History of the creators of this website?

Hello.

Just thought I would ask, what is the background of the creators of this site? Have they done overland stuff before? Or have interest in it? It would just be nice to know really!

Mmmmmmm, you’re gonna regret asking me that one! Where do I start?


The name’s Tom McGuigan, been into the 4x4 scene for a while now.

After playing at competitions like RTV Trials and Comp Safari with the AWDC (All Wheel Drive Club) in the early 1980’s, I formed a team to tackle the BIG ONE!

Under the team name of “Britland Race & Rally Team”, I captained the first ever all-British amateur team to enter the Paris-Dakar Rally. Competing in 1989 and totally green/naive/daft, our team consisting of two Range Rovers was ill-prepared and useless … but it was a memorable experience nonetheless so wouldn’t have missed it for the world!!! One Rangie made it to Libya before the gearbox gave up (about the same time as the crew did likewise) and my RR gave up on the first day when a rod went though the block! I didn't give up, so overnight installed an old 1968 3.5 V8 direct from the local scrappy, back to 1,000 km Paris to acquire a visa for Algeria, another 1,000 km down to Marseille, ferry to that there Africa, drove unaided north to south through Sahara 3 1/2 days & nights non-stop, drove all the way to Dakar. 21 days, 7,500 miles, sheer madness!

Once the Range Rover had been shipped back to the UK, they were entered and competed in the Welsh Hillrally. One finished, one didn’t. That’s life!

Co-Organiser of the “Scrubs-Sahara Breakout” in 1994 – a 3-week overland circuit of Morocco. Via a major national ‘Guess the Mileage’ competition in International Off-Roader magazine (a big player in its day but sadly now defunct) a friend and I embarked on our Moroccan epic – the ulterior motive being to set up a charitable group called DORA (Disabled Off Road Access) by which we would take disabled groups out for the day greenlaning to remote locations, places it would be impossible for them to access without the use of 4x4’s. Herts land Rover Fanatics were instrumental in those days to help set up the charity group. After I moved on to work on other projects, DORA was left in the capable hand of GLASS (the Greenlane Association) where it resides to this day. And yes, both Rangies made it to Morocco and back … just!

Organiser/Event Director: Weston Park International 4x4 & Military Family Show in Shrops 1997-99

Organiser/Event Director: Wheels ‘n’ Tracks the UK Round of the Europa Truck Trial in Hants 2000 (a televised event, it was the first time the prestigious event had ever been coaxed over here from mainland Europe)

Organiser/Event Director: National 4x4 Show & British Off-Road Motorsport Show at Trentham Gardens in Staffs 2001-03

Organiser/Event Director: National 4x4 Show & Adventure Travel Show at Shuttleworth in Beds 2004

Organiser/Event Director: Off-Road UK – 4x4 Show in Leics 2005

Organiser/Event Director: McGuigan Motorsport’s Guinness World Records™ “Longest Land Rover Procession” World Record Attempt Towcester in Northants 2004-06 (resulting in a new world record!)

Organiser/Event Director: Landy Rally European Land Rover Charity Drive. 11 countries in 9 days, 3,000 miles. 2007-present

Organiser/Event Director: 4x4 Market, nationwide. 2008

Organiser/Event Director: LandyJumble, Sibbertoft, Leics. 2009

Organiser/Event Director: Jap ‘n’ Jeep Jam 4x4 Show, Sibbertoft, Leics. 2009-present

Autojumble Manager: LRM Landrover Max! Show, Stoneleigh, Warks 2010


Plus other activities –

Accredited NUJ (National Union of Journalists) Freelance 4x4 Journalist. 1984-present

UK Representative of the World 4x4 Council. 1998-present

UK Representative of the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia. 2007-present

Proprietor/Administrator: 4x4Calendar – a free online reference resource website. 2007-present

Proprietor/Administrator: Macks 4x4 info – a free online reference resource website. 2009-present


And now …

Proprietor/Administrator: 4x4 Overland Travel community forum. Christmas Day 2010-present


Did say you’d regret it!

Excellent, just the sort of answer I was looking for . Sounds like you have had some interesting times

Yep. Still skint mind you, but "this time next year Rodney".

Ah well

Any trips planned for the future?

Don't know if you aware but I run the Landy Rally Euro 4x4 Charity Drive. I've announced that next September's event will be the last, for the simple reason that in 2007 we had 27 teams, 2008 - 30 teams, 2009 - 17 teams, this year - 13. Okay, with the support vehicles it increases by 2 or 3, but the recession has clearly taken its toll. As I can't keep running at a loss, which it has been for the past two events, I just have to call it a day.

So, that being the case I shall be heading off around June time to a secret location 'somewhere' in mainland Europe. Here I'll be carrying out a recce for a brand new event, something that will hopefully stimulate loads of interest and get the juices flowing.

Until then, it's a Landy Rally treasure hunt/'laning get-together in Derbyshire in January, the "Overland & 4x4 Travel Show" at Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire 13th February, the "British Indoor 4x4 Show", Stafford in March, the little matter of the "CONVOY for HEROES" Land Rover World Record Attempt at Gaydon, Warwickshire in April, the "LRO Show" in Driffield, North Yorkshire beginning of May, and visiting a group of mad off-roaders in Holland middle of May.

No, not much really!

Well Tom am sure the new event will be good, will it be simaler to landy Rally
If so you can book Teddy's in

you had to ask diddnt you,,,,,,


your lucky iv only known him for,,,13-14 years,,,,,,

Got a new one I can add now:-

Event Director of the CONVOY for HEROES attempt to break the world record for the "Largest Land Rover Parade" to be held at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire 23-24 April 2011 (Esater Weekend).

I only started out as ofering my assistane/advice, just been asked to become a 'little' more involved! Wey hey, gonna be a great weekend! I will post about it in the Events section.

Going to be another busy year for you tom.

never met the guy...
haha i wish

best of luck with the world record

"No rest for the wicked" sums me up a treat, but my all-time favourite saying is one I nicked off a fellow Sarf Londoner form Peckham - Del Boy!

"This time next year Rodney we'll be millionaires". Not that I would ever have a gravestone, a fry up down the local crem is a much better way to go, but if I did it would have "This time next year Rodney ..." emblazoned on it.

Ever thought of emigrating to Aus Tom? We could use a man like you

Why, you running out of stiffs for your crems?

Nah, would never get into Oz ... I've got a criminal record. That Des O'Conner has a lot to answer for!!!

Forget being skint, they can never take away from you what you have done.