Just a question about ....

Byways............

In the provisional itinery, it says we'll "traverse the off road byways of Salisbury Plain".

Does that mean we'll be a 45 vehicle convoy on public ROWs (green lanes)?
Or is there a plan to split us up into small groups or 4 or 5?
Or is that a fiqure of speech and we're actually not using byways?

Probably a daft question, but one that's been bothering me for a while.

Guess we'll have to be split in to groups! Japs first so we dont all get behind a broken ford..............sorry land rover!

I've plotted most of them on MM and it looks like we could drive around all day without seeing each other.

Not sure how many you are allowed to drive and I know you need to check with the MOD to drive some of them.

Can't say for sure, last time I was there I was blowing stuff up!

There are a lot of byways on the Plain, but it would be a logistical night mare to organise a green laning outing for 45 vehicles anywhere and keep within the Code of Conduct.

And yes, checking with the MOD is essential for some of them, especially around Tilshead/Shrewton.



A couple more pics here

Loved the subtle signs when I saw them!

Skibum

And yet every weekend the range wardens chase out knobbers on their trail bikes.....

They chase them out?

All was always under the impression that "Targets will fall when hit"

I can't fathom it out either. I reckon they should sell tickets for the public to watch this fine demonstration of Darwinism at work.

Just a brief answer to hopefully clear this up - at the start you will be sent off at 1 min intervals, we ask people that if they do start to bunch up that they be sensible and allow a gap in between the cars in front of you to continue on, we dont really want to see convoys of many cars, if that makes sense. Hopefully there shouldnt be any problems!

Tim

Well as the car in front of me will be a G-Wagen with a working CB, I reckon I'm safe from any bunching incidents

To keep things on the move, especially on the plains, any controls, task points, secret checks, re-scrutinising points etc etc, that may be set up, we will have two lanes, an express lane, for all non Land Rover vehicles who will collect a signature and on their way, and a land rover lane/park area, where you can re assemble all the broken bits, check that every thing is still on etc, within the maximum time allowed at these points of 2.5 hours.

THE ABOVE IS NOT FOR OFFICIAL VEHICLES WE WILL OF COURSE BE IN A1 CONDITION ANYWAY

richie wrote:

To keep things on the move, especially on the plains, any controls, task points, secret checks, re-scrutinising points etc etc, that may be set up, we will have two lanes, an express lane, for all non Land Rover vehicles who will collect a signature and on their way, and a land rover lane/park area, where you can re assemble all the broken bits, check that every thing is still on etc, within the maximum time allowed at these points of 2.5 hours.

arnt the non landrovers taking the road route due to being non real 4x4s??

A couple of things RITCHIE

I own a Landy
I will be using the Landie

AND

AND

AND

I WILL be scrutinising you and yer vehicle

That's it Bill - kick ass.

What's that poor donkey done wrong?

I wouldn't follow John. I was gonna give him a blue marker to colour in the ones I've missed

im not following you!!

Looks like the trenches on the Somme !

All I was concerned about was not attracting the attention of any "antis" along the way, by ending up in a big convoy on the byways.
I've found it difficult enough to keep two groups of 4 vehicles 1/2 hr apart in the past, let alone the logistics of 45 vehicles.
One minute between vehicles will disappear at the first gate or one travelling slightly slower than the one behind, will cause a bunching up.

Last thing we want is bad publicity for inconsiderate green laning.

As usual - playing devils advocate - sorry.

Easy to solve. When on the lanes, if you see the car in front has stopped and if it's safe to do so, you stop. Lines of site on the plain are very good, so bunching shouldn't happen provided drivers maintain this rule. We'll have enough comms to advise of problems further back up the line (assuming a "guard" channel is agreed in the driver briefing). If the stopped car indicates they have a problem it will be up to the following driver to decide if they are able to assist with recovery/tow or, if appropriate, pass the stuck car.

I'm sure this will be covered in the briefing. We're all grown-ups so a little bit of savvy and good convoy discipline will prevent it looking like that scene out of Mad Max Thunderdome where they're all hurtling across the desert

Yes, lines of sight are good and some of us will have CBs (only one can speak at a time - have you ever tried having a conversation between 3 or 4 vehicles - once one has keyed the mike, no-one else on thast channel can), but, the sheer volume of traffic will work against us.

The first byway that has a gate at it's entrance will cause a queue of vehicles on the road, waiting to turn into the byway, while the gate is opened - it's bad enough getting 4 vehicles turned in off the road quickly, without causing a hold up on the road, let alone the possibility of 6, 10, 12 ...... how many ??

Plod might have something to say about convoys as well as causing obstructions.

Wonder what a:

group of "anti 4x4" walkers
farmer whose yard we pass through
house owner who's only access is the byway we're on

will think of a large group of vehicles passing by.

Even if we do manage to maintain the 1 minute between vehicles, that's 3/4 hour of vehicles passing by - if it were passing my back garden/access route/farmyard - I wouldn't be too happy.

If it was organised with the councils and landowners involved, it could be turned into a good publicity point, but if we're just leaving the start and heading off onto the lanes ......

I'm sorry if I'm being negative about this, but I spend a lot of time advocating sensible green laning and adherance to the Code of Conduct and really don't want to see the H4H Rally participants 'photos all over the press for the wrong reasons.

If we're NOT planning to careen across Salisbury Plain like the mutants in Mad Max then I I might as well leave the gimp mask at home and untie Sarah from the bull bars...

bugger!

and I thought this event was going to be fun!

RustyMed wrote:

If we're NOT planning to careen across Salisbury Plain like the mutants in Mad Max then I I might as well leave the gimp mask at home and untie Sarah from the bull bars...

bugger!

and I thought this event was going to be fun!

I'm gonna be spending the time between now and the rally just trying to get the imnage of you and a gimp mask with a bonnet ornament outta my head... just... not quite yet eh..?!

nickburt wrote:

Wonder what a:

group of "anti 4x4" walkers
farmer whose yard we pass through
house owner who's only access is the byway we're on

will think of a large group of vehicles passing by.

You know what? No matter what we do, how small a group we're in or how much turf we lay behind us, they'll still hate us. I've been out on a byway on my friend's farm in our 90 (proper farmer's job with an ifor canopy) helping with the sheep and got a gobful from a rambler. I drive through the ford at the end of my road on the way back from another farm on a regular basis and daytrippers lying on "the beach" yell abuse despite me sitting patiently until some get the message and start moving out the ROAD. I stop my engine when I see horses, I take part in lane restoration and I get called a..... well actually they might be right there.

The whole "we must grovel and scrape" business makes me puke. Which is good, because I've just eaten too much and can't afford to put the weight on.

Ultimately we are ABSOLUTELY ALLOWED to drive on these ROADS, we will all, I am sure, show appropriate caution and courtesy and anyone who gets the hump can shove my not insubstantial toolbox up their backside. Sideways. In a non-confrontational and appeasing way of course.

Rusty Med has got bugger bars on a bull called Sarah? WTF???