ABOUT US
ON THE DIRT was created as a YouTube channel back in the first year that YouTube came into being, 2007. In those days, it was the personal YouTube account of John McCredie with a few little videos of some 4WD trips he had done with family and friends. John had always had a passion for gravel rallying and even won the Australian Rally Championship for pocket rockets in the front wheel drive 0-1300cc category. From there, this passion extended to four-wheel-driving and in 2009 John and his two sons Nathan and Jacob filmed their first 4WD Winch Comp.
The YouTube Channel soon started to grow in both popularity and size (number of videos) and was changed from the name OHM26 to ON THE DIRT. With more videos being produced and more 4wd and rally content being uploaded, the channel now has over 14,000 subscribers and almost 5 million views.
XWC – Winch Action from Xtreme Winch Challenge
A fine and Sunny Saturday Morning would greet the ARB Xtreme Winch Challenge competitors and it was off to Special Stage 4 to get things started for the day. Rod and Russell Rathbone would be the first to tackle the stage. Starting first and the fresh morning air must have helped, as the Rathbone boys would take the stage win with 100 points, leaving the rest of the teams fighting for the minor places. One of [...]
Rally of the Bay – Review Part 1
PHOTOS: Roy Meuronen The 2020 running of the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay was a very different event to previous years. With a worldwide pandemic closing borders and restricting travel, the Rally of the Bay needed a comprehensive COVID plan in place before it could even start. With rallying and other forms of motorsport in a forced break, the event attracted a seriously competitive field of over 80 cars. Headlining the entry list [...]
80 Series Landcruiser – stuck in a tree!
With Round 2 of the COMEUP Xtreme Winch Challenge series coming up on the 24th of June, we thought we'd take you back to round 1 for a quick re-cap. In this video, Luke McNicol gets stuck into the Saturday stages. Unfortunately he gets a bit too "stuck" and ledges himself onto a tree. The only way to escape the clutches of the undergrowth was to enlist the help of event organiser David Metcalfe and [...]
Motorsport Australia Launches New Licence Structure to Boost Rally and Off Road Participation
From July 1, 2025, it’s going to be easier, and more affordable than ever to get behind the wheel in Australian rally and off road events. Motorsport Australia has unveiled a fresh set of licence options aimed squarely at growing participation at the grassroots and state level. Whether you're chasing a club-level podium or giving rallying a go for the very first time, the new licence structure provides flexible, low-cost pathways into the sport we all love. Under the [...]
Three Heats Set to Shake Up the Championship at the 2025 Quality Accounting Coffs Coast Rally
Event Date: Saturday 11th October 2025 The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship and the NSW Clubman Rally Series, as competitors head to Woolgoolga, NSW on Saturday, 11th October for the 2025 Quality Accounting Coffs Coast Rally, the final round of the 2025 season. A recently released Bulletin confirms that the event will run as three heats for the NSW Rally Championship component, adding an extra layer of [...]
Holloway gaining traction and ready for AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay
PHOTO: Holloway and Hood at the Alpine Rally Geoff Holloway and Rick Hood are gaining traction in their bid to take on Australia’s best at the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay. After a 37-year break from rally driving, Holloway purchased a Hyundai Excel in 2019 in a bid to return to the sport he loves. The bright green pocket rocket had previously served five different owners across three states and one territory before finding [...]
WATCH: 2018 Holden Colorado Z71 Test Drive
Looking at the 2nd hand 4WD market for a good off-roader? This should be added to your test drive list. The Holden Colorado has become a popular choice for 4WD’ers and a car we’re seeing much more of out in the bush. Recently we had the opportunity to take a couple of 2018 Z71 models off road for a bit of a drive, and whilst it wasn’t extreme, it certainly gave them a good test. [...]
Roads of the Victorian High Country
The Victorian High Country has plenty to offer the adventurous types. Spectacular views, fantastic camping opportunities and for the 4WD enthusiast, some of the best and in many cases challenging roads in Australia. In the video below, we're going to show you some of the roads we used on a recent trip up into the Alps, and to start off the journey, we need to cross the mighty Murray River from NSW into Victoria. The [...]
Rally of the Bay – Drama and Crashes!
Story by Neil Blackbourn and Pictures by Dave King Any rally around the Batemans Bay Area is tough and demanding on cars and crews. Not to much in the way of room beside any of the roads, and lots of twists, turns and rocks to catch you out if just a little off line. But the action from Saturday’s 2019 edition of the MTA NSW Rally Championship, incorporating the Geelong Hino Victorian Rally Championship was [...]
