Beginners Green Lane Trip - Feedback

[Trugga]

Beginners Green Lane Trip – Feedback

From what I have read, all those who took part in the first “beginners” green lane day had a great time, so to ensure we continue or even to improve, I (as I guess others will to) would appreciate any feedback (good or bad).

For example:

• Was there enough time in the lead up to the event (for you to plan time off. Prepare your vehicle, rearrange family commitments, etc)
  
• Was the pre event booklet (emailed to you) informative or a waste of band width?
  
• Was the meeting location ok, easy to find?
  
• Was the meeting time too early or too late?
  
• Did you find the route too easy/difficult/rough/damaging for your vehicle and your ability?
  
• Did you feel you had opportunities to ask for guidance?
  
• Did you have confidence in your group’s leader (knowledge of laning law, leadership, 4x4 driving ability, free with advice etc?)
  
• Was the event over-hyped?
  
• Did the event meet with your expectations?
  
• Did you feel we stopped too often or not often enough?
  
• Did we finish at an appropriate time or did it drag on too long (or did you want more)?
  
• Did you feel the lanes we used were sustainable for motorised recreational use?
  
• Whilst I wont charge for leading a group on a days laning (if it is my choice to lead), should a charge be made to participate (eg, that goes direct to FOG and if so, what would an acceptable charge be)?

Please feel free to elaborate on any of the above points and even add your own.

From what I have so far read on this forum and from the PM’s I have received, there is probably a possibility that one of these beginners days could be run every other month – it would be good to get your feedback to be able to fine tune such a regular event – if they continue.

Thank you for your support.

Lawrence
FOG Area Representative Co-ordinator

[Road Hog]

Hello Lawrence once again TVM ....... bullet points :-

Even as a reserve there was time aplenty

PDF really helpful and informative (it may be an idea to reccomend people print it as at least one of the group didn`t and initially went to the wrong car park)

Found OK even entering from WD Autoroute sent me via Carrog

No one was late,must have been OK

My standard B came through unscaithed & I enjoyed myself ,speed thorugh the stages was good fast enough no to be boring,slow enough to think about what was ahead and spot on for taking piccy`s of the scenery

I felt guidance was freely offered before entering any hazard

Totally

No

Yes (brown bottle shop unexpected bonus)

Go with the flow,but if we had stopped many more times the site would be crawling to a stop under the weight of piccy`s

Participant enthusiasm will determine this,I would have kept going all the time I had fuel,but it was sensible to stop given the circumstances.

I think the run was a very good excercise,covering a broad spectrum of surfaces all of which will be self sustaining if driven with due respect

Everybody learnt something ,education should be paid for I would think £10 min

The key fob was a nice gesture & an excellent momento of the trip

[nitromotor]

Was there enough time in the lead up to the event (for you to plan time off. Prepare your vehicle, rearrange family commitments, etc)

Plenty of time to plan and make arrangements for the trip

Was the pre event booklet (emailed to you) informative or a waste of band width?

The booklet was an asset to receive and informative

Was the meeting location ok, easy to find?

Was the meeting time too early or too late?

The location was easy to fined and the time was OK, it meant an early start for me, but nothing unreasonable, also if we had made it later the lanes may have become busier.

Did you find the route too easy/difficult/rough/damaging for your vehicle and your ability?

I was driving an all standard B, with the addition of some steel belly plates. I think without the plates I may have been (or at least felt) a little vulnerable in places. I was worried about sucking in water during the river crossing (looked deeper than the wading depth VX recommend), but made the crossing without any problems. Having driven an A frontera for 4 years and moving on to the seemingly less capable B frontera, my confidence in the ability of the B off road has changed dramatically, Superb machine!

Did you feel you had opportunities to ask for guidance?

Advice and guidance was freely avalabal at all times and advice given before committing to tricky sections
Did you have confidence in your group’s leader (knowledge of laning law, leadership, 4x4 driving ability, free with advice etc?)

Leadership was fantastic; our group leader (ste) did a superb job!

Was the event over-hyped?

No

Did the event meet with your expectations?

Better than expected, and I now know my B is every bit as capable as my A was

Did you feel we stopped too often or not often enough?

The stops where spot on.

Did we finish at an appropriate time or did it drag on too long (or did you want more)?

Could have gone on for more, but wise not to doso.

