Daves Challenge

'Ray Mears' - style Fire-Lighting Challenge!

1) The challenge is given to any Scout in Slough District. (But see Rule 12 below.)

2) The challenge is to make fire by rubbing wood together by hand. This can be using any of the techniques described in various survival handbooks, or as shown by people like Ray Mears on TV. Examples:
- a stick spun in-between the palms of the hand
- a stick spun by using a bow
- a 'fire-plough' (dragging a stick back and forth along a groove).
If you know other friction techniques which I have not mentioned, then please get in touch and I may allow them.

3) Techniques not allowed are:
- use of a flint and striker
- use of a magnifying glass and sunlight
- use of special chemicals
  I can already do it in those ways!
- pre-heating your wood in an oven
- anything else that I think is 'cheating' or gives an unfair advantage. Such as inviting the real Ray Mears to do it for you ;-)

4) The lighting must be done in my presence. I will not allow video evidence! I must examine the materials before the attempt starts.

5) Any wood may be used, but it must be 'natural'. It may be wood that has been found, or it may have been bought at a shop ready-sawn in planks; that is not important. But it must be 'wood' and not some synthetic material that looks like wood!

6) If you use a bow, the string may be made of any materiel. The 'bearing block' may also be made of any materiel, provided that any friction generated in the bearing block is not used to light the fire. It must be the friction of the stick against the wooden base that is used.

7) An actual, visible flame must result. It is not enough just to make smoke or glowing embers. To this end you may use any tinder that you wish, provided that it is natural, or made by you from natural materials. Special low-temperature ignition materiels such as Magicians 'Flash Paper' may not be used. As a special concession I will allow cotton-wool or similar materiel to be used as a tinder. Also 'char-cloth'.
I will examine the tinder used before the attempt.

8) To prove that a flame has been produced, a candle should be lit by it. This is to avoid claims of "Look! There's a flame! Oh, you blinked and missed it!"

9) The deadline for entries to this competition will initially be 31 January. This is to give all Scout Troops in Slough time to learn of the Challenge, and to practice.

10) If by the deadline, two of more Scouts have accepted, they will be invited to a 'Burn-Off' - a head-to-head competition, where the fastest fire-lighter will win the prize. The equipment of each challenger will be inspected first and approved, and then there will be a count-down before starting the race.

11) If only one Scout has responded by the deadline, I will be happy to come to one of their Scout Troop meetings to witness the attempt.

12) If no Scouts have responded to the challenge by the 31st January deadline, it will be extended, and opened-up to any Junior member of the Scout Movement in Slough - from Beavers to Explorers. If after Easter it has still not been fulfilled, I will open it up to the whole County of Berkshire, and to adult members also..

13) Applications to be made to me - David Raynor - by email: daveraynor@aol.com titled 'FIRE CHALLENGE'.
Copy in Tim Haggett