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Due to the land at this site "holding onto" rain water and cutting up when wet ANY dates at this site will be "Subject to the weather" and could be cancelled at short notice. All pre-booked entries will be informed of any cancellation. All other entries are advised to contact a committee member or check here on the website if in doubt.

The 2009 Awards Evening will be held at the Duck In located in Aston Clinton on 6th March 2010. Arrive 7.30 to sit and eat at 8.00. The Duck In used to be the Bell Hotel, which back in the 70’s and 80’s held some very grand functions.

Rather than the usual carvery meal which we are familiar with, The Duck In have offered us a limited menu which is enclosed. There is a choice of four starters, seven main courses and four puddings. The cost of this is £20.00 per head. It’s more than we have paid in the past but I think we have been lucky in paying what we did and the Duck’s food is very good and excellent value for money.

We have been limited to thirty people and they would like us to pre book the food. If you would like to come and join us in this annual social evening then please choose your food from the attached menu, fill in the attached order form and return it with payment (please make cheques out to AROC Ltd) to me as soon as possible. Places are available on a first come first serve basis. Accommodations are available but please make your own arrangements. Please remember what you have ordered, it makes the life of the waitresses easier.

Martin Lewis
Vice Chairman AROC

Date 23rd December

At the moment the RTV and CCV trial at Roundhill Woods, Wigginton due to be held on the 27th December is still going ahead. We have had a lot of snow here, two dumpings of about five inches each. All of the main roads are passable but the side roads require care and concentration. At the time of writing this (Wednesday evening) there is a major thaw going on so the roads will improve. Unless the weather takes a serious turn for the worst the Roundhill Wood trial will go ahead. Please don’t forget, for AROC CCV members, it is the Alderman Hill Team trial. If you cannot find a team member don’t worry we will team you up with some one on the day.

Please watch this web site in case anything changes.

Martin Lewis
Vice Chairman AROC

Here some of the winners of this years annual Awards. Please come to that Awards dinner, 6th March at the Duck Inn in Aston Clinton and receive your trophy in person!

Eighteen members answered the questionnaire, only five wished to be anonymous. The majority are happy with the way we, the committee, are running things but there are issues which need to be addressed, which they will.

On behalf of the committee I would like to thank you all in participating in the survey.

We have another two new sites to use this year, Park Farm, Halford and Granby Farm, Honington both of which are in the county of Warwickshire. These two sites plus the two new sites of last year, Bull Ring Farm, Harbury and Yarwell Quarry, Peterborough takes four new sites to use.

Park Farm is very suitable for both RTV and CCV, woods, mud and sand pit. Camping and parking is a bit tight. Granby Farm is very suitable for all disciplines, RTV, CCV, Tyro and Promo. The site comprises of woods and man made humps, bumps and gullies. The area for both camping and parking is plentiful.

Using these new sites will allow us to give the regular sites a bit of a rest as they have all been over used to varying degrees. It will also rekindle the enthusiasm of both C of C’s and drivers as regularity runs the risk of breeding boredom.

As usual there is a down side, distance. It’s nowhere nearly as bad as you think bearing in mind both Halford and Honington are to the west of Banbury and Harbury is north of Gaydon. I Google mapped Halford, Harbury and Honington from Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard and Amersham and believe it or not they are all about 1 5 hours travel time depending which way you go. That really isn’t that bad. I know we are moving out of our comfort zone but if we want new sites then as I have said before we will have to travel further.

Distance brings another problem, Officials. We need more any way but we will need some that are prepared to travel a little bit further to help set out and run these new sites. Without them these new sites will not work so please those that are prepared to take on these tasks let the committee know. We will help as much as possible.

Have no fear we are not giving up any of the usual sites, just not using them as much.

The dates we at these new sites will be published in the Roveround and up on the web site soon. Site maps and OS grid reference will also be published.

All we need now is drivers.

Martin Lewis

We have secured the Yarwell site for a 2 day event in August 2010. What trials will be run is still open to debate, if you have any suggestions please let a committee member know.

This is going to be an action packed weekend with an RTV on Sunday 30th and a CCV on the Monday 31st. Camping is available from the afternoon of Friday 28th, toilets and water will be on site along with a gas B-B-Q in the marquee.

