CLUB\COURSE INFOMATION

So you want to know more about our 4x4 club, well we are located in Essex and meet on the second Sunday of each month from 10 till 3:30. We have two courses designed for intermediates and experts. The courses are not suitable for drivers who are worried about getting knocks and scratches on the body work. There are food, Toilet and jet wash facilities on the site to help make your day as enjoyable as possible. Spectators are free but you must sign in at the caravan, you are responsible for your own safety whilst on our site and everyone must read the rules and sign the clubs disclaimers before entering the site.

Three people started the Club, Mick Reeves, Peter Brooks and a third person whose name I never found out although I'm led to believe that he never visited the site once things got under way. The actual dates of when the club first started is not certain as the paper work has been lost through the years. Our records show the course opened in August 1996 after much sweating and swearing by the numerous members who helped cut the track through the overgrown brambles getting cut and bruised along the way. For those who don't know, the course is the old sand pit from the time when the sand was dug by hand and that is why the ups and downs are all a similar size, governed by the height the workers could pile up the mud they had dug out. The site was ideal as the hills were already made. The first year the area was dry with hardly any water. In fact when the WARN Challenge was held on the site they complained that it was too dry. One of the restrictions in the planning permission is that we are only allowed to use the site 14 days a year and 14 days for maintenance. There is also a preservation order on all trees and a lot of the wild life. The water supply was paid for by the Club and the toilet and pipe work fitted by many members at work parties. Some years ago we applied for planning permission to erect humps in the field for a Novice and Trials track, this was finally granted after a year with height and depth restrictions to apply. This area is used for novice drivers who just have standard 4x4 vehicles. The site has another two courses, intermediate and advanced, that can be used by members, we've tried to make the course so it has something for everyone. The club is non-profit making with all money raised going back into the site, the stewards you see on the day are volunteers who help the committee keep course days running smoothly and The club runs work parties through the year to keep the course maintained, we ask our members to come down and spare a few hours helping on these days so the course stays drivable. We run events throughout the year to other off-road courses or trail events at our own course, to find out about these events or to catch up on the latest club news please keep checking the homepage. The Essex, Rochford & District 4x4 club hopes you enjoy browsing though our website and we look forward to seeing you all in the mud very soon.