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.
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, [...]
Entries Open for the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay – Get Ready for Coastal Rally Action!
There’s something special about the Rally of the Bay. Maybe it’s the twisty coastal roads, the roar of rally cars echoing through the forest, or the atmosphere in Batemans Bay as rally crews roll into town. Whatever it is, it’s back for 2025, and now’s your chance to be part of it. Entries are officially open for the 2025 Lazer Rally of the Bay, taking place on Saturday, August 2nd, and rally competitors from across the country are already [...]
MacDonald Valley – NSW
The MacDonald valley is an easy trip close to Sydney with some great scenery and simple river crossings. Suited to any type of 4wd, and even the adventurous 2wd, the track follows the MacDonald River from St Albans. There are a number of crossings of the MacDonald River along the way and some of these are bridges, whilst towards the end they become open sand based river crossings. I would certainly not attempt this trip [...]
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 [...]
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 of the Bay – Review Part 2
This is part 2 of our review of the 2020 AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay. When we left you in Part 1, the Toyota Team pairing of Harry Bates and John McCarthy had built up a significant lead after three stages to be leading the rally by just over 26 seconds. And it was the other Toyota Yaris, driven by Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin that was sitting in second. Richie Dalton and [...]
The 10 Best 4×4 Videos
Of course it goes without saying that OUR videos are the best 4x4 Videos, but we've been watching plenty of others over the years and here is our pick of the 10 best 4x4 Video chanels on YouTube. It can be hard work scrolling through pages and pages of 4x4 videos. There is some real junk out there too. So here we have our list of the top 10 sites on YouTube for 4WD videos (after our great channel [...]
Henry and Buccini Battle Through Mechanical Gremlins to Finish Rally Queensland
Cameron Henry and Claire Buccini have completed a gritty and determined run at the 2025 Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland, overcoming a series of mechanical issues to reach the finish line in their 2015 Subaru WRX. Backed by Virtual Security Guard and Buccini Transport, the duo faced a tough weekend in the Queensland Rally Championship (QRC) field, with their rally experience tested from the very first loop. Their campaign began with high hopes after recce, where [...]
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 [...]
