Play Day Review:

Midland Rover Owners Club Play Day 16th June 2007 (Pictures)

"Let's have a Play  Day" someone said," When" said another," Why not set it out when we have a months rain on one day" said I.

So we did.

Six vehicles turned up on Friday to set out for the Saturday to be pleasantly surprised by bright sunshine and a thought that we won't be here too long.

How wrong can you be?

Aston Cantlow in a thunder storm is something to see. It was as if the Apocalypse had arrived. We even tried testing the theory that if you sit in a trialer with a steel roll cage, in the middle of a field with a thunderstorm raging the rubber tyres will protect you.

But when you reach the stage where you have puddles in your pockets you might as well just carry on.

Two courses were set out White being the easier with Red rather more demanding.

There is some very deep mud at Aston Cantlow so in time honoured fashion we stayed out of it but if the more foolhardy on the Saturday wanted to prove their Testosterone levels were above normal then they were welcome to try them. The ruts caused us enough trouble with four of the six motors being stuck at one time.

We did have some concerns for the following day. Aston Cantlow village is prone to flooding and if the rain continued just getting to the site would involve some serious wading or diversions. When we were there earlier in the year a car was stranded with the water almost up to the roof.

Our fears were unfounded as there were no signs of floods on the Saturday morning even though the rest of the country appeared to be under water.

Our Play Days are also used as an introduction to Off-Roading for people who have never done it before. With safety being a prime consideration there are plenty of marshals and a wealth of experience to explain what all the buttons and levers do.

Don't think for a minute that that means it is easy, the marshals were busy all day towing motors out with even the most capable ones venturing into the deepest mud runs and not making it to the other end.

A highly successful day with everyone driving round with big grins on their faces and plastered in mud, what a strange bunch we are.

Very little damage was done, just the odd spoiler that was surplus to requirements and was thrown in the back under the pretence of refitting it later.

It is fascinating watching those that have turned up to have a drive round the easier route having never done it before and being unsure as to the capabilities of their motor. Then the adrenaline kicks in and they end up going home in a vehicle of indeterminate colour.

All in all a great day, no rain, no damage, lots of mud, lots of happy people

and lots of new club members making it all worthwhile.

I had promised my fellow organisers that it would not rain and I was true to my word with the event finishing at 3.30 and it not pouring down till 3.32.

John Messer