ALCORNS CHALLENGE
ALCORNS Track in Cobaw, Victoria, was the ideal setting to push each shorty to its limits, with a variety of challenging terrain – plus it was a wet winter’s day, so the track was slippery and sections were highly difficult. In fact, Damian learned the limitations of his Defender here during one of his first visits to this region of the Macedon Ranges.
“Alcorns made me go from 33s to 35s,” he told us. “The first time I did it, I couldn’t get past because I didn’t have enough clearance, so that’s what generated my mind to go to 35s. That track makes me modify!”
As we rode shotgun with Damian, the comfort provided by the new long-travel shocks and coils was instantly recognisable. In combination with the front and rear lockers, CVS and axles, as well as the new Nittos, this shorty has incredible off-road credence.
As the non-stop banter filtered through the communications, I swapped into Sav’s four-inch lifted FJ and we traced our way to the base of a challenging hill climb. With tyres set at 12psi, the FJ’S soft suspension soaked up the juts and ruts with aplomb. “The suspension is so soft; it just absorbs all the bumps,” Sav added.
The incredible work the DBOR team put into Eric’s Wrangler Rubicon was evident when we went for a run through the rough stuff. The improved suspension courtesy of the front and rear axles and air lockers meant the 10th Anniversary shorty danced through the tamer stuff with ease.
After traversing relatively simple tracks, we soon arrived at the base of the challenging hill climb up Alcorns, where we’d inevitably spend the majority of the day – “200 metres in two hours,” Damian would later say.
Upon arrival at the gnarly-looking climb, Bill from DBOR admitted: “A standard Rubicon could do this track easy, but it’s now a mess so you can’t do it. I used to do customer drivedays out here and do a whole loop.”
The lads prepared their rigs, planned the best route to tackle the hill’s obstacles, and prepared to mount the arduous climb, which wasn’t helped by the fact the track was wet, sloppy and traction was hard to come by.
The banter reached its crescendo when Sav almost put the FJ on its side on his first (and only) attempt at the climb –
highlighting the FJ’S need for a front locker.
Bill was the first to lay into Sav following the rescue. “It’s all about suspension, tyres and drivetrain,” he laughed. At least Sav could see the funny side. “The FJ always produces the good photos,” he quipped.
While the FJ took a smoko break – because of its perched angle when it almost fell into the side of the track (see below right), oil had gone past the seal and started to burn – the Defender and the Rubicon were fired into life. Both eventually made it through the first phase of the track, before surrendering upon arrival to a smooth, slippery, boulder that took up the width of the track (which, admittedly, would have been overcome had time permitted).
It took the LWB black JK (see above) with its massive flex and clearance to prove to the shorties that Alcorns could be conquered in its entirety. Yet, despite the massive 37-inch Pit Bull Rocker tyres and 4.5-inch lift, the JK didn’t climb the slippery track with ease – a bit of winch support was needed to ascend to its highest point. This proved a LWB vehicle may have the edge when it comes to serious rock-crawling, but the trek also highlighted how shorties can stand tall on corrugations, whoopty-doos and hardcore tracks with the right drivetrain/suspension/tyre set-up.
The Defender and Wrangler are hard to split as they’re both hugely capable off the beaten track, and both have been meticulously and expertly crafted. Plus, they both have a leg up over the FJ due to their live-axled front ends. But, as mentioned, plans have since been made for further modifications to the FJ, which should see it make up the ground it lost on the hill climb.
One more thing was settled: each owner still reckons their ride is best. Let the banter continue.