The -Yorks 4x4 Response Group Newsletter ISSUE 1,Feb ‘ 09

Welcome to the very first issue of Response! the Humber-Yorks 4x4 Response Group Newsletter. We shall being covering the various activities of the group over the last few months, including incidents dealt with, planned assistance with events, public shows attended and social activities. There will be some regular articles too, covering our users and members in more detail. Finally we will be getting out our crystal ball and having a look at what lies ahead in our calendar. Hopefully you’ll find Response! both a fun and interesting read, but please remember it would be nothing without the help of readers, so if you have an article, or suggestion you would like included in the next issue of Response! then please e-mail it to editor@humber- yorks4x4response.org.uk. Withernsea Water Safety Awareness Day Meet the user: Dale Turrell The whole reason for the group’s existence The group had a good turnout, is to be able to offer assistance to other manning the stand to recruit some organisations in times of need. These users new members and increase mostly tend to be emergency services, local awareness about what we do. By authorities and other voluntary groups. For invitation of the mayor, we got a this issue we caught up with PC Dale Turrell chance to put on a demonstration from Humberside Police’s Operations and on the beach to recover Simon Emergency Planning Unit. from a ‘perilous’, stuck situation. Dale was an early supporter of Humber- In fact it took a little bit of work to Yorks 4x4 Response and has been get Simon ‘stuck’, even in 2WD instrumental in introducing us to a number of mode. other users. In a recent newspaper article Dave came to the rescue, albeitapprehensively, ‘Surprisingly, Dale described the team as ‘an essential Picture Courtesy of Hull Daily Mail despite rescuing stage rigs, lifting platforms and even a 20 tonne lorry, voluntary tool’. I’ve never recovered a 4x4 before.’ Using a bridle onto Simon’s tow Humberside Police took delivery of two BMW X5 4x4s in 2008 and points, long straps and a snatch block for show, the ‘stricken’ vehicle has a number of other 4x4s at its disposal, including Defender, was winched out of its ruts and then towed the rest of the way. Discovery TD5/TDV6, Volvo XC70, Frontera and X-trails. So this leads We seemed to impress the spectators and got some positive us to ask him the question, ‘Why would you need the help of a 4x4 feedback from the professional services on the sea wall. After a job Response Team?’ well done the team met for a meal and debrief in Burstwick. Dale’s answer is simple,’Our 4x4 vehicles are unmodified, other than the typical spec of blue lights, communication equipment, IN DEPTH: Mark Leonard cameras etc. We don’t have the equipment for wading, winch recovery Positions: Recruitment Officer or heavy off-roading. It’s in special circumstances, such as flooding or Training Team Member heavy snow, where we might need to call on 4x4 Response for assistance. Obviously one of the major benefits is your vehicles’ ability Location: East Riding to access locations that would otherwise be impossible for us reach.’ Dale is himself a keen Land Rover enthusiast having owned long list Occupation: Truck Driver of green ovals; Series1,2 and 3s, Defender 90 and 110s, Range Rover P38 and Discovery 300tdi, TD5 and TDV6. He is currently on his 13th Vehicle: Mitsubishi Delica Land Rover in a row - a high spec’d 90 TD5 XS. Mud Tyres (31”x10.50), We look forward to continuing to work closely alongside Dale and Spots, Ham Radio Humberside Police.

Mark served for 7 years in the TerritorialArmy, which included a 6 month tour of duty with 6 Battalion REME in Bosnia/Croatia. He has INCIDENT LOG experience of driving many vehicles including 8x6 Leyland Daf, 6x6 A short list of call-outs, standbys and assistance given & 4x4 Bedfords, and Land Rovers, obviously. He lists his interests as; spending time with his family, especially 01.07.08 - Manby Showground (non call-out) going out places with them, reading, off-roading/green laning, Assistance given to Ambulance Service and Air caravanning and playing on the Wii. Ambulance attending a casualty on the off-road Mark explains his reasons for choosing the Delica, “I wanted course. something with a sliding door, for ease of access for my disabled 23.08.08 - A672, nr M62 J22 (non call-out) daughter, and a roomy boot to take wheelchair/walking frame and Recovery of private vehicle still have room for shopping etc. The fact it's a big tonka 4x4, with 06.09.08 - Cumbria (non call-out) plenty of bells and whistles was a big bonus!”. Assisted American tourists with wheel change Certainly the Delica is 06.09.08 - Cleethorpes (non call-out) an interesting vehicle. Recovery of ice-cream van Although its design looks 03.10.08 - A46, nr Market Rasen (non call-out) more like a people Assisted Lincolnshire Police in winched carrier, it has very good recovery of van partly forced into ditch. off-roading capabilities, 03.10.08 - Pickering (non call-out) as can be seen from the Assisted member of public with wheel change picture. 23.11.08 - West Yorks (non call-out) Future modifications Assisted at scene of accident Mark would like to make 04.12.08 - Whole Region (standby) include a 2” suspension requested by Humberside Police, PCT lift and a roof rack with and BBC, in relation to forecast heavy snow ladder. Mark demonstrating his Delica’s off-road ability More details on these incidents may be found on our website.

