4x4 Owner's Open Day

Taming Big Bertha proved to be a mighty challenge as the competitors at our annual 4x4 open day discovered on Sunday 18th January.  

The event, which is now held yearly, saw record numbers of competitors arrive for the challenge.  Guests were given the opportunity to take their own vehicles round our challenging 4x4 off road course, with a relatively gentle section available for the faint-hearted drivers and expensive vehicles, and a more extreme track open for the petrol-heads.

All competitors were entered into the ‘Riding Big Bertha’ competition, which involved balancing their vehicles on top of our giant seesaw for as long as possible.  Three competitors managed to stay atop her for a minute and a half, resulting in a ‘ride off’ competition, in which speed and balance both played a part.  The victorious winner was Jim Lamb from Montrose, and just pipped to the post were Mark Middleton from Cushnie and Steve Cutting from Mintlaw.

The event saw a huge variety of vehicles arrive for the challenge.  They ranged from a brand new Range Rover Sport and BMW X5, through to old Suzuki SJ 410’s and Series 2 Landrovers.  The day wasn’t without its mishaps as drivers found the course a little tough and got themselves stuck, causing the only traffic jams that this part of Deeside has ever seen.  But luckily, Deeside Activity Park mechanic, Peter Wallace, was on recovery duty to quickly drag guests out and get them on their way again.

The 4x4 Owner’s Open Day is just one in a series of exciting and interactive events taking place at Deeside Activity Park over the winter season.  Others still to come include a Burns Lunch on Sunday 25th January and a grand opening of Deeside Brewery towards the end of February.

Here's a few pictures of the day (I particularly like the one of the brand new shiny Range Rover in the mud)