On Sunday evening after the trial the AROC draw for the Willen Hospice will take place. The prizes for this are advertised on the web site and are constantly changing so please keep an eye on it. If you need any raffle tickets please contact a committee member, tickets will be on sale on site up until the draw. All sold raffle tickets will be submitted to the Willen Hospice and put into their own draw which will take place in September. Their prizes range from £1000 1st prize down to twenty prizes of £10 each so the tickets are well worth buying.

There will now be a Tyro Trial on August Bank Holiday Monday 31st. This trial will be aimed at the novice driver who needs the experience and if necessary coaching but if there are any members who would like to try out their road going 4x4 they will be welcome as well. The courses will be technical but NON DAMAGING. Although there will be a competitive element the main aim is to have fun in a relaxed, informative and friendly atmosphere.

There is always a down side to everything; all entrants must be AROC members (or members of an invited club, MSA rules) and usual tyro rules apply. Although pre-booking is not required some indication of numbers would be appreciated. If you are interested in entering please either email me or give me a ring so I know roughly what might happen.

See you all there.

There is an article in the August issue of LRE that raises a safety issue that we should address or at least be aware of. The article appears in Your View section. I will shorten the inquiry letter but I will give the answer in full.

Inquiry letter: I’m not sure about the UK, but here in Aus the use of the tow ball as a recovery point is considered the next best thing to suicde. The ball connection to the tow hitch is not rated for the loads imposed during a vehicle recovery. I would certainly never be around if someone tried to recover a vehicle using the tow ball as a recovery point. End of LRE’s inquiry letter.

There is a photo attached to this article which shows the tow ball embedded in the back door or a Land Cruiser.

LRE’s answer is as follows: The practice of using a tow ball as a recovery point has become widespread in the UK, mainly I suspect because most Land Rovers have them fitted, and this saves the driver from spending out on proper recovery points. Most of us have used tow balls for recovery, and I’ll put my hand up and admit that I have too.

Leaving aside the fact that ropes and wires can easily slip off the ball, tow balls are not made or tested for the purpose of being used as a recovery device, and as such it’s impossible to predict how much lateral load the neck will absorb before failing. Damage or injury caused by failure of a tow ball during a recovery could result in a claim for damages being made, and in these litigious times you’d be taken to the cleaners by the lawyers for using equipment for a purpose for which it was never designed.

So yes, you are right. Tow balls should never be recommended as a suitable off-road recovery point on a Land Rover (or any thing else for that matter). End of LRE’s answer.

I have used a tow ball for recovery along with everybody else I know and other than the rope slipping off occasionally, have never experienced a failure. I have experienced the chassis member that the ball is bolted to fail! That still does not mean it should be used as a recovery point. The point about a litigious claim is one for the lawyers to argue over.

I personally prefer to use a proper recovery point and shackle (if needed) for any recovery for the simple reason that everything is designed for that purpose and the rope is fixed to both vehicles and cannot come off. I am fully aware that the chassis that the recovery points are attached to can fail but that’s down to the owner ensuring the chassis fixings are sound.

The cost is down to the individual and the practicalerties on some vehicles not simple but this article does raise an interesting point.

We have received an invite from ENLROC to their RTV trial at Cranford Ironstone Site (formerly Tuff Tracks) to be held on Sunday August 16th. The event is open to all fully elected members of AROC and entry fees are £20.00 on the day (no pre booking available).

The Anglian Rover Owners Club Committee has decided to make some changes to the Yarwell event to allow and encourage more entries to what will be a good event at a superb trials site. Those who have been to the site will know it is well worth the drive there.

What is now on offer:
1. Two Day Trial (unchanged). (Sunday & Monday entry).
2. Two one day individual trials (Sunday or Monday entry).
3. CCV can enter in the specials class (was class 5).
4. Sadly the hog roast has been cancelled.
5. We are hoping to organise a burger van but this cannot be guaranteed at the moment. (Don’t make you sandwiches yet!)
6. SWB Standard and SWB Modified merged into SWB Class.
7. LWB Standard and LWB Modified merged into LWB Class.

Please check out the Extra ASR’s on the Downloads page, also the entry forms for the single Sunday and Monday trials can be found here. Please check back for further updates as we get them.

Pre book discounts were introduced several years ago to encourage the membership to commit them selves to attending events. The reason behind this was to help the C of C tailor an event to suit who and how many would attend.

The incentive to pre book was a £5.00 discount.

Only a few members have taken up this incentive and with the ever increasing cost of running events the committee feels that the discount is no longer financially viable. Ratified at the recent AGM the committee has decided that from 6th April 2009 (after Dundridge) the pre book discount will be withdrawn.