Did you feel the lanes we used were sustainable for motorised recreational use?

Nice choice of lanes, all sustainable with respectful driving

Whilst I wont charge for leading a group on a days laning (if it is my choice to lead), should a charge be made to participate (eg, that goes direct to FOG and if so, what would an acceptable charge be)?

Has as already been mentioned, an entry fee to support the club would be appropriate, but wouldn’t want to see a fee becoming prohibitive for some members to participate in such events. Maybe have a voluntary fee.

[4x4 bobby]

Hello mate.
The way you organised the day out and great time had by all says alot. I think £10 for a day like that would be very reasonable, if you mail me where to send it i would be glad to pop it in the post. It was a great day.
Being ex army ive done quite a bit of off roading and for beginers i would recomend you to lead anytime they would gain alot. Even Manny enjoyed himself.

Cheers Rob

[alex]

Cant comment on lead time as I had about 4 hours

Course was excellent for beginers, the carwash broke cherries quick.

We were fooled by the lack of a statue at the turn it (peasant without gps) but Corwen aint big enough to be lost in for long.

Pub was nice, lunch in the beer garden is my plan for next week.

certainly no negative points I can think of other than the deliverance moment when we got lost. Cant fault Steve though we all looked at the maps and pointed in several directions, good day, will definately jump at any other events coming my way.

[Steve-C]

Finally time to get round to the feedback section! I'm really slow sometimes.

Firstly may I say what an excellent day out. Totally enjoyed myself and loved seeing so much of the scenery that wouldn't have been possible on-road.

To answer the bullet points:
1. More than enough time to prepare. Since this was a beginners day, I wouldn't have expected to bring anymore than a packed lunch and hot drinks. Doubtful that any of the lanes would have required recovery apart from the Carwash.

2. Meeting point was spot on. Easy enough to find (since I was following Lawrence after a chance meeting on the way up!) Meeting time was also spot on. Did mean an early start for me as I was coming from a distance but any later and the lanes could have gotten crowded and doubt we would have gotten as much in. (It was 6/7pm by the time we finished)

3. Personally after the Carwash and the Wayfarer I found the route rather easy. Then agin I wasn't too concerned about taking my car off-road. For someone with a standard vehicle, road tires, and possible dipping their toe into offroading for the first time the routes were ideal. Maybe on a second trip I would like the Wayfarer to be the easiest route and continue on a similar vein or maybe a bit more technical (ascents, decents, mud). Then again on a public RoW I guess you are limited as to how far you can push a newbie before it starts getting dangerous or just plain inconvenient for other users.

4. I felt I had plenty of time to ask for help, advice and guidance. Having a CB equipped car helped. The route leader inspired confidence, was easy going and made a fun day out. Can't fault the pace or the people at all. Possibly would want to stop for more pictures if I went again, but the desires of those who want to stop and photograph everything must be balanced with the desires of those who want to drive. I fall into both these camps at times. On this trip, I felt a great balance was achieved, maybe stopping for a few more pics wouldn't have hurt!

5. Overall, the event was great. Like I said I'm happy taking my car off-road, but others might not be. The day gave a good balance and I don't think anyone was reluctant to proceed. I could have gone on longer (maybe driven the Wayfarer again) but I think the time was getting on and ending where (and why) we did was the sensible option. If I only had an hours drive or so, then definately would have wanted to stay out longer, but with a 3 hour drive I'm glad (in hindsight) that fate conspired to send me home earlier! The raods we used seemed to cope with the traffic and driven sensibly I'm sure no serious damage will occur.

Charging for the day. I think thats down to the individual leaders. I'm not sure that charging per se is appropriate, however a donation to site funds could be suggested or even encouraged.

Maybe events like these all over the country could be arranged, with varying difficulty levels for different tastes. Maybe an intro day like this one, followed by longer lanes or slightly harder ones. Possibly the group might want to think about going to a pay & play site where tuition, tips and advice can be offered to get the most out of a variety of vehicles. As in the standard on-road cars, those with AT tyres and those who want to do more serious off-roading and have muds, thinking/have lifts etc.

Hope that all makes sense, and please don't take any of it as a criticism. The entire day was brilliant and I totally enjoyed it. If funds allowed and the event was on, I'd do it again!

Cheers

Steve