off-road driving courses

Post by **edmundator** » 10 Jun 2007, 10:01

I had a Jeep Cherokee in the States and took it on some rough roads but not properly off-road (In a Fast Show sense). I think it would probably be a good idea to get some tuition, although I think I understand the basics sufficiently well from watching people get training on the telly.

Has anyone done an off-road tuition course? If so, where, and was it any good? Oh, and how much did it cost?

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 10 Jun 2007, 11:40

Gwt to one of the syncro events and have someone sit in with you.

Post by **edmundator** » 10 Jun 2007, 11:42

sounds good, but probably not enough time (or events) before I leave the country! (NB don't even have the syncro yet!)

Post by **HarryMann** » 11 Jun 2007, 00:02

If you're going to take the one you buy off-road seriously - and haven't done so before, you'd be wise to take a look, and get a drive if you can... invaluable experience. Just sitting in with a few different drivers would be good ... find out how they're driven, what they can do, and more importantly what they can't do. If you're aiming at very rough or demanding tracks, you'll best travel with a buddy and take a few bits of essential equipment.

Syncropendence is June30th/ July 1st weekend... next site event. Possibly a Green Lane trek before then somewhere.

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 11 Jun 2007, 07:23

We have the Land Rover Experience people at Awliscombe near Honiton who do standard day courses for a little over 100 pounds driving Disco's Freelanders, Rangies and Defenders. I was lucky enough to get my work to pay for this course, and it's a very nice corporate type day in pleasant surroundings and not far from exeter. also down here and more rugged is David Bowyers off road center at Zeal Monachorum near crediton. They do a couple of courses including a bring your own. David uses a mixture of green lanes and his own land and is a bit more practical than the land rover experience.
The landrover experience at awliscombe has a very good course, the new shape disco's and rangies are just astonishing off road. Watching the 3 locking diffs automatically switching on and off as required on the little tv, and the little red light for each wheel that comes on on full articulation makes you proud it's a british designed car(i hope).
I found though that after the initial amazement at the vehicles capabilities driving them became quite boring as you just new that the car would get up or down anything on the course without any input from the driver other than pointing it in the right direction. I find that driving the syncro off road more interesting as you can make some of the decisions like when to use difflock yourself, which makes it more involving and more enjoyable. There is also something distasteful about the range rover, such a capable off roader that just never is going to be used for the purpose for which it was designed. Another reason for prefering the syncro.

Post by **bigbluebus** » 11 Jun 2007, 11:56

quite boring as you just new that the car would get up or down anything on the course without any input from the driver other than pointing it in the right direction

yeh I found same couple weeks back, drove a land rover at a place near Warwick as part of a team building kinda thing.

Continually cracking me left knee's on the interior was the most frightening bit

Post by **Ye Olde Syncrospares** » 13 Jun 2007, 15:52

your not gonna learn much sat in a modern 4x4 thats got traction control and descent control,you need to be feeling whats going on underneath and in front you,i can point you in the right direction and give you some advice if needed cheers cj.

Post by **edmundator** » 13 Jun 2007, 20:40

Thanks CJ I'll ask you about it when I pick up the van.

I might even be able to make the Syncropendence event if there's space.