Prepared by Martin Lewis on behalf of the committee.

On behalf of the Southern Rover Owners Club I would like to invite all of your members to four Comp Safaris we are holding this year.

The dates and venues are:
29/3/09 – Venue TBA
12/7/09 – Venue TBA
16/8/09 – Darwell beech Farm, Netherfield, East Sussex
27/9/09 – Monkings Farm, Northiam, East Sussex

All events will be open status with all ALRC clubs invited plus two non-ALRC clubs, namely: Southern Counties Off Road Club and Anglian Rover Owners Club. Both events are on a Sunday with camping available Saturday night. (Possibly longer by request). As soon as the SRs are available they will be posted on our web site www.sroc.co.uk Entry forms will be included as part of the SRs.

I hope some of your members can attend and these events do not clash with your own.

If you would like to send me an email with your contact details to mike@rowe.wanadoo.co.uk then I can keep you posted when the first to venues are confirmed and SRs are available. If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact me by the above email address, or by phone on 01622 743476

Regards
Mike Rowe
SROC Competition Secretary

The tickets to this year Awards Evening are now on sale from me. This is a great occasion to socialise and involve the other members of the family who don't normally come to any events. All of the annual trophies are given out so if any of you still have an annual award from last year can you please return them (clean) to a committee member.
Venue: The Bell Hotel, Winslow (three course carvery).
Cost: £15.00 per head.
Date: 28th February.
B&B: Details on request.
We need to sell as many tickets as possible to keep the cost down so it would be appreciated if you all could punt the tickets out to anybody that might be interested in coming along. I can be contacted on vicechairman@arocoffroad.co.uk
Speak to you all soon.
Martin Lewis

The idea of a two day RTV trial has taken a large step forward; we have a venue and date! The venue is Yarwell Quarry, a little to the west of Peterborough and the date is 2nd, 3rd, & 4th May 2009.

I know it’s a long way for some of you (1.5hrs for me) but we needed a large site that can cope with the number of sections/camping etc and we desperately need a new site to use generally and hopefully this is it. The quarry is large with a good variety of terrain---water, mud, sand, trees, hills the lot. I competed there in a winch challenge and had a great time. If you Google Earth it find the cross roads in the centre of Yarwell and go left about ½ a mile and it’s on your right. We will only have access to about half of what you see, the other half (left) is a nature reserve.

The general idea: All of the details have yet to be decided but the basic idea is as follows:
• 30 sections run over two days.
• SWB, LWB & Specials classes, team class, highest placed ladies, and any other that sounds interesting.
• Camping is available (advisable, early starts).
• Usual camping jollies, BBQ, tug of war etc.
• Toilets, water and burger van on site.
• Possible hog roast.
• TYRO.

The down side is as usual, man power. A lot of marshals/officials will be needed as all of the days sections will have to be open all day on both days. To ensure variety of sections and rule consistency I propose that the marshal who is running a section will have set it out. So the marshals involved will have a far greater input than normal. As you see to keep 15 sections open all day I will need 15+ marshals to run them so I would like to invite the CCV drivers to come along and help set out and have some fun as well. The invited clubs will be encouraged to provide help as well as competitors.

To help with the cost and make it more interesting I also am looking for a sponsor so if any body has any ideas please let me know. Talking of cost this site may not be mega expensive but it is still not cheap so I will be looking at 50+ entrants and that’s a lot.

If any of you are interested in entering or helping please let me know. Those interested can contact me directly on my email below. Without help it will not run.

For those who have taken part in "The Majors Trial" at Eastnor Castle will know how much fun, hard work but fun this sort of trial can be. For those that haven’t taken part the idea is for a team of three drivers’ to trial for two consecutive days over the best terrain that Eastnor has, and that’s good. The only down side is that it is for CCV triallers only......what about the RTV’s?
What I am suggesting is that we, the AROC, run our own, smaller version, "The Privates Trial" for RTV’s only some time next summer. The general idea: 25 to 30 sections run over two days. SWB & LWB (both with standard and modified classes). Team class, highest placed ladies, and any other that sound interesting. Camping available (advisable, early starts). Usual camping jollies, BBQ, tug of war etc. Toilets and burger van on site.
The venue and date is also open to discussion although we are short of venues where we can camp and get caravans in and out of.
The down side is as usual, man power. A lot of marshals will be needed as all of the days sections will have to be open for the entire day. The other usual clubs will be invited and hopefully they will be able to provide some help as well as competitors.
To help with the cost and make it more interesting I also am looking for a sponsor so if any body has an idea please let me know.
If any of you are interested in entering or helping please let me know. Without help it will not run.

