Dirt Nationals Round 1
Full Battle Report from Binegar Quarry
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Meet Chelsea Hopkins. Backed by the team at 4×4 tyres, she is racing her purpose-built truck, “Bert.” Chelsea is eager to kick off her 2025 Dirt Nationals season alongside her co-driver Connor Clark. To begin with, she provides this report from Round One at Binegar Quarry.
The Ultimate Off-Road Arena: Binegar Quarry Ignites Dirt Nationals 2025
The 2025 Dirt Nationals started with an exhilarating start at Binegar Quarry in Somerset. This treacherous coliseum, characterised by shale, sandstone, and steep drops, created an electric atmosphere for a high-octane battle. The sweltering sun and choking dust clouds heightened the drama as competitors faced the chaos of Round 1. It was no ordinary warm-up; it tested the machines and the drivers to their limits.
Team Escape Goat Racing battled a newly overhauled rig—code-named “Bert”—with new Tuff Torque steel wheels from 4x4tyres.co.uk. Over the next three days, we faced a relentless test of endurance, engineering, and battlefield repair.
Friday: Scrutineering, Recon, and Strategic Prep
After seamlessly passing through scrutineering, we dove into our recon lap. Although we had previously navigated Binegar from the co-driver’s seat, this was our first attempt behind the wheel. The terrain hadn’t softened; jagged rock shelves and silt-choked descents demanded surgical control at every turn.
Fortunately, Bert’s upgraded suspension geometry and high-clearance arms provided remarkable stability. The Tuff Torque wheels absorbed heavy rock strikes without warping or deflection, which we needed for the off-road warfare ahead.
We enjoyed hearty spaghetti bolognese to fuel up for the night, followed by final diagnostics under the floodlights.
Heat 1: Fused Out, Fighting Back
Saturday’s open qualifying session took a turn early with a blown fuse on our secondary fuel pump. This cascade failure stemmed from a grounding issue, forcing us to start Heat 1 from the back of the grid without a qualifying time. Despite the setback, mid-run fuse swaps, combined with relentless focus from co-driver Connor Clark, helped us salvage 4th in class, even after enduring a stalled engine and requiring a tow.
Our paddock repairs included:
- Rerouting the fuel circuitry
- Relocating the ignition starter
- A deep diagnostic dive from Zako, our electrical specialist
Heat 2: Broken Bolt, Field Engineering
In Heat 2, a violent rattle on the front left escalated to a structural failure — The bolt fell out, the control arm was fine, just no longer attached – didn’t shear! With no spare in sight, we executed a battlefield patch using:
- Industrial ratchet straps
- A steel handle shoved through the control arm aperture
- Our allied crews generously donated collaborative tools and parts
Motorsport in its rawest form. The Dirt Nationals never forgive, yet the camaraderie in the pit lane often saves the day.
Sunday: Reversals, Repairs, and Redemption
Heat 3, We faced another challenge as the same control arm bolt again worked loose, despite our late-night reinforcements. However, we found a solution. First, we sourced a longer bolt from Team 503, and then we received invaluable support from Team Furlong, who loaned us a welder. Furthermore, Zako’s precision work ensured a permanent fix. He confidently stated, “If it holds through the climb, it’ll hold anywhere.” Thus, we felt optimistic about overcoming this setback.
Heat 4: Bert Finds His Rhythm
In Heat 4, Bert finally found his rhythm. With clean ignition, firm steering, and perfect weight distribution, the rig felt, at last, in sync with the terrain. Consequently, we achieved third in class and, more importantly, proved the platform’s potential under fire.
Heat 5 – One Hour, One Hill, Three Stalls
The big one, 1 hour plus one lap. We started strong, but around halfway, Bert began to misfire. Then stall. We limped it along, and just as we hit the bottom of the steepest climb, Bert gave out. Right next to us? Harry and Callum are in car 666, the same team we’d winched out on Saturday. They returned the favour, diagnosing a vacuum issue and getting us moving. Stall. Fix. Stall again. Zako was on the radio the entire time, calm as ever, walking us through field fixes like a pitlane surgeon. We stalled three more times on the final climb, but we crossed the line.
Final Class Standing: 5th out of 7.
Did we achieve victory? In spirit, absolutely.
Final Thoughts – A Proper Shakedown
Overall, this weekend was rough but ultimately real. “Bert’s” been tested, and, notably, he passed. Moreover, the Tuff Torque wheels from 4x4tyres.co.uk took everything the quarry threw at them and never faltered—not a dent, nor a drama. That’s precisely what you want underneath you in a challenging place like Binegar. Although we finished 5th out of 7 in class, for a first run and a weekend filled with near-constant repair, that’s a win in my book.
Round 1 down. Bert’s bloodied on to the next.
Photo credit: Simon Miskelly.
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