers at the beginning of October last year, just as the weather turned foul, the Hendaye Plancha, or single burner hot plate as I call it, has seen a lot of use here at Muddy Towers, and you may have seen it in action in last issue's Dine with Damian cooking section.

Weighing in at almost eleven kilograms, it isn’t the lightest of things, but I don’t generally worry about weight once it’s thrown in the back of a 4x4.

Using it is incredibly easy, simply attach the gas, turn it on, click the starter and you have a flame. Wait 5-10 minutes for the plate to heat up, then cook to your heart's content.

I opted for the single burner, as its curved enamelled cast iron cooking plate, measuring 43cmx x 37cm, is the perfect size for Muddy Madam and I, though if you are feeding a larger family of hungry mouths then I’d probably opt for the twin burner (52x37cm), or there's an even bigger 3 burner version (61.5x38.5cm) for those who like to hold Queen style garden parties.

Apart from being simple to use and cart around, what I like about it the most is that I can cook my burgers next to my veg, next to my eggs and next to whatever else I fancy cooking - unlike a traditional BBQ. The enamelled surface also allows you to cook delicate food like fish, and once you’re done the plate can be removed for cleaning, after it’s cooled down, obviously! There’s also a small metal cup in the corner of the plate into which you can scrape bits of unwanted food and excess oil, a handy little touch. If you’re ordering one, I would definitely recommend buying the protective carry bag that comes separately.

Overall the Hendaye single burner Plancha from SoMagic is a great, although heavy piece of kit. It’s easy to cook on as well as clean and you don’t need a lot of oil either as the enamelled surface is pretty much non-stick.

Where do you buy one from?

Somagic are a French company so have a look at their website for more information (if you don't speak French you'll need Google translate).

In the UK, Dave Smith is the UK distributor, and can be emailed at firsdale@sky.com price £139.99 including delivery, hose and regulator more at » www.somagic.fr 74

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GOODS & GEAR O PINEL NOMAD COOK I N G K I T The Opinel Nomad Cooking Kit is one of those items that looks as good as it works, open the box and you have a beech cutting board that measures 20 x 12 x 1cm, a high quality microfibre kitchen cloth for fast drying, 2 knives and a peeler.

The largest knife (N°12) has a 12cm serrated blade, and works excellently as a bread knife, or for slicing large fruits and vegetables.

The medium sized knife (N°10) has a 10cm blade that cuts and slices like a paring knife, and it has a corkscrew in the handle for opening bottles of plonk.

Finally there’s a N°06 peeler which works really well at, erm, peeling veg.

The knives and peeler all have beech handles and stainless blades, and feature Opinel’s double security ring, which allows you to easily, and single handedly, lock and unlock the very sharp blades in the handle.

The knives are lightweight, but they’re not to be messed with. The N°10 folding knife (and corkscrew) cuts through tomatoes with frightening ease, which is always good for nice thin slices, but if you catch a finger it will equally slice through fingers with amazing ease After using them for the first time I decided that Muddy Madam isn’t allowed anywhere near them as she can be a bit clumsy.

Just one thing to be aware of - when you wash them avoid submersing the handle as the wood expands and therefore it may be difficult to open and close them for a while until the wood dries.

Overall the Nomad Kit is simple, and as I’ve said, incredibly sharp, and because it’s the size of a paperback book it’s perfect for throwing in a backpack for camping and picnics, or you can simply use it at home. price: £64.95 more at » www.whitbyandco.co.uk

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GOODS & GEAR R H IN O RAC K U N I VE RSA L SI D E LOA D E R

In the 'In Our Garage' section in last month & this month you can read about Thule roof bars and canoe accessories which we use quite a lot here at Muddy Towers., but how do we get Winona, our We-no-nah Aurora open canoe, onto the roof in the first place?

Usually Muddy Madam and I carry it and lift it onto Deux Smurf, but last year Muddy Madam suffered with a frozen shoulder, and was unable to do any lifting. Cutting a long story short, I came across this cool product, the Rhino-Rack Universal Side Loader from TBR Accessories (Rhino-Racks

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UK distributors) that would allow me lift Winona on my own, so I bought one.Yes, with my own money!

Quite often, when you use a tool or accessory for the first time it can be a trial and error sort of experience, but not with this, it’s dead easy.

In the box you have a heavy duty storage bag, the vertical pole, Side Loader that comes in two pieces and a selection of hooks depending on what roof bars you have fitted.

GOODS & GEAR Once you’ve connected the two horizontal bars you simply secure it onto the roof bar with the two clamps, and attach the vertical support pole which you’ll need for loads greater than 20kg (up to 60kg).

When it's secure, simply lift one end of your canoe onto the bar, then grab the other end, lift it up then pivot your canoe, kayak, ladders or whatever onto your crossbars...easy peasy lemon squeezy! I say easy, though it can be a bit tricky, it just depends on how heavy your load is, but the Side Loader works perfectly.

The Side Loader has an integrated load stop that prevents your load from sliding off, and foam padding to protect your gear.

There are also foam blocks attached to the underside of the bar which prevent it from damaging the roof of your vehicle it’s a well thought out piece of kit.

They say that it's suitable for use on all Rhino Aero and HD/Euro bars, as well as all Thule Square, Aero & Wingbar, Rola, Prorack and Whispbar bars. It also comes with a 3 year warranty. It’s a cool piece of kit, money well spent. price: £134.20 more at » www.tbruk.com

I was going to do a video of how to use it, but as I'm a 19 stone big bloke it just wouldn't show how easy it is for the normal sized person, so I thought you'd rather watch RhinoRack's own video featuring a young lady wearing a bikini and Daisy Dukes..

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GOODS & GEAR J E T BO IL CO FFEE PRESS

HYD RO FL A S K FLE X B O O T In the last issue Muddy Madam reviewed the Hydro Flask Insulated Bottle, and mentioned that she’s dropped it quite a few times. Although it hasn't affected the insulating properties, it has chipped and dented the base, making it look a bit tatty.

At a recent trade show we discovered that the wise folk at Hydro Flask have come up with a neat little solution (I'm guessing she's not the only clumsy one then), and that’s a protective silicone boot that slots onto the base.

Not only does it protect it from bumps and bangs, but it stops your bottle from sliding off surfaces, it’s quieter when you put it down and keeps it more secure whilst in cup holders.

I’m an ordinary northerner who usually prefers instant coffee, but there are some occasions when I go all posh and use proper ground coffee.

For these rare occasions Jetboil sent me their Coffee Press kit for their Flash stove (read our Jetboil Flash review from Issue 2) to try whilst out and about.

It’s so simple to put together and use. The kit comes with two metal stems that screw together, and once you’ve pushed it through the lid, you then screw in the press.

To use, boil the water as you would with the lid attached. Once boiled remove from burner, remove the lid and add the coffee.

With the lid removed do as I mentioned above and push the attached stem through the lid, and screw in the press. Then attach the lid and push down slightly so that the press is submerged, as this makes sure that the coffee is underwater.

