the landy november 2014

‘this is a pivotal moment in land rover’s 66-year history’The future of Solihull’s new Discovery family takes shape, as the Disco Sport is unveiled to a waiting world

This P38 looks tidy but standard. But under the bonnet is something that makes it a real street sleeper… Full story: Page 24

TIME-WARP 88”

The average Series III must have been round the clock a good few times by now.

Most will have been through dozens of pairs of hands, too.

So this immaculate 88”, which has cropped up at Huddersfield Land Rover Centre, is something very special. With one owner from new and just 36,000 miles on the clock, it’s a rare, rare beauty. Full story: Page 22

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ISSUE 9 NOVEMBER 2014

What happens when your life is one big expedition? You end up with a souvenir-laden Landy whose story beggars belief, that’s what. Full story: Page 34

If you love Defenders, and you also love leather, this new demo truck from FCX is your dream Landy. Full story: 8

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FIrst raNgey sells For world record prIceHammer falls at £115,000 as Range Rover 001 sells to a British-based private collector

The first ever Range Rover has been sold for £132,250. The vehicle was auctioned at the Salon Privé auction event in London at the start of September, along with a star-studded galaxy of classic sports cars.

Prior to the sale, the first production Rangey had spent 25 years with its previous owner – Peter Garside, founder of the Land Rover Centre in Huddersfield. During Peter’s time as owner, the vehicle underwent a six-year long restoration; previously to this, it had been reunited with its true, legendary identity after spending years in the wilderness.

We spoke to Mark Griffiths, sales manager at the Land Rover Centre, after the hammer had come down, to find out whether the company was pleased with the end result.

‘The hammer price was £115,000,’ he explained. ‘Add to that 12.5% commission, with 20% VAT on that, and the final price was indeed £132,250.

‘The value was a bit of an unknown. It could have sold for twice as much, who knows, but at the end of the day it has achieved (as far as I am aware) a world record price for a two-door Range Rover – so how could you not be pleased with that?’

As we reported last month, Land Rover itself did not appear interested in buying back this piece of its history (the company declined to comment when asked about this), creating fears that the Range Rover with chassis number 001 may end up on a one-way ticket out of the UK. Happily, Mark reveals, this has not been the case.

‘The car has been purchased by a private collector who is based in the UK, so it will be staying here. We hope that it will prove to be a wise investment for the new owner, as I’m sure its value will increase over the coming years.’

Range Rover 001 was built in the winter of 1969 and registered for the road on 2 January 1970. In its restored state, it looks every inch the timeless

classic – but that certainly hasn’t always been the case.

By 1975, the Rangey had been resprayed in Bahama Gold and found itself a new owner, having spent the first part of its life with one Michael Furlong – the man behind the two promotional films for the Range Rover at the time of its original launch.

Following a change of registration, the Rangey was at risk of being lost in the 1980s – until it was bought by a friend of Peter’s who went on to restore

it. As sold this year, it’s back with all the correct matching numbers.

Mark told us that with the money raised by the sale, the Land Rover Centre would be able to buy several other classic vehicles. ‘We are always on the lookout for more treasures,’ he concludes, ‘such as early two-door Range Rovers, Series Land Rovers and early 90s and 110s.’ As you can read elsewhere in this issue, the company has a happy knack of finding just such Land Rovers on a regular basis.

Mike Trott

4 Issue 9: November 2014

w w w . t h e l a n d y . c o . u kClubsAdventure WorkshopProducts VehiclesNews

laNd rover uNveIls New dIscovery sportFreelander replacement offers premium style, high-tech specification and 5+2 seating • ‘Pivotal moment’ in Land Rover’s 66-year history • On sale January 2015, priced from £32,395

Land Rover has unveiled the all-new Discovery Sport. Set to go on sale in January next year, the replacement for the Freelander 2 will be the first model in a new Discovery family – paving the way for the arrival of the Disco 5 during 2016.

The Discovery Sport will become Solihull’s entry-level vehicle when it goes on sale. Land Rover expects it to emulate the success of the other youngster in the group – and also the fastest-selling Land Rover to date – the Range Rover Evoque.

However, while the Evoque focuses on style and luxury, the Discovery

Sport has been designed to achieve the high levels of practicality its family name demands.

To this end, it will be available with a 5+2 seating formation, giving it a head start over rivals like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Like the Freelander, it will be designed for light weight and agiity rather than off-road ability, but will still

be at or near the top of the compact SUV class in this area.

How does it look on the outside?Many of the Disco Sport’s styling cues have transferred over from the Discovery Vision Concept we witnessed earlier in the year at the New York International Auto Show. The

front of the vehicle is typical of all the latest Land Rover models: it’s altogether less boxy than the Freelander 2, despite sharing that vehicle’s front-end structure.

The Sport is 16mm shorter than the Freelander, giving it a less upright and more hunkered look. It has a wider track, too, by 20mm and 16mm for

Mike Trott





laNd rover uNveIls New dIscovery sportFreelander replacement offers premium style, high-tech specification and 5+2 seating • ‘Pivotal moment’ in Land Rover’s 66-year history • On sale January 2015, priced from £32,395

the front and back respectively, and accommodating an extra row of seats stretches its overall length by 99mm. It’s still shorter than the X3, however.

