The 1st round of the Scorpion Racing Novice Challenge wasn't a particulary great one, well for our team anyway. Our truck was near enough new. No modifications, except a Janspeed Challenger Exhaust. So the punches weren't that easy at that moment in time, that was to say the least for the rest of our team. Another standard vehicle was on the team, a 110, running on LPG. The final member of the team was a well kitted out, bob-tailed Range Rover, the only vehicle on the team with a winch. As you can guess things didn't go to well. The first day of the weekend wasn't too bad, but on the Sunday matters got a whole lot worse. The range rover broke down, leaving us all stranded whenever we attempted a punch we shouldn't have. So in the end it all ended in tears. But all was not lost, there were four more rounds for us to have another go, and in that time the truck was about to undergo it's magical transformation. So their was still hope for us yet.

The truck had been under the intensive care of the scorpion racing team for about a month or so, but after an anxious wait the vehicle was unveiled. That's when I realised that it had been well worth the wait. The look, the performance, the smell, too much excitement at one time, I could barely contain myself.

After an eager wait, to get back out in the mud. We headed back out to Rockingham for the 3rd qualifying round, as the wait for the truck went through the 2nd round. Anyway, back to more important matters, this was our last shot at a place in the final, as due to world cup fixtures the original 3rd round had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. But that didn't bother me now, there were more important things to be getting on with, like winning this round!

The pressure was on, me and john ahd to get straight on with it. This time the team was a lot stronger, al concerned had an extreme court, and with off-road genius Ed Cobley in charge of this motley crew, the ball was surely in our court.

Saying that, all went well, with the team flying through punches, and taking the competition by storm. Jaws dropped as familiar faces were confronted with what I had made of my vehicle. The shocked faces aside, victory was ours. Sorry to any fellow competitors reading, it was all too easy, the truck was too good to be true.

With our place in the final secured and confidence on our side. Things we looking good, come November. In the months before the final, me and my son ventured out into Morocco, for some of the most extreme off-roading we had ever encountered. With this experience, I felt I could do anything.

The final was upon me, and the truck was well prepared for what this eventful weekend would bring. The weekend was an eventful one, with cheating accusations being thrown at one another, everyone was out for deductions. Me and John, and our teammates performed brilliantly, but no matter how hard we tried, there was always a team right behind us, pointswise that is.

So it was a continual struggle to stay ahead of our tough competition, which saw us pitted against previous teammates. But it didn't matter who they were, we were out to win, and due to the effort we put in, that is exactly what we did. Through determination and a serious amount of luck (one of the possible contenders broke a halfshaft, rushing special stage), we pulled through, and came out on top.