Depending on how strong you like coffee, wait for around 5 minutes, press down fully and serve. Once you’ve finished simply disassemble and stow it in your cup inside your stove. It's as easy as that.

Jetboil also say that you can flip it over to steam your favourite fish and vegetables, but I haven’t tried that yet.

The Jetboil Coffee Press is available in two sizes and therefore compatible with the Flash and Minimo models. price: £10 more at » www.jetboil.com buy in the UK at » www.gooutdoors.co.uk 78

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The Flex Boot comes in 2 sizes, a small that fits 1224 oz wide and standard mouth bottles and medium which fits 32 & 40 oz wide mouth bottles. If you want to protect your Hydro Flask, or simply hide its battered and bruised base, the ‘Flex Boot’ is your ideal solution. price: £8.00 - £9.62 more at » uk.hydroflask.com buy in the UK at » amazon.co.uk

GOODS & GEAR S A XX BOX ERS

Gentlemen, there’s no easy way to say this, if you prefer the freedom that wearing a pair of boxers gives you, you may find that on hot and sweaty days things down below can become a bit sticky and uncomfortable. As a result we’re often seen performing yoga style moves to try and loosen up those parts of our anatomy stuck to our thighs, or we’re unjustly lambasted by our other halves for shoving a readjusting hand down our pants!

Fear not fellow men, for SAXX Underwear have pretty much solved this male problem by fitting a 3D hammock-shaped pouch that keeps everything in their place in what they call ‘ballpark pouch’ to their boxers. Seriously.

You can be excused for thinking that SAXX’s Ball Park feature is simply a gimmick, but trust me, it isn’t. After jumping in and out of various 4x4s to open and shut gates on laning trips, and a lot of walking in both swealtering heat and torrential downpours, I can, hand on heart, declare that they work magnificently.

Gone are the days of awkwardly readjusting the ‘twins'.

I tested out two styles, Platinum and Quest 2.0, both with the longer 5" inseam which sits comfortably mid-thigh, and doesn’t ride-up when you put on jeans. There are no exposed stitching either which means reduced chaffing, and they are made from moisture-wicking fabric with antimicrobial finish, which reduces the chance of odour causing bacteria building up whilst on expeditions or long trips.

Platinum is their softest style to date (and my favourite), and is made from premium Modal® - the Rolls Royce of underwear fabric, and features a relaxed fit and fly.

Quest 2.0 is their performance range, and the pair I tested had the amusing pattern name of 'Loose Cannon'. They say Quest is for wearing on road trips, red-eye flights, and treks around the world as the material has 'wash-and-go wearability' meaning they wash & dry quite quickly.

At around £25 you can argue that they’re a bit on the expensive side, but women invest a good amount of money on a good fitting bra (or 10) to keep their treasures in place and secure, so look at buying SAXX boxers as being the same thing for us blokes. When it comes to looking after our precious crown jewels, price shouldn’t come into it.

I was so impressed that I went straight out to buy a couple more, and am about to put in another order for a half a dozen more. Yes, they are that good! prices: from £25

more at » www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

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GOODS & GEAR The ban on plastic straws is causing mayhem!

OK, not so much mayhem as hatred for the paper straws that have cropped up since. I've heard many a discussion on their uselessness, how they fall apart at the first dip into a drink and feel weird on the lips.

I thought I'd find some better alternatives, and came across these 2 stainless steel straws to test out for you.

Now I don't actually like the feel of drinking from metal, it sets my teeth on edge, and both companies have solved this problem by providing an added silicone tip that can be put on the straw. Both have also solved the issue of cleaning by including a perfect sized bristled brush.

That's their similarities, now for their differences.....

ZOK U P OCK E T STRA W The ZOKU is aimed at the person who wants a straw with them at all times.

It comes in a small travel case that is only 11cm long and just under 2cm in diameter. The case has a loop on the top that perfect for a lanyard or clip, and the straw itself is telescopic, going from 8.5 to 21.5cm, which is long enough for most tall glasses. The silicone mouthpiece tapers in, so it would https://amzn.to/2Hz75Et probably be good for the smaller mouths of kids.

The issue I found when I tested it was that because of it's extendable sections a little bit of air creeps in through the jointsW, so when your glass isn't full enough to cover the joints you end up sucking air as well as your drink. It's not a deal breaker, and if you always like to use a straw, and space is an issue then this is a handy tool. price: £12 more at » www.zokuhome.com buy in the UK » amazon.co.uk

U N I TE D BY BL UE S T R A W K IT The United By Blue straw kit is a well thought out piece of kit, perfect for travelling. It comes with 2 straws (with room for 2 more), a cleaning brush and a silicone tip all wrapped up in a handy water-resistant recycled ripstop wrap-case (made from 2 plastic bottles) which has a loop on the outside for attaching to backpack.

The straw is also 21.5cm long, but what I really like about this straw is that the bore is slightly wider than the ZOKU. It's only 0.1cm wider, but that little extra helped get a good amount of liquid in one suck. The other thing that won me over is the silicone tip, is longer, perfectly angled and doesn't taper which made it a better feel for my mouth. price: £22 more at » unitedbyblue.com Given the choice I would recommend the United By Blue kit, I liked everything about it, and the straws will probably last a lifetime.

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It was February 1/2 term, and instead of whisking Muddy Madam away for a romantic holiday, I had ‘work’ to do.

It began on Tuesday as I had a Ford SUV media event to attend down in Chesterfield, at the rather lovely Peak Edge Hotel. Regular readers will know that if I’m away on this type of event, and I’m driving Deux Smurf, I always like to check GLASS’s TrailWise 2 for any local green lanes to drive.

I found a number of lanes that looked interesting, so with the event due to begin at 10.30am, I left Muddy Towers at around 6.30am for the 2 hour drive with a bit of time in hand to spend exploring.

Lane 1

Flash Lane (SK2966-02) was a bit of a mess if I’m being honest, a mixture of hard dirt and broken tarmac with plenty of off-piste activity and fly tipping. It appeared to be a common spot for dog walkers and camper vans, the only hazards are deep potholes and the odd fridge. It looked good as a backdrop for photos, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to drive it again.

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Lane 2

Just a short distance away was SK2668-03, which is also known as Beeley Hill I believe.

According to TW2 reports it can be quite busy with other user groups at times, but at 8.30am I was all alone. Some repair work was evident where water erosion had caused deep gullies, but there were still a few sections that flexed Deux Smurf’s suspension.

2

Heading east to west, once you emerge from the trees, the views to the left are quite stunning, and from here on the lane is suitable for a small SUV like a Yeti.

Having said that, I suspect that after a good downpour the surface could be quite soft, so I’d watch out for squishy bits. There was more evidence of idiots doing off-piste driving; driving up the verges and into the drainage ditch, making a real mess and damaging the drainage system - plonkers.

