| Competitor Profile | ||
| 4 | Deeside 4x4 |
Driver: Neil Davey |
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A strong third place in the opening round will please him, but disaster struck at round 2 after he destroyed his gearbox. A quick overnight rebuild meant that he could return for day 2 and salvage some points, but it was still a disappointing weekend for the Deeside 4x4 crew. Especially as they had been reeling in championship leader Richard Kershaw before the problem. Another strong weekend in Scotland has kept his title hopes alive, but he will need to raise his game if he is going to go after Kershaw for outright honours. He is definitely getting to grips with the car and with even more power for the 2004 season Neil's Maxilight should have the legs on anything in the fast forestry stuff, as well as being able to push on in the rough with the Maxilight’s long travel independent suspension. With its six speed Quaife sequential transmission this is one impressive sounding beast in the fast stuff. Neil will be keen really push on to prove that he is right at the top of his game. Neil has been off roading for the last eleven years and has many successful results in the bag from that time. At only 21 years of age he came an impressive fourth overall at the competitive ARC Nationals event for Land Rovers and has, ten years on, regularly been gaining good placings in Northern Off Road Club (NORC) events. Previously Neil has campaigned in the two wheel drive classes, with much success. In 2001 he gained a creditable seventh overall at the gruelling 4x4 Festival of Wales in conditions that very much favoured the 4x4 based competitors. For his 2003 challenge on the Goodyear British Off Road Championship Neil acquired Guy Smith’s innovative Maxilight buggy. Built in 2001 the Maxilight was debuted at the Second 4x4 Festival of Wales and came in an impressive fourth overall, leading to constructor, Guy Smith to comment that it was quite the fastest vehicle he had ever driven. Incidentally Guy Smith is known for having built some of the fastest off road race cars in the UK!
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Maxilight Engine: 5.0 litre V8 Transmission: Manual, 4WD Suspension: Fully independent Tyres: Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Class: Prototype 3H
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Neil
was at the bottom of a steep learning curve in 2003 with a new car and
returns in 2004 all the stronger for that learning process.