Offroad-Express

Wicked, You guys Rock! Might have to move to the south island (oh yeah and finish my truck ).
But seriously, two challenges in one year, good work.

Following discussions during the Takitimu Challenge, we have decided to test the water, and will open a third "Outlaw Class" if there are at least 3 entries. Specific rules still being worked through, but the idea is to allow a trials truck to bolt on a winch and compete. Tyre size is still restricted to 36.5in max, and roll cage requirements as for Big Boys Class. Vehicles will require a firewall, but no WOF or cert requirements, and no restrictions on suspension setup.

Entries or inquiries to topofthesouth@clear.net.nz

i would be really keen as don't think i will have cert & wof

I'll let you know if we get any others interested. I expect we will get some since it came from a direct request from a few people down south...

Make sure you bring some marshals over with you!

Outlaw Class Rules

Trucks entered in the Outlaw Class must follow all rules laid down but the following applies specifically to them. Note that these rules may vary for other events in the series. The intent is to allow entry of a safe custom-built vehicle, or any standard truck undergoing modification but not yet certified.

Trucks must have-

• A 4 point roll cage for a vehicle with a standard cab, otherwise a 6 point roll cage that has a roof, the roof must be 2mm Aluminium or thicker or 1.2mm steel or thicker. The roll cage must be well built. The scruteeneer has the right to fail you if he feels it is not up to the task. Consider the Roll cage rules we have drafted for the other two classes.
• Firewall
• Brakes on all four wheels.
• Seats - the truck must seat two people. The driver and co-driver and shall have harnesses minimum 4 point if doors and/or cab are not fitted. Standard lap belt will suffice for a vehicle with full doors and cab.
• Fire extinguisher must be within reach of the driver and co-driver, it must be well secured.
• A maximum of 4 tyres in contact with ground at any one time. The tyres can’t be larger than 36.5 inches x 13.5 inches and must be comply with rule 3.
• Lights no restrictions.
• Safe the truck needs to be in a safe condition, e.g. No loose tie rods, wheel bearings tight, no dangerous fittings, consider rule 6. The scruteeneer has the right to fail you or order you to repair truck prior to entering.
• Suspension unrestricted except that portal axles are not permitted.

Note: In no way does this make the scruteeneer responsible if you have a mishap, accident


Trucks don’t need-

• Wof
• Registration
• Certification
• Insurance

also will the outlaw class run the night stages with the big boys
thanks james

paid my entry today, lets go make some noise!!!

toysuzi wrote:also will the outlaw class run the night stages with the big boys
thanks james

Yes - they'll be treated the same as the Big Boys in all respects except scored separately

I'm curious about the running of an outlaw class among regular winch challenge competitors as seems to be indicated. If I were competing as a regular competitor and being scored against similar competitors and someone else went through the stage in a different standard of machine between us, I'd be a bit bugged. While it is accepted that a preceding competitor might change the stage a bit (or a lot) as they drive it, the concept of having a different class of competitor doing that is potentially unfair.

Certainly if the classes ran apart that issue is reduced but any additional use between supposedly reasonably matched vehicles is a problem. One standard group does a stage and the next standard group to arrive would expect to find that stage the same as it was left... but no... a group of outlaw class have just driven it and it is now quite different!

What's the answer?

Consider this-

Most Outlaw class trucks are lighter than the others and normally have better entry and deperature angles. They normally don't do the damge to the course that the Open class do.
I guess the clubmans class face frustration when an Open class vehicle alters the course but this is normally managed by having the clubmans go first.
Why not hold the Outlaw class till the end so they have the most challenging course.

That's fine when talking only of one stage. A winch challenge may have perhaps 6 stages running at once in rotation. Who's first or last in that situation? Interspacing other classes on the same day will inevitably mean that the playing field is likely to get very uneven.

The Clubman Class will run on different lines through the areas likely to get cut up. The Outlaw Class (expected to be only 3 or 4 trucks) are limited to the same tyre size as the "Big Boys", and will be in the same group. It's a bit experimental at this stage, but if there is a lot of interest in the class, we're planning to run them a day later next year.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it, unless Outlaw trucks are allowed to run portal axles, as it's diff clearance that is the biggest issue we're facing.

