Who are we
The Midland Offroad Club (MOC) was formed in July 1986 to promote Offroad 4X4 motorsport.
The Club is involved with charity work, Sports Council activated, sits on the RACMSA cross country committee and has been part of the organisational team for the "Offroad and 4 wheel drive", National Offroad Show, since its inception.
The Club is a leading light in 4X4 Offroad motoring activity.The credit for this must be given to members, who work extremely hard, some up front and some behind the scenes, to arrange and put on events which are, attractive, well organised and most enjoyable.Being an RACMSA affiliated club, the club runs competitive cross country vehicle trials for Standard Production Trials (SPT).Road Taxed Vehicles (RTV), and non taxed vehicles (Modified).
These trials are classed on wheelbase, with a single reverse per section allowed for vehicles over 100" wheelbase. With prizes awarded for overall placing as well as position in class, friendly rivalry occurs between drivers of the same type of vehicle, as well as proving an incentive to become first overall.
Standard Production Trials
Standard Production Trials have been introduced from demand from members and prospective members alike. They are specifically designed to cover your entrance into offroading. Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced offroader, you will be able to compete in our SPT. To compete, your vehicle should be completely road legal, in other words, the vehicle that you drove to the event in, with no modifications made from the manufacturers specification, the showroom model. It must be taxed, MOT’ed where necessary and insured. The course itself is designed, more for the novice driver, or the driver in a pristine condition late model motor, to be non-damaging (apart from the mud and water that is)!!!!!
Road Taxed Vehicles (RTV)
This group was originally the clubs starting block, however over the years, the trial had become more challenging, so after pressure from our newer members, the club introduced the SPT (above). This group caters for those with slightly older vehicles and have probably had a few modifications, like more aggressive tyres, roll cages etc.etc. these are designed to be non-damaging, but, as you can imagine, damage does occur in the way of paintwork scratches etc.
Modified CCV
The modified group of CCVT are those vehicles, usually trailored to events, which are probably hybrids of all the best bits of different makes! They are not usually road legal (though some are) and so do not need to be taxed, insured or MOT’d. These vehicles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and about the only consistent thing about them, is the dents! Modified courses are a real challenge. Many do not complete the sections because they are so hard.However much fun and amusement can be heard from the modified groups as they wreck their motors.
A quote from an anonymous Comp Safari Driver:- " A bunch of mindless idiots, racing around dangerous unstable terrain at highly ridiculous speeds, just to see who can write off their expensive motor the quickest"
Seriously though, Competitive Safari, known as Comps or comp Safari is racing against the clock, over rough terrain. Most comp Safari vehicles are specially prepared, to high safety levels with highly tuned engines and mostly 4 wheel drive, though there are a number of 2wd buggies competing. Again there are a number of classes into which your vehicle is entered dependant upon its suspension and engine size.
Competitors are started against the clock,approx. every 30 seconds or so to compete a lap of the circuit. there are,on average between 8 and 20 laps, dependant upon the number of entrants, the size of the course and the problems arising from the course, the weather and the ground conditions on the day. every lap is timed, but you are allowed to carry out essential repair and maintenance between laps. The lap times are added together and the best times win, both class winners and overall winners.
This can be a very expensive form of 4X4 motorsport. Some spend thousands of pounds on their vehicles, having them built particularly for this job, whereas others did it as cheaply as they can, by using their own Landrover runabout!! The latest additions to the comp are cut down, Range Rover pickups, which are doing very nicely amongst the lower,more aerodynamic motors purpose built.
The vehicles have to pass scrutineering by RAC scrutineers before they are allowed to race, and crash helmets and full safety harnesses must be worn.
The MOC safari crowd are a very mixed bunch, lorry drivers, business men,accountants,unemployed and we also have a few lady drivers in the ranks now, including an all female team who seem to hold an initamte relationship with every tree on a course.
Safety is paramount at Comp Safari meetings and spectators are not allowed onto the course whilst an event is taking place. If you have children,please keep them insight at all times and do not allow them to wander off. Dogs must of course be kept on leads at all times.
Further technical specifications can be obtained from the club safety officer,though you should receive a full copy when you join MOC. The safety officer will be only too pleased to advise you on any problems you may have.