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Lane 3

Heading out from Chatsworth village towards Handley Lane, SK2369-02 is a lovely UCR that again is popular with other users, I passed a elderly couple who weren’t best pleased to see me, we smiled at each other as I passed, but I could tell it was forced.

From the village the surface is solid with views to the left of rolling pastures, then as you climb further it narrows quite a

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lot, with high banking and trees on either side and overall the going is good.

There are a couple of axle twisting sections which are caused by running water, but nothing to worry a proper 4x4, or even a smaller SUV with traction control. Further towards the western part of the lane it was soft and muddy with the track edges again being abused.

Lane 4

I’d read on TrailWise2 that my next lane, SK2270-03, was a bit scratchy and overgrown, and they weren’t wrong, this short but great lane bent my aerial! This is the first bit of damage a lane has caused in 3 years worth of green laning in Deux Smurf!

From south to north you follow one set of muddy ruts, it begins fairly narrow, and becomes tighter the further down you drive, to the point that you can’t open your doors to get out as the banking is too close and high. In other parts, the trees and their branches encroach into the lane to create some teeth grinding and buttock clenching sound effects as they scrape down both sides of the vehicle.

On both sides of the ruts were mounds and holes that had Deux Smurf lurching and flexing in equal measure. On reaching the end I felt exhilarated, and because I’m a glutton for punishment I turned around and drove back up!

Selecting low-box 2nd gear I crawled up in almost tick over and I let the day old BFGoodrich KM3s do all the work, and as I lurched from side to side they got me to the top without a problem - well, except that bent aerial.

Checking my watch I calculated that I had another half hour before I needed to be at the hotel, so decided to head to the final lane and then drive the other lanes in reverse, as you do.

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Lane 5

Heading north to south, SK2863-06, or Back Lane, begins with a nice flat packed surface with a forest on your left, and open fields on your right that you could drive a low slung performance car down. Around halfway along the lane it suddenly drops off, and becomes slightly more challenging with a rocky step to negotiate. Recently, with all the storms we’ve had, I’ve heard reports that this section has been completely washed away, enough to swallow an entire Jimny, so be careful.

Further along there’s a left turn onto Butcher's Lane which should be avoided as it’s in need of repair and can be damaging to vehicles. Carry on though and the lane evens out, bringing even more stunning views.

Content with my morning’s adventures I headed to the Peak Edge Hotel, parked up Deux Smurf and spent the rest of the day driving Ford’s range of SUVs, which we covered in last month's issue.

As is the norm on media events such as these, you’re fed, watered and put up for the night in a nice hotel. In the morning after a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, the goal for the day was to drive up to Windermere for another overnight stay for the launch of the new Jeep Wrangler. Of course, I wasn’t simply going to head straight there, no, I broke up the 3-hour drive with a further 3 green-lanes that I’d found just off the A623 heading West, so not much of a detour.

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Lane 6

Although it hadn’t rained during the night, the sky the following day was threatening and quite dramatic, and as I headed off there was a definite chill in the air.

My first lane of the day was SK1976-02, or Tideswell Lane in a little place called Eyam.

On the map it appeared quite difficult to find heading east to west, so I got the lane up on ViewRanger via my iPhone and got it to direct me straight to it.

Nestled between a labrinth of stone walls, Tideswell Lane’s surface is hard packed, easy going and picturesque, it’s only when you come to the end that there’s quite a steep drop off, tight turn and steep incline to the main road, quite easy really.

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Lane 7

Speaking of easy, after a few miles on the A623, SK1576-02 and SK1376-05 (Water Lane) there are fairly flat and solid lanes down which you could easily drive a Cortina, though the latter has a steep and loose entrance, so only a Cortina that’s an P100, and 4wd. I’m testing the age of my demographic now, if you know what a Ford P100 is without Googling it, you’re as old as me!

Lane 8

SK1177-03 was my favourite lane of the morning, because it was interesting, varied and had equally good views. This time driving from west to east the lane heads along on a gentle downhill single track towards what first appears to be a quarry wall, but it isn’t, just the side of a hill. You take a sharp left turn, and from there the lane takes a steepish right hand turn that’s slightly off-camber.

Once you reach the top, the surface turns to large cobbles which, by all accounts, when wet or icy can become incredibly slippery, so if you’re up there in winter, take care. At this point I was wishing for more supple suspension on Deux Smurf, as after every cobble I swear I could feel my fillings rattling!

Stopping to take my final photos I couldn’t help but smile at the cracking views behind me which were made more dramatic by the low clouds and threatening sky.

That was it, I headed back towards Stockport on the A623 then the M60, M61 and finally the M6 towards Cumbria for another overnight stay in a very posh hotel with Jeep.

My week didn’t stop there, once back from the Wrangler launch on the Thursday, I had a meeting on Friday in Leeds with the Northern Group of Motoring Writers, after which I planned another green-laning trip with a colleague around Scar House Reservoir. Then on Saturday to the NEC in Birmingham for the Camping and Caravanning Show, and finally on Sunday a green-laning day around Derbyshire with my local GLASS group, all of which I’ll share with you in the coming months.

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• • • • •

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?

Discover historic Normandy and the D-Day landings on our family friendly, self-drive tours.

We explore important battlefield sites and locations, linked by greenlanes, or traveling at a leisurely pace through the beautiful French countryside.

Cost: ÂŁ750 (based on 2 people sharing, with B&B, museum entries and guides included) Find us on facebook: Normandy 1944 D-Day Tours website: www.dday1944.tours email: hello@dday1944.tours mob: 07888 060099

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September 7th-9th British & Canadian beaches & drop zones.

Half Term dates: October 20th-22nd October 23rd-25th Intro to D-Day & Greenlanes

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!

Who started it it?

The group was started Julian Richards back in November 2017.

Why?

Camp, Cook, Dine was created for the purpose of creating simple, good food recipes for people to use when camping, dispelling the myth that camping food is simply chucking some sausages and burgers on a disposable BBQ and that's your lot!

We've tried to bring restaurant quality food, simply explained, to anyone who can cook on anything from a single ring burner through to a Cobb, Cadac or similar which most people have these days, even a BBQ!

How many members so far?

Camp, Cook, Dine has over 300 members, and growing.

Anything you would like to add?

Camp, Cook, Dine began with the sole purpose of compiling a ‘not for profit’ cookbook using member's recipes to pass that knowledge onto people with less cooking experience, generally lifting the standard of food enjoyed while camping.

Tester recipes are posted from time to time on our Facebook page to give people an idea of what can be achieved.

There are two versions of the cook book available, a physical paper book and an electronic version. For more details check out our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/315656311955687 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 The Mud Life is on Facebook too:

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Ferries

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

by Richard Myers

It all started with the ominous phrase “Can you just….”

In this case the 'can you just' came from a good friend, and fellow petrolhead on Guernsey, who had decided he just couldn’t do without a monster pick-up in his life. Having recently sold a mid ‘90s Ford F150, that had been owned and breathed on by the Mercedes F1 race team, he was missing the earth shattering power (and noise) that went with it.

