2009 winter edition

RoverXchange Winter 2009

2 RoverXchange ANewsletterforLandRoverAficionados

Winter 2009PresidentialROVINGS

As the year is drawing to a close, and my term as President is ending, I have been reflecting on the past couple years. 2008 started off with rally meetings and ramp-ing up for what would turn out to be the biggest rally to date. Just in time, we had some “new blood” on the committee that was ready to take it on headfirst. They did just that, and the 60th anniversary of Land Rover and the 20th year for the Solihull Society brought the crowds to Moab’s slickrock. We had a record num-ber of attendees and a record level of sponsorship. This year’s Leadville rally was slightly smaller, but still rather impressive. I’m proud to have been a part of these events.

We had a summer club picnic in 2008 in which you needed a wetsuit and light-ning rod to be comfortable. The 2009 picnic had the same dreary forecast, but we lucked out and it turned out great. I’ve enjoyed having our rally meetings at Pint’s Pub (and have enjoyed my share of pints as well!). By the end of my two years, I was finally able to put together a decent agenda for the general club meetings. Being a club president was a big learning experience and a bit of a challenge at times, especially while trying to keep the kids, Keith, and the club in line!

Over the years, there have been many people involved in keeping the wheels of the club turning. There are the steadfast members that, year after year, continue to do their part. Jim Hall, Ralph Bradt, Paul Donohue, David Garbs – to name a few. I would like to also recognize a few others that have stood out in my mind during the last couple years. Jenny Burris did a fabulous job in 2008 keeping the books, and our minds, intact. Keith Armstrong, one of our out of state members, has always been available for support and jumps in when help is needed. David Lane and Tate Crumbley have done a great job getting those newsletters together. And there’s Mike Pomponio, who put in a ton of effort to get our sponsorship level up to where it is at today. Many thanks to these folks and all others that I have had the pleasure of working with!

As I prepare to pass the torch to the next president, I am confident that the new leadership will have the same amount of support that I had. This is a great club and I’m proud to have been a Solihull Society representative.

Thank you all – and have a great holiday season!

Karen Kreutzer

Solihull Society President

RoverXchangeThe Rover Xchange is a quarterly publication of the Solihull Society 4-Wheel Drive Club, Inc. All material in Rover Xchange, unless otherwise noted, is the property of Solihull Society and may not be reproduced without permission.

Solihull Society contactSPresident Karen Kreutzer [email protected] Andy Snow [email protected] Graham Jackson [email protected]/Membership Paul Donohue [email protected] Events Coordinator Jim Hall [email protected] Events Coordinator Wendy Vaughan [email protected] Coordinator Chris Doty [email protected] Sponsorship Coordinator Mike Pomponio [email protected] Issues Coordinator Jim Hall [email protected] Tate Crumbley [email protected] Admins David Garbs [email protected] Dan Russo [email protected]

Website – www.solihullsociety.org

Newsletter Articles and Photos – Articles must be submitted in either Word (.doc) or text (.txt) format. Digital photos can be emailed or mailed on CD in either a JPEG, TIFF or EPS files. The articles can be submitted either via email ([email protected]) or mailed on a CD to Tate Crumbley at the following address: 2010 E 98th Ave, Thornton, CO 80229. Materials will be returned upon request.

Advertising – $25/issue or $100/year for 1/4 page ads. Payment must accompany all camera-ready ads. Make check payable to Solihull Society. Free classified ads to mem-bers. $5/issue to non-members.

RoverXchange Winter2009 www.SolihullSociety.org 3

IN THIS ISSUERoverXchange

Volume 13, Issue 3, Winter 2009

Presidential Rovings 2

Range Rover Air Suspension Modifications 5

Trip Report: Leadville National Rally 8

Letter From the Editor 12

Member Profile: Nick DeValera 13

Membership Application and Renewal 14

2010 Land Rover Lineup 18

Photos in this issue are courtesy of Tate Crumbley, Norma Crumbley, Eugene and Coral Higby, Sean-Paul Ferrara, Nick DeValera


Range Rover Air Suspension Modificationsby Jeff Corwin

A few years back I got a 4.6l Range Rover P38. I liked it as I had much better visibility than in my Discovery. The Discovery had great headroom, but trying to look out the windshield was a problem for me.