Differences to the Disco Vision concept are few, but a notable one is the omission of the stepped roof that’s been a Discovery signature since day one. The Sport also has a different taillight

treatment and will use traditional front-hinged doors rather than the rear suicide doors of the Vision concept.

will it be good to drive?At launch, every model will come with the 190bhp 2.2-litre SD4 diesel engine that’s already used in the Freelander and Evoque. Jaguar Land Rover’s new

Ingenium Engine range won’t make an appearance until later in 2015, when the 2.0 eD4 unit from the forthcoming Jag XE is introduced in a 119g/km entry-level two-wheel drive model.

As it is, the 2.2 SD4 will be available with a choice of six-speed manual or

The Freelander 2 will go out of production soon after the Disco Sport is launched, bringing the vehicle’s 17-year history to an end.

It’s been speculated elsewhere in the media that Land Rover might bring the Freelander name back at some point in the future. But where would it be used?

With the Disco Sport starting at more than £30,000, Land Rover has left a gap which many market watchers have suggested could be filled by a smaller SUV. This would become the entry point in the new Discovery family, with a likely launch in the medium-term future – certainly well after the Disco 5’s 2016 arrival.

The name of such a vehicle wouldn’t be finalised for a long time yet. But the Freelander will have been gone for at least three years by then. Discovery Freelander, anyone? You heard it here first…

Farewell to the Freelander?

Continued overleaf



nine-speed ZF auto transmissions. The former is better on fuel, at 46.3mpg combined as opposed to 44.8mpg, but the auto will get you from 0-60mph in 8.4 secs – 1.4 secs faster than the manual. So you can turn up at your destination a little late and a shade greener, or just arrive on time like everyone else.

Like any vehicle fit to wear a ‘sport’ badge, the new Disco has been designed with an eye to minimising weight. Its structures are in high-strength aluminium where possible,

with ultra-high-strength steel used where necessary to keep its body rigid.

That sounds like it’s taking a leaf from the Evoque’s book, and indeed the Disco Sport shares some of that vehicle’s underpinnings – such as its steel monocoue.

‘Our challenge has been to combine premium design with exceptional versatility,’ said Land Rover design boss Gerry McGovern. ‘The two attributes must work in harmony. I’m proud to say we’ve achieved that; Discovery Sport’s dynamic design will resonate

on an emotional level with consumers, and this vehicle is more versatile than any other premium compact SUV on the market.’

What’s it like inside?In terms of usability and practicality, the Disco Sport promises to be a major improvement over the Freelander – whose packaging has been left in the past by more modern small SUVs. The middle row of seats can slide forwards and backwards by 160mm to suit its occupants and the third row can be

A flexible interior features three rows of seats, arranged stadium-style to provide 5+2 accommodation. The second and third rows emulate the world-class Discovery 3 and 4 by folding flat, keeping the load floor as low as possible to create a 1698-litre cargo bay, while the dash area combines premium quality with a highly functional design. Land Rover expects this extra form of practicality to win buyers from other compact SUVs like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3





folded flat if you choose to carry a wardrobe instead of two extra children.

Even if you do need to use the back seats, the boot provides more room than the Freelander’s. Fold them back down, and it’s capable of carrying up to 1698 litres. Critical in this area has been a new coil-sprung multi-link rear suspension set-up, which, as well as saving weight by using forged aluminium components, avoids intruding into the cabin the way the Freelander’s suspension towers do.

Interior equipment is impressive on all models. Part-leather seats (heated at the front) cruise control and climate control are all standard, as is a leather steering wheel with multi-functional controls, and there is plenty of interior lighting. Definitely no basement…

Land Rover says the Sport’s high-quality interior is supposed to reflect the premium design of the exterior. The vertical centre console, dial and button configuration look and feel premium, in a functional sort of way.

Higher spec models come with auto headlights and wipers, front parking sensors, reversing camera, panoramic sunroof and double-stitched leather.

What fancy stuff is on board?Unsurprisingly, the Disco Sport will offer Land Rover’s full InControl range – such as InControl Remote, which allows you to do things like check your fuel level when you’re not in the vehicle and locate where you’ve left it in a busy car park. All this is operated through your smartphone – as are InControl Apps, accessed on the move through the vehicle’s all-new infotainment system and eight-inch touchscreen.

Further technical highlights include Autonomous Emergency Braking and

The current crop of Land Rover vehicles are handsome beasts, particularly compared to some of their predecessors (like the L322). Solihull has produced another attractive model with the Discovery Sport, which will bring plenty of customers through the doors of its showrooms next year. It’s a vehicle I’d happily have sitting outside my front window.

Mike Trott

Continued overleaf



In October 1997, at the height of Freelander fever, I was given the opportunity to spend a few days pounding the roads of Britain aboard a pre-production model. People came up to me every time I stopped – a couple even chased after me to ask about it.

