Words by Alison Sargent, Paul Roderick, Richard Powers, Robert Baseley
Pictures by Helena Gasser, Paul Roderick, Richard Powers, Robert Baseley

Many thanks to Alison, Paul, Richard and Robert for writing up thier event expierences. Sounds as it you all enjoyed yourself. J33P will be running another event at Slindon in 2006, sites got even better especially after John Morgan has opened up the new wooded section. Plenty of scope for more devious punches!

Alison Sargent...

Slindon was a great event, despite taking the very quick route from the top of a steep back to the bottom on the first day! The site offers something for everyone, whether new to off-roading or experienced. It holds some interesting challenges, with thick clay-like mud runs, sun-baked open play areas, tight and twisty wooded areas, fallen trees, proud roots and of course, just for the fun of it a bit of loose sand. Getting to places was one thing - getting out again quite another!

Si and Daz managed to get all the punches over the two days. Rob and I managed all but 2, discovering we had no brakes whilst attempting the last-but-one punch. Thanks to Daz, Si"s "on-board mechanic", the weekend wasn"t scuppered by the loss of brakes, nor by the loss of four-wheel-drive on the Saturday morning.

Paul Roderick...

Slindon was muddy and sandy and tricky and sticky and wet and fun as usual.

I thought it had the right amount of water to make you think twice now and again about how deep it might be. It was great to see Stewarts TJ recovered from that gulley without further damage. I have seen the marshalls on a fun day seriously damage a Land Cruiser by trying to rush things so very well done everyone concerned.

The sandpit was up to its normal standard of difficulty although it got cut up as the day went on. The bit at the top of the sandpit was particularly gloopey and I was glad of the new BFG Mud Terrains that worked a treat.

It was great to see Mark Gassers Commanche doing the business again and demonstrating that well known USA saying: - “There aint no substitute for cubic inches”. It was better to see Mark smile again, and demonstrate his theory of not needing Mud Terrains if you can spin the wheels and clear the treads. Easy with 500 plus horse power! The way he came out of the RH sandpit climb it’s a good job he didn’t have wings or he would have landed in Portsmouth or Dorking.

Also an overdue welcome back to Mickey Stanton who was testing his rebuilt 2.5 TJ with all the reserve of a Kamikaze pilot who had drunk a bottle of Sake. I like Mickey…he makes me look calm and reserved!!

Anyway I toddled around behind everyone and when it got too difficult just took off somewhere else although at one point I was following Lance Husband over a sharp break-over and found out that front and back ARB’s and Mud Terrains do not work at all if none of the wheels are in contact with the ground and you are rocking on the belly pan! Thanks for the winch pull back Lance!

I enjoyed the evening at the Smith and Western. As usual the Onion rings were the best in the world and the Nacho platter too much for a starter even when shared between 3 people. Hope everyone else enjoyed it as much.

Sunday I went off to secretly find some punches and using my unerring detection skills coupled with my ability of never knowing where the hell I am found loads of them…! The 3rd had been nicked and the 4th was too hard so that was that.

Many thanks to Andy Harman for once more giving up his weekend to ensure everything ran smoothly.

I swooshed the TJ back and forth through the big pond, 2 foot deep, to get the muck off and had a good run home. About 80 miles after leaving the site the top idler pulley started screaming so WD - 40’d it and it shut up. Next day had the pulley off and removed the seals to find it full of Slindon grinding paste. How does it get in there? Washed it all out with paraffin and brake cleaner and regreased it and its quiet for a while. Good weekend…thanks guys, where were all the other J33P members though?

Richard Powers...

Another good day at slindon 2nd time to the site 1st time with J33P.

Robert Baseley...

The Slindon site is as I have been told known as the the brake killer due to the fact that it is mainly a sandy muddy area set over many acres but is actually a great site for all levels of experience. Anyway a good wash afterwards normally sorts out the brakes. The site had been laid out with various trials courses by Mike and Andy none of which had been driven before we started. OK we thought should be no problem and everyone stood round looking at each to see who was going to make the first screw up. It was me! now my fenders are nicely sculptured with the stones of a narrow gully which I thought was wide enough.

Once that action was over with the day continued without major incident and even Andy"s tea tasted pretty good. There were a few newish members (I include myself) who were definitely hooked and by the time the day was done they had already decided to spent some cash upgrading their vehicles.

Some pictures from the event