Now I'm going to sound like a wanker....but generally speaking, most Outlaw / Trials trucks aren't reliable enough or capable enough in heavy winching situations to be a threat in alot of our winch challenge events. Until they get the mechanical and winch reliability / speed issues sorted, most of them will be off the pace. But if an Outlaw competitor gets a taste for winch events and likes it enough to build a complying rig, then it can only be a good thing.

Question for organisers though....are fiddle brakes going to be allowed? If they were, then that would certainly start to tip the balance.

I agree with the other posts, and as a potential compeditor i would have no issues with having outlaw trucks in with the challenge trucks as long as their restricted to the same size tyres and are not allowed fiddle brakes what can the harm be???
Whats the difference between following a truck that weighs 1200-1500 kg with 2-300hp verses one that weighs 2000 + kg with 500hp?

Cheers

As the Outlaw rules have been drafted, and as I understand the intent - fiddle brakes would be allowed. It will allow a trials truck to bolt a winch on the front and compete in the winch challenge. We are limiting tyre size the same as Big Boys (36.5in) and won't allow portal axles. But that's just for our event and not specified in the (Draft) rules. Other than that - as long as it's safe (cage, harness, etc), anything goes. It'll probably be more of an exhibition class initially until (and if) it takes off and gets popular...

Anyone really interested should get in touch with "Mainland Series" organisers, or post in the relevant thread viewtopic.php?f=26&t=10034

if the supercharger isnt certed in my truck by then we will be entering the outlaw class, how did the outlaw class go in whakatane the other year? didnt one of those trucks have 37" mickeys, what was the feedback on those guys running in that event

swampa wrote:if the supercharger isnt certed in my truck by then we will be entering the outlaw class, how did the outlaw class go in whakatane the other year? didnt one of those trucks have 37" mickeys, what was the feedback on those guys running in that event

Other than Trevor Dean, they didn't all go that well. They didn't cut up any tracks and disadvantage anyone, they drove some stuff that we didn't, some pussied out on a bog-hole stage that was bonnet deep, some died in the arse when it came to winching.

Trucks were different to watch and added another dimension to the comp, but if you want to keep things relative between the Classes, then you've got to maintain even modification rules across the Classes i.e. tyre size, use of indiviual wheel braking etc.

8 weeks to go and 14 paid-up entries so far. Thats all we had last year so we must be doing something right. Limited to 25 entries, so if you want to compete - get your entry in. There may not be vacancies for late entries...

Hi I would like to compete in the South Island can somone send me some details on the calender of events you have planned so I can ship the vehicle over the ditch in time etc cheers

New website up for the Mainland series
http://www.mainlandwinchchallenges.co.nz/

Looking forward to the event. Quite the trek!

Yeah it's a hell of a long way from Southland, but I hope you'll decide it's worth it. We did a fair bit of track maintenance over the weekend - with all the rain, some of the tracks had turned to creeks with a couple of vertical washouts. The venue is tucked in a valley with little sun so it's guaranteed to stay wet & VERY slippery. It'll be a tough day for those of us on radials...

Entries will close on Sunday 18 May. Un-arranged late entries will not be accepted. If anyone is unable to commit to the event by then, but is still trying to get their truck ready, contact us and we may accept a late confirmation as long as we know about it in advance. It's going to be an awesome event!
Contact: topofthesouth@clear.net.nz

Top of the South Winch Challenge on this coming weekend...

Hows going up to compete,marshall,watch?

Shane

Was told they don't allow spectators, only marshalls and support crews

You're right - it's not open to spectators.

If interested in helping the marshals, contact Richard Gifford 03-5202211

Yes, we are going to compete. Leaving Friday morning to travel up.
Glen

yep leaving friday hopefully,not sure if the truck will be ready having computer issues on the dyno at the moment

vince

muddy wrote:You're right - it's not open to spectators.

If interested in helping the marshals, contact Richard Gifford 03-5202211

Was going to help with the marshalling, but misses was keen to watch too, but not allowed in so decided not to bother