hundreds of white stalactites of various shapes and lengths created a festive backdrop.

To Negev, Malham was in "a category of its own."

"There's nothing like it in Israel," he said, claiming that no other cave came even close to the 10-kilometre mark.

Negev pointed to its vast network of "caverns, passageways, piers, plateaus, one over another".

He called it "the most impressive and complex in Israel... and one of the most beautiful and fascinating ones I've been in".

Negev downplayed the significance of retaking the title from Iran -- Israel's main enemy -- saying he had "excellent ties" with Iranian spelunkers through social media and professional conferences.

"The political rivalry creates a desire to connect and mutual curiosity," he said. "They're really excellent spelunkers."

"I wish I could visit there," he said of Iranin the House of Dub work-horse vehicle, an army green VW passat whichis of course, lowered.

Yet more new faces at the club, this time itwas John who came in his white T4. I hada quick chat to John who said he was just in the progress of prepping the body for a re-spray. Hopefully next month it'll lookcompletely different.

Preperation is the name of the game, the better the prep work, the better the paint finish.

John brought his mate Matt along, in his T4.Another work in progress vehicle, with moreprepping of the bodywork, but it's got tolook worse before it looks better. Hope to see you both again at the HOD and the Outcastclub meets.

Matt has done a lot of body prepping on hisT4, which I'm sure will look