Vectis 4×4 Response: Appeal For Screw-In Towing Eyes

Thanks to John from Vectis 4×4 Response for this second update from the Isle of Wight Festival site. Ed

Towing out:We had four vehicles on scene during Friday from 07.00 – 03.30h. In addition to Vectis 4×4 Response, we asked Hampshire 4x4R to come over and give our guys a bit of a break.

They will be mainly used on Sunday / Monday for the mass exit game, as will all of our responders. We will total around 30 voluntary responders on-site during these two days.

If anyone on the Island can donate screw-in towing eyes, we’d be very grateful.

Friday action
During the day, we recovered 40+ vehicles, including one Police Car.

We would ask people to please be patient if they are awaiting our help. You can help by searching out the towing eyes for your cars if you have them.

Vectis 4x4 Response In action:We again have responders on-scene today from about 10.00 through till around 03.00h.

Donations through the website will be set up from next week, so if Vectis 4×4 Response have helped you out, please do show your support.

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allan
23, June 2012 10:24 am

think there is more than enough 4×4 on the island without bringing more over from the mainland to add to the chaos

Yeah But
Reply to  allan
23, June 2012 10:31 am

There might be plenty of 4x4s on the Island, but the owners of these vehicles might not be trained and experienced in what is needed.

heres an idea
Reply to  allan
23, June 2012 10:50 am

they are volunteering to help out for nothing, and helping to sort out the chaos, not add to it. I suspect the very last thing these drivers were hoping for when they offered their help was to be told that they are adding to the chaos and should stay at home by some bloke on a website. Be quiet and leave them alone to help out where… Read more »

allan
Reply to  heres an idea
23, June 2012 10:55 am

as a member of a local 4×4 club we have volunteered to help ,just waiting to be called out to help as we were on Thurs and Fri

heres an idea
Reply to  allan
23, June 2012 10:58 am

and the Hampshire group have also been asked to help out. Is there anything wrong with that? No.
Is your comment jealousy that they have been asked and you havnt yet? possibly.
Whatever, theres no reason Hampshire shouldnt come and help out and you know it.

allan
Reply to  heres an idea
23, June 2012 11:06 am

why would i be jealous <just pointing out that there are more than enough 4×4@s with competent drivers available on the island without the expense of bringing more from the mainland

heres an idea
Reply to  heres an idea
23, June 2012 11:14 am

clearly the island 4×4 group disagrees with you, as they have asked their hampshire branch to come and help out. I would say that suggests clearly that they would value the extra help, are not confident that there are enough 4x4s on the island, and want to ensure that the exit from the festival goes as smoothly as possible. Perhaps if you are a member of the… Read more »

ThomasC
23, June 2012 11:08 am

I guess Vectis 4×4 Response feel very strongly about the IW Festival’s profit margins and that they should be preserved for John Giddings and all of the mainland traders coming over, making money from the festival goers. It’s a totally genius stroke to do something people are normally prepared to pay for, for free. Well done – your service to the private sector has now been valued… Read more »

allan
Reply to  ThomasC
23, June 2012 11:13 am

yes it is nice to go and help the odd person stuck somewhere but to assist a commercial enterprise for nowt is just plain daft ,guessing J Giddings will make a sizable donation to your cause

Jess
23, June 2012 11:25 am

The politics to me are irrelevant. For many people attending the festival, they are in a muddy chaotic nightmare. It may be one of their main breaks of the year, something they’ve looked forward to for ages. If that was me – many many years ago it was me at a festival off the Island with a elderly Renault 5 in the mud – you’ld be grateful… Read more »

Jess
23, June 2012 11:36 am

The numbers of 4x4s on the Island is a red herring; it’s how many are properly equipped with mud tyres and the like – that probably cuts out 99% of them. I’ve got two 4x4s, great on a muddy road, but anywhere else no better than a regular car. Big up to Vectis 4×4, it’s not about John Giddings profit, its about people whose weekend away has… Read more »

ThomasC
23, June 2012 11:42 am

Yes, There’s a Thought, why would the Festival pay for something people will do for free? Maybe next year all the other staff will work for free?

