Rick Manns Racing History

It all started along time ago (in a galaxy far, far away - Sandra always says I'm on another planet!) back in the mid 80's with the introduction of "short course off road racing" or SCORR.

Several people were building or importing sand rails from the US and racing at weekends on wasteland. My first car had a space frame built by a guy from Birmingham Buggy Club with VW suspension and running gear; with its multiple VW Van shock absorbers I thought it was the business! This car was sold and eventually disappeared, probably to sit in someone's garden for eternity.

The next car was another space frame with VW running gear, this time designed and built from scratch by myself. After getting disillusioned with short course racing I turned to "safari racing" with the Northern Off Road club (NORC). The same car was used but modified with wider suspension and much longer travel. The first meeting was in a Quarry on the moors near Manchester and as rough as they come! We came first in class and 5th overall, not bad for 1600 cc VW power!

After a few meetings a new motor was built and installed, we now had 130 BHP. It became apparent that as the power had increased any standard parts were failing; this lead to the designing of what was to become the first RMOFFROAD buggy.

This car went through a series of changes, having a self-designed 4-wheel drive fitted for a short time. The reliability of this car was legendary in the Northern Off Road Club, and the final season racing in 1997 saw us finish fourth overall and usually in the top five at every meeting.

A second car was also built at this time. My navigator at the time, Chris Salmon had destroyed his previous buggy in an "endo" so we took the plunge and between us set about building the second car to a similar design. After much deliberation as to what engine to use, a Renault 5 Turbo was selected. The car was christened the "PREDATOR" by Chris and started to get results in the All Wheel Drive Club (AWDC); with Chris driving and me spectating, won the AWDC two-wheel drive championship in 1998 and 1999…. there was no way I was going to navigate after allegedly giving him a hernia, kidney stones, a bad back, piles etc during his navigating time with me (it is the drivers prerogative to cause as much physical damage to their passengers as is legally possible!)

The decision was taken at the end of 1997 to sell the car; something new was on the drawing board (or is that now CAD system). A deal was done with racer John Exley who had been navigating with me for a year and the car and all spares left for a new home in Bradford.

The new car, designated the "DIRT STAR 4X4" took shape over the next 2 years, with as many parts as possible being designed and manufactured by myself. It was also required to be road LEGAL (not have the plates and log book from an old Land Rover) so other off road racing avenues could be explored (Hill Rallies, French Tout Terrain etc).