“Need for Speed” - Serving Soldier, army.mod.uk, Nov04

FORGET stuffy hatchbacks and people carriers, DVD2004 isn’t your run-of-the-mill motor show. Packed with hundreds of stands, the exhibition, held at the MoD’s Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford, boasted some of the most exciting vehicles around. And 18-year-old tanker driver Pte Lucy “Speedy” Speed, 27 Regiment RLC, was itching for a test drive.

Prowler All Terrain Vehicle
First up, Pte Speed jumped on the four-wheel drive American Prowler ATV. A cross between a high-powered quad bike and buggy, the 700cc Prowler has seen action with US special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. It boasts a top speed of 65mph.

Pte Speed said: “The Prowler could handle Millbrook’s off-road track quite easily - even the toughest sections which quad bikes and ordinary scramblers were struggling over.

“It’s got a low centre of gravity which means you are a lot less likely to roll and the seat was quite comfortable considering the extreme conditions.

“The engine was very zippy and it has an automatic transmission so you can drive it with just one hand. Any idiot could drive one and they’re great fun.”

Ageing rocker Ozzy Osbourne brought a new meaning to the phrase “head-banging” when he fell off his quad before Christmas, but that didn’t deter our Pte Speed. The Yamaha Bruin Quad, a favourite among special forces and stag partygoers the world over, is agile and fast on even the most challenging surfaces. Speedy tried the 350cc Yamaha Bruin.

Pte Speed said: “Its obvious why quads are so popular. They’re fast, rugged and go anywhere. But at the same time they’re not as easy to drive as the Prowler. You have to shift your weight around all the time which could get tiring. I even got stuck at one stage after I hit a tree. I also needed help to get round a corner. For my money the Prowler is easier to drive and better.”