Hmmm, who takes a 7 month old car with 3,500 miles on the clock offroading... Me!

What was I thinking? LOL...

It started when a copy of the "Rhino News" (I think that's what it's still called?) fell through my letterbox. This is the periodical publication from Suzuki GB's sales department, that tells you what's going on with Suzuki GB and what new models are out, etc... They also used to run the "Suzuki Rhino Club" which used to organise the yearly "Rhino Rally" and various offroad driving days where owners of new Suzuki 4x4s could take them out in the mud to see what they should actually be used for... i.e. not picking the kids up from school and going shopping to the supermarket, etc... This was one of those such days. I emailed the organiser Tony Parrot who I've known for years from his involvement in the Suzuki demonstration team, events and he also writes for the 4x4 press in the UK. Tony said I could come along as long as I didn't bring a big lifted Vitara like I normally drive offroad... No, I said, I'm coming in my daily driver - a new Grand Vitara. And so, the day was booked... the GV's first trip offroad... and where better that probably my favourite offroad site in the country - "Tong", or to give it it's proper name "Parkwood 4x4"... but we all know it as Tong! ;)

So I set off nice and early Sunday morning for the 105 mile trip to the picturesque village of "Tong"... I got there a bit earlier than anticipated, so after a quick visit to the site, I nipped back down into Leeds and went for breakfast...

"Sausage McMuffin, Hash Browns and a cuppa Tea please" LOL... good old McDonald's 'eh?!

After a nourishing breakfast (?!) I set off back for "Tong Village"... "Please drive carefully"... hmmm, your not joking, getting a bit nervous at this point of the thought of taking a nearly new car offroad! :o

Ah, just so you know where we are... here's Tong... nestled between Bradford and Leeds in West Yorkshire. And for our friends abroad, it's in the middle of that red circle... and for reference, I live just near the "N" in Nottingham ;)

Aha, this must be it then?! ;)

Yep, whilst I've been having my breakfast the others have arrived... so all together there's five new GVs, one older GV, and 6 Jimny's one of which is the Suzuki demonstrator vehicle that Tony's going to lead us round in... oh, yes, and a Land Rover, part of the support team, but that stayed in the car park... just in case a tow vehicle was needed? ;)

3 GVs! All going offroad!

And two 3 doors ones too! ;) The grey one in the foreground is a diesel model so it has low box, the other one in the background is an '08 plate (brand new!) Grand Vitara "Attitude" special edition model... but it had no low-box!

Speaking of low box, here's my selector switch... errr, only it doesn't work?! This is my first venture offroad, the first time I've used it in vengeance... and the bloody thing won't go into low box! The switch works, because when you switch from "4H" to "4H LOCK", the light comes on on the dashboard, a relay ticks in the dash, and the centre diff does lock (you can feel the transmission wind-up slightly when driving on gravel), but when you select "4L LOCK" the dash beeps every 30 seconds to warn you it hasn't engaged! Not sure what's wrong with it, but as I write this I've booked it in for the day after tomorrow for the dealers to have a look at it... :(

So, I had to do the whole day in Four High... Tony, the lead demonstrator and our guide for the day, said I'd be alright, my driving skills would see me through... and he asked me to bring up the rear and make sure everyone was okay... an honour! ;)

So off we go, a big line of nearly new Suzukis venturing into Tong's awesome offroad site...

We snake around the site, taking in the views of all the rutted tracks leading off the main looped road that runs throughout the site... and pass the lake!

oooh, that brings back some memories -

Here, my old truck the "Superzuki" wades through the lake... we won't be doing that today though! ;) LOL

One of the rare opportunities to get a picture as the convoy stops... someone ahead is temporarily delayed (Suzuki's don't get stuck... they get delayed!)

Well, it's a bit muddy!

Here in the centre of the site... still very easy routes, and I can't help staring down the gnarly routes that lead of these arterial tracks... wishing I had the other Vitara with me ;) LOL, but this is meant to be a gentle introduction into driving an otherwise road-going Suzuki offroad... Tony had said I'd get bored, but I explained I wanted to bring the GV along and have an initial go offroad in a controlled environment... there's no way I'm scratching this motor!

Again, stopped whilst someone is "delayed"... so a chance to jump out and take a quick picture!

A rare glimspe of the other GVs... I was at the back of the snaking convoy, so missed seeing them tackling the obstacles...

Errr, and that's it... that's all the photos I managed to get...! Very nice day out, brilliant sunshine, and a good introduction to offroading, it's a shame as I think it's going to be one of the last such events that Suzuki GB are going to hold? The Rhino Club has been wound down a year or two ago, and now it seems the offroad experience days are going the same way... still I enjoyed it, even if it was a tame compared to what I'm used to -

But that's not what this day was about... I'm not sure how often the GV will even go offroad, it's too new and shiny for that, hence this experience day... besides I've got the other Vitara to play in! ;)

Thanks to Tony Parrot and the rest of his team for organising the day and guiding us all through. ;)

UPDATE - the dealer traced the problem of the transfer box not going into LOW gear to a fuse that had gone on the brake circuit, which meant the controller didn't see the brakes were on (clutch and brake have to be depressed before it will shift into LOW) and wouldn't allow the actuator to slip the transfer box into LOW... give me a stick anyday! Who needs a rotary switch and all that electronics! ;)