Club 80-90 Forums

. . . I have been looking at joining local off road clubs and wondered what experience anyone has had while owning a Syncro? Have you been excepted Ok and had fun green laning?

As you can imagine (or maybe not!) being a women on her own with a Syncro (and totally obsessed with her vans) there is little chance to socialise locally . . . I don't quite fit in with girlie nights out!! (tho the invites are there). I have tried local vw clubs and been totally isolated.

I am looking for some stimulating conversion on VW's/4x4 as I spend every spare moment on my vans and a large percentage of my dosh on there up keep (I wouldn't have it any other way )

I have looked at Lowrangers.org . . . anyone know of them?
Can I say my experience with the Syncronaunts has been exceptional I love every meet and love everyone I meet

Will you marry me?

max.karisma wrote:. .I am looking for some stimulating conversion on VW's/4x4

I can talk dirty about decoupling, if you like?

Have been out with a good few of the offroad clubs in Ireland and have always been warmly welcomed by them, they are often very intrigued, surprised and very impressed by what a campervan can do often underestimating the syncros abilities.
However it is VERY important to assess where you are going and what a syncro is capable of doing when following some of the Jeeps . Most of the guys in the clubs here are trailering their vehicles to events.these are generally highly modified Landcruisers, Landrovers, Patrols, Jimmneys etc, some of which are often running 33's or bigger have much better approach and depature angles and massive engines are not street legal and often sporting external rollcages. Sometimes it feels like you've brought a knife to a gun fight when pulling up alongside some of these monsters. But the organisers and members were always accomodating to all vehicle types and varieties hence the adoption of colours to describe routes and to avoid unnecesary vehicle damage, inaddition I always thought it very interesting to see the different capabilities of each vehicle in terms of turning circles and also having diff locks etc.
As the I'm sure the folks who came to Eire Syncro can confirm some of the tracks were quite tricky and they were the easier and safer reds and greens that were picked there were other tracks that Syncros are at their limit on i.e. could be severely damaged that I have done and then there are challange tracks that no syncro would be able to do. As per any thing start with the novice stuff and work your way up have fun

Went out with the local pajero off road club a while back. Not a pajero in sight, they'd all changed to disco's. lol.

Lee

Thank you for your responses . . . not quite what I was expecting

I'm flattered by the proposal of marriage (having not even met me!) and some what excited by the 'decoupling debate' but I guess its down to me getting out there locally!! !!

Thanx Paul for your input . . . I did check out the Lowrangers site and watched all videos . . . it is definatly a greenlane club and I couldn't see anything that would have fazed me or my Syncro (she says sitting behind a computer!!) What I will miss is everyone, in the club, knowing my abilities and moving me on, I'm always up for a challenge but I some times need a "you can ucking do it" and then I do

Thanks again, you may hear more of my adventures . . .

hey, let me know how you get on. I'm only in Chester so wouldn't mind coming along.

Saying that, I'm sure there are a few syncro's around our area now. Not as populated as Surrey though

Hi Max we go out with 2 different clubs the landrover boys will give you a bit of banter but they soon welcome you when they see what your syncro can do. don't try it with the short wheelbase lands etc. I always go for the lwb stuff if a standard disco ,Mitsubishi etc can do it you will be fine. And the kids and lady's love to see a vw camper going where the landys go

I used to be an active member of the mudclub forum.
It depends on how active the club is in your region as to if its any good.
I really enjoyed it because it is intended for any 4x4 vehicle to turn up - they would love to see a syncro.
We had a defender and I often hot recovered by Suzukis lol!
The last one we went on (green laning day) was in the Nottingham region and whilst it was well organised we were treated like complete novices and one chap was actually quite rude to H even though her suggestion of recovering a pejero out of a bush was better than his plan!
I suggest you take a look and see what is going on. We participated in the Norfolk region for years and loved it.

Good luck,

Ringo

bikermike87 wrote:Saying that, I'm sure there are a few syncro's around our area now. Not as populated as Surrey though

Reckon, Devon would beat those Chelsea (near enough) tractors hands down! There are 4 syncros in my little village alone m' lovely!

You living in SG now Karl? 4 Syncro's?

Hi Max, what about your local branch of the AWDC? It's an all-brands club and been around for a long time, I've been meaning to meet my local lot as they have a monthly curry night just up the road from me
The folks who were at Slab Common were a friendly bunch.

Well, I call it my village as I seem to spend most of my life down there!
There were 5 for a short time, but the guy sold his ex-syncronuts TDi camper. And a builders got a rough single cab that I keep an eye on...... "If you want to sell it for scrap, let me know"

A big thanx for replys . . .

'Bikermike87' . . . if i find a local meet I will let you know, It would be good to have syncro solidarity! Plus you have 'biker' in your membership name . . . motorbikes? . . . I could happily talk about bikes and racing!

Thanx 'Mot falia' for info, I can handled the banter and hopefully enjoy the out come

Thanx Ringo . . . I realise that being a woman, an a Syncro owner may not sit well with clubs, I will listen and take on board what's said, I will find it hard . . . but hope I mix in!

AWDC . . . sorry Ian I don't know what that stands for . . . but the curry night sounds good

AWDC = All Wheel Drive Club

We met up with them at Slab Common. Membership is about £30 a year and you get a monthly magazine. Which my son thought was "awesome"!

You get a complete variety of vehicles from little Suzuki's to 33 ton tanks!

Seemed friendly enough and it was really good to see different recovery techniques.