The outfit’s heavily modified V8-powered Defender-based off-roader features EBC Brakes Bluestuff pads all-round
The Gigglepin off-road team were back out in force recently, for the first ever Tactical Off-Road Racing [TORR] event held by organisers The Welsh Xtrem in the scenic Presteigne, Wales.
Once again piloted by company owner, Jim Marsden and with Alex Wilson in the co-driver seat, Gigglepin’s ‘Bad Penny’ – a 6.2-litre V8-powered Defender-based off-road weapon – muscled its way to outright victory across the weekend, coming out above over 40 rivals from across the UK and Ireland.
Gigglepin opt for EBC Brakes’ Bluestuff pads all round on their Bad Penny machine.
You can read how the weekend unfolded in their own words below.
“Tactical Off-Road Racing is right up our street. Think racing meets extreme off-road and you have discovered TORR 2022 – a new event at a new venue in Wales devised by the legendary The Welsh Xtrem crew.
“It was time once again to take Bad Penny into battle and we could not wait to get started.
“With a field of over 40 of the best teams from across the UK and Ireland, this was going to be three hard-fought days in searing 30-degree heat, with the sun beating down on the normally rain-soaked valleys.
“Alex Wilson was back on co-driving duties, with Gigglepin technician Jack and his dad, Tom Saunders looking after Bad Penny in the pits. Staci Reeson takes care of tactics and Jim takes control of the beast they call Bad Penny.
“We love this new style of racing; you can be tactical and devise your attacks. With each heat, you have one hour to complete the three laps and at the end of each lap your clock stops so you can then plan your next assault. It’s like chess with V8 race cars.
“After a random hat draw, we leave the line in 16th position and soon catch lap traffic and heavy dust as we battle to the finish to find we had only managed sixth position. It’s not a great start and we have work to do.”
Saturday
“The sun is still with us and the whole team is smiles as we line up for another day of racing.”
Heat 1
“This time, we are leading out and make the most of the clear track to deliver another first place.
Heat 2:
“We are not having it our own way this time and the boys from Blackbird steal the heat win away from us by nine seconds as we get caught in lap traffic. This race is on! And only the final to go.
“Now it’s really racing; two laps back-to-back and everyone lined up behind Bad Penny hoping that we make a mistake.
Sunday
“The sun is shining once again and it’s time to get the party started.”
Heat 1:
“We start sixth and battle hard, finishing first on adjusted time and it’s just the start we need.”
Heat 2:
“Again, we start in sixth and pick up the pace to fight through the pack to be first on adjusted time.”
Heat 3:
“And we are flying! Bad Penny is chewing up the miles and we make it a clean sweep of first-place runs after some great battles out on track with some tough winching required.
“We thunder off the line, our 6.2-litre V8 engine howling as Fox shocks soaking up the terrain as our Maxxis Trepador tyres find the grip to carry us she hammers the Welsh hills. Alex is working like the pro he is and has us clear of the winch sections before anyone can challenge us, and we stay hammer-down into the final lap. Bad Penny is a car like no other and she sprints to the finish to take the win at the very first TORR race against a skilled driver line up.
“It’s fantastic to be back on the top step and winning again.
“A massive thank you to everyone that turned up to support this event. A bigger ‘Thank you’ to the event staff and marshals for making it happen.”
“And a huge ‘Hell Yeah!’ to our sponsors and supporters for always believing in us and giving us the tools we need. Plus, our families at home that support us and allow us to race hard.
“But most importantly, this one is for a special friend that Jim started off-roading with over 25 years ago. The man who sadly left us recently. Ben Sugden we miss you every day and wish you could have seen us fly, how you would have laughed and smiled. That win was for you.
“Now it’s time to get our new car, ‘Mistress’ ready for the Ultra4 King of Poland. We’ll see you there…”
Bluestuff Pads
A high-friction sport and race material that now has R90 approval on almost all fitments for the EU. Ideal for fast road, track day, club racing and drift applications.
