LandyLiam - Camping the Seven Sevens for Charity

[suspectmonkey]

4x4 event sounds awesome... if you ever need a co-driver...

[Hunter]

Must be getting old as I could only party til 4am, but I must also be getting wiser as we won first place

Well done lad keep up the good work !! 

[LandyLiam]

4x4 event sounds awesome... if you ever need a co-driver..

i reckon you lot would make excellent navigators so i'l keep an eye out on the run up to next years event and see if anyone needs a partner

so here's a few pics from the weekend, hope to get some better ones soon from my navigators camera







it seems that all the signs in Co Clare are in one spot !



rush hour in the burren



stunning views



still not last



bbq in a puddle on saturday night



breakfast on Sunday morning



dawn at the campsite



lining up for the second day



a lovely little green lane



life in the fast lane



gulp!



help, i'm stuck



Pamela at Checkpoint Charlie


makes my discovery look small   



all parked up, event over


once again the Slieve Russell Hotel puts on an excellent spread for the prizegiving meal



a selecton of the prizes donated by Cavan Crystal



as is customery, Liam takes a lap of honour on the lion



the happy couple

[whoRya]

Those competitions look like an absolute blast.  Congratulations on the result!

[suspectmonkey]

Liam, that looks like great craic!

[LandyLiam]

its a great way to see the country, we usually do about 400 miles along the west cost from the Clare/Galway area up as far as Donegal, you don't need a rufty tufty 4x4 to do it (although it would be more fun that way   ) i'm sure an xtrail or freelander would do, in fact 98% of the roads/lanes used could be driven by car, we went up some rough lanes on steep hills and were often amazed to find a car coming the other way and a house along the lane   makes you realise what a good job the DOE do on our roads here

if anyone is thinking of doing it next year visit www.4x4challenge.org

its about 200 euro (per team of 2) to enter (includes all maps, campsite on sat night and slap up meal and excellent hotel on sun night) and you have to raise at least 500 euro in sponsorship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SG3UU6v3E

[LennyJ1]

That would be fun, just cant afford a 4x4

[LandyLiam]

you'd be surprised how cheaply they can be bought for, and its even cheaper to insure than my car as its on a limited mileage policy, tax is the same as my car as its pre 2001, but putting fuel in them, thats a nightmare 

[suspectmonkey]

you'd be surprised how cheaply they can be bought for, and its even cheaper to insure than my car as its on a limited mileage policy, tax is the same as my car as its pre 2001, but putting fuel in them, thats a nightmare 

I've been keeping an eye out for a 4x4 for awhile now, as I'd quite like one as a "weekend warrior".  Defenders and Discos are top of the list, but I wouldn't turn down a Jap 4x4 like an old Land Cruiser.  Earlier in the year I was at Meelmore Lodge and a 4x4 club were there for the evening and there seemed to be quite a few of the older shape Grand Vitaras there as well. 

I did laugh recently when I spotted a low mileage Disco on Used Cars NI and couldnt work out why it was so cheap.  Then I spotted the 4 litre V8 petrol engine   Thats gotta be hard on the wallet...! 

So any tips Liam for buying something like a mid-late 90's Discovery?  I'm assuming the 2.5 diesel is the way to go?

[LandyLiam]

"weekend warrior", i lke that 

so which one to buy, well i could start a whole new thread on that, in fact a whole new forum would probably be needed ! it depends on how handy you are with a spanner, if not then maybe stay with the more reliable makes such as toyota, although even thats no guarantee of a trouble free motoring life. My views are blinkered by my passion for the Land Rover marque so i'd suggest a 1995 to 1998 Discovery with the 2.5 diesel (300tdi) altough a 3.9 v8 petrol with LPG converion is more economical (as long as it doesn't go wrong!). Plenty of bargains out there for the patient buyer but many look good on the outside (the aluminium bodies don't rust) but can be rotten behind the scenes so if you don't know what you're looking for then bring someone who does (eh, that'll probably be me  ) Defenders are more iconic but vastly overpriced for what you get and much less comfortable, but i still want one  . Freelanders are ok for anything you would be doing in this country on legal lanes but ground clearance is poor.

So when do we get a 4x4 forum in ni-wild? actually there's plenty out there already so probably no real need (e.g. http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/ )

[suspectmonkey]

so which one to buy, well i could start a whole new thread on that, in fact a whole new forum would probably be needed !

Yeah, I thought it was probably a tall order asking that question as buying a 4x4 seems nearly as difficult as deciding what tent or stove to buy

My previous "weekend warriors" have all had two wheels, but I think I've got that stage of my life over with!  I was all the more encouraged when Kat pointed out a bumper sticker on a Defender the other day that read "Your car may be faster, but mine can go anywhere!"  

As you say, you seem to get more Discovery for your money.  I guess the popularity of the Defender keeps the prices up.  Spanner wise, well I'm okay when I've got a Haynes manual in one hand!  Generally do my own servicing etc. but if the thing ground to a halt away from home I'd probably be doing a fair bit of head scratching as to where to start   If do spot something I like (and can afford!) then will be sure to give you a shout to get some advice.  Or if you come across a good buy some where drop me a PM!

[whoRya]

You say a car could do 98% of what you do on those trips, does that mean that what you put the 4x4 through isn't extreme?  What I'm really getting at is if your dad had a 6 year-old Toyota Land Cruiser that had never been off-road in it's life could you borrow it to do a wee jaunt with no fear whatsoever that you'd wreck it other than being a numpty and rolling it going too hard round a corner?

[admin]

So when do we get a 4x4 forum in ni-wild? actually there's plenty out there already so probably no real need (e.g. http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/ )

We're always after new niches so if you can bring people to the forum we can certainly create a sub board. PM me if you're interested.

[RedLeader]

Wife has a Tucson but I'm assuming that even in 4WD it wouldn't cope too well. I've had it down the odd nightmare muddy lane but nothing serious.

its a great way to see the country, we usually do about 400 miles along the west cost from the Clare/Galway area up as far as Donegal, you don't need a rufty tufty 4x4 to do it (although it would be more fun that way   ) i'm sure an xtrail or freelander would do, in fact 98% of the roads/lanes used could be driven by car, we went up some rough lanes on steep hills and were often amazed to find a car coming the other way and a house along the lane   makes you realise what a good job the DOE do on our roads here

if anyone is thinking of doing it next year visit www.4x4challenge.org

its about 200 euro (per team of 2) to enter (includes all maps, campsite on sat night and slap up meal and excellent hotel on sun night) and you have to raise at least 500 euro in sponsorship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SG3UU6v3E

[suspectmonkey]

Funny thing is, I've had my Seat Ibiza on some rare lanes and off-road tracks.  I'm convinced the fact its pretty light means it handles it all pretty well as long as ground clearance isnt an issue... just need to get a high-lift kit for her boy