The latest addition to rod transport for cars is the Quad Rack. Until now, Vac-Rac's vehicular rod-holders feature one large, lever-operated rubber suction-pad to grip to the bonnet and roof. Obviously, vacuum pads attach to any vehicle, unlike the magnetic variety, which struggles on any other bodywork other than steel. The Quad Rack consists of two independent pads which are activated by a plastic lever which locks the soft pad down with a satisfying clunk. Another addition is the use of an extra pillar at the base which lifts the foam moulded 'T' rack high above the car bonnet. Also the base alignment can be altered by twisting the pillar through 90˚.

The manufacturers say that many rod tips are snapped off by a carelessly opened tail-gate or hatch-back. Although I’ve never encountered this novel way of breaking rods personally, I can bet it has happened.

I used these racks at FF&FT's 2011 Salmon School on the River Annan. I attached them on the Monday morning and removed them on Saturday night. During this time the holders experienced rain, extreme temperatures, frost, and lashings of liquid mud and still they clung onto the (far from clean) surfaces of my car. I was quietly impressed, because I have experienced rubber-suction feet on rod-holders lifting after time.

During the test period, we had a maximum of four 15ft salmon rods attached to the racks and travelled at speeds of around 50 mph. Solid as a rack.