Martin Lewis
(vicechairman@arocoffroad.co.uk).

Unfortunatly due to Milton Keynes planning requirements we can no longer run Safaries at the Whaddon site. We are currently looking into other possible sites for these events and will update you this progresses.

We have had a request from the Abingdon festival to advertise for marshals. The deal is that you get free offroading and camping throughout the long weekend if you volunteer to spend two sessions of four hours helping to marshal, either on the offroad course or at the car parks.
Enquiries can be made to Jon Carter from the BORG by emailing 4x4joe@fsmail.net
If you would like to volunteer, you can download the entry form here

For those who have taken part in "The Majors Trial" at Eastnor Castle will know how much fun, hard work but fun this sort of trial can be. For those that haven’t taken part the idea is for a team of three drivers to trial for two consecutive days over the best terrain that Eastnor has, and that’s good. The only down side is that it is for CCV triallers only..........what about the RTV’s?
What I am suggesting is that we, the AROC, run our own, smaller version, "The Privates Trial" for RTV’s only some time next summer.
The general idea: 25 to 30 sections run over two days. SWB & LWB (both with standard and modified classes). Team class, highest placed ladies, and any others that sound interesting. Camping available (advisable, early starts). Usual camping jollies, BBQ, tug of war etc. Toilets and burger van on site.
The venue and date is also open to discussion although we are short of venues where we can camp and get caravans in and out of. The down side is as usual, man power. A lot of marshals will be needed as all of the days sections will have to be open for the entire day. The other usual clubs will be invited and hopefully they will be able to provide some help as well as competitors.
To help with the cost and make it more interesting I also am looking for a sponsor so if any body has an idea please let me know. If any of you are interested in entering or helping please let me know. Without help it will not run.

Martin Lewis (vicechairman@arocoffroad.co.uk).

Calling all Budding competitors, shiny car owners, wives, sons and daughters! Yes now is your chance to prove your old man that you can take on the responsibility of driving at a competition. The whole event is aimed at being non-damaging so the best car can come out without fear of scratches down the side and anyone from the age of 13 can enter as long as they are acompanied be an experienced driver. Knowing how Barry Walker sets out these courses here will be challenges that will make you think, plan ahead and exercise your driving skills but all in the saftey of gentler terrain than that used for RTV's.

At the AGM it was decided that additional family members can be added to primary membership at the rate of £5 each. Previously we had limited the number to one but that is now lifted and a second or third can be added.

We would welcome suggestions as to alternative locations for the annual dinner. Any where you are familiar with that cold feed around fifty people? Please let us know...

We have been invited to an AWDC comp safari in the 20th April at Waterbeach, Cambs. This event will be used as one of AROC's champioship events for this year. Those wishing to compete for points in the championship at this event please let our comp sec. Dean Gallager know. Your results will be drawn off the AWDC computer and used to determine your position for the championship.
Additional Info.
AWDC Safari At Waterbeach Barracks, Waterbeach, Cambridge (follow thw orange arrows off the main road)
Event: Competitive Safari Clubmans
Secretary: Bev Randall 01276 475197 (telephone for race number)
Entry Fee £80 in advance (no entries on the day) Entries will close on the 16th April 08.
Event Starts at 10.00am
All Details on www.awdc.co.uk. Entry Form available to download
Please ensure you have got your race number from Bev Randall who will help with any questions regarding the event.

The committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Lewis as the social secretary.

We would like to encourage all children attending our trials sites to wear Hi-Vis waistcoats, the club has a small stock for their use but please return any jackets issued so they can be re-used next time, thanks.

There are national plans afoot for celebrations in the beginning of May for the 60th which the BHLRC are working closely with LandRover on. We as a club will be doing something over the August bank holiday later in the year!

If anyone would like to camp overnight at our events please let any committee member know and they will see what can be arranged.

Here are the people who've won the annual awards for 2007 - Don't forget to buy your tickets for the annual awards dinner on the 16th February and have your trophy presented to you with thunderous applause! Please contact Martin Lewis for tickets.