Stuart Yates
23, June 2012 11:44 am

How about you all start being nice to each other… :)

Lars Torders
23, June 2012 11:44 am

These people offer their help for nothing. I think they should be applauded, not derided on the pages of “Ventnor Moan.”

heres an idea
Reply to  Lars Torders
23, June 2012 12:07 pm

well said

Sailor Sam
23, June 2012 11:46 am

Would the Hampshire 4 x 4 guys be expected to pay for their ferry crossing? IMHO, Solo should pay!

moneyball
Reply to  Sailor Sam
23, June 2012 12:16 pm

What has that got to do with anyone but the Hampshire 4 x 4?

Nobody is asking you to pay, it’s just something else you wish to moan about. It doesn’t affect you, it’s none of your business but it just makes you happy to moan about something else.

Sailor Sam
Reply to  moneyball
23, June 2012 8:23 pm

Jesus… another one with a big soap box. I would of thought that these guys with the 4 x 4’s should be on the pay roll as it was the sheer incompetence of the organisers not to put metal tracking down at the entrance to the car parks. How TF is that moaning? Just stating the bleeding obvious!

heres an idea
Reply to  Sailor Sam
23, June 2012 8:34 pm

…its nothing to do with anyone except those who have volunteered. Thats not moaning, its a statement of the bleeding obvious as you put it. The purpose of the story is to see if anyone can help them out with towing eyes, not for people to argue about whether volunteers should get paid or who the most appropriate people to volunteer are. People seem to want the… Read more »

Bruno Weisler
23, June 2012 11:56 am

Yeahbut, are you secretly alan partridge ?

4x4owner
23, June 2012 12:42 pm

I think it’s stupid to get Hampshire guys over when the ferries are nearly fully booked this weekend, when there is plenty of capable 4×4 owners over here who have mud prepared vehicles, and I am one of them. Infact my vehicle is more prepared than most of so called “vectis 4×4 response” as mine actually has mud tyres and a winch, and I have plenty of… Read more »

BMW X6 Driver
Reply to  4x4owner
23, June 2012 12:48 pm

Why don’t you pop up then and offer to help? I’m sure everybody will love to look at your tyres and even your winch! WOW. If you get stuck I can help you out. The “so called” 4×4 response are obviously a premier club and getting on with it and doing it to help people out. If they need help from a far it’s a shame but… Read more »

allan
Reply to  BMW X6 Driver
23, June 2012 1:29 pm

BMW x6 nah that was on the news yesterday being pushed has it had no grip in the wet grass so no chance in real mud

db
23, June 2012 1:46 pm

hi, is there an island called isle of moan for certain people

bob
23, June 2012 2:40 pm

None of the vectis 4×4 response are trained not sure about the response teams on the mainland but why use a mainland 4×4 group when there is the iow 4×4 group who know how to tow and have all the right gear ?

Braveheart
23, June 2012 2:41 pm

Perhaps this link may help quash the ongoing argument, as to why the Hampshire 4x4R has been contacted for assistance: http://www.4x4response.info/?pid=groupregister

4x4owner
23, June 2012 3:25 pm

I have offered to help, but like I said they would rather use mainlanders, and take up valuable space on the ferrys. I’d be more than happy to go up there and give help to those that need it.

BMW X6 Driver
Reply to  4x4owner
23, June 2012 6:05 pm

It might be your tyres are going to cut the ground up? Tyres like mine will do much less damage to the surface.

heres an idea
23, June 2012 3:34 pm

perhaps the official 4×4 response people are correctly insured for the task. I doubt many private owners are. I would imagine some sort of public liability insurance would be required. The festival organisers dont want any issue with private owners trying to claim for damage, or be claimed from, and quite rightly so. Use the official people.

4X4
23, June 2012 4:48 pm

Hmm big German BMW 4×4 tow a proper equipped 4×4 out ok then I guess your road tyres are much better than 4×4 club members one? If its that good bring it along to a 4×4 day and prove it

heres an idea
Reply to  4X4
23, June 2012 5:04 pm

how fantastically childish…

“my penis extension is bigger than yours, so it should be me to help out”

thats basically what a lot of people are saying here isnt it. grow up. the festival have asked the people they think most able to help to help. end of.

Response
23, June 2012 5:46 pm

I think that comment was rather childish personally and not exactly best for young readers of VB, I think you should stand down and be mature. Yours and Mr X6 responses are both in haste, anyway hope everyone carrys on abit more positive….

BMW X6 Driver
Reply to  Response
23, June 2012 5:59 pm

I’m on your side! I also can not understand the negative comments. Obviously the “other” 4×4 club on the island have had their noses put out by you guys doing a great job FOC. They were after a quick buck and wanted to hold the people stuck to ransom.

