Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat

A 4x4 is not a battering ram!

(1/6) > >>

xmob:
I need to rant.

I'm sorry that my first post for a LOONNGG time is a rant, but things need to be said.

I was in two minds about posting a long blow by blow account, or a short one.  I'm going for the short one.

If anybody who reads this was involved in the incidents I'm going to describe, then shame on you.  I will make no apologies, you are a disgrace to the off roading community.

As many of you know, I work at Langdale Quest part time as a patrol driver/instructor.  I do this for fun.  I don't do it because I need the money.  I don't do it because I am obliged to.  I certainly don't do it because I have a deathwish.  I do it because I enjoy it.  I was working yesterday, another fun day until later events occured.

Langdale Quest is an off road driving centre in Langdale forrest.  A Forrestry Commission owned forrest in which LQ has a license to operate.  There are pre-defined routes in the forrest that visitors must stick to.  Like all forrests they attract a certain element of people that believe they have a God given right to drive where they like, how they like.  These are the same people that give the off roading community (be it 4x4s, quads, bikes, whatever) a bad name.  When these people are encountered in the forrest they are approached and politely told that what they are doing is wrong.  There are two reasons for this.  Number one, it's wrong and not helping the off roading fight.  Number two, there is a business interest to protect.  Any wrong doings that happen in Langdale Forrest are immediately associated with the Langdale Quest and it goes against all the hard work put in getting planning consent etc.

A group of such vehicles were encountered yesterday.  They were told, politely, that they had no right to be where they were.  They listened to what was said, uttered a few grumblings then were allowed to leave.  They were subsequently spotted several more times in the forrest, and it was obvious that they had no intention of speaking to any LQ staff due to the way they decided to disappear at a high rate of knots.  Eventually one vehicle was spotted and it was put to them that they either leave the forrest, visit LQ HQ where they (upon suitable payment) would be given a map detailing where they could go, or the Police would be called.  They're not the first, they won't be the last.  Previous offenders have been issued with Section 59 warnings.

Cut some more sightings/discussions and move to the main incidient.  The group of vehicles were again spotted and the police were called.  In the meantime, LQ staff (myself included) were depatched to get vehicle details (number plates etc).  One of the staff arrived face to face with the group on a single track road with no place to pass.  He proceeded to take vehicle details while receiving a whole barrage of abuse and threats.  In the meantime myself and other intructors arrived.

The lead vehicle of the group decided that he wanted to be past, and no vehicle in front of him was going to stop him.  The LQ vehicle was pushed backwards, using vehicle to vehicle contact, and rotated sideways into the grass verge on the side of the road.  There still wasn't sufficient room to pass.  It was now obvious that this vehicle/driver should not be allowed to depart until the Police arrived.  I was stood in the road at this time, and the driver continued to try and force his way past.  Contact was made with me and there was no attempt to slow down.  My life is too valuable to let this kind of idiot waste it, so I took the obvious decision to move out of the way.  It should also be noted that there was a kid in a child seat in the offending vehicle.

Conclusion, 4 Police vehicles in attendance (including armed MoD Police) and hopefully several Section 59 warnings issued.  It is hoped that these people now have the message and it will be passed on to others.

Sorry for that, and here's to happy, safe and legal off roading in 2007!   :D

xmob:
There, I feel better for that.   :wink:

smo:
Sounds like a complete bunch of idiots, the kind who give us all a bad name.

sleeplessparadise:
Was going to come up to langdale yesterday Pete, am glad I didnt now :shock: Being a novice driver I certainly wouldnt have wanted to meet these idiots on my way round...... hope you werent injured and you did the right thing moving, no point getting hurt by some moron :x

jimny33:
sounds like a bunch of nutters!  :evil:

I hope they all get what they desirve!  :evil:

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page