Casspir

Built in South Africa, the Casspir is an Armour Personnel Carrier designed to be able to take a direct blow with a landmine with no or minimal damage, which can be repaired easily in the field. I believe it could be used more, say in Iraq instead of ill suited Land Rover Defenders, and the body count from roadside bombs would be minimised.

Anyways, it's a cool truck - very good looking, lots of metal, and tough as a South African.

A quote from the movie's author fishclint: "[This is a] Short video made from various Koevoet (South West African Police Counter Insurgency Unit) photos and video clips.

Koevoet (Afrikaans for crowbar) was a police counter insurgency unit in South-West Africa (now Namibia) during the 1970s and 1980s. They were the most effective unit (in terms of personnel lost versus enemies killed) deployed against SWAPO fighters (seeking Namibian independence from Apartheid South Africa)."

SAS

From a UK TV show SAS: Guardians Against Terror. 2 ex-SAS members, and 2 active unnamed members run through how they tackle a hostage scenario. The SAS is the oldest special force in the world, formed during the 2nd world war.

Land Rover

At the middle of my offroading heart are Land Rovers - those are what started me off. Here is a well deserved tribute to the best 4x4xFAR...

Military demonstration about the capabilities of the Defender line-up:



Top Gear clip about the history of the Landy:



A Derbyshire based company modifies Land Rover D90s, and now Range Rovers for the Dakar rally. These are called Bowlers. Enjoy it's a spiritual experience. (For interest, a brand new stock Landy D90 can cost £25,000, so does £50,000 sound so bad now?)



And a promotional video of the LR Discovery, about its heritage:



A brief history of the Land Rover Camel Trophy offroad event:



The new version of the Camel Trophy, the G4 Challenge:

Ripsaw unmanned tank

Cool concept for SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) in US - remotely controlled tank, which can pick up injured people (well, as long as they have enough strength to haul themselves onto the back and shoot people who shoot at them - hmm), and drive into cars. I feel it's vaguely useless (well, in this scenario anyway), but cool nonetheless.

1st video - no Ripsaw action - just as an intro as to why the guy went bonkers:



2nd video - the conclusion:



Link to the designers.

Hägglunds

Swedish made tracked amphibious vehicle, used by the military, now sold to the public. Here is a website for info.

Here is a promotional clip (the teambuilding almost cracked me up):



And in action as a tsunami rescue vehicle:

Argo ATV

Sweet little all terrain vehicles in 6x6 or 8x8 with option for being amphibious!

This clip in black and white:



Magnum version (8x8)



And playing on ice!

Amphibious car

Sweet - I want one! Would be fun scaring people by driving into the sea :)

Pinzgauer

Here's the Pinzgauer, an Austrian 4x4 and 6x6 made by Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Quick link for more info.

Here it is in snow!



And just being driven onroad - good to see how it works inside:



At a trial:



Pimp my Pinz - looks like Lego :)



Pinzgauers offroad!



And lastly a promotional video :)

Bucher Duro ATV

Just found this! New one to me, and looks fun with the jumps! I love trucks! Here is some more info on this Swiss made vehicle.

Tatra and Czech military

Just looking at those last clips reminded me how cool Tatra trucks are :)
It's a Czech military vehicle, available in 4x4, 6x6, or 8x8, and I believe is an equivalent of the Unimog, although the Unimog had more of an agricultural beginning.

Military promo video:



Czech military prototype testing:



Tatra Dakar rally testing:



Military exercise with pontoons (to create a bridge):



BAHNA 2005 - day of the Czech army - lots of mud and trucks!



And since we're on the theme of Czech military - here's the Czech Army Special Forces :)



A Czech military recruitment advert - looks a bit cold warish, but if they know how to use the weapons well - all the better!



Just to finish up with a Czech military exercise!

Truck trial

Very cool sport, the first two at least being held in the Czech Republic.







Problem is it does nothing to improve offroadings green image. But just think of all those useless car journeys we all make. And after all, all cars and trucks are bad for the environment.

Fiat Panda = 4x4????

I was shocked - just discovered this on Youtube... The Fiat Panda 4x4 doesn't seem to be bad offroad. Interesting.

Fifth Gear TV excerpt versus the big Rangie:



Just a clip of it offroading:



And finally a clip of the old Panda 4x4, as mentioned in the 1st video:

Unimog

This post is a tribute to the best 4x4 ever produced as stock. Here are some videos about the Mercedes-Benz Unimog (properly pronounced oo-ni-mog in German), one in English as a military demonstration, the other in German about the Unimog at the factory test track in Oetigheim, Rastatt, Germany.

Bugatti Veyron

Very nice! "Getting close to the maximum [speed], which means that the tyres will only last 15 minutes - but that's ok, because the fuel will run out in 12."

He's a Pirate

Just bought the new Tiësto Elements of Life CD. Another fantastic one! My favourite track has to be the Pirates of the Caribbean remix of 'He's a Pirate'. Here's the video of him in concert:



And another more clubby version of the track:

Whose line is it anyway?

2 clips from the US comedy Whose line was it anyway?

Two nervous old ladies are told to make the sound effects for a Batman and Robin sketch. When they refuse to cooperate, the comedians (Colin and Ryan) have to cope :)



Colin and Ryan have to do a sketch of Improbable Mission, where they have to do a Major's laundry.

Cool videos

Just thought I'd post up some cool videos I found online:

One showing in slow motion how tyres work in racing.



Another slow motion one.



An old one I found, very good animation of the Inner Life of a Cell.

Jeep Trailhawk

Just watched an animation from Jeep advertising the Trailhawk concept... I like (apart from the huge fock-off Jeep logo on the back)!



I just want to see it offroad. Properly offroad.