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.
Techworkz NSW Clubman Rally Series to receive promotional boost
Balance Motorsport Australia and Rally NSW are pleased to announce a new deal where competitors in the Techworkz NSW Clubman Rally Series (CRS) will receive a significant promotional boost in 2020. The Techworkz series, together with its sister series, the Hyundai Rally Series (HRS), will consist of four events in the shortened Motorsport Australia NSW rally calendar: AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay – 4 July Horizon Apartments Narooma Forest Rally – 1 August Midstate [...]
FJ40 Modified Landcruiser Winch Truck
One of the most popular choices of Winch Truck, with both competitors and spectators is the Toyota FJ40. It's tough, it's extreme and it turns heads wherever it goes! Rod and Russell Rathbone have been stalwarts of the Xtreme Winch Challenge series and have shown their consistency and skill over the years in their Wyong Automatics Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser Comp Truck. At Round 1 of the 2016 COMEUP Xtreme Winch Challenge Series, Rod and Russell [...]
New contenders to take on Penultimate Round of the East Coast Classic Rally Series
Round 7 of the East Coast Classic Rally Series (ECCRS) will be held on the 19th of October in conjunction with the final round of the MTA NSW State Rally Championship at the Kosciuszko Automotive Monaro Stages Rally. There is already a good number of classic cars entered, but the more interesting part of the entry list are the new contenders taking on the penultimate round of the series. Heading the list of new Classic hopefuls [...]
Team Ranga – Nissan Patrol Winch Truck
They say only a "Ranga" can call another red head a Ranga, but when your team name is Team Ranga, we may need to make an exception for these two blokes in their Nissan Patrol GU. Paul Semmens and Nathan Mills have had a few thrills and spills in their 4.8 inter-cooled turbo Patrol, sporting a few different coloured panels after repairs from previous winch events that didn't go according to plan. The truck features [...]
FJ55 Land Cruiser – The Ugly One
Loved and Hated. The FJ55 Land Cruiser was a 4WD that divided 4WD enthusiasts. It looks and styling was loved by some, hated by others! Toyota's 4WD production started way back in 1941 when the Japanese Army took a Jeep, that they had acquired during the occupation of the Philippines, and sent it back home and ordered Toyota to make something similar. Then in the 1950's, the US Army commissioned Toyota to make 100 vehicles similar [...]
4WD Tyre Review – Kumho AT51’s on the Pajero and Defender
I often get asked what tyres I run on my four-wheel drive, so I thought it was about time I shared with you what I have and what I think. I have the Kumho Road Venture AT51’s on the Pajero and this is my second set of these All Terrain tyres. So straight up, for me to have bought them a second time, there must be something good about them. And based on my recommendation, we [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
Glenbawn Dam Camping – NSW
State Parks are a great alternative to bush camping with a range of facilities and numerous choices all over NSW. On this occasion, we check out Glenbawn Dam. Looking for somewhere to go camping where you can take your boat, go fishing, do some bike riding or just unwind and relax? Then Glenbawn Dam should certainly be on your list. Located just to the west of Aberdeen on the New England Highway, it’s an easy spot [...]
