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The first Estonian 4x4 Off Road Trial took place on February, 26 on the Song Festival Ground in Tallinn. The Song Festival Ground is famous for its legendary Song Festivals, visited by 500 000 people. The following world-famous singers and bands as Michel Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Modern Talking etc. have given concerts there. Such a large-scale 4x4 Off Road Trial was held on the Ground for the first time.
There were participants from Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Russia in the Winter Trial. On the whole thirty teams participated in the contest and it was held in two classes - Original and Modified. The tracks and sections for both classes were different. There were seven sections on the track, two of them hillclimbings, four roadblocked sections driving on penalty points and one speed roadblocked section. The track was built by finnish Off Road specialists who also gave advice in many questions including technical requirements, regulations of the contest and schooling of jury. Six competitors of the Original class drove a four-wheeler built in Russia, followed by five Toyota Land Cruisers. But the first place was taken by the team Püttsepp/Freiberg from Estonian Off Road Club who drove a Jeep Wrangler. The track of this class was relatively easy and the competitors managed to drive it through without long stops; stickings and breakings were rare. Only two vehicles had to finish the competition: one because of an engine trouble and the other because of the wheel break- down.
In the Special class Land Rover was the most numerous four-wheeler (3 vehicles), followed by two UAZes from Russia. The track of this class was rather difficult and even a 50 ton crane was needed to help out the stuck vehicles. The breakdowns were quite usual which were not due to the weak construction of 4x4s but the impatience and inexperience of the drivers. Most of the vehicles could be repaired during the breaks and managed to finish the competition. The winners were the finns Forsberg/ Salo from the club `Itä-Helsinkin Urheiluautoilijat 'on Land Rover. The most popular event among the spectators was the 4x4 tug of war. The best in the original class were the representatives of the Nissan firm, driving the latest Nissan Patrol GR. The winners of the special class was team AT2 on Volvo. The contest was so successful and interesting that our neighbours the Latvians and Russians also intended to include such kind of an event into their 4x4 Off Road programmes. Pictures and information [www]
- Estonian Offroad Club
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