Wheels in the Woods

Last weekend I was helping out at Wheels in the Woods. This is a SORC event held in the Borders around Walkerburn. Anyone who is not a SORC member can come along and test themselves on a variety of stages. From easy Green routes that are suitable for brand new out the showroom truck to Red and Black routes for more prepared vehicles. The Black routes needing winch equipment on board.

As it is a promotional event for SORC we are not allowed to take part but we do get to marshal and make sure no one is doing anything they shouldn't.

I was posted out a Black Route as I had the Toy with me I would have been able to help out if someone had got too stuck.

There were only 8 Vehicles that chose to try the stage I was at. It had an extreme steep slope to start with and continued up the hill into some very boggy terrain before descending back to the Forest Road through tricky tree stumps.The start was so steep that the first vehicle to try the stage snapped a winch rope and killed the solenoids. The picture above shows them trying to fix it. Unfortunately they were unable too and so had to continue just doing the Green and Red Routes for the rest of the day.

I saw some well prepared Trucks thoughout the day. One of them being this 200tdi Lightwieght buildt on a converted to coil spring chassis. It had only had it's winch fitted on the Friday before the event.Just as well. They needed it.