Part of the National 4x4 Response Network T Over the year the training team will be organising training Trail Tales days for group members. These will follow a structured series R of sessions that will cover basic through to advanced techniques. 16th March- 2008 kicked off with a trip to the Dales . A The next training day is booked at Parkwood Off Road Centre, Around a dozen 4x4s met at Leeming bar for a leisurely run through Tong, Nr Bradford on the 15 march 09 and will cover basics in some lanes over to Hawes. Lunch was had at the Hawes creamery, I the following areas: famous of course for its Wallace and Grommet Wensleydale cheese. Off-roading techniques, recovery (self, winch), vehicle From here the three groups took slightly different routes through the N equipment, vehicle maintenance, vehicle safety, and more difficult lanes to the South. The run ended by dropping down I navigation. Deadman's Hill to Scarhouse Reservoir with everyone joining up for a Members can sign up for training days on the group forum. To cuppa in the car park as darkness fell. N help the team plan the most effective training they need to know exact numbers, so if you sign-up and then find you can’t make 13th April - Next should have been the anniversary G it, please let them know. re-run of HY4x4R's first ever trip, in the Driffield area, but the previous wet weather meant the lanes would be unsustainably soft. The decision was taken to go to Wordsearch the more stoney lanes of Lower Wharfedale, the word search Washburn Valley and . Two groups set off Something for the kids (especially the big ones!) from separate start points, Carlton and Ferrybridge, Can you find all 16 words associated with 4x4 vehicles? meeting for a cuppa on the outskirts of the Harewood Estate, before separating again until lunch at the ford SGN I RPSL I OCOVR on the River Washburn. ENHCN IWUYSAM I T 31st May/1st June - an invite from Mark Williams saw a few members attend a camping and laning TF I LNOISNEPSUS weekend at Sour Leys near Helmsley. The pay and HEGACL LORRKODC play, come campsite, provided an excellent base to explore the all lanes the North Yorkshire Moors has to ASOTRSCLFYPCTO offer; although on this occasion thick fog meant the usually magnificent views were obscured. LNBBORA ENTTNVS

5-6th September - Gatescarth Pass - this was the big one! The Pass F OURWHEELDR I VE has a TRO meaning a maximum of 120 4x4s get to cross it each year (12 on each of 10 set days), it is regarded as one of the hardest lanes in SCLQUHGTZUSWRN the lake District, if not the UK and HY4x4R had 9 passes. The climb HA LOW BOXLMB I OG from Haweswater Reservoir just goes on and on, countless switchbacks and hairpin corners lead to false crests, where you realise AEBX ID I FFLOCK I there's still more to come. The weeks appalling wet weather hadn't made things easier and continued as we assembled for the special FBAHCT I HOTANYP passes to be distributed. No one bit is particularly hard but its around 1.3 miles on the map, much more on the ground, of relentless TDROCKSL I DERSW concentration. A second’s lapse could mean a wheel off the very ETALPHSABJOMTH narrow track; meaning you're stuck, or worse; it’s a long way down from up there. More lanes followed before a refreshment halt in Windermere followed by more lanes in the afternoon. The rain hadn't 12.09.06 - 04.01.09 - 21.08.07 - 17.05.10 - 25.12.08 eased all day so the decision was taken to forget about trying to cook at 30.02.09 - 09.11.07 - 20.10.08 - 03.04.06 - 14.08.07 the campsite, just outside Conniston, and everyone retired to the local 12.08.06 - 26.06.08Calendar- 02.12.07 - 19.03.05 - 08.04.09 hostelry for dinner and a few drinks. More of the same the following day including the Grizedale forest road ending with the fords at Rusland February Pool where Simon Bentley’s Ford Maverick drowned out in the shorter 2nd Committee Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub. DN14 9LY but deeper of the two fords. No lasting damage was done though and a 11th Open Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub, Carlton. DN14 9LY short pull with a strap and an about face saw the group heading for 22nd British Indoor 4x4 Show - Donnington Park. DE74 2RP home. March Midnight Manoeuvres for 2nd Committee Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub. DN14 9LY Midnight Manoeuvres for 11th Open Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub, Carlton. DN14 9LY Dove House 15th Training Day - Parkwood Off Road Centre, Tong. BD4 0RR Dove House 29th Green Laning - South Yorks/Derbyshire. We were pleased to be able to assist Dove House Hospice in their April annual Midnight Walk fundraiser; providing Vehicles and Marshals to 6th Committee Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub. DN14 9LY make sure all 500 walkers made it round the 12 mile course without 8th Open Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub, Carlton. DN14 9LY getting lost in the darkness. 11th Green Laning - West Yorkshire. The event was also a great opportunity for the group to work properly 24-26 Backwoods Camping Weekend - Melton. SE9773927060 alongside Raynet, who were providing checkpoint communications for the event. Some of our members had recently gained their foundation level amateur radio licenses, so it was a chance for us to use a mixture May of amateur radio and CBs, working to Raynet’s standards. 4th Committee Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub. DN14 9LY Alarge turnout of 12 vehicles, including some new members, allowed 8-10th LRO Spring Adventure - Driffield Showground. YO25 9DN for comfortable manning of the course and crossings, with a last 13th Open Meeting - The Oddfellows Pub, Carlton. DN14 9LY minute route change mid-walk happening in a controlled manner. 31st Green Laning - . All in all, this was a fun and worthwhile outing for the group, with a chance to operate together as a team. Lessons learnt from such New events are being added all the time, so make sure you keep events will only serve to help the smoother running of any call-outs. In yourself up to date by visiting our website and clicking on the addition, it’s great being able to help charities such as Dove House. calendar at the bottom of the left column.

Address: Southlands House, 53 Low Street, South Milford, Leeds, LS25 5AS www.humber-yorks4x4response.org.uk Emergency Call out Number: 07005 982 482