Sadly, few people really off-roaded the newer Range Rovers. Most who did, had converted the suspension over to coil springs, a decision I didn’t like as the vehicle was designed with the air suspension system in mind. Also, the few coil conversion kits I had seen introduced some issues that I didn’t like. As a result, I decided to take a different path and upgrade the existing air suspension.

No one seemed to know what shocks to use with a given lift height, and I was planning/hoping for enough lift and flex that the stock shocks would no longer work.

I had found that the Gen3 air springs from Arnott Inc. were capable of extending further than the stock design, a by-product of Arnott’s redesign to change ride quality. With this information in hand, I started researching shocks that would fit properly and maximize this new potential. Eventually, I found some Old Man Emu shocks that worked almost perfectly. I knew I’d have to address the ride height sensors, and, after a few trials, came up with the right formula of link length adjustments. Of course, I still had to calibrate the sensors once everything was put together, but that was an easy (although time consuming) process with the Autologic scan tool. There were a few additional modifications I did to get the system “just right.” I fabricated new panhard bars to keep the axle properly centered under the truck at the new ride height, I even went so far as to reposition the rear panhard

bar’s link end on the rear axle to reduce it’s side to side movement at the higher profiles. Unfortunately, this is not as easy to address on the front bar as the steering drag link angle needs to be taken into consideration. Also, I cut and welded the rear axle lower spring plates to reduce the operating angle of the air springs. I cut and welded the front radius arms to lengthen them ~1/2” and add 5 degrees more caster into them. This helped to provide slightly more tire clearance and to regain the caster lost from the lift. I’ve also fitted aftermarket bump stops to keep my 33” tires from binding up in the wheel wells. Finally, I removed the front sway bar entirely. For those who do not know, the Range Rover does not have a rear sway bar from the factory.

I’ve been very impressed with both the on-road and off-road capabilities of the Range Rover. While in highway profile, I can still corner hard through the curves, and on the standard and off-road heights, I can tackle some of the hardest trails Colorado has to offer. While the air suspension system may not be perfect for everyone, it has worked well for me and has not left me stranded out on a trail yet. Another nice benefit is that I can still park in my garage, even with a roof rack—something more than a few Discovery and RRC owners with lifts and racks can no longer do.

Since performing these modifications to my vehicle I’ve helped three other Solihull members who have done very similar, if not identical, modifications to their Range Rovers. If you have a P38 and are interested in these modifications, I’d be happy to help.

JC’s Rover & 4x4

www.jcsrover4x4.com


P38 air suspension modificationsFor use with Gen3 air springs

Sensor links:

Front: Upper horizontal link: Extend to 4” c/c (stock 3.5” c/c) Lower link not modified (stock 3” c/c)

Rear: Upper horizontal link: Extend to 6.75” c/c (stock 5.9” c/c) Lower link: Extend to 6.1” c/c (stock 4.9” c/c)

Shocks:Front: OME N175 (custom length from GBR) (~2” longer than stock)

Rear: OME N44 (~3” longer than stock) Note: stock front can be used in rear (~2.5” longer) and will not require spring seat modifications

Note: Both front and rear shocks will require bolt inserts for the upper through-bolts. I used some tube cut to the correct width: ½” inner diameter x ¾” outer diameter. Also, the bushing width will need to be trimmed slightly as well.

Bump Stop modifications:

Remove factory bumpstops. Tools: angle drill, a 5/16 inch drill bit, & 3/8 inch-16 tap.New Bump stops: Energy Suspension part #99101Drill out center of factory bump stop, tap hole and screw in new bumpstop.


Spring seat modification: (required as rear air springs over extended otherwise)

Cut rear spring seats on axle from rear toward front, leaving ~1/4” at front. Raise rear of spring perch ~1/2”, fabricate filler plate and weld in place.


Trip Report: Leadville National Rallyby Tate Crumbley

note: the text and photos in this article are also appearing in the December issue of Land Rover Monthly. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or visit www.lrm.co.uk for more information.