All of them had one question: How much will it tow? That says a lot about Land Rover’s customers.

The answer was 1800kg. This was improved a little with the Freelander 2, which can pull 2000kg. But the Discovery Sport is a much more usable proposition ahead of a trailer.

Land Rover says the 5+2 model will be rated to pull 2200kg. But with the optional tow pack, braked trailer limit is quoted at 2500kg – putting it into the same sort of territory as many much larger SUVs.

Alan Kidd

The Weighty Question Land Rover insiders claim to have been startled by the Sport’s ability off-road. This wasn’t at the top of Land Rover’s priority list, but the company knows it has to put on a show here in order to live up to its name: the latest version of Terrain Response, along with a fifth-generation Haldex centre coupling, deliver strong traction to go with an agile chassis and body shape

“The launch of the new Discovery Sport is a pivotal moment in Land Rover’s 66-year history.”

Phil Popham, Group Marketing Director

“We’ve refused to allow functionality to compromise Land Rover’s design leadership and vice versa.”

Gerry McGovern, Chief Creative Officer

“Engineering innovation is key to Discovery Sport’s outstanding versatility.”

Murray Dietsch, Director, Land Rover Programmes

“Not only does it offer 5+2 seating, it’s also astonishingly capable off-road, can tow up to 2.5 tonnes and handles with an agility to entertain even the most demanding drivers. There’s no other compact premium SUV like it.”

Nick Veale, Chief Engineer





Seventeen years ago, the first Freelander rewrote the Land Rover rule book. With no chassis, no live axles and no low box – but an electronic or mechanical solution to every question those omissions posed – it was truly radical. Revolutionary, even.

Being so similar to the Range Rover Evoque underneath, the Discovery Sport can hardly be described as radical in technical terms. As a marketing prospect, however, it’s clearly just as significant as the Evoque – and it promises to be every bit as successful, too.

Parking Assist, both of which will be on the options list. The former uses stereo cameras to assess the road ahead and will automatically apply the brakes should it detect an impending impact.

The Parking Assist feature helps you with a number of scenarios – parallel, perpendicular, etc – using ultrasonic sensors to detect nearby obstacles. And while we’re on the subject of obstacles, the Sport’s front end contains an external airbag to help prevent serious injuries in a pedestrian collision.

In keeping with the Discovery tradition, there are plenty of storage spots within the cabin. You can opt for up to four 12v power points and six USB charging sockets serving all three rows, so even with a full set of passengers on board you should never be in any danger of actually having to have a conversation.

Is it any good off-road?It’s well documented that, whereas the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are a serious proposition off-road, the Evoque is only really suitable for gentle forays away from the tarmac. Similarly, while the Freelander has always been more capable off-road than the majority of compact SUVs, it’s nowhere near the Discovery in this area.

With the Freelander’s replacement to be part of the new Discovery family, however, will it be more able off-road? Land Rover says yes, with a fifth-generation Haldex centre coupling providing quicker responses to wheel slip and the lastest version of Terrain Response allowing the driver to select from the usual options to best suit the surface ahead.

Continued overleaf



Approach, departure and breakover angles are 25, 31 and 21 degrees respectively, while the Discovery Sport can wade up to a depth of 600mm. As with the Freelander, there’s no low-range, but manual and automatic gearboxes alike are geared to provide usable engine braking. In addition to this, one of Land Rover’s new electronical tricks is Engine Drag Control, which increases torque to any individual wheels that start to lock up in this situation.

How much will it cost?With just the engine available at launch, the Disco Sport range will be defined by gearbox and trim options alone. Buyers get to choose from four different models – SE, SE Tech, HSE and HSE Luxury – with on the road prices starting at £32,395.

SE, SE Tech and HSE models offer the choice of manual or auto boxes, the latter at an £1800 premium. The HSE Lux, which has the auto box as standard, costs £32,995.

Land Rover will be taking orders from January 2015, with deliveries due to commence in March. An option you’d expect most buyers to take up is a service plan covering five years or 50,000 miles for a one-off fee of £499.

With the 2.0 diesel engine bringing a 2wd option later in 2015, entry-level prices for the Disco Sport will drop below the £30k barrier. Based on the price structure in the Freelander range, expect the front-wheel drive SE to start at around £28,500.

Prices2.2 SD4 SE £32,395SE Tech £33,895HSE £37,595 2.2 SD4 Automatic

SE £34,195SE Tech £35,695HSE £39,395HSE Lux £42,995





In the autumn of 1997, back when I was editor of the new-defunct Land Rover World, we were eagerly anticipating the launch of what was known as CB40. That was Solihull’s code name for what it was soon to unveil as the Freelander.

I’m not expecting the same thing to happen with the Discovery Sport, but back then we got a phone call in the office from one of Land Rover’s PR guys, asking if we’d like to borrow a pre-production Freelander for a few days so we could get our article ready ahead of the launch. We ended up with two, actually, a 1.8 petrol and 2.0 diesel, and a couple of us did the thick end of 1000 miles in them.

We got to know them pretty well over the course of those few days. By the end, we had no doubt that this Landy was going to be a vast success.

