23 February 2023
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The famous Billing Lakeside course was popular with drivers and spectators alike
: credit: © Charles Ward
The 2022 event has shown yet again that if you have a decent off-road course, Land Rover fans will flock in their droves
This was not just another Billing Off Road Show. It was the 30th year that the venue’s off-road course has been used at a 4x4 or Land Rover show. How old does that make you feel, Steve Miller? For those who don’t know, Steve is LRM’s advertising manager and he’s been attending shows at Billing from before he could legally drive. And that, dear reader, is a long, long time ago. Maybe even 30 years…
All Land Rover shows need a unique selling point to attract the crowds and at Billing this is without a doubt its world-class off-road tracks. People come from all over the UK (and the world) to drive the Riverside course on the Friday and the Lake course on the Saturday and Sunday of the show. This year was no exception as hundreds of people took to the course in their Land Rovers or less capable 4x4s. To prevent queues, drivers could book specific time slots for their off-roading adventures. We saw lots of happy faces and muddy Land Rovers at the off-road course, although according to inside knowledge, the mud run was a little harder than usual.
Visitors could hitch a ride on one of these beasts
Another popular feature of the show was the charity rides in the Challenge Southwest racing trucks. Hundreds of people signed up to take a speedy and fun ride which consisted of slides, jumps, speed and smiles. On the Saturday there was the usual charity auction, held in the beer tent, and once again the incredible traders were extremely generous in donating prizes for it. Thanks must go to Si Sagar for the way he ran the auction, though one or two people did die of thirst while waiting for the auction to finish. Tallied up after the weekend, an impressive £8000 was raised for the British Heart Foundation. Thanks to all who donated and attended the auction. Especially the chap who bought the LRM subscription.
Land Rover clubs were again well represented at Billing
LRM once again donated a whopping big trophy to the Best Club of the Show and this year it was the popular East Riding 4x4 Club that walked away with the top prize. This friendly club is well-known for its great camping and laning weekends and was the deserved winner. Luckily the Show and Tell mound where the award took place is rather big, so all of the 6487 East Riding 4x4 Club members in attendance could pose under the banner for a quick snap.
Earnest conversations beneath open bonnets – must be a Land Rover event, then…
Can’t make up your mind? How about one of each?
This is what Billing is all about
Great food was on offer all around the Billing site
Custom Defender anyone? These Defenders from Strange Automotive looked just the ticket...
...or how about YRM’s snazzy Defender
LRM’s Steve Miller interviews rally racer Edd Cobley with former Editor Pat at the Show & Tell
LRM presented the daily lunchtime Show and Tell where the best Land Rovers could drive up onto the ramp and Steve and I could ask the proud owners about their vehicles.
The most popular person to be interviewed was without doubt 12-year-old Cody Canvin, who told attendees all about his collection of radio controlled Land Rovers, his army truck and also how he helps his dad who has a vehicle recovery business. Cody is the future of Land Rovering and we look forward to featuring him in the magazine.
The most kid-friendly Land Rover show
With the camping sold out again, there was a steady flow of day visitors on both the Saturday and the Sunday who came to try to bag a bargain at Billing. There were lots of fun activities to keep the kids busy and I think that the mini-Rovers were without a doubt the pick of the bunch. I am sure we will see them at many future Land Rover events.
Billing: Better than Benidorm
The best way to get a feel for what Billing is really about is to take a walk around the campsite in the evening. It is the place to be for your annual catch-up with like-minded Land Rover fans. The crackle of dry logs in a fire pit, the smell of sizzling sausages and burgers, the sound a beer makes when you open it or the happy laughter when someone else tells of how they didn’t make it through the mud run. It was all available in abundance in the camping area, which is really what Billing is all about, camping and catch-ups with mates.
Did you miss out or want to book again for 2023? See thebillingoffroadexperience.co.uk for more details.
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