The brochures say that Colorado gets 300 days of sun a year. Contrarily, in honor of Land Rover’s homeland, it rained nearly every day of the 2009 Land Rover National Rally in Leadville, Colorado, US. It added an authentic feeling to the event. The Rally, hosted by the Solihull Society Land Rover Club out of Denver, Colorado, usually alternates yearly locations between the sunny slickrock of Moab, Utah, and locations within the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In its twentieth year, the Rally brought over 300 people and 150 vehicles from all over the western United States to Leadville, a city nicknamed “The Two Mile High City” because of its elevation of 10,152 feet (3,094 meters).The Rally lasted for four full days, from July 28th to August 1st. Generally, there were trails to run during the day and social events at night. The trails around Leadville vary widely in difficulty from easy dirt roads to hard buggy-only trails, but with a base camp elevation of over 10,000 feet, the one guarantee is that you’ll be pretty high. Several trails traverse

historic stagecoach routes over the high mountain passes, such as Mosquito Pass and Weston Pass. Others climb on or around the high peaks surrounding the city. On narrow shelf roads built to support the mining boom in the late 1800s, it’s possible to drive nearly to the top of 14,000 foot (4,267 meter) mountains. Many of the trails have a large amount of exposure, and passengers inside a vehicle might not be able to see ground outside their side windows. For the “it’s not a good day unless I break something” crowd, there are trails like Holy Cross and the aptly named Carnage, whose giant boulders can bring even the best setup trucks to their knees.I rolled into Leadville on Tuesday evening, having made the two-and-a-half hour drive after work. My 1998 Discovery balked at my request for highway speeds on Interstate 70 and at 11,158 feet (3 400 meters) at Eisenhower Tunnel but made the trip with no incident. I arrived at the convention center during the trail leader meeting, where the volunteers who lead the trails during the Rally get last minute logistics, advice, and info on the upcoming trails. It takes good bit of hard work by lots of people for an event like this to be a success, and the trail leaders are a core part.


After a fairly rainy night in my tent, I arrived the next morning at the Rally Headquarters/Registration Site a bit early. The parking lot was empty except for a large pickup truck, car trailer, and a Defender 90 with two guys lying under it. As I got out of my truck, I heard the sound of a large hammer banging on metal. Seven AM, Rally Day 1, and already someone was having to beat on his truck. It turned out he had suffered some bushing issues during a pre-Rally trail run and was doing a parking-lot replacement. As I had just printed a cartoon about the evolution of the Land Rover Toolkit (see insert) for the Rally Newsletter, this was particularly funny. They had the parts and tools they needed and were on their way later that day.Eventually, I made my way over to the staging area, where all the trucks gather before heading out to run the day’s trails. The sight of all those Land Rovers gathered around the giant “We Love Leadville” sign was amazing. From old Series Rovers to the newest Range Rovers (with lots of Discoveries, Defenders, and Classic Rangies in between), Solihull’s finest were ready to go. Soon, the convoys of Rovers rolled out towards their respective trails. That day, I lead a small group up to the top of Tin Cup Pass. It’s an interesting but easy trail passable in any stock SUV that climbs a high pass about an hour south of Leadville. Though the skies were dark and threatened rain, the weather held long enough for us to run the trail, have lunch, and return. The general patterned seemed to favor rain every 2-3 hours rather than the typical Colorado summer pattern of afternoon thundershowers.While we were on Tin Cup Pass, other Rovers further north on Mosquito Pass were getting some snow. In July, it’s unclear if the snow you’re seeing is the first snow of the new season

or the last snow of the previous season. The high country is blanketed in snow for much of the year, and new snow is possible any month of the year. High trails, such as Mosquito Pass, often aren’t clear of the deep snowdrifts that block them until late summer. Then, when the snow does melt, it can swell the mountain streams from trickles to torrents. Reconnaissance trips to the area only weeks earlier reported deep, un-crossable snowdrifts and windshield-deep stream crossings. However, those few weeks made for a huge difference as the trails were merely wet and the streams were just hub-deep.One thing I’ve always enjoyed about Land Rovers is the people who own them. I find that the typical Rover owner is interesting, intelligent, and usually a cut above the standard Jeeper. On Thursday, that was reiterated as I hung out in town and listened to stories on war, airplanes, and cars from a club member and a Rally participant who’d stopped by to register. One was a veteran; one was a retired pilot; both had tremendous stories to share. At noon, we decided some driving was in order and headed up Weston Pass for some alpine scenery. Weston Pass was a stagecoach route in the late 1800s, and like so many areas around Leadville, the hillsides are speckled with the ruins of abandoned mines. The telltale yellow tailings piles give away old claim positions, even high up on the mountainside. As we rumbled around the highcountry in Connolly-leather-swathed coaches with air conditioning, heat, and a modicum of waterproofness from Gore-Tex parkas, it was amazing to think back on those early settlers in wool and cotton clothes trudging up the snowy passes with mules and pickaxes to stake a claim and find a fortune.Back at Rally Command Central, one of the participants brought back word that a Range Rover Classic was stranded

