Farmland at the back of Bournemouth International Airport was the venue for the latest in the Goodyear British Off Road Championship’s "non-championship" 4x4 Festival series co-promoted with the All Wheel Drive Club. Selwyn Kendrick had found the land, which he hopes to use in next year’s British Championship (albeit with a much longer course!) and the AWDC supplied the expertise to run the event. Clerk of the course, Tim Bullen set out a fast three mile course in the Dorset countryside, utilising some areas of marsh land as well as the headlands around fields of maize. Some of the tracks cut up quite badly during the day creating some deep ruts and soft berms.

The leading pack was hard to separate all day. An incorrectly set bogey time on the first lap meant that 28 of the 52 starters were all given the same time, at a stroke obliterating any fast starters’ advantage.

On lap two it was Keith Lewis (Simmbugghini) who came out on top, but only by two seconds from some distinguished opposition. 2000 AWDC Champion Tim Phelps (Mattseratti), 1999 & 2000 British Off Road Champion Paul Choat (Simmbugghini), winner at Kings Lynn Robin Rymell (Simmbugghini), and winner of the 4x4 Festival of Wales, Roland Lytton (Tigwell 4x4) all shared the honours for fastest runs throughout the day.

Paul Choat had just edged out a slight lead going in to the final run on the deteriorating course when his luck changed. The throttle cable let go on the recently re-engined Nettletree Simmbugghini, demoting the local man to eighth overall.

Robin Rymell in the Cross Country Vehicles/ Castrol Simmbugghini was another potential winner to strike trouble on his final lap when the rear diff broke at the half way point. He still managed to post the same final lap time as Tim Phelps in the RPI powered Mattseratti who pipped Robin to second.

Keith and Sally Lewis on their winning way           Photo: Chris Nunn

So it was Keith Lewis who came out top of the leading pile by the impressive margin of thirty five seconds, bearing in mind how tightly knit the pack had been all day.

The modified production class saw some close racing despite only two competitors (where are all those modified Defenders and Discoveries? There is some close racing to be had with these two!). Mick Gillett’s old 90 Hard Top now campaigned by it’s new owner Tim Henry (in only his second event) took the fight to class stalwart Simon Dowdeswell in his immensely smart Tim Fry backed pick up version. Simon’s consistently quick driving despite breaking the radiator on the last lap won him the class. Watch out though for Tim Henry with a few more events under his belt he could soon be a force to be reckoned with, especially under the watchful eye of the super-smooth Chris Hammond.

Mitsubishi’s Shogun Pinin, as seen at the Autosport International Show in January finally made its competition debut in Bournemouth. Keen to get some feedback on how the vehicle performed on its maiden event Ralliart Co-ordsport had drafted in the services of multiple British Off Road Champion Bruce Tigwell, twice production vehicle champ James Tennant and ADI off road instructor Gill Austin.

The Pinin flew through the opening runs establishing a considerable class lead over Owen Timms in his Land Rover 110. Owen admitted to not being able to match the times of the nimble Mitsubishi, "I am absolutely flat out, this vehicle just won’t go any faster – there’s nothing more I can do.". Consistency though paid off for Owen as the Mitsubishi’s run was halted by an altercation with a tree on run six which brought the vehicle to premature halt with steering problems. For a more detailed account of the Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin’s progress read Bruce Tigwell, and James Tennant’s reports in this issue of ORM.

Tim Phelps and Dave Skone push on to second place   Photo: Chris Nunn

The Mitsubishi Pinin was not the only Shogun competing. Recently acquired through the pages of Off Road Motorsport magazine, the ex-Ron Hotson Shogun was in the capable hands of Baja veteran Pete Wilkins, and French production vehicle champ Dave Fletcher of "Team Bun" fame. Despite battling with the gremlins of many years misuse followed by many more of un-use the team up-held Pete’s unbroken and unbeaten record of competing in every year since he first started racing in the early days of the All Wheel Drive Club.

Consistent as ever Pete Tilley won class 4 from Paul and Roger Jones. Ivan Dudley (Ivabug) won the hotly contested class 7 by a minute from Simon Williams (Bowler) and the five two wheel drive entrants were headed by Martin Hall, from Jonathan Coles and Ian Lucas. Chris Smeeth ended an undoubtedly uncomfortable day in his leaf sprung Series Two Land Rover with a tremendous class win in class 5.

The Southern 4x4 Festival saw some incredibly close racing, and with the prospect of a higher mileage available from the site next year the Goodyear British Off Road Championship round next year should be something to look forward to.

Results

1 Keith Lewis Simmbugghini 42m05s

2 Tim Phelps Mattseratti 42m40s

3 Robin Rymell Simmbugghini 42m43s

4 Roland Lytton Tigwell 4x4

5 Richard Vale Simmbugghini

6 Roy Bowerman Simmbugghini

7 Julian Mendelsohn TMC

8 Paul Choat Simmbugghini

9 Simon Wiltshire/ Brian Dyke Warrior

10 Ivan Dudley Ivabug