Mike & Pam’s 2008 Mac Challenge

Pics by loncbt & Alterastro

Thursday 6^th March saw myself and pam packing the truck and getting ready for the mac. We did as most did I guess, and loaded far more stuff than we needed, and left off some things we meant  to take. All fluids checked, vehicle that is, and everything done in preparation that we could think of. But of course, there were things we didn’t know we had to think of as you will see.

A top up with diesel and wine gums for the journey and off we went to Shropshire. We had booked a room at a Travelodge not far from the event  start, and the journey there was comfortable, and tinged with some excitement for what was to come.

Once we had arrived at the Travelodge, we met up with some of the other challengers, including Tim and Pack, team 13 in another Pajero. You cannot miss Tim’s Paj, as it carries almost a person’s bodyweight in various stickers.

Later that evening we all sat down for a meal, and chatted about what was in store for us. Some had already ‘done’ the mac, and were able to provide some hints and tips.

We had already heard about the tribulations that Nick and Carl were experiencing via phone and text. But arranged to meet up with them for brekkie. The next day duly arrived, brekkie was had and we set off for the start at Britparts.

So Friday morning we checked in, and then stood around and chatted for a while, as other challengers arrived. I think this is the most 4x4’s I have seen in one place at one time. Then finally it was time for the Drivers briefing, start time was announced and we all got ready. We were team 10 which meant we were to leave 10 mins after the start time as vehicles would leave start time plus team number at one min intervals.

The first section was right at the start. Using an impromptu off road section, we had to drive around and spot an unspecified quantity of car numberplates. Once this was done, it was off to the checkpoint to get the first actual driving instructions and clues. We were off.

By this time I was already experiencing some trouble with the Paj. Small noises were coming from underneath and I suspected low transfer box oil as I had a slight leak from the seal where the front driveshaft entered the box. It wasn’t at that time anything to worry about as it had  been confirmed that as long as this was kept topped up, then no damage would incur.

We set to, navigating and watching for clues. I had elected to drive the section and then answer a question paper based upon the britpart catalogue just before the section end.

Another section on the day was set in forestry commission land. An interesting one this, where hidden along the plotted route were letter boards, the size of two numberplate sized letters. The idea was to list all those found. There was one small and interesting boggy track here too which was our first experience of mud. Pam spotted a large bird of prey in these woods too, but as the only birds I tend to know anything about wear skirts, I was unable to identify type.

We then went on to a night navigation exercise. We were given a specific time period to plot our route and off we went. Aagain all plotted on o/s maps. This was made more interesting by the fact that we came across a closed road, which upset the route we had planned. It was much harder to answer the question sheet provided as things were of course much harder to see.

This section ended at Bala offroad site, where we drove  once round a marked route with again numberboards to spot. This was in the dark.

From Bala offroad, we set off for Holyhead to catch a ferry to Southern Ireland. On the way, I dropped in some transfer box oil, which was fun in the dark. The box promptly spat some of it out which I put down to putting cold oil in on hot.

Arriving at Holyhead, we had a chance for a bit of rest. Some pitched tents amongst the vehicles whilst others, like us decided to sleep in the truck. I think we got about 2 hours sleep this time. It was during this time that I thought about packing it in. not because of the event itself, but because the Paj was showing more symptoms that were causing me some concern. I thought long and hard about this, as, we had already come a long way, but, were we to risk getting stuck in Ireland with a crippled Paj? In the end I decided to carry on and risk it. We spend a couple of reasonably uncomfortable hours dozing in the truck and then it was time to board the ferry.

Again, it was good to see so many 4x4’s in one place, as we convoyed onto the stenna line ferry. The crossing was to take about an hour and a half. There wasn’t really anywhere to crash out as it was full of welsh rugby supporters off to see a match in Ireland. It was funny watching them come back from the bar though, as they danced the dance of the drink carrier at sea! It was pleasant however, standing on the after deck watching the ships wake trail back to Wales as we headed to the Irish Coast.

Finally the ferry docked at Dun Laoghaire in Eire. We had spent time on the ferry plotting our route so knew where we had to go (sort of). This time we were driving the rural routes of Southern Ireland, and immediately learnt a few lessons. Firstly, our mobile phones didn’t work. Secondly, not everyone took Stirling, thirdly, petrol stations are much further apart than they are on the mainland.

The Paj was making more and more noise now, and I was becoming quite concerned. We drove past a tractor dealer, and correctly, I guessed this would be just the place to get some transfer box oil.  I had brought some with me but had used it by now.

We drove on a bit further and I pulled over to top the box up. I was just cleaning up, when Carl, Nick, Denviks and sandy drove up. It was decided, due to the problems with the paj, that we would continue on with them, so that if the truck gave up the ghost, then someone would know where we were stranded. We continued on, still plotting along the route and continuing with the question sheet provided.

We continued on till we finished this section, and pulled into a car park that was the checkpoint. We were given 10 mins to plot the next section, so Pam set to with the maps and roamer.

It was at this time that Carl had a look at my Paj. I had realised that as the noise and vibration had got worse, that I could identify its source as the front driver’s wheel. On inspection it was found that the bearing was the culprit. The leaky transfer box seal was most likely a result of vibration as the bearing slowly went west.

Off we set, again following the navigated route and we made our way northwards. Our destination was Todds Leap off road course. Where again we did a drive round a marked section with questions to be answered about clues left around the course. Again this section was in the dark.

From Todds Leap we then set off for Belfast and the ferry to Scotland. This time the ferry was nearly empty, and we had no plotting to do, so were able to get an hour or so of sleep.

The ferry arrived in Stranraer at about midnight, and drove to a hotel in Lockerbie. We got there about 2am and set up our tent for a few hours sleep. The hotel staff were a little surprised as they were only expecting a ‘few’ 4x4’s, and not the 60 that finally arrived. The kitchen staff were even more surprised when they had to provide over 50 cooked breakfasts.

So, the last day had arrived, Paj was still moving all be it noisily and with all the smoothness of a spin dryer. We were given another route to plot and drive, and another sheet of questions to answer so off we went with a clatter of the diesel and the groan of the wheel bearing.

This section was set in the Scottish countryside, and it provided some excellent and sometimes breathtaking views. We finished at a hotel about lunchtime, and had time enough for a brew up before we left for the hotel at warrington.

This was the fun bit really, the mac challenge was complete, as the checkpoint at the hotel was the last one. The pressure was off and all we had to do was drive for a few hours to the hotel. We did the drive in company with Denviks, and found a way of increasing the speed of a landrover. With Den close behind us, driving in our slipstream, we pulled him up the hills, despite the strong winds at speeds of up to 70 mph. when he started dropping back a little, I would slow down and he would tuck in behind again, then we sped up again. An amusing end to the day. I am thinking of putting a sticker on the paj, saying landrover pace car.

The above doesn’t really do credit to the fun we had, the skills we gained and the experience we had. But, it’s a way of trying to share the experience. So much happened in such a short time that memories have telescoped a bit, and we keep remembering different bits of the long weekend as we talk about it.

We ended the challenge at a hotel, where presentations were made, a meal was had and we finally got some well deserved sleep.

I have a lot of thanks to give out, the obvious ones are to those that organised the event, but special thanks go to Carl, Nick, Denviks and Sandy, who, when it was realised we were in a struggling paj, gave support when it was needed.

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