Why? Well, aside from how good they were to drive, every time we ventured out on the road people were falling over themselves to ask us about them. What was obvious was that the pre-launch hype had really worked. ‘Is this that new baby Land Rover?’ we were asked over and over.

In particular, I remember our two-strong convoy getting caught in traffic and ending up sat outside a Land Rover main dealership. I watched the salesmen out of the corner of my eye, stood in a group chatting away… until one of them clocked us.

Seriously, it was like someone had thrown a firecracker into the middle of them. Two of them actually fell over, they were so eager to press their faces against the window to check out these hot new Landies.

Today, these new Landies are a bit of a joke (well, their head gaskets are). But the sales figures don’t lie. And the Freelander is soon to be replaced by an even hotter new Landy.

Like I say, I don’t expect the press office to give us a pre-production one this time. But if I were to get stuck outside that same dealership again, I’d fully expect the same reaction. And the sales charts? Just wait for it. They’re going to go ballistic.

Alan Kidd, Editor

Comment



Land Rover goes Galactic!Solihull marks Discovery Sport launch with unique competition to win a trip into space

Is this the ultimate competition prize? Forget lotteries: all they can offer you is mere money. Land Rover, on the other hand, has teamed up with Virgin Galactic to offer four people the chance to go into space.

The competition will scour the online world for a group of aspiring astronauts, with the prize being the flight of a lifetime with Virgin Galactic.

This extraordinary opportunity is part of the launch programme for the new Discovery Sport (see page 4), which was unveiled via Land Rover’s website from Virgin’s base at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

To find its quartet of budding astronauts, Land Rover is inviting people to producing a 30-second video, or a still image, that exhibits their ‘spirit

of adventure.’ You then select the three friends you’d choose to join you in space and submit your entry via the company’s website at www.landrover.com/gotospace.

Those selected for the flight will be among the first adventurers to view Earth from space. They’ll also get to enjoy the unique pleasure of experiencing zero gravity. Land Rover

is, not unreasonably, expecting entries from all around the globe, numbering into the tens of thousands.

Phil Popham, Jaguar Land Rover Group Marketing Director, said: ‘Only Land Rover could offer this incredible opportunity – the chance to win the most spectacular group journey of a lifetime. Our heritage is rooted in adventure, exploration and a desire to go above and beyond, and nothing embodies this spirit of discovery more than a trip to space.’

The renowned British adventurer Bear Grylls – now a Land Rover ambassador – is going to be involved personally with helping the group prepare for their inaugural voyage into space. He said: ‘This prize really is the ultimate adventure of a lifetime. I’ve stood on top of Mount Everest and looked up at the black above me, thinking “there’s only one place higher to go now.” As humans, it is in our DNA to go where people have never been before, and now four friends have the opportunity to do that.’

Various other adventurers are backing the Galactic Discovery mission, including explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, entrepreneur and founder of

Virgin Galactic Sir Richard Branson and former actress and wildlife campaigner Virginia McKenna.

The partnership between Land Rover and Virgin Galactic was announced in New York earlier this year. Needless to say, the winners will be transported to the spacecraft aboard Land Rover vehicles in what will be the last journey they take before blasting off.

George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said: ‘We share the same spirit of adventure and exploration as Land Rover, and it inspires everything we do. Democratising space and giving individuals around the world from all walks of life an opportunity to see the Earth from above is at the heart of our mission as a spaceline.’

Land Rover and Virgin Galactic are now investigating further potential collaborations, projects and other unique experiences for customers. The two companies are also actively working together on a joint education programme to encourage young people into the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The astronauts of the future could be taken aboard by Land Rover in more ways than one.

Land Rover looks to create ex-military jobs in wake of Invictus GamesJaguar Land Rover has praised the inspirational Invictus Games, and the contribution made by the 413 servicemen and women in this special event which took place from 10-14 September.

Injured, sick and wounded Servicemen and women from 13 different nations across the globe came together to compete in the inaugural four-day sporting event, presented by Jaguar Land Rover and backed by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence.

As the Games came to an end, two special awards were presented to competitors Joe Townsend (pictured) and Maurice Manuel at the Closing Concert.

Denmark’s Manuel took the title for Land Rover’s Unconquerable Soul after displaying true dedication to the Games – having captained and coached Denmark’s wheelchair basketball team to bronze, he claimed silver in the javelin, bronze in the Ambulant IT1 200m and bronze in wheelchair rugby. This was all achieved while caring for an unwell family member that week.

Manuel had served on no less than six tours of Iraq and Afghanistan before an IED explosion led to the amputation of his right leg back in 2010. Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallagio presented the award to the Army veteran, who described it as ‘an honour beyond measure’.

Speaking after receiving his award at the closing ceremony, Manuel commented: ‘There are so many people I want to thank for this amazing experience, being part of the Invictus Games and for helping me accomplish my goals. Thank you to my family and to

all the competitors for inspiring me and pushing me to exceed my own expectations.’

