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.
Reeves to return to Yarra Valley Stages
Leading Victorian rally driver Brendan Reeves will return to the gravel later this month at the Yarra Valley Stages Rally. After a successful run at last year’s Western Victoria Crane Truck Yarra Valley Stages rally, Leading Victorian rally driver Brendan Reeves will return to the event later this month. With co-driver Ben Searcy sitting in the co-drivers seat, the pair are likely to be at the pointy end of the field in a MK2 Ford Escort. [...]
Toyota Hilux 1998 Review
When buying a second hand four wheel drive, if it’s a Ute you’re after then it’s likely that you’ll have included the Toyota Hilux on your list of Utes to go and have a look at. If you’re looking for a bargain, then the 1998 2.7 litre petrol Dual Cab could be just the one for you. It’s a very capable off-road machine and probably one of the most easily modified vehicle on the market. [...]
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 [...]
Barrington Tops
Spectacular scenery, great four-wheel-drive opportunities, camping options to suit everyone and the ideal getaway close to Sydney - This is the Barrington Tops National Park! Barrington Tops is located about three to four hours north of Sydney in NSW, Australia. The area is rich in natural beauty and boasts some of the most extensive areas of sub-tropical rainforests in the World. There is both a National Park and extensive State Forests within the Barrington Tops [...]
NSW Development Rally Series – Datto Wins!
Michael and Erin Valantine achieved first outright in the 2017 Techworkz Automotive New South Wales Development Rally Series – or DRS. The MV Solar team of Father and Daughter, started out on a high, with a win at the first of the six-round series in their 2WD Datsun Stanza. The Singleton Automotive Caves Classic rally was the opening round, and a win here was exactly the start to the season Valantine was looking for. Suffering from [...]
Ruggles Motorsport start Clubman Assault at AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay
The Ruggles Motorsport Team are planning a full assault on the 2020 Techworkz Automotive NSW Clubman Rally Series in their Group 4 specification Triumph TR7 V8. It’s an all family affair for the team with lead engineer and major sponsor Ben Ruggles heading up the team, Matt Ruggles driving and son Guy Ruggles in the co-drivers seat. They also have their adopted brother, ‘Pommy’ Paul Beaston on the Service Crew. Matt is no stranger to rallying, [...]
Wyangala Dam – NSW
Located near the western NSW township of Cowra, Wyangala Dam is a terrific spot for a leisurely weekend of camping, or for the more active, a great water sports haven! It might sound like a pretty ordinary place to go camping, but Wyangala Dam has a lot to offer and makes for a very relaxing weekend away. The Dam itself can vary in water level from as low as only a few percent (it was [...]
Toyota Prado 2003 Review
The second hand 4wd market is huge in Australia and today we’ll be reviewing a 2003 Toyota Landcruiser Prado Grande. In 2003, Toyota introduced this new model and it was a significant upgrade to the previous version and featured new styling from a design out of Toyotas European Design Studio. In addition to the styling, this 4WD comes packed with many other features, but not all the features of the Grande are available on the [...]
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 [...]
