Digger Racing Challenges
We visited the Kent track and so this is specific to here, although I imagine all locations will be broadly run in the same way.
Around the Tyre
The first challenge was a simple one. Driver through narrow fence posts towards a set of tyres. Turn 180 degrees around the tyre and race back to the start.
This sounds nice and simple but it's very easy to catch the post and there's usually a bit of a jam as everyone turns around the tyres at the same time. I had to brake to avoid clipping the JCB next to me! Watching other people they had the same problem although some teams were travelling at the same speed and daintily travelled around the tyres in unison and thus did not have a problem!
Pick Up the Cone
The next challenge is to manoeuvre the bucket to pick up a cone. The front bucket opens upwards which when closed above the cone grabs hold of it.
Despite the clear vision around the JCB, it's nigh on impossible to see whether you have got the cone, so you need to rely a little on the instructors. They will give you signals to raise or lower the bucket, tilt the bucket back and forth as well as to open and close the bucket.
They give you a couple of attempts before letting you continue if you have failed to pick up the cone.
A couple of people consistently missed the cone completely but most managed to pick it up successfully.
Slalom
Just prior to the long straight, there's a pattern of three tyres you need to weave in and out of. It's very tight but here you get to experience the terrifically small turning circle of the JCB.
Sprint
The rest of the course is done in second gear but here you get to change up to third gear and sprint up and down the straight course.
The track is full of deep pot holes and you will bounce all over the place. If you have been stuck behind a slow competitor now is the time to perform a cunning overtaking manoeuvre!
In the cab you feel like you are speeding along especially the amount you bounce up and down as you race along. I didn't get to check the speed here but I imagine it's probably not all that fast, but it certainly felt very fast.
Park and Drop the Cone
Dropping back to second gear you need to return to your starting bay, before dropping the cone.
It's funny watching other people frantically trying to drop the cone they never picked up in the first place!