The trails around Leadville vary widely in difficulty from easy dirt roads to hard buggy-only trails, but with a base camp elevation of over 10,000 feet, the one guarantee is that you’ll be pretty high.


near the entrance to one of trails. It wasn’t clear what had happened, but it sounded like the Rangie had broken one of its trailing arms that hold the rear axle to the truck. I grabbed my tools, hopped in my truck, and tried to follow the guy back up the hill to where the Rangie Classic was sitting. One thing became apparent: the modern generation of Rovers is much faster on the road than the Classic Rovers. Trying to follow a Rangie Sport on the curvy highway in my 1998 Discovery was difficult to say the least, but things evened out once we got to the rain-slicked trail. We found the Rangie Classic sitting in the trail with one of the rear wheels attempting to make its way to kiss the rear bumper. After hiding in the trucks from a sudden deluge of rain and hail, we assessed the scene. Sure enough, it looked like the rear trailing arm had sheared at the frame mount. With light fading, we decided to leave the truck on the trail and head back to town to try and procure some parts.The stars aligned for the Rangie Classic owner, and we managed to locate the appropriate parts in Denver at JC’s Rover, an independent Rover mechanic. One of their guys was driving from Denver to Leadville that night and would bring the parts up.That night, my wife arrived from Denver, and we attended the Rally’s Cocktail Party, held at Leadville’s Mining Museum. Fittingly, the entrance was by tunnel from the Convention Center next door, emerging into a large collection of artifacts and displays further describing the area’s mining heritage. We enjoyed food and drink while wandering the rooms

and exploring items from headlamps to giant crystals. The museum had dioramas of mines, early drills, and an extensive collection of minerals from around the world. It made for an informative evening, and at the end, the Defender from JC’s Rover shuttling the parts for the Rangie arrived.On Friday morning, the Rangie Rescue Crew rumbled back up the road and trail. The Rangie Sport and its owners joined us, along with their relatives in a Jeep CJ5 (proving that some Jeepers have hearts). On the scene, we pulled the wheel and removed the old trailing arm. It hadn’t sheared. In fact, the nut had just walked off and the arm had retracted from its fitting under braking while descending the slope. This made much more sense to all of us than the solid thumb-sized steel of the trailing arm shearing on a mild trail. We used copious LocTite

on the 30mm nut to avoid a similar event on the owner’s drive home to California, and the Rangie rumbled down the trail under its own power, all wheels where they should be.The Rally’s Vendor Night was Friday night. Vendors were there from all over the US and beyond, with Caribbean Rovers even making the trek up from Puerto Rico. From fancy trailers to heavy duty suspension and drivetrain components, the state-of-the-art in Rover parts and accessories was represented in the Convention Center’s parking lot...at least until a storm blew in and everyone ducked inside.On Saturday, we joined a trail run of Halfmoon Creek and the Iron Mike Mine trails. These Y-shaped trails run along the drainages between Mt Elbert and Mt Massive, the two tallest peaks in Colorado. Each upper section of the Y includes two water crossings, leading to a total of eight water crossings. While not terribly technical, these 4-rated trails provided a couple of obstacles


requiring careful spotting, attempts on several lines, and in the case of a stock Rangie Classic, a little tug with a snatch strap. We ate lunch at the top of the Halfmoon Creek drainage. The weather on Saturday was the best of the week, and we were treated to clear skies and tremendous views of the surrounding peaks.The Rally culminated with a banquet back at the Convention Center. Besides an amazing barbecue dinner, the evening included a raffle for items donated by the various vendors. The donated items included a roof-top tent, an Engle refrigerator, rock sliders, recovery gear, maps, and assorted T-shirts and hats. We owe a huge thanks to all the vendors for their support and contributions; we donated the proceeds from the raffle to a local charity.With the Rally over, Sunday morning saw the Rovers trickle out of town and head back to their homes. Another Land Rover National Rally ended and dreams of the next began.Please join us for the 2010 Land Rover National Rally, held in Moab, Utah from October 19th - 23rd, 2010. Bring a Rover, a friend, or just yourself. We’d love the company.

www.landrovernationalrally.com

Leadville, CO Coordinates: N39 15.297 W106 17.465

Photos courtesy: Eugene and Coral Higby, Tate and Norma Crumbley, and Sean-Paul Ferrara


Do you have stuff that you need to sell?

