Croatia Trophy 2011 Stage 1 'The Carwash'

https://asimplyfab.life/journal/4x4-c... - The famous river crossing during the 60km roadbook on stage 1 of Croatia Trophy 2011. Now well established as the 'carwash'. Waist-deep water and steep muddy riverbank that requires winching. The perfect introduction to the Croatia Trophy!

The starting line-up (whoever starts first has an advantage in the mud of course) is decided by the 'Prologue' which you can see some of here:    • Croatia Trophy 2011 Prologue of the E...  

Read how we survived our first stage in the Adventure Class:https://asimplyfab.life/?p=5843

Check out the full-length movie at    • Croatia Trophy 2011 | The Full Video  
Big Pete's Jacuzzi:    • Croatia Trophy Big Pete's Jacuzzi - 2...  

Croatia Trophy. This is one of the toughest AMATEUR offroad battles for many a well-prepared team with big budgets and even bigger vehicles! Often named F1 in Mud! Huge Buggy’s, modified Jeeps, Land Rovers… And from all over Europe. A multi-national mix of considerable experience. But anyone can enter! Just bring a roadworthy 4x4 (with some amount of prep) and you're off to the races - literally.

This takes place in the middle of the Croatian forest south of Zagreb right up on the border with Bosnia. You make camp on a grass field with no facilities except a couple of portaloos and a (rather good) food truck that supplies breakfast and dinner. Somewhere in April it is still chilly in the morning and trying to repair (or prepare) your 4x4 on a muddy trailer is always going to be a challenge.

The sound of petrol generators is a constant, whether at dawn, midday or at three a.m. Campfires are the order of the day with a smoky haze hanging in the valley, but vital for keeping warm for body and spirit. Local beer is sourced and tall stories are shared. Comparisons of trucks, winches, tyres and experiences abound.

Oh - by the way you still need to put your helmet on and go racing! Roadbook in hand you head for the starting point somewhere in the forest. Join the queue and try to sort your starting order - I think we were behind #43 and ahead of #7. Shuffling around and then they put you in the starting blocks, check the timer and wave you off!

Into the bush. The complete unknown. No GPS. No map. Just a couple of pages of distances and turning points. It is not long before you are completely lost. And trying to winch yourself out of a riverbed! Welcome to Croatia Trophy. This is just day 1. Seven more to go!

What a BLAST!

An incredible experience with highlights being:
freezing nights (literally),
muddy days (literally),
good food,
good company,
very long days (driving and fixing the car),
winching up impossible slopes,
and down the steepest ravines into the deepest rivers…
Finding the vehicle's limits offroad (and yours)!
Great camaraderie
Pitting yourself against the Croatian countryside with difficult navigation and even more challenging winch points.

#extremeoffroading #croatiatrophy #f1inmud