Carry on doing what you’re doing, the Island and the festival need people like you.

heres an idea
Reply to  Response
23, June 2012 6:07 pm

whether you think its childish or not, its true.

Im also not sure how the word penis is inappropriate for anyone. If i had used a slang term for penis then maybe… but the word penis is part of the English language, and its use in this context is not inappropriate at all.

tony joyce
23, June 2012 5:51 pm

so has anyone got any towing eyes for these people good enough to give up their time, labour and wear and tear on their own vehicles? The obvious question would be why aren’t festival organisers paying for these pieces of equipment (vital to clearing the site) and then donating them to the 4×4 people good enough to help. I’m sure people will give, I would if I… Read more »

Ventnorian-star
23, June 2012 5:53 pm

I can see everyone’s points, and I think they do hold a good reason to why are they bringing mainland 4×4’s over? But that’s thier choice I suppose maybe asking other island clubs would be more beneficial and quicker to response as they don’t have ferrys to catch etc plus being islanders they will probably know the areas better and maybe quicker to respond and ‘here’s an… Read more »

Farmer Palmer
23, June 2012 6:03 pm

I wouldn’t mind being stuck in the mud if Sharleen Spiteri & Texas were playing this year … but they’re not , so I’m staying on me farm in me tractor nipper.

allan
23, June 2012 6:30 pm

that was the whole point of the first post on

4x4 owner's friend
Reply to  allan
23, June 2012 11:32 pm
AmberJade
23, June 2012 9:49 pm

This team should be applauded. They are doing this for nothing apart from to help the community. One reason they would have called in another team from the mainland is because they are not machines and need to rest at some point. The other teams are there to allow this, also the more vehicles they have the quicker they can clear the site. They train for situations… Read more »

V4x4R
24, June 2012 12:54 am

To clarify the point about who called who and why:

Following discussions with the police the group has called on counterparts to head to the Isle of Wight to support the operation.

allan
24, June 2012 9:19 am

just a small thought (well it is Sunday morning )instead of telling the local 4×4 club members ” no we don’t need you ” why not say come on down and sign up to our group and give us a hand .

AmberJade
Reply to  allan
24, June 2012 9:35 am

The problem with this would be insurance. The team would be paying for a set amount of drivers and if they go above this this may invaildate it. Also the drivers have a specific insurance with their own insurers for this type of “work”, something many 4×4 owners wouldnt have. As I suggested before though, if you feel like you can help out in future events then… Read more »

allan
24, June 2012 9:53 am

hmmm did all those tractors called in on Thursday have the correct cover then

heres an idea
Reply to  allan
24, June 2012 11:29 am

youve spent over 24 hours being bitter and moaning that you havnt been asked to volunteer. Why havnt you done something about it instead?

ThomasC
24, June 2012 11:28 am

This insurance stuff is nonsense. If you’re working for the organisers on this site you should be covered by their public liability insurance, as you are working for them. IOW4x4 Club are part of the Emergency Planning Forum as well. We were asked if we were able to assist and we said yes. I have a list of around 15-20 people/vehicles whose driving I am very confident… Read more »

Braveheart
Reply to  ThomasC
24, June 2012 12:32 pm

A very well written response to this ongoing argument, about who’s vehicles are better than others instead of giving more time and thought to the initial request for ‘Screw In Towing Eyes’.

Braveheart
Reply to  Braveheart
24, June 2012 9:33 pm

ISLE of Wight Festival promoter John Giddings has sounded an optimistic note for tomorrow’s big getaway from the Seaclose site. He said he had hired more than 130 4×4 vehicles to tow cars out one by one.

Sailor Sam
Reply to  Braveheart
24, June 2012 9:56 pm

Hired? As far as I’m aware they are all volunteers!

Jim B
24, June 2012 7:43 pm

On thick wet mud 4×4’s are equally as useless as 2wd. Tractor only job really.

Jim B
25, June 2012 10:28 am

Tractors are the only way. Having idiots in 4x4s trying to pull out cars is farcical. I hope they havr sufficient insurance for when damage occurs?

Sally Perry
Admin
Reply to  Jim B
25, June 2012 11:13 am

A reminder to those commenting on VB, please can we stop referring to people as ‘idiots’ or other name calling. It is uncalled for and unnecessary. Thank you.

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