Did you know that classified ads are free to club members? Simply send an e-mail with a description of what you’re selling along with asking price and contact information, and we’ll run it for free in the RoverXchange classifieds.

Send it to: [email protected]

CLASSIFIEDS & ANNOUNCEMENTSPRESIDENT - shall preside over all membership and Executive Committee meetings and be present at all events when possible. He shall be the executive officer and shall have the duty to carry out the policies and decisions of the Board of Directors.

VICE PRESIDENT - shall, in the absence of the President, serve in that capacity. He shall also serve as a Parliamentarian and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

SECRETARY - shall keep and preserve all records and minutes of the meeting of the regular membership and the Board of Directors, shall keep a file system of membership and shall receive and answer all general correspondence pertaining to the organization.

TREASURER - shall keep accurate and complete records of the funds and accounts of this organization and shall collect all dues and maintain a record thereof. He shall make only such disbursements from the funds of the organi-zation as are directed by the Board of Directors and Article VII hereof.

Ballots shall be issued to each membership at check in.

A Letter From the [email protected]

It’s been a wet fall. On days when storms dump snow on the Denver Metro area measured in feet, I’m thankful to own a Land Rover. I must admit that on some days, I call my boss and cite the weather as a reason why I need to work from home, but in my heart, I know that’s not a valid reason. Even with mild modifica-tions, the Discovery has an uncanny ability to claw though powder. My daily driver is a Honda Accord because it’s more fuel efficient and reliable, but when the skies darken, roads close, snows fall, and winds blow, it’s Disco time.

In July, the weather in Leadville was more liquid than solid, but my Discovery soldiered on. In this issue of RoverXchange, we’ve got a writeup about the rally that was also published in the December issue of Land Rover Monthly, a tech article on some P38 Range Rover mods, and some personal reflections on Land Rover’s 2010 lineup. Send in your articles, trip reports, and pictures for inclusion in our next issue of RoverXchange. Happy Trails!


Member Profile: Nick DeValera

Editor’s Note: Nick submitted this issue’s cover shot of the P38 on Mosquito Pass

BioI was born in England, so I am very happy being around Land Rovers! When I was a child my mother decided she wanted to leave England and move to the United States. So we ended up in sunny South Florida. I spent about 23 years there, but also lived in Vail, Colorado and La Jolla, California. In 1994 my girlfriend and I decided to leave the monotony of South Florida and drive to Colorado. I had told her that I had the best time of my life living in Colorado and that I wanted her to see it and move there. So, we packed up the car, drove around the US for six weeks and eventually settled in Evergreen, CO.

My first introduction to land Rovers was from a friend of mine who had a 1992 Range Rover SWB. I will never forget the time he took me off roading and we did Red Cone and Radical Hill. After that experience I was sold on Land Rover and purchased a slightly used 1997 Discovery.

I have a ten year old son, Andreas, who loves to go off-roading with me and absolutely loves Land Rovers. I have taken him to Moab on several occasions and this year’s Rally as well, and he can’t wait to come with me next year in October for the 2010 National Rally in Moab.

I have been in the IT industry for the last eight years as a Systems Administrator but am unfortunately unemployed now. During this time out of work I have decided to do things that I have always wanted to do, so for the past six months I have been learning to fly and have received my Private Pilot license. What a thrill it is to fly solo in a single engine airplane!

The Cover PhotoThis picture of my P38 was taken on July 11th, 2009 during a pre-run of Mosquito Pass for the Rally with Mike McUne. We had just completed Buckeye Gulch and Chalk Creek and were now scouting out Mosquito Pass for the 2009 Leadville National Rally. We had started on the Leadville side and had made it to the top of the pass. About a mile from the top of the pass on the Alma side, we encountered a large snow drift approximately twenty feet wide and maybe seventy feet long which had blocked our way. Since we could not pass we decided to do some trail cleanup and move some rather large boulders that were on the trail that would make it easier for travel during the Rally. While I was parked on the trail I snapped the picture of my truck with a large storm approaching in the distance.

