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.
Taylor Gill Battles the Rally of Gods to Take Second in Junior WRC
They don’t call it the Rally of Gods for nothing. The EKO Acropolis Rally is one of the most brutal tests in the World Rally Championship, and in 2025 it proved once again why it has earned its legendary status. With scorching heat, tyre-shredding rocks, and mountainous stages north of Athens, it pushed competitors to the edge. But for Aussie rising star Taylor Gill, it was a rally that tested his patience, precision, and perseverance, and he walked away [...]
Sunraysia Safari 2025: Australia’s Great Outback Rally Returns for 1200 Kilometres of Brutal Beauty
The 2025 Sunraysia Safari Cross Country Rally is locked and loaded, with the final route mapped, entries closed, and the excitement building toward its September 10–13 showdown. With close to 1,200 km of competitive stages spread across four intense days in the rugged NSW outback, this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and captivating in the event’s history. Rally Revival with a Legacy: Launched in 2017, the Sunraysia Safari [...]
Patrols Dominate at COMEUP XWC Round 3 – 2019
It’s been nearly ten years since the Comeup Xtreme Winch Challenge has ventured north into Central Queensland, but on the weekend of July 12-14, it was back with an action-packed weekend of extreme 4WD winching action. Seventeen Central Queensland based teams lined up on Friday night to tackle the first of three stages, set in the Seeonee Park grounds on the outskirts of Rockhampton. It would be a pair of Nissan Patrols taking the first [...]
Big Names Set to Battle for Glory at the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay
With a near full field and entries capped at 65, anticipation is building for the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay on Saturday 2nd August. The iconic Batemans Bay based event is the next round of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship, East Coast Classic Rally Series (ECCRS) and introduces the Shamrock Haulage RD Cup, a regularity rally for new and seasoned competitors. The weekend promises to bring fierce competition across all categories. Crews will tackle ten demanding stages, [...]
Comeback Success in Safari for McCredie and Maude in Holden Jackaroo
After a 20-year break from competitive rally driving, John McCredie and Nick Maude returned to rallying taking on the 2022 Local Legends Sunraysia Safari Cross Country Rally in an ex-Bruce Garland Holden Jackaroo. The 2022 event was shortened significantly due to wet weather, with Day 2 and Day 3 cancelled. The first day of competition started with a 100km stage, followed by the shortened Tarcoola 25km test. The final day was just one stage, but [...]
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 [...]
FJ45 V8 Landcruiser Farmtruck Winch Machine
The COMEUP Xtreme Winch Challenge is a winching competition held in NSW and Queensland and we are featuring a few of the trucks that have competed at previous events. One fine example is the 1973 modified Landcruiser of Dave Burrows. Dave has been competing in these winching events for many many years with some great results. The 45 Series, affectionately known as the “Farm Truck” has a fuel injected 308 Holden motor stroked to 330cc. [...]
Narooma Rally Set to Ignite the South Coast on September 13, 2025
The beautiful Eurobodalla region is set to echo with the sound of rally engines when the 2025 Techworkz Automotive Stages and Horizon Apartments Narooma Forest Rally hit the forests on Saturday, September 13. This action-packed event is the penultimate round of the Shamrock Haulage NSW Rally Championship and the East Coast Classic Rally Series (2WD and 4WD), while also hosting the final round of the NSW Clubman Rally Series and the penultimate round of the [...]
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. [...]
