The aussies have a certain way of doing things, they are known throughout the world as an easy-going, relaxed bunch of people....  how wrong can you be !

Down under, when they say "extreme" off-road, they really mean it.  The ARB Xtreme winch challenge 2007 is one of the toughest, maddest and most exciting challenge series in the world.   Spanning 3 weekends and 3 venues, the 2007 series brought 27 of the top off-road teams from Queensland and NSW to battle it out over insane terrain.  The event sees the welcome return of many familiar faces to the Australian scene, along with a good selection of new teams.

The first round sees the teams arrive at the famous Landcruiser Mountain Park in Queensland where the gullies and holes  are renowned for catching out an unwary driver.  In traditional Dave Metcalfe style the first stage of the round is a quick blastround a stage against the clock, this gives the vehicles a shake-down and highlights any eraly gremlins in the vehicles, it also sets the starting order for the rest of the day.

Trayback patrol races across a stage

Arguaby the best-known feature of LC mountian park is the series of impossible gulleys and ditches ready to trap a vehicle, and used heavily by the event organisers.  Each stage of the event is against the clock and most feature a lot of hard driving and hard winching.  Vehicles are pushed to the limit and damage is not uncommon.  The high-powered vehicles launch themselves at the gulley walls, scrabbling for grip and weaving from side to side.  Simex, Pro-Comp and BFG tyres dig into the varied terrain and when momentum is lost, the Warn 8274 is the weapon of choice for recovery.   Positions are decided in seconds rather than minutes... from the outset, it is clear that the 2007 event is going to be hard-fought !

Round 1 also featured a drivers favourite around LC park, a fierce night-stage.  Diving between trees and more seemingly impossible winching operations, each stage with the added danger of working in the glare of hundreds of watts of Lightforce spots, and the fatigue of a night stage.

Tackling a night stage

By the end of the Round 1 weekend the vehicles,  drivers and co-drivers all looked very much the worse for wear. 

Round 2 of the series is set in Rockhampton, Queensland.  A wet season meant that water levels in the creeks were high and usually dry sections were now sticky and tough.  The series competitors were joined by a number of local teams, in for the single event which mixed the field up even more.  Once again the sections were fast and furious with high-speed stage driving and severe winching operations.  A tough gulley stage found teams losing wheels, tyres and drivetrain components, and the gulley climbs presented the spectators with some jaw-dropping action, including one of the trucks back-flipping out of the event. 

Powering up the side of a gulley

The Rockhampton venue also featured deep water and long creek runs, testing the waterproofing of the vehicles and the strength of the underside as submerged rocks and holes took their toll. 

The third and final round held in Manilla, New South Wales would decide the final series placings with only a few points separating the top teams at the start of the weekend.  The high-powered speed stages pushed the teams, fighting with everything to win or lose.  Terrifying descents and rocky climbs demanded nerves of steel.  Still carrying damage from earlier events, the rate of attrition increased.  Winch lines, steering linkages, wheels and tyres were all victims of the terrain as the race for the final honours continued.

Wet mud hampered progress

The DVD contains coverage from all the rounds, including stage footage, interviews and some great in-car footage.  Available to buy online from the products section.

Near-vertical winching

Split-screen in-car footage shows the teams in action

Recovering a rolled truck

Deep water challenged the teams