Words by Angela Royston

Question : Where can you go in the UK to combine an all round off roading weekend experience combining a multitude of green lanes, challenging woodland, rocks, mud and above all else a place that has a special in motorsport history?

Answer : Isle of Man

After almost 2 years of planning, J33P made the long awaited visit to the IOM with 13 vehicles making the trip over from the mainland. Most of the group met up at Liverpool docks on Friday morning meeting those who had set off for a longer break on the quayside at Douglas a few hours later. Loading and unloading the ferry was an interesting experience as no-one was prepared for the size of trailers and tow vehicles used by a few in the group. The group was met by friendly faces in the shape of Dave Sykes, Peter Henry and others from the IOM 4x4 Club, our hosts for the weekend.

First stop, a field set aside for parking by Peter; chance to unload trailers and generally get acquainted with the island. A small group decided to set out to drive the famous TT course from start to finish; in a 4x4 around an hour, lap record on a TT bike around 17 minutes....

Peter & Amanda Henry kindly hosted a barbeque on Friday evening for everyone involved in the event and it provided an ideal opportunity to meet friends old and new. Lots of discussion was held about the green lane trip the following day including something called the Wedgie.

Saturday morning saw the group meet up at the B&Q car park on the edge of Douglas. After the usual early morning banter and vehicle examination it was down to the serious business of the day. Dave briefed everyone handing out packs with maps, stickers, permits and general information. Groups were formed with a sprinkling of J33P and IOM members, each setting off in a different direction hunting their first lanes. Information about 22 lanes had been provided with the challenge to find more if we had finished these. So everybody kept thier eyes open, while navigating the lanes the groups had to collect IOM of number plates numbers.

Each group had a story to tell about their day and above all else had a wonderful time locating lanes, taking in the views and generally exploring all that the island had to offer. Unlike the mainland, green lanes are still abundant on the IOM but must be driven with care and in some places only with a permit and at set times of the year. What a welcome change!

Our group encountered the legendary Wedgie around lunchtime. With an approach through woodland all appeared normal but as the trees finished we were presented with a narrow V shaped gulley with twists and turns and a lot of prickly gorse bushes. All was going well until Pete’s rear half shaft decided that it did not want to work any longer roughly a third of the way up. Being a Cherokee, the lack of half shaft is serious business as it usually means the wheel is about to fall off.

Hasty measures were taken and the Cherokee was slowly and carefully winched up the remaining part of the lane to a flat area where greater attention could be given to the breakage and repair. Fortunately Pete had experienced half shaft problems of old and had come prepared with a spare but you don’t expect to change it and have to dismantle the rear diff in a windy field close to the summit of the highest point on the island. Thankfully with lots of keen and willing hands around to help, a full rebuild was completed allowing Pete to take part in the remainder of the event.

It soon became clear that the Wedgie was legendary because only one person from the IOM club had ever driven upwards and only then with the help of a winch! By the end of the day most of the J33P contingent and a couple of the IOM club had driven the lane having a great time in the process. The day ended with a much deserved pint in a local pub with each group exchanging stories of their exploits during the day.

Sunday morning brought the group together for the second and very different part of the event – a punch hunting day in a very wet and muddy woodland area known as Ballacreetch. 3 groups were created each taking a section in turn looking for strategically placed punches. A totally different day was in store for everyone and there was a guarantee of getting wet and dirty for all.

Punches were optional and in some cases portable as the day went on. Those in the IOM club who had set up the punches wanted to test the mainland groups and make sure they had a day to remember and they were not disappointed. Winches were used on a regular basis with at least 2 breaking under the strain as the day went on.

At the end of the day, everyone met up by the trailers for a welcome drink and jet wash; that’s people and vehicles! It was a great sight to see so many beaming faces at the excellent day had by all on the farm site. It was also great to see the new friendships that had formed during the weekend. There were a few vehicle casualties but nothing with any lasting damage or that a hammer cannot bash out.

To round off the event, everyone met for an evening meal taking over a large part of the restaurant at the Craig n’Bar pub on the TT circuit. A few fun prizes were handed out for the weekend’s performances:

Dirtiest Jeep – Darren Ramshaw
Most punches and cleanest legs – Phil Walker

To end a big thanks to Dave and Janet Sykes and all the members of the IOM 4x4 Club who made us so welcome.

Some pictures from the event