The next AROC Novice Winch Challenge is programmed for the 13th April 2008 at Roundhill Woods. So I am on the scrounge for volunteers to help.
I need:
Event Steward (stands around all day and makes sure things are run properly)
Radio Control (as we use radios for communication we need a control)
Scrutineers - I need two. One to check the vehicles (up to MSA RTV specification) and one for all of the winch equipment. This is the hard one; the applicant will have to be familiar with the equipment used although all of the various ratings will be supplied. They can be a competitor.
Marshals - The system we have used recently, providing a marshal for each team, may not be perfect but on balance works very well so I would like to carry on with that system. I am hoping for a minimum of ten teams to enter so I need ten marshals. All rules and regulations will be given out on site. It’s quite a good day. The marshal drives around with their team all day, they enforce the rules, mark the score cards and generally watch the antics.
Help - Last but not least I will need help in setting out the weekend before and the day before.
If anybody is interested in any of these jobs please email me so I can get your name down.
Thanks, Martin Lewis (contact details can be found in the back of the RoverRound)

Anyone who fells that they could take on the role of organizing our social calendar would be more than welcome to make themselves know to any committee member, contact details can be found in the back of your RoverRound mag.

The Southern Rover Owners Club have invited us to a Comp Safari that will be held on the 7th October 2007. Camping is available at £3 per night from the Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, this can be extended to over Sunday night providing you let them know in advanced. The event is at Mookins Farm, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6JF (OS sheet 199, ref: TQ 822 215). This event is open to both ALRC and non ALRC compliant vehicles however they must comply with with MSA requirements. Further details, entry forms and SR's can be found on the SROC web site. The contact is Mike Rowe, Competition Secretary.

Wheel rims modified for extra offset by grinding out the nave, reversing it and re-welding are not legal for road use and therefore not acceptable for RTV's. CCV trialers can however run these rims.

A brave new member has stepped forward to take on the treasurer's role that Sue Flanders has handled so well for several years, Abbey Scott has been kind enough to take on the post. Many thanks go to Sue for all her hard work and we wish Abbey the best of luck with the job.

Dean Gallagher has once again taken on the role of Chief Marshal and will also be responsible for the equipment trailer.

Andrew Flanders of the Anglian Land Rover Club have invited us to the RTV & CCV they are running at Roundhill Wood on the 26th August. The event will be run under Association of Land Rover Clubs (ARC/ ALRC) & MSA Regulations. Classes may be amalgamated as required. Scrutineering / Signing on will start at 08.30 am and close at 10.00 am with drivers briefing and event start straight afterwards. The Clerks of the Course for the RTV is Alan Wood, CCV is Andrew Flanders. The entry fee will be £20.00 on the day or £15.00 prepaid to the Secretary of the meeting at least 5 days in advance. Pre-book entry forms can be downloaded here

Tim at Cowley & Co has now opened an accessory shop called "Mud Hut". He will be stocking things like lift kits, winches, winch bumpers, etc... You can give him a call on 07971747564 for more details and opening times.

Unfortunately we have had to postpone this event due to a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth this morning. We will reschedule this event for later in the year, the new date will be added to the Events page as soon as it's been decided.

With the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth there may be some speculation as to whether this trial would be cancelled or not. It has been confirmed this trial WILL go ahead. The land owner will inform us as soon as possible if this is to change, so please check here for updates.

Ran a cracking feature in their June issue all about our very own Kevin Branson with his trusty Lightweight.

As from 1st August 2007 ALL Safaris will be PreBook Only and a closing date for the entries will be published on the website and in the RoverRound. If a minimum of 10 entries are not received by that date the event will not run.

For the next safari at Hook Norton, 07/10/2007, enter with the M.O.R.C. direct.

The closing date for our next safari, 25/11/2007, is the 3rd November.

BHCLRC are running a series of four TYRO trials and have invited AROC amongst other clubs. As we are not running any TYRO's as a club ourselves it is an excellent opportunity for any young budding drivers or novices to gain an introduction to the game. Full details and their supplementary regs are available from the downloads page.

LRM Magazine were in attendance at the Roundhill Woods winch challenge and have apparently dedicated almost a page to the event in the next issue, due out June 1st.

Please remember that it is recommended that all children that attend our events who are under the age of 18 wear a Hi-Viz waistcoat or jacket. These are available from the secretary of the meeting, please return after use

The monthly Pub Meet venue has changed to The Full Moon. The full address be found in the latest RoverRound