The award for Exceptional Performance went to Joe Townsend, who claimed four gold medals at the Wednesday athletics before going on to win silver and bronze in hand cycling on the Saturday. Townsend, who previously cycled 3000 miles across the USA, received his award from Team Sky cyclist Ian Stannard and Olympic rower Katherine Grainger.

The veteran Royal Marine lost both legs above the knee after standing on an anti-tank mine in Afghanistan in 2008. ‘To be selected for this award from over 400 inspiring competitors is very special,’ he said. ‘The first ever Invictus Games have been an incredible event and this award caps a week I will remember for the rest of my life.

‘Winning four gold medals on the first day of competition was incredible. Sport has played a huge role in my recovery and the Invictus Games will hopefully continue to provide a platform for people like me to achieve their goals.’

There was even a chance for competitors to turn a wheel in anger as the very first medals of the games were awarded for the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge. Participants started off-road aboard a Discovery before going on to tarmac at the wheel of a Jag F-Type.

Dr Ralf Speth, JLR Chief Exec, said: ‘We are immensely proud to have played our part in these hugely successful Games and would like to congratulate every one of the 413 competitors who have provided such inspiration this week.

‘The Invictus Games have delivered four thrilling days of competition and further demonstrated the power of sport in recovery. The Games have demonstrated the potential of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and once again highlighted the valuable role that veterans could play as skilled employees.

‘With the Games now over, our work to leave a lasting legacy will now take centre stage. Jaguar Land Rover will continue to work closely with the Royal Foundation and the Ministry of Defence to explore innovative ways of enhancing the employment prospects of ex-service personnel moving into civilian life, including those who are wounded, injured or sick.’



Thefts of Land Rovers, for so long a serious problem in Britain, continue to rise. The South East, in particular the Kent area, is the latest region to have experienced a sharp spike in thefts, with the latest victims including members of the South East 4x4 Response Group.

A volunteer from the Response Group, Louise Wright, 31, became one of the latest victims of an all too familiar crime wave when her blue Defender 90 Tdi was stolen. It is believed that the vehicle disappeared between 4pm on 23 August and noon on the 25 August, having been parked on a private driveway in her home town of Ashford.

‘I signed up with the response team about a year ago and have been training and getting to know them all,’ Louise told The Landy. ‘It was the vehicle that I had always wanted. We had done a lot of work on it and I have had it for quite a few years.

‘I joined the team because I had the car and I just wanted to help, so I am devastated.’

The blue Defender, which had been fitted with a snorkel, roof rack and winch bumper, is one of the vehicles the South East 4x4 Response Group had come to rely on in being able to carry out their assignments.

The group voluntarily supports emergency services in the area, as well as Kent search and rescue teams and local authorities, during periods of bad weather when it can be difficult to reach remote locations.

James Chalkley, vice-chairman for South East 4x4 Response, said: ‘Louise is one of the few female members of our team and it is a terrible shame. It is one less vehicle on the road, and in a search and rescue case that can mean the difference between finding someone or not.

‘I certainly hope that these people or person get caught and that it isn’t already halfway across Europe. Please be vigilant and keep an eye out for the Land Rover.’

More recently, the Folkestone area has come into the spotlight after police received two reports of incidents in which Land Rovers were involved. On Wednesday 3 September, between 7pm and 8pm, a green K-reg Land Rover was taken from the road in Grimston Avenue.

Two people were then seen the following day trying to start the engine of another Land Rover at 8.05pm, which was located in nearby Julian Road. Once disturbed by the vehicle’s owner, the individuals ran off in the direction of Cheriton Road.

Another incident in Kent saw a stolen Defender driven a short way

off the road near Laddingford and set alight. The vehicle, which had been fitted with a snorkel, winch and swing-away spare wheel carrier, was destroyed in the fire.

Police are urging owners to be vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect their vehicles. Among their advice is for owners to garage their Land Rover whenever possible or, if that’s not possible, to park on their driveway or in a well-lit area. A garage alarm, locks and padlocks, a Thatcham approved immobiliser or steering lock could all help in preventing or slowing down the thieves, particularly with older models not fitted with electronic immobilisers.

Further advice is to not leave your keys anywhere obvious and easily accessed by a thief breaking into your house – for example, on a hook by the front door. You should also keep a record of your chassis number and so on, as these details might help reunite you with your Land Rover (or, more likely, identify you as a source of stolen parts in the future).

With regards to current investigations and thefts, Kent police simply says that ‘Enquiries are ongoing.’ Earlier this year, The Landy reported on Operation Emporia, set up by West Yorkshire police to combat this same problem. Clearly, Land Rover thieves are yet to be discouraged from trying.

