The sun was shining and mud flying as drivers and their co-pilots threw their vehicles around corners and up banks, covering themselves in mire.
One of those drivers was Mike McCarthy, who said he had been doing 4x4 for 40 years.
During that time he had been through a few vehicles, but his current off-roader had lasted him about 15 years with a few rebuilds.
When asked what kept him coming back across all those years, Mr McCarthy yelled ‘‘the mud’s cool!’’ before heading off to the next course.
Competition committee member Chris Hearn said the competition was traditionally stricter, but the rules had been modified so it was more fun.
Usually, if the vehicle stopped on the track the run would be considered a failure, but by allowing drivers a few chances to back up the competition was more enjoyable for all.
That included those watching from the sidelines, who got to have a laugh at their friends getting stuck, he said.
There was a lot of nuance to driving a 4x4 and power was not necessarily the main factor.
Lighter vehicles could ascend some hills that heavy, more powerful ones struggled on and it was all about knowing what your vehicle was capable of.
The courses were designed with that in mind, resulting in a competition where drivers had to think about their approach.
Being behind the wheel in a difficult environment also made the drivers much safer at navigating normal roads, as they knew how to react if they lost control of their vehicle, he said.
Despite wearing gumboots, the Otago Daily Times team did not escape the track without being hit with a few loose drops of brown sludge, but the washing machine was capable of solving that issue.