Rovers, Past and Present

1997 Discovery2002 Freelander2003 Discovery2001 P38 Range Rover


Application for Membership/Renewal Please print all information clearly.Name:_________________________________________________________Email:____________________________________________________Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________City:______________________________________________________State_____________________________Zip:_________________________Home Phone:_______________________________________________Cell Phone:____________________________________________________Occupation:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Present Land Rovers:______________________________________________________________________________________________________Past Land Rovers: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

May we share the above information with other club members? Yes No

Type of Application: Type of Membership: New member Single (S) -- $40.00 Renewal Family (F) -- $50.00 Out of state (O) -- $30.00

Waiver:I/We, in consideration of my/our participation in the Solihull Society Land Rover Club, [hereafter referred to as club] do hereby release Solihull Society, its members, officers, sponsors, successors and assigns from any and all responsibility or liability for any and all claims, arising from or related to the activities and my/our participation in and all events sponsored and/or involving the club.

I/We understand and acknowledge off-highway driving is a hazardous activity with inherent dangers, which can result in severe property damage, seri-ous bodily injury and/or death. With full knowledge of such risks, hazards and potential for damage, injury or death, I/We voluntarily and knowingly assume such risks and hazards and agree, that the club, its members, officers, sponsors, successors and assigns shall not be liable in any way, to me/us for any claims for damages, injuries or death resulting from my/our participation in the club’s events.

I/We acknowledge my/our vehicle is in good mechanical condition, and said vehicle is insured for bodily injury liability insurance and personal injury protection insurance and/or medical payment coverage, as required by its’ state of registration.

I/We are advised to consult with our insurance broker/agent about availability of and adequacy of present medical payment coverage should I/We and/or our passengers sustain bodily injury, while operating my/our motor vehicle.

I/We further acknowledge the driver/operator of the vehicle is licensed to operate a motor vehicle and the license is not under suspension.

This waiver/release of liability is binding on our heirs, insurers, personal representatives or assignees.

Signature______________________________________________________________Date______________________________________________

Club Use Only: Cash Email to member Check # Roster Quicken Member card # Deposit slip Welcome packet

MembershipInformation


FlatironsSuperior, Colorado

The Colorado Denver East Dealership offers:

The Colorado Flatirons Dealership offers:

The Colorado Springs Dealership offers:

Our members receive exclusive discounts at Denver area Land Rover dealerships

15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABORIncludes courtesy vehicle. Will install customer parts. Contact dealer for details.

15%

15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABOR

DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABOR

DealershipDISCOUNTS

10% DISCOUNT ON LABORParts typically 10%-20% cheaper than list

JC’s Rover offers:

10% OFF TIRE ORDERSGreen Diamond Tires offers:


You Know Your Rover. I Know Your Real Estate.

Tom Cryer Broker Associate

The Kentwood Co. 303-773-3399303-638-3202

[email protected]

Did you hear about the man whose Land Rover didn’t leak oil?The factory took it back and worked on it until it did.

You might be a Land Rover owner if:You decide to go for a drive just because the weather man advised everyone to stay at home


Bill Burke’s

4-Wheeling America 970-858-3468 … [email protected]

Premier Training for all users of

4-wheel drives and all skill levels. Driving Techniques. Recovery.

Safety. Environmental Awareness.

Getting Prepared. Trail Spotting.

Navigation. Field Fixes.

●Private Instruction One-on-one with Bill Burke.

●Group Training Comprehensive training programs that

include all you need to know about going

into the remote back country safety.

●Industrial & Government

Training Programs

Custom safety programs for organizations

that use 4WD vehicles in their operations.

●Trail Leader Training Trail leading is serious business not to be

taken lightly. It is also fun if you are

prepared for all situations. Learn

skills needed to safely lead clubs,

friends, and other groups.

“Though I have driven off road many

times before, I learned some great driving

techniques from the class. It was fun to

learn more about trail prep, recovery and

trail fixes. Bill, I appreciated the mix of

serious instruction with fun days on the

trail and a good dose of patience for my

slightly reluctant Disco.” Sam W., ‘07

“Being new to the sport, I was a little

intimidated going into this class. But,

thanks to Bill’s easygoing teaching style,

I felt right at home. Not only did I learn

a lot about the mechanics of my truck

and the importance of being prepared,

but we tackled some terrain that I

wouldn’t have thought possible

on my own.” Linda P., ‘08

www.bb4wa.com We hold BLM & USFS permits to

operate on public lands.

“A few of us had the chance to spend the

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spent and one of the best investments you

can make for your wheeling experience

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DVDs by Bill Burke

●Getting

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Safe recovery

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Real life

situations!

Watch this DVD

before you head

out! Includes 8-

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The 2010 Land Rover Lineup

On August 19th, I had the privilege of attending the unavailing of the new 2010 Land Rover lineup at Land Rover Denver East. In viewing the new trucks, I started looking for the issues and complaints of owners that I have heard and read across the internet. First off was the new LR4. I personally don’t like the naming convention that Land Rover has take with the Discovery and the Freelander. Traditional names work just as well for me. Hopefully they won’t (or will) follow this up with the LR90 (at least it will be available in America). But overall, other complaints have been looked at and addressed.

On the outside of the LR4 is a new air intake system. Once you pop the hood, you will notice two air intake boxes that are fed by the now matching intake vents in the front quarter panels. The new front grill and bumper is sleeker and now color matched to the truck. The headlamps have significantly changed. Integrated LED daytime running lamps are now standard and look very similar to those on the new Audi cars. There’s also a new 360 degree camera system. Through the new integrated entertainment system, you can view every angle out of the truck. With the new entertainment system, all of the entertainment functions are controlled through the touchscreen interface. The new accident avoidance system detects a vehicle in the lane next to you and displays a light in the side mirror to let you know that someone is there, even if it is in your blind spot. I sat in the truck and thought that the visibility was extremely good, and with the large mirrors properly angled, only a Smart car could hide in the blind spot…maybe. New fea-tures also include the ability to control your iPod or iPhone from the radio. I connected my phone for a moment and was immediately impressed that it showed my phone name in the list and started to show all of my playlists. Audio is crisp and clear from the Harmon Kardon system. Speaking of the interior, people have always complained that the inte-rior of the LR3/D3 was “plasticy.” The new, supple interior feels nothing like that with almost every panel wrapped in a fabric or metal of some sort. The climate control system has gone back to digital controls, but with turn dials. Small LCD screens show the temperature selected with the outside dial used to control the desired temperature. New this year

by Dave Lane


is the new color screen in the center of the dash cluster. The main part of this screen was locked, so I wasn’t able to use the full feature list. This year marks the first major change to the Terrain Response System. I corresponded with the SVT team a few times over a year ago to work on a couple of situ-ations that I got into with the LR3 that I felt it should have easily overcome. The major changes have been to the Sand setting with the increase of the 5.0L V8 horsepower. 375 bph is now available with the new engine. Also, the Rock Crawl program has pretty much been rewritten, which I was happy to hear, because that is one specific issue I found and sent in to the SVT team. For Rock Crawl, the brakes on the front axle are automatically engaged at below 3 mph to ensure that the traction control can engage earlier and with better accuracy before the wheels start to slip and you get into trouble.

The new Range Rover Sport has continued the tradition of the cockpit feel of the model lineup. Again, most of the complaints I heard were the amount of plastic used in the vehicle of the past. Those again are gone with many old panels now covered with a fabric or leather. The new 360 degree view cameras and integrated entertainment system has been put in the truck. The new 5.0L V8 and the new super-charged V8 with 510 bhp are also available. A new Land Rover oval has been placed on all Range Rovers. The green oval is gone and has been replaced with the black and silver oval of the supercharged Range Rovers. Many of the toggle switches for the EAS and transfer case have been replaced with neatly placed buttons.

The new Range Rover has outdone itself as the premier SUV in the world. The new 12” TFT HD screen in the dash clus-ter has completely replaced any analog gauges. I did not get a lot of time to play with the features of this interface, but if you like gadgets, there are plenty to keep you busy. New leather interiors make these some of the most comfortable seats I have ever had the joy of being in. Again, the engine gets dual air intakes to help the engine breath, and the front end gets the new LED “Halo” effect daytime running lamps.

All of the new trucks now get keyless remote starting and entry features. New LED lamps for the rear tail lamps help to reduce the amount of electricity the vehicle needs. Overall I am very impressed with the changes to the vehicles and where Land Rover has focused on the fit and finish. These final details are what set this vehicle apart from the competi-tion. They have managed to keep the tradition of a vehicle with luxury and capabilities in a timeless design.

Solihull SocietyPo Box 480864Denver, co 80248-0864

2009 winter edition

Documents

great club

club president

property of solihull

general club meetings

rally meetings

summer club picnic

years leadville rally

wheel drive club