A drive on the wild side

Im not one for endorsing products, and it takes a lot to impress me - Ferrari of course being the pinnacle. So this is not an advert and certainly not paid. Im just getting some genuine excitement off my back after a couple of great days in Ukraine visiting the SHERP all-terrain vehicle factory and the CEO Oleksandr Biletskyi .

As an athlete I was sponsored for years for shoes and clothing by, in turn, adidas, then Nike, then adidas again. This was at a time when both companies concentrated upon sport and delivering for athletes what they really needed. I loved both the shoes and the clothes and still remember them fondly. Of course we athletes were endorsing the products we wore daily, but they were so brilliant then I was happy to shout about them to the world. Then sadly both companies slipped inevitably towards the much larger casual clothing market and things changed. Now maybe there is a resurgence with the new super fast shoes. Lets see if it lasts.

I had the same feeling of "something new" excitement at the beginning of the year when I visited the Sherp factory in Ukraine. After a trip around production, I had a chance to travel in, and then drive the Sherp utility vehicle in the test grounds. To say I was flabbergasted would be an understatement. We went easily through the snow and ice, up and down horrible slopes, over rocks and ice, in and out of icy ponds and finally upstream in the middle of the Dnipro river. I confess to being extremely nervous at times and when it was my turn to drive I was not half as adventurous as the official driver. There is a whopping difference between driving my 20 year old Alfa 147 and this all-terrain, amphibious beast.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I went back to the factory and was taken for another drive, this time with a truly expert driver who must have thought we were in a rally. We set off at a speed that made the first trip seem sedate. We ploughed through everything including jungle like forest pushing down trees and rolling over them with impunity, over large fallen trees and rock piles, up and down even steeper slopes, in and out of swamps and back into the river again. We went so fast through the rough terrain it was more fun than a big dipper. When we hit the river we slowed for the first time as dozens of irate fisherman were distinctly unhappy at this beast coming close. The driver looked embarrassed and I certainly was. But I was seriously impressed and the day sticks powerfully in my memory.

I was not surprised to hear that the Indian army has bought 100 of the Sherp utility for the mountains and the UN World Food Programme is using them instead of helicopters, they report they are increasing reliability of delivery and saving money into the bargain. I also saw a super 10 wheel logistic version that can cross even more and higher obstacles. It is remarkable that even during the war Ukraine companies like Sherp are still delivering world class exports. All power to their elbow. Ukraine needs good news and I am more than happy to write about them. I would just recommend to any NATO or allied country that has to fight over truly rough terrain to go and try the vehicle out for yourselves. You will not be disappointed. https://sherpglobal.com/en/contacts/