After many long nights glued to the internet, he had settled on an M-Sport Ranger, with as many options as possible. The thing is, at any given time, there’s not many around, and when one did crop up with very low miles and all the toys, it was in Belfast! Quite a drive from the little isle of Guernsey, hence the title of this mini adventure.

Many emails and phone calls followed with the seller - a performance car specialist, with a good reputation on the Emerald Isle, so at least one box was ticked. Sorting out how to avoid paying VAT was another long headache, complicated by wanting to drive the car through the UK before exporting it to the Channel Islands. So many forms, so much petty bureaucracy, but we got there in the end!

Once the paperwork was sorted, it was time to hop on a flight from Southampton at crazy o’clock in the morning, and head out into the dawn to Belfast. Taking a huge punt, my friend had paid a deposit but was waiting for my final report before transferring the balance. If it turned out to be a dog, he was prepared to take the cost of the flight on the chin rather than loose a huge wedge of cash up front!

Risky, but sensible.

The seller did the honourable thing and picked us up from the airport and we drove to his premises just out of town.

We find when viewing a car, we can tell in a heartbeat, once seen in the flesh, if it’s as good as described, and if we want it!

Fortunately this was one of those rare occasions it was better than described.

In near pristine condition, with not even 2000 miles on the clock, every option ticked, full manufacturer's warranty and a full tank of gas! Blimey!

Bought new by an avid motorsport collector, and then virtually unused save for annual oil changes, which were done just for the hell of it, rather than because it needed them. I like good old school preventative maintenance like that. All checks completed and a test drive confirmed everything was in perfect order, so time to hit the road and see what this little beauty can do.

With a whole day before the overnight ferry to Holyhead, we decided to make the most of exploring, and also give it a decent real world test.

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A trundle round the backstreets of Belfast and the Falls Road area was a very weird and thought provoking experience for me, having been on 2 tours there in the late ‘80s. Many of the ‘troubles’ locations are now tourist venues which felt just beyond weird having never been back since, so the air conditioned, slightly detached, feeling in the Ranger cab was very welcome.

Going over cobbled streets and big potholes, you do notice the different suspension set up compared to a standard Ranger, but, in short doses, it wasn’t too bad.

Next heading out into the countryside, the M-Sport really came into its own. After feeling a little bouncy and harsh in town, the increased flick-ability on twisty bends was quite dramatic and after getting used to the different handling characteristics, it was a real hoot to hustle through the bends, and ‘make good progress’ as they used to say in my police days.

Compared to other Rangers I’ve driven the cab is very uxurious, with black leather throughout, and, as with all Fords these days, the ergonomics are superb, with all the switch gear falling easily to hand. One thing we had already noticed is the sheer presence of the thing. It feels massive, and seems to tower above ‘ordinary’ Rangers when side by side in traffic.

It certainly got noticed with it’s quite aggressive bodykit and styling. The downside though, was the constant need by many drivers of other crew cabs to show me exactly how awesome their trucks

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were by doing everything possible to overtake, get in front and out accelerate me. It actually gets quite tiring, as yet another totally cream crackered Isuzu screams past, belching smoke in it’s bid for macho domination.

Exploring done, it’s time to grab the overnight ferry to Wales. With another ferry to Guernsey already booked, it was a case of making good progress along the UK's motorways to Portsmouth.

I’ve never been one to work out mpg for any of my cars, more going on the feeling of ‘oh that didn’t seem too bad for a tankful of gas’. We filled up to the brim in Belfast, and by the time we were at passport control on the south coast there was still half a tank left. Doesn’t seem too bad at all, especially considering the last few hours were motored at 70(-ish, cough cough).

The long haul on the motorway once again showed up the slightly harder suspension and firmer seats, but this was offset by the icy air-con keeping us both refreshed and alert.

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Overnight crossing number 2 saw us land in the beautiful St Peter Port on Guernsey, and take a short drive though the winding country lanes to its new home. Once again it came alive in this environment.

All in all over 2 full days of driving on all sorts of roads and covering best part of 700 miles, there was still fuel in the tank, no warning lights had cropped up and it left a smile on our faces (and just an ever-so-little bit of backache).

It was a hoot to drive though and I can get the point of it being a driver’s car. It’s not about pottering around town, or long haul motorway work, it’s a statement, it’s fun and exciting motoring for the sake of it, and above all an exceptional ‘B’ road blaster!

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ADVERTISE WITH US We are looking for advertisers for our magazine, so if you would like to advertise your business in the THE MUD LIFE MAGAZINE, email us:

ads@themudlife.co.uk See your product or service here. with clickable links.

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Wreaks lane - past mooch A couple of years ago Muddy Madam and I had a BMW X6 on test, and of course, being a 4x4 with half decent ground clearance there was no doubt that I was going to take it along a green lane or two.

After exploring a couple of my local lanes I decided to travel a bit further afield, North Yorkshire to be precise, to a road called Wreaks Lane just outside Grewelthorpe. Annoyingly Wreak Lane is 93 miles away and takes almost 2 hours to get to, but these sort of journeys are what we have to deal with these days if we want to enjoy our ever dwindling byways.

With the odd bit of recovery equipment thrown in the back for good measure we joined the M62, and planned to take junction

50 off A1(M), but as we approached it we found it to be closed (thanks for the heads up Highway Agency), so we had no option to drive another 30 minutes or so to the next junction. With absolutely no idea where I was, my sketched map was now totally useless, so I switched on the ViewRanger app on my iPhone which would get us to the start of the lane. At this point I was actually rather glad of the diversion, as the roads it took us along were great fun, and I exploited the X6’s 300bhp and brilliant handling characteristics.

You may look at an X6 and think it’s ugly, and granted it isn’t to everyone's taste, but drive one and I honestly believe that you’ll probably still think it’s ugly, but you’ll have a new found respect for how it handles.

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Eventually arriving at Wreaks Lane, which I was reliably informed was a fairly easy, there’s a short run on tarmac after which it continues as a straight single track lane, and heads gradually upwards towards the heavens. Traction wasn’t a problem as the ground was quite solid and only widens as you reach the first gate. Although cloudy with the odd spec of rain, the views up there were quite stunning. I’m looking forward to returning here with either Deux Smurf or another press car.

As we continued to climb, the views became more spectacular and the surface of the lane changed, although still hard packed stone, there were a few more rocks and holes to negotiate, none of which was a problem for the X6, though at times I did

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wish we had a bit more ground clearance and perhaps more appropriate wheels and tyres. They may look good, but low profiles are only really beneficial on a race track, not for the commute.

We followed the rise and fall of the moors and the X6 simply continued to go in the direction I pointed it, not even a scramble from its low profiles. At one point we came across a water logged section, so I suggested that Muddy Madam jumps out and takes a quick video. Apparently it was quite windy out, not that I’d know as the heated seat was doing a great job of keeping my bum warm and shielded from the elements.

The surface of the lane remained solid with the odd ‘step’, but nothing the X6 couldn’t handle, in fact at time of writing I wouldn’t hesitate bringing a SEAT Ateca or Skoda Yeti along. You may have to thread your way over a couple of steps, but it would be easy enough.

Arriving at a junction in the lane we had the option of either carrying straight on or turning left. Choosing the latter would have taken us down and back up Wreaks Lane in a huge ‘V’ shape, but Muddy Madam reminded me that returning home at a reasonable time would be a good thing, so we decided to carry on and save further exploration for another day, in another 4x4.

From here on, the lane had been graded and you could take a small hatch along it, well in theory you could, but someone had laid water run-off humps across the lane and they’re quite steep,

in fact on a couple of occasions they scraped the bottom of the X6 - I wasn’t nervous, really!

That was it, according to ViewRanger Wreaks Lane is just under 7 miles long, and though not challenging it has some great views.

Driving a 4 hour, 150mile round trip to just drive 7 miles does sound a bit daft, but that’s life these days in the UK. The more lanes that are closed to us the further we have to travel, and the existing lanes consequently become over used, but hey-ho that's another article.

I had no regrets, the X6 performed faultlessly ‘off road’ and was fantastic on it, and out of all the press vehicles I drove in 2017, it was my favourite.

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'the X6 performed faultlessly of

ff road, and was fantastic on it'

IN OUR GARAGE

Thule 819, Portage Canoe Carrier Last month I raved on about the Thule’s roof bar system that worked so valiantly on both my old ’74 Range Rover and ’96 Discovery that I ordered a kit for Deux Smurf.

Of course, Thule don’t just produce roof bars, they have a huge collection of accessories that make transporting bikes, luggage and so on much easier and safer, and that’s where their 819 Portage kit comes in.

Granted, I could use a bunch load of rope and some straps to tie Winona down, but as she was expensive and I’m not very good with knots, I figured it was best to invest in something proper.

The Thule 819 kit comprises of 4 Canoe Carriers with cushioned weather-resistant base padding that holds your canoe in place, a pair of 15' Thule Load Straps with Buckle Bumper to protect your car and canoe from scratches, and a pair of Thule Quickdraw 838 ratchet straps.

Using clamps, the Canoe Carriers are easily attached onto your roof bars, then slid into position under the gunwales of your canoe, and tightened.

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Now your canoe is on the Canoe Carriers, which will prevent it from sliding sideways, it’s time to use the rest of the kit to tie it down.

The pair of 15' Thule Load Straps are wrapped around the centre of Winona and the Quickdraw ratchets look after the bow and stern.

Thule's Quickdraw ratcheting blocks are worthy of a closer look. They’re quick and easy to hook up and tighten, and are released with the flick of your thumb. They come with two short loops of webbing which help get the metal hooks past the paint on your vehicle or the finish on your canoe.

I’ll be honest and say that we haven’t used Winona much recently, it’s been a time ‘thing’, but when we have, the Portage kit gives me bucket-loads of confidence. From driving at motorway speeds to green-laning, the Portage kit keeps Winona stable and secure, and in my opinion, is a must for anyone who transports their canoe on a standard roof rack system. The bottom line is, if you value your canoe, you will love the Thule 819 Canoe Carrier and for £110 it’s a worthy investment.

RRP: £110 more at » www.thule.com buy in the UK at » amazon.co.uk (currently £90)

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Many hands make light work...

A few months ago our local GLASS Rep (Green Lane Association), Dean, was approached by the Lancashire Rights of Way officer to help do some repairs on an Unclassified County Toad (UCR) near Preston called Snape Rake Lane.

As well as having a good relationship with LRoW, GLASS got involved as they had helped previously with repairs to other lanes that the Highways were too busy to repair, and if no repairs were done, there is a good chance that vehicle rights could be lost to a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order).

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Dean arranged a site visit to discuss what was required from GLASS, and what the council would do.

“Once on site” he said, “it was easy to see what had occurred due to a ‘bomb hole’ in the road with poor drainage. A local equestrian school were, on average, doing three trips a day along the lane, and were now hacking off piste to the side, as horses had been getting stuck in the mud. Needless to say, the land owner wasn’t very happy about the state of the road, but understood the road carried rights for all users (a UCR, or ORPA if you prefer the OS term).”

At the local GLASS meeting, and on the Cumbria - The Lake District - Lancashire - Green Lane Association facebook page (phew, that's a really long name!) volunteers were requested to help provide some ‘man’power and vehicles. The council would provide a local contractor to fill the hole in with stone, create a run off drainage system and do repairs to some steps on the foot bridge, and our main priority was to discourage any further off piste activity by users.

As well as folk from my local GLASS group, members from Blackpool and Flyde LRC, the Northern Monkey 4x4 Club and Red Rose LRC turned up to help.

The day began an hour or so before I arrived by a couple of members with trailers collecting a lot of tree stumps and other materials from a local council yard then towing them to the lane, and that’s when the hard work began.

Logs and stumps were man handled and winched into position making barricades to prevent illegal offpiste horse riding and driving. Whilst some members hammered wooden stakes in the ground, others found dead branches and began interweaving them between the stakes to make a solid barrier.

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Promoting the legal and sustainable use of the countryside, campaigning against irresponsible use with the aim to ensure every green road is open for all to use.

• 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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It had been a very wet week previous and the area remained quite muddy, but even a couple of showers throughout the day didn’t dampen our spirits.

Just after midday we had a visit from the landowners, Mr & Mrs Fitzherbert-Brockholes, who were said to be overwhelmed by the response of volunteers willing to give up part of their day to help maintain the lane so that it would remain open to all users.

On the other side of the Winsnape Brook there were more signs of off-piste activity with some 4x4 owners finding a route through a soft and open patch of grass, through the trees and then driving down the brook, so a few more of us dragged dead trees and branches from the forest and built barriers in the hope to discourage them from not only making a mess, but potentially getting the lane closed for good.

On reflection, calling it a brook is a bit of a misnomer as where we go through it is around 2 long wheel base trucks wide.

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Anyway, for the next half hour or so we all continued on the original barrier, winching more dead trees and carrying more branches. Well some did, but I’d injured my hand the night before, so I was mainly taking photos and man-handling twigs!

We finished the day with huge sense of satisfaction, and a group photo.

With approximately 15 people, 10 vehicles and 2 trailers on site the lane was filled in and a French drain installed, and went from being a lane that was only drivable in a 4x4 with a winch to one that is now accessible to all users.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without driving it, so in a small convoy, from north to south, we drove down past our handy work, waded through the brook and up the very narrow and in places rocky southern side. A good end to a great day.

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OK

I’m a petrol head, and as well as 4x4s I do like a variety of other cars from big V8 saloons to Italian sports cars, so when I heard about an Enzari ‘Italiana Morning’ meeting about an hour away near Preston I seriously couldn’t help myself.

“That’s all well and good”, you may ask, “but who and what is Enzari?”

In essence Enzari is an online Italian car publication (enzari.com) that covers the latest Italian car news, reviews, motorsport, classifieds and more. Arriving at the aptly named Ferrari’s Country House Hotel I was confronted with an array of Italian exotica, from modern day Fiat 500 Abarths and Alfas to the classics, the car park was brimming with enthusiasm and class.

It was a very informal meet with members and enthusiasts coming and going, and as soon as one vehicle left it was quickly replaced with another. Being just a morning meet, when 12.00pm arrived pretty much everyone had left, presumably for their Sunday lunches, or to clean their pride and joys.

Check out Jason’s website above for the latest in Italian car news and dates for his gatherings, and you never know I might see you at the next, but in the meantime, enjoy the photos…

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ENZARI Meeting

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

I like to eat, which is why I’m a 'solidly' built bloke, and these Cheesy Omelette Wraps are crazy delicious, and so easy to make.

At home you can make these tasty wraps of delight using a preheated oven at 180C/350F, and bake them for around 25 minutes, but when out and about I opt for my well used trusty Cobb Premier which is, amongst it's many other uses, a very effective travel oven.

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Cheesy Omelette Wraps Ingredients (per wrap)

A soft large wrap / tortillas (approx 9" diameter) 2 slices of ham A good handful of grated cheddar or tasty cheese 1 x egg

Cooking Equipment Cobb BBQ Tin Foil

Instructions

1. Fire up the Cobb using their Cobblestones - they only take around 5 minutes before they’re ready to cook on.

2. Place a piece of tinfoil on your work surface and spray (or brush) with a small amount of oil 3. Place the wrap on the foil, then fold the pieces ham with the folds on the outsides, making sure it’s flat in the middle to help keep the egg in place.

4. Sprinkle the cheese in the middle of the ham and form into a ring.

5. Crack an egg into the centre of the ring, add salt ’n’ pepper to taste, then fold the bottom and top edges in, then the left and right side to form a package, then quickly wrap it in the foil to same way.

Important bit - don’t turn it upside down as the egg will leak!

6. Put the Grill Plate on the Cobb, then the Roasting Rack on top of that, because if you put the pockets directly onto a flat base they’ll burn (I learnt this the hard way, the very hard, crispy burnt wrap way!).

7. Put the lid on and wait for around 20-25 minutes.

You should aim for the base and edges being crispy and a soft top. Unwrap immediately and feast, otherwise it will sweat and lose crispiness (believe me, nobody wants a cheesy sweaty wrap).

You can keep this recipe simple like I have, or you can add salami, bacon, tomatoes, onions, pesto - whatever you fancy! The trick is to not go overboard with the filling, as it makes it tricky to wrap up.

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es d i R s ' r e Read

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Tom Chadwick, and I play with vehicles for both work and play.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 I learned to drive in my mate's 110 CSW, jacked up with huge wheels and winch bumper, which kind of set the tone for the future. I bought a Seat Ibiza as my first car, only because I couldn’t insure much else. Good job really as it only lasted 6 months before it met its end - it's true what they say about 17 year olds.

Then my friend leant me his 3.9 Discovery 3-door for a while before buying my next car, I loved it! I bought a Golf GT Tdi after that, nice enough but cost me £3k in repairs in 18 months.

I flogged that, and bought myself a 3ltr petrol straight six BMW 1 Series M-Sport Coupe at the age of 19. Lovely thing, I’ve still got it, and struggle with the idea of parting with it. I modified it a little and once again borrowed the 3.9 Discovery whilst it was in for painting etc. The exhaust fell off whilst I had it and I loved it even more!

Present 4x4(s) The next car I bought I thought would be the most sensible car purchase of my life, a beautiful dark blue top spec facelift V8 Discovery 2. It even came with LPG fitted which made even

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more sense, because along with its increased versatility it also brought with it lower running costs than my BMW! Modifications done As soon as I got it I bought a middle box delete pipe (mandatory upon purchase of my first V8). It’s also got some stronger steering arms and diff guards, but that’s about it. I’ve got a few bits and pieces lying in wait (suitable effort to prep and fit them), but we’ll go into that another time. Unfortunately it had overheated at some point and had a new water pump fitted before I bought it, I was non the wiser however I am linking that to the head gasket failing (and both heads being warped ten thou) about 6 months after buying it. Having never taken an engine apart before, I dived in head first, with nothing more than the RAVE manual and a clever bloke on the end of the phone. Utterly brilliant experience doing a top end rebuild, I didn’t do a bad job either. It runs rather well now!

Favourite Modifications It has to be the middle box delete. It’s impossible to tire of the rumble, and often gets compliments from other folk so I’m not worried about being antisocial!

Favourite green-laning trip I went camping only last weekend for a couple of nights at the Tan Hill Inn (highest pub in the British isles) on an adventure

weekend surrounded by other folk with the same mental delinquencies as me. There were many Land Rovers, and plenty of other interesting things too!

A couple of groups of us went off green laning on the Saturday, and it was probably the best trip I’ve had out, not the longest or most challenging lanes I’ve ever done but there was just something almost mythical about the whole experience.

Lottery win 4x4 If I won the lottery I’d probably end up with an awesome overlanding camping machine, something like a 101 forward control, fully decked out to travel the world, and also some sort of Icelandic Formula Off Road sort of thing to thrash around off road just for fun!

Favourite car related film I love car programmes, mainly ones about fixing them up, but Gone in 60 Seconds is a long standing good’un. Let’s face it, we all have a crush on Eleanor...

Favourite biscuits Chocolate Hobnobs.

Where can we find more details?

I’m not largely into social media and illustrating a glitzy life online to the masses. The Defender D1 & D2 owners club on facebook is probably where I spend most time.

If you want to get in touch you’re best getting on the North West Overlander page on facebook, and coming to one of the club meet ups!

We'll have a laugh! Just bring some Chocolate Hobnobs!

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es d i R s ' r e d Rea

Who are you and what do you do?

Hi I'm Mathew Thompson. I'm an IT engineer full time, and a video blogger at the weekends.

and I was keen to have a look and put my deposit down. I decided to put my name down November of 2018, and by May 2019 it had arrived.

History of cars leading up your present 4x4: My very first car was a 2001 Ford Ka, which use to run me forwards and backwards from Yorkshire when I worked as a forest ranger.

Oh man, I'm so glad I waited, I love the car so much! Suzuki really spent the time and money into making sure it would deliver. So much so that there is so much demand for then Suzuki Japan can't make enough of them! I'm only 1 out of 600 vehicles this first term of 2019 to receive one, and only another 600 are coming in before December. To receive or even try and order one will be next April. Crazy!!!Â

After that I got a 2005 Suzuki Jimny. I had that 3 years slowly adding things to it as I needed them. That never let me down, it went everywhere I went all over the country and even with a trailer on the back touring round the northwest coast of Scotland it never let me down.

After that I needed a bit more space, and I always wanted a Land Rover, so I went for a 2002 Land Rover Discovery, as the Defenders had shot up in price, and I couldn't afford one at the time. That was a money pit, and I only had it a year before I had to get rid, and look for something more reliable, something that would get me to work everyday, but be able to take me to remote places and camp without any problems. After the Land Rover went, it was time to do some research, and I saw the new 2019 Suzuki Jimny being announced

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Present 4x4(s) I have a SZ5 2019 Suzuki Jimny.

Modifications done New 215/75/15 BFG KO2's Tyres, 1" lift, Raptor 4x4 LED Spot lights, Escape Gear Seat covers, Front Runner roof rack, Front Runner swing away bracket, LED DLR's & LED Fog Lamps, 40 Channel CB Radio, Howling Moon 2.1x1.8m Awning and ARB Diff Breathers front and rear.

Favourite Modifications My swing away awning bracket. I can still keep my original awning but I can now have it on the side or back.

Modifications to do In the process of setting up a duel battery system to run my fridge and lighting at camp. Under body protection on the differentials and transfer case.

Favourite green-laning trip:- We manage to get a few passes to do Gatescarth Pass which is only open 1 day month, and the lane can limited to certain size vehicles. The lane is very tricky in place and the climb increases every few 100 meters. With steep drops on either side and tight switch backs going up the track, it's advised that only experienced drivers tackle the track.

I've only done this lane twice, but the views on a clear day are Fantastic!

Lottery win 4x4 That is tough one! It would have to be a Land Rover Defender 110, or the American Toyota 4Runner.

Favourite car related film Knight Rider, with David Hasselhoff Favourite biscuits Chocolate fingers Where can we find more details?

Instagram - Mathewthompson07 or club page nw_overlander Facebook - North West Overlander.

I've also got my own Youtube channel where we film our adventures and expeditions too.

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es d i R s ' r e Read

Who are you and what do you do?

Hi! I’m Fred, and I’m a sales manager from Somerset

Sharon. I never understood the two turns of a key then a push start!

History of cars leading up your present 4x4 My first car was a 1991 Renault Clio 1.4 RT. It was my gran's car, bought new, then it became my mum's, then mine in 2003.

I killed it.!

Then we come to a Ford Focus Style - terrible, and ironic that it was called Style, as it was as stylish as a middle aged man in sandals and socks. Number 8 & 9 - a 2011 VW Golf, then a 2012 Renault Megane yawn.

Next up was a 2 year old Fiat Punto bought in 2003 - terrible.

My third car bought in 2005 was a 2004 Corsa SXi, because everyone needed neon led lights. It caught fire on the M1 near Sheffield 4 months after I bought it, and brought the entire county of South Yorkshire to a standstill.

Then came a beautiful 1999 Rover 200 with the K series engine, of course it had head gasket issues. It was green and had purple carpets. Scrappage scheme took this one.

RIP V368 DJM My fifth car was a 2009 Mazda 2 Sport, then I became a company car driver with a 2008 Honda Civic 2.2 CDTI executive in Grandad Grey. It had a robotic sat-nav I labelled

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The tenth, and my favourite, Alfie the Alfa Romeo Guiletta 170bhp.

I loved the DNA system.

My current car is a 2018 Nissan Qashqai Tekna Plus ‘Nix’, with lots of goodies on board.

Present 4x4(s) 1992 Defender 90 200tdi with an original Defender engine.

Modifications done Two inch lift Light bar Snorkel Spots Roof tent Bearmach rack Diff guards Favourite Modifications On mine?

Light bar.

Modifications to do Rear spots Winch bumper Winch Shocks Steering rods Fresh seats Tidy up interior CB Radio Favourite green-laning trip To many to mention, but my most recent Salisbury Plain last weekend - plenty of photo opportunities, dogs and pubs Lottery win 4x4 Mercedes Unimog 2019. #badass Favourite car related film Most recently it’s BABY DRIVER. Favourite biscuit Foxes chunky triple chocolate cookies. Great with tea.

Where can we find more details?

I help run the mostlytracksandtrails page on instagram.

My own insta account is falks_and_fred

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PAST JALOPIES

Tink, The Series 1

It was back in September 2005, and whilst attending the MG show at Scarbarick Hall I noticed a for sale sign in a MG ZR which lead to me buying a 1955 Series 1 Land Rover. Since then, life with Tink, as Karen Lee had christened her, had been both fun, and frustrating.

I loved Tink’s small, stubby bonnet and the way in which my knees were above the doors and open to the elements after I’d removed the door tops. Her huge steering wheel and tight turning circle often made me smile along with the nippiness of her original 2ltr petrol engine and the way in which it could keep up with traffic from the lights up to 40mph, then run out of puff. I liked the way people of all ages would glance at her as we drove past, some would even wander over to us in car parks and just begin to talk about their times and experiences in similar vehicles.

You can't be a shy person with a Series 1.

As I began planning to swap and change parts to make Tink more modern I realised I had a dilemma on my 126

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( pt. 6 the end )

hands. I felt sometimes that I swung both ways - oh come on, let me finish.

I wanted to continue using her on a daily basis, which meant modifying her in some ways to address her shortcomings. However, I also wanted to keep her original and not mess with her at all. But having said that, don't all Land Rovers evolve and become adapted to their owners lifestyles?

Not only is muddy Land Rover a happy Land Rover, but it appeared being regularly driven helps too. Leave her dormant for a few weeks and she wasn’t happy as something would always require fixing.

A good example was the time I hadn't driven her for a fortnight or so, and as I walked past her one morning I got a whiff of petrol. 'This can't be good.’ I thought.

A quick look underneath revealed that her petrol tank had began leaking from a corner. Nothing too dramatic, just a slight seep.

PAST JALOPIES

I asked on the Difflock forum for recommendations and replies came back suggesting a visit to www.Frost.co.uk for their POR15 Patch Black seam sealer.

After draining her tank I set about out with the wire brush and cleared the dried muck away from the nuts 'n' bolts that secure the tank to her chassis, I then sprayed them with penetrating spray and left it over night to do it's magic. The next morning I positioned the trolly jack under the tank, removed the seat base and held open the seat base lid. After disconnecting the electrical bits to the fuel tank and the union joint, I set about undoing 5 out of the 6 bolts (one was missing!) holding the tank in it's place then lowered the tank using the jack.

Once the tank was on my workbench I was able to give it a thorough clean in preparation for the sealer, I carefully 'smeared' the outside corner and left for a while to dry before refitting the tank to Tink. It was now solid as a rock with no more leaks.

Another thing that I'd noticed whilst driving Tink during that time was that her gear selection was getting progressively worse, why I wasn't sure, so I tolerated her moods up until the day it was impossible to get her into gear with her engine running. Again, asking the question on the Difflock forum, the diagnosis was that the cotter pin that holds the two clutch shafts together had probably broke. In fact what more likely had happened was that the pin had failed many years ago and someone had replaced it with a bolt or something similar. Their prognosis was correct, removing part of the floor I saw a bolt, it wasn't in the best condition, in fact as I found out later, it had snapped in two.

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PAST JALOPIES This coincided with me having another bad back, so I enlisted the help of my mate Barny. He removed the second cotter pin from the other end of the shaft that for some reason I couldn't reach, removed the shaft, tapped it a little so the broken end of the bolt fell out and replaced everything within half an hour. Cheers mate!

It was soon time for her annual health check again, the MOT man only took twenty minutes, and that was an exhaustive test! As he shone his torch into the front wings, he chuckled to himself, nodded his head from side to side and muttered, 'Two wires, just two wires going to the lights, most cars have a wiring loom as thick as me wrist!' We even had to wait ten minutes or so, so that the computer didn't think he was up to something.

'Did she pass?' Karen Lee asked when we got home. 'Of course she did', I replied, and as I patted her on the wing, everyone laughed as big clumps of dried dirt fell to the floor.

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PAST JALOPIES Just then a neighbour asked if I could help tow his terminally ill Almera to the scrap yard at the bottom of our road. 'What's the point in towing, it's down hill. Tell you what, I'll give you a push.' So with a little nudge from Tink, we got him rolling, and with his engine on he was able to brake. Once at the gates we had to wait ten minutes or so whilst they had their brews, it's amazing how much attention a fifty odd year old Land Rover gets. A young lad walked over, smiled as he gave her the once over and said, 'Fantastic, how old is she mate?' It turned out that instead of driving the 'chaved' up Clio that was parked up nearby, he owned a near pristine Triumph Dolomite. That'll teach me to judge a book by it's cover. Anyhow, with break time over, Tink gently pushed the deceased Almera onto the weighbridge and watched as the young lad carried it away with a forklift. Old Lannies should be used and not stored away for shows.

Then it happened, in a moment of madness when something else broke I did the unmentionable, I put her up for sale. It wasn't a

frivolous act, we needed some extra cash and at the time Tink wasn't being used. I was quite pleased that for at least three months no one had shown any interest in her, until that is Tom phoned from Scotland'shire'. He was looking for an original, unmolested Series 1, and he had finally found one - Tink.

It was one of those horrible dilemmas that we sometimes have in life, well, it seemed that way at the time. I pondered what to do for a while, and began to re-assess Tink's role at Muddy Towers.

Unfortunately, Karen Lee wouldn't drive her, or even be a passenger without seat belts being fitted and I didn't want to take her seriously off road due to her originality and age. My initial plan of ‘let’s get her somewhere near the 21st century’ hadn't really got started and her swivels, bearings and seals needed replacing as well as needing new tyres and suspension, so I decided that I would sell her to Tom.

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PAST JALOPIES It took three visits from Tom for Tink to behave so he could take her away. On his first visit her carb became blocked again, his second visit there was an issue with her gear selector, it was stuck between reverse and first gear and wouldn't release. Quite a fundamental necessity if you’re looking at driving her 400 miles home! So on his third visit, Tom and his friend brought a transporter, but by this time she was running beautifully.

I was sad to see her go, but happy at least in the knowledge that Tom would look after her. Watching them load her onto the lorry was a bit surreal, that was Tink that they're taking away, my first Series 1 Land Rover, what had I done?

My head was filling with excuses for me not to let her go, but common sense prevailed, we needed the money and I couldn't afford to do the jobs on her that she required. Do

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I regret selling Tink? Damn right!

Looking back at the two years of ownership, we only managed to clock up 476 miles together, which was only slightly less that Joe, her previous owner had done in seven years!

For a while Tom would send me photos of Tink and a list of the jobs he was doing to keep her going, like a front axle overhaul and detaching her sump and removing decades worth of gunk, so at least I know she's getting the TLC that she deserves.

Will there ever be another Series Land Rover at Muddy Towers?

Without a doubt. Having said that, the way prices are at the moment, it won’t anytime soon!

PAST JALOPIES

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RETRO SNAPS

ARC national

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

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plymouth, 2002

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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 instead…

A few pointers…It’s important that you check the site’s requirements before you visit, such as: 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?

To avoid disappointment, always check with the individual site before you set off. Also remember that, 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!

Pay & Play Directory NORTH

Avalanche Adventures

Hill ’n’ Ditch

Activities: Pay & Play http://www.hillnditch4x4.com 07974 398201

Explore Off Road

Activities: Pay & Play, Off Road Driver Training, 4x4 Experiences http://www.exploreoffroad.co.uk 07970 286881

Kirton Off Road

Activities: Pay & Play, 4x4 Experiences https://www.korc.co.uk 01652 245022

SOUTH Essex Rochford & District 4x4 Club Activities: Pay & Play http://www.4x4er.co.uk

Devils Pit

Activities: Pay & Play, 4x4 Experiences https://avalancheadventure.co.uk 01858 880613

4x4 Without A Club

Activities: Pay & Play http://www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk 07887533168

4x4 Driving

Activities: Pay & Play, Off Road Driver Training http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 07802 582826

Piccadilly Wood

Activities: Pay & Play http://www.piccadillywood4x4.co.uk 07984 543886

Ultra Adventure Driving

Activities: Pay & Play / 4x4 driver training http://www.ultraadventuredriving.co.uk 01978 358 444

Activities: Pay & Play http://www.devilspit.co.uk 07764 159478

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emember, motorsport is dangerous, and it can also be a lot of fun, so be sensible out there.

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4x4 Tours D-Day Tours

Ardent Off Road

Highland All Terrain

One Life Adventure

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.dday1944.tours 07773 110101

Activities: 4x4 Tours, 4x4 Experiences https://ardentoffroad.com 01757 638479

Activities: 4x4 Tours https://www.highlandscenicsafari.co.uk 01528 544358

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

Cambrian Way

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

Off Road Driver Training & Experiences NORTH

SOUTH

SCOTLAND

North Yorkshire Off Road Centre

Wild Tracks

Scottish Off Road

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

Tours http://www.nyoffroad.co.uk 07787 555060

Explore Off Road

Activities: Pay & Play

Off Road Driver Training

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

UK WIDE All Terrain Services

Activities: 4x4 Driver Training

4x4 Experiences

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

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences https://www.wildtracksltd.co.uk 01638 751918

True Grip off Road

Activities: Off Road Driver Training

4x4 Experiences http://www.truegripoffroad.co.uk 01233 662251

Protrax

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

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

4x4 Driving

Activities: Pay & Play

Off Road Driver Training http://www.4x4driving.co.uk 07802 582826

WALES Bala 4x4

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

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As the summer hols come to a close, and we head into the 69 reg plate rush, The Mud Life Magazine is changing to monthly publishing.

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