Mike Trott

STOLEN: Louise Wright’s Tdi-engined 90 was taken from a driveway in Ashford. It had been a pivotal vehicle in operations carried out by the South East 4x4 Response Group

Defender theft epidemic flares up in Kent





Editor Alan Kidd

Assistant Editor Mike Trott

Admin and Editorial AssistantGemma Pask

Art Editor Samantha D’Souza

Contributors Dan Fenn, Robbie Ronson, Olly Sack, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Vince Pratt

Photographers Steve Taylor, Harry Hamm

Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242

Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242

Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: [email protected]

Every effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Landy are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor

the consequences of actions made as a result of these

When responding to any advert in The Landy, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers’ probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts

The Landy is distributed by Britpart. Details of your

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The Landy is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ

© 2014Assignment Media Ltd

01283 553243 • [email protected] • www.thelandy.co.uk • www.facebook.com/thelandyuk

NEXT MONTH

PLUS Winter’s on its way – the season when owning a Landy can suddenly make you very

popular. Just so long as you know how to prep it for the cold weather to come…

NEXT MONTH’S LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 27 OCTOBERYou can pick up your copy of our December 2014 issue from Britpart dealers or WHSmith – or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

ONE-FAMILY CLASSIC The tale of a Mk1 Range Rover that started life as a retirement gift and didn’t even end it when an insurer tried to write it off…

Buying a stolen-recovered Defender from a police auction isn’t exactly the best way to guarantee you’re getting a nice clean one. But when it’s been used as a self-propelled skip for dog bones… no wonder this one’s been rebuilt since then and turned into a storming real-world winch machine



Goodwinch has unveiled what it calls its ‘ultimate’ winch – a new version of its TDS-9.5 Goldfish featuring not one but two of the company’s hugely popular Bowmotor 2s.

These are installed using a 2up adaptor, which uses a toothed belt to drive the winch’s drum from both motors’ output shafts. Made in New Zealand, the adaptor housing is machined from a single aluminium billet and black anodised for maximum resistance to corrosion; Goodwinch says the whole kit, which also includes a high-density ABS plastic cover, is made to the highest quality standards and competition-proven in the harshest conditions.

For a pre-assembled, bench-tested machine with Goodwinch’s own cherry-picked features, £1999 plus VAT and delivery will get you the 2up TDS Goldfish complete with two Bowmotor 2s, a large drum conversion, an air freespool actuator, 125 feet of Dyneema Bowrope and an aluminium hawse fairlead. Alternatively, you can pick and choose your own recipe from the company’s options list; most who do this will also be happy to save a few pounds by assembling their winch themselves.

Among these options is Goodwinch’s Turbo2 power controller, which over-volts the 12v motors on demand – a method of getting yet more out of them that’s been

designed and tested to ensure you don’t harm them in the process. Depending on the spec you’ve already gone for, Goodwinch also offers a choice of Lodar wireless remotes, with two functions (in and out) or, if you want to add freespool operation and 12/24-volt toggling, four.

Other options include an entry-level build (if a twin-motor winch can ever be called that) using two Bowmotor 1s and the TDS unit’s own sealed solenoid. Nothing at all wrong with that, of course, though the bigger model upgrades to a pair of Bowright solenoids with larger silver contacts.

If you want to build it up yourself, you can also order the 2up conversion kit on its own. Supplied with two pairs of long motor bolts to suit either the Bowmotor 1 or Bowmotor 2, this is priced at £666 plus VAT.

Other prices you might be interested in include £299 for the Turbo2 controller, £99 for the air freespool kit on its own and either £179 or £275 for the Lodar remote, depending on how many functions you want it to have.www.goodwinch.com

Overlanders who’ve taken their Land Rovers to Russia tend not to come home raving about how smooth the local roads are. So you’d think the off-road industry out there ought to know a bit about underbody protection.

Rival is a new name to the UK, but the Russian outfit has been growing fast since 2006 and is on target to ship one million products during the course of 2014. With 450 staff and four warehouses covering Europe and the USA, this isn’t a small outfit.

The company has a vast range including an awful lot of the sort of vehicles that never leave the tarmac (which itself says something about its domestic market), but it also offers plates to protect various parts of the Defender, Disco 3 and 4, all kinds of

Range Rover (including Sport and Evoque) and, pictured here, Freelander 2.

Most guards are made of aluminium rather than steel, so as well as being strong they’re light in weight and resistant to rusting. They’re stamped for rigidity and pre-drilled for easy installation, too, so attaching one to your vehicle ought to be a straightforward job with the spanners.

Oddly, Rival’s range doesn’t currently include the Defender 90. But the company says it can have new fitments developed and ready for sale within a week, and its plates look like good value for money – the Freelander engine and gearbox protector in the picture is yours for a bit less than £250.www.xs4x4.parts

You don’t have to be a Land Rover owner to face up to the task of rebuilding a cylinder head. But you won’t be one for long before your truck’s engine starts to sound like it could do with it, so Burton Power’s newly updated Cylinder Head Component Rack could prove very useful to you.

The rack, which can handle engines with up to 16 valves, features integral trays for camshafts and all their associated valves, springs, rockers and collets. What makes it so handy is that when you’re dismantling a cylinder head, it lets you store all the components in exactly the right order for easy reassembly.

It’s finished in a high visibility yellow – meaning you’re less likely to give it a clumsy punt while blundering around your workshop. This alone makes it ideal for quite a lot of the Landy boys we know.

Burton Power quotes a price of £45 including VAT for the rack, but you’ll get it for less if you order directly from the company’s website. www.burtonpower.com

If you’d be tempted by an early Discovery 3, if only you weren’t so terrified of what the vehicle’s air suspension could do to your sanity (and bank balance), Britpart’s new Coil Conversion Kit could be just the thing you need. People have been converting P38 Range Rovers back to coils for more than a decade, and with the first D3s now coming up on that sort of age a way of banishing one of the model’s most fearsomely expensive features has got to make sense.

The kit includes everything you need to do the conversion. That means four coil-over suspension struts as well as the all-important plug-in module – necessary to stop the vehicle’s brain from thinking there’s a fault with the air suspension and lighting up the dashboard like a Christmas tree.

This much hardware doesn’t add up to a throwaway purchase, needless to say. You’re likely to pay something in the region of £700 – so a bit of shopping around is definitely in order.www.britpart.com





Are beadlockers road-legal? It’s one of those questions that’s forever getting people talking in pubs and forums without anyone ever seeming to come up with an answer.

Well, the answer is that they can be. Hutchinson Wheels has proved that by manufacturing a range of heavy-duty double-beadlock alloys with full TUV approval.

Like any other beadlocker, these allow you to air your Landy’s tyres right down for off-road use without having to worry about pulling them off the rim. British off-roaders traditionally let a bit out without going so soft that a beadlock is necessary, but in America it’s normal to run hardcore terrain at single-figure PSIs – meaning this kind of solution is an everyday part of an off-road build.

The advent of winch challenges has made beadlocks much more familiar over here, but they’re still a rare sight outside of the elite competition scene. At £470 a wheel for a 16x8” design to fit the Defender, they’re not about to become commonplace on every old playday beater you see going about, but with their light weight and road-legal status these are set to go to the top of the premium market for the sort of builds you see people drooling over at shows. www.xs4x4.parts

Defender doors have never been famous for being cheap. Quite the opposite, in fact, which is one reason why their being so prone to knocks and dings is a lot less funny than it ought to be. And it didn’t ought to be very funny at all.

Britpart is now offering Defender door assemblies from Land Rover’s own Genuine Parts range, complete with sought-after STC-prefix part numbers. Supplied naked for you to dress up with the hardware taken from your beaten-up old doors, they’re likely to cost in the region of £275-£300 plus VAT. So Defender doors still aren’t cheap after all this time – but at least they exist.www.britpart.com

While we’re on the subject of Britpart, the company has just brought out its new catalogue. And it’s a bit of a landmark one, because it’s the tenth.

Britpart’s ever-growing range means the catalogue has 32 more pages than the last one. And to keep the eye-popping stats coming thick and fast, it contains more than 3000 accessory part numbers – as well as some 300 parts that have been added to the range since the previous edition. www.britpart.com

‘WE DON’T ACTIVELY LOOK FOR RE-TRIM JOBS. THEY JUST FIND US!’

Buying a blinged up Defender can mean spending the sort of cash that could buy you a new Range Rover. But a company in Kent is trying to make cool 90s more affordable to the common man. And their new demo truck is definitely very bling indeed…

It’s been said that the Defender has failed to evolve with the times. That’s nonsense, of course, because as everyone knows it’s the times

that have got it wrong by failing to stay in the same era as the Defender.

At any rate, there’s never been any shortage of people doing things to Land Rover’s enduring masterpiece to make it more appealing to ‘modern’ buyers. One of the latest results of this endlessly creative corner of the aftermarket is this snazzy number from the guys at FCX – Defender Outfitters.

The company is a relatively new face in the ‘add-on’ market. But those

behind it are long-term admirers of the Defender name.

Matt Richards, front man of the operation, first got into Land Rovers when a family friend let him drive a Series IIA at the tender age of nine. Nothing like starting them early. The bug bit and Matt has gone on to own Landies of one sort or another ever since he passed his driving test at 17.

‘I started trialling with the AWDC in 1988 in a 2.5-litre petrol 90,’ says Matt. ‘I’ve been through bobtailed Range Rovers and every wheelbase going, and I currently off-road with the Twin Axle Club in a traybacked Td5.’

That’s a strong off-roading pedigree he’s got there, then. But it won’t have

escaped your notice that the 90 in these pictures has been taken in a very different direction.

‘FCX was an idea I had when I bought a steel cubby box to house my radio, and I got fed up with catching my sleeve on the hinged lid that covered the stereo compartment. A chance meeting has now, two years on, seen us exporting our own unique design of Radiobox all over the world. We also offer a ‘Twin DIN’ cubby box, which allows Defender owners to secure their CB/Radio securely and also house seven Carling switches.’

The Defender is the company’s current demonstrator, a 2014 2.2 TDCi XS 90. It came from the factory as a



SELL FOR LEATHER

Left: Remember the time when Defenders came out of the factory without a dashboard at all? FCX boss Matt Richards does – he started competing in an early 90 more than a quarter of a century ago, and now he does this to them…

Mike Trott





Firenze Red Hard Top with the optional Santorini black roof – a loud and proud Defender if ever there were one.

