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.
New Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain Impresses
By John McCredie After taking the D-Max LSU for a drive last week, this week we are having a drive of the top of the range D-Max X-Terrain. The X-Terrain features coloured guard flares and matching coloured grille. It also has a nicely matched and sleek Aero bar on the back with a roller tooneau cover. The tub also comes lined, but as we’d find out after our off road trip, the roller cover and [...]
Rally Queensland 2025: Gympie Set to Host Mid-Season ARC Thriller
The gravel roads around Gympie are about to come alive, as the 2025 Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland gets set to host Round 3 of the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship from July 4 to 6. With the championship heating up and a bumper entry list now locked in, this year’s event promises to deliver some of the most exciting action of the season, both on and off the stages. Building on the momentum of previous years, Rally [...]
Richie Dalton Ready to Fly on Favourite Stages at the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay
Irish-born rally star Richie Dalton, alongside co-driver Mac Kierans, is heading to Batemans Bay full of confidence and excitement as he prepares to take on the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay in his Toyota GR Yaris AP4. The car will be prepared and serviced by the renowned Neal Bates Motorsport team, a name synonymous with rallying success in Australia. Their technical expertise and championship-winning experience will be key in extracting every ounce of performance from Dalton’s GR Yaris [...]
O’Malley Bounces Back with Career-Best Pace at the 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay
PHOTOS: Peter Norton After the disappointment of an early retirement at the previous round in Narooma, James O'Malley and co-driver Jono Forrest responded in the best possible way with a composed and determined performance at the 2026 Lazer Rally of the Bay, finishing fifth outright and first rear-wheel-drive crew home in their Toyota 86. The result was the reward for a measured drive that built momentum throughout the day as the pair adapted to the [...]
Championship Battle Heats Up in the Barossa: Price vs Brinkman Set for Showdown
The gravel roads of the iconic Barossa Valley are set to rumble once again as the 2025 MSS Safety Rally Barossa brings South Australia's premier gravel competitors together for Round 2 of the South Australian Rally Championship (SARC). After a thrilling season opener at the Shannons Rally SA – Rally of the Heartland, all eyes now turn to the vineyards and valleys of Rowland Flat, where an epic battle is brewing. This night–day format rally, known for its mix [...]
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 [...]
2014 Nissan Xtrail – Review
I recently had the opportunity to hire a car for a trip around Queensland so I asked for a Midsize SUV. I was given a Nissan Xtrail and I was quite impressed with it so I thought I’d provide a quick review of the car for those who might be looking to get one. First off, I didn’t really take a lot of notice of the version I was given, but I’m pretty sure it was the [...]
O’Malley Ready to Capitalise on Ada River Rally Opportunity
Photos: Peter Norton The Tumut Toyota backed O'Malley Rally heads to Victoria this weekend with renewed confidence and a valuable championship opportunity at the Ada River Rally, following a standout result at last month's Rally of the Bay. James O'Malley and co-driver Jono Forrest delivered one of their strongest performances of the season at Batemans Bay, bringing the Tumut Toyota 86 home fifth outright and first rear-wheel-drive car in a highly competitive field. The result [...]
Quinn Wins Opening Round of NSW Rally Championship
Former Australian Rally Champion Nathan Quinn in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has won the opening round of the NSW Rally Championship by the smallest of margin, just 4.7 seconds. Quinn won both heats of the rally and dedicated the win to his co-driver, Ray Winwood-Smith, who was working off pace notes for the first time. Quinn, from Coffs Harbour and Winwood-Smith from Bathurst, won four of the seven stages, but didn’t take the lead until [...]