Many of the external features are optional extras from LR itself, such as the genuine SVX front including the grill, bonnet and wheelarches – again, all in Santorini black – and the light pods and door mirrors to match.

The Genuine Sawtooth alloys and Goodyear Wrangler 235/80R16 tyres,

side steps and rear NAS step were chosen from the factory options catalogue, too. Then, finally, Matt and his team got their hands on the vehicle – and promptly set about enhancing it.

On the outside, it still looks pretty much as it did

when it was delivered. The underside got a liberal dose of Dinitrol to keep it fresh and on went a bespoke FCX front bumper fitted with driving and daytime running lights.

After that, attention turned to the interior. That’s where the differences would really be made.

‘Our mission was to try and showcase all the leather-trimmed products that we sell, and also include a couple of custom touches to prove we have the capability,’ says Rich Pope, head of the FCX trim shop. ‘We started by totally gutting the interior, including the dash. We then fully soundproofed every panel, roof and doors to eliminate any vibration – this was important as we would be fitting a high powered audio system.’

So, what you see is what you get with this Defender, because the trimmed items in the pictures are how they would look if you ordered them through the FCX website. But actually you get more besides, because all that soundproofing is tucked away out of sight and out of mind.

Many of the parts shown in the pictures match the loud Firenze Red on the exterior, but FCX says it can supply any colour by special order. So if you fancy a garish gold or a calming cobalt, your wish is FCX’s command. The seats, for example, are genuine SVX items – which have been re-trimmed in the centre to match the dashboard.

We mentioned the vehicle’s unique features and one is the cubby box, which is based on the FCX ‘Silverstone’ unit. The switches have been relocated to accommodate a double-DIN dash conversion, but also to enable the housing of an amplifier and sound processor – the clue being the twin cooling fans installed in the rear.

‘The build took three months from start to finish and was mostly carried out in the evenings and weekends, so as not to disturb the day-to-day running of the business,’ Matt says. It’s obvious the moment you look inside the vehicle that serious time has been spent on it.

Continued overleaf

Left: FCX can trim pretty much anything in leather. The demo truck is a showcase for all the company’s off-the-shelf items, but it also carries a couple of bespoke touches to illustrate their capability in that departmentBelow: One such bespoke item is the cubby box, which is based on FCX’s existing Silverstone unit but has been modified to carry an amp and sound processor. Note the twin cooling fans in the back of the unit

£480Price of a Santorini Black roof when you order a new Defender



Of course, there are people to whom modifying a Defender this way is nothing short of sacrilege. It’s most definitely in your face, and some would call it vulgar, but there’s no shortage of customers who like the individual character FCX can give a Landy.

‘We’re trying to be individual,’ says Matt. ‘We don’t supply vehicles, we don’t sell wheels and tyres. What we offer is the opportunity to “customise” your Defender at an affordable price. You can buy each of our products individually and install yourself.

‘Start with a set of leather trimmed door handles for example, add other trimmed items like dash tops, grab handles and so on at a pace that suits you and your pocket. We’ve deliberately kept our demonstrator standard on the outside; apart from the bumper, everything else was supplied, painted and installed by our supplying dealer.

‘We count among our customers a franchised Land Rover dealer,’ Matt continues, ‘for whom we regularly produce “Special Editions”. I get a real kick from standing off to one side in

their showroom and watching their clients walking straight past the £100,000 Range Rovers to look at our Defender first!’

Think that sounds like an exaggeration? Well, FCX is currently carrying out a full re-trim on a LHD 90 which has had an auto conversion and will soon be pulling its owner’s speedboat around the streets of Monte Carlo. Where do they find these gems?

‘We don’t actively look for re-trim jobs,’ says Matt, ‘they just find us! This will be our third for this customer.’

And if you still think this 90 is over the top – well, Matt agrees. Bear in mind it’s a demonstrator, designed to grab your attention and not let go until you’re well and truly aware of what FCX is and what it does.

And to continue what Matt was saying about loadsamoney Range Rovers, there definitely is a market for cool Defenders. Many people who are unmoved by Land Rover’s latest glam- wagons will cast a second glance at this 90 and admit that yes, it’s cool. Think of it as James Bond dressed for dinner. In any case, sitting in a real off-roader with a more luxurious cabin can never be a bad thing – wasn’t that the idea behind the original Range Rover?

But what about the future? What happens when the current Defender ceases to be and Land Rover replaces it with a real jump in evolution?

‘Land Rover has never sold so many Defenders. The announcement of the model’s demise has been great for us, with orders coming in thick and fast. At FCX we wait with baited breath for the “Defender replacement” and have our name down for one of the first off the production line. We hope to manufacture a range of products for the new model, but will never turn our backs on the Defender.

‘The Defender is iconic and will live forever – due to the hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts like us.’

Left: A lot of work went into quelling the ever-present cabin noise that’s a feature of driving any Defender. In particular, the van panels were treated before the rear of the vehicle was trimmed out. All this was important as the 90 was to get a major stereo system fitted – check out the speakers housed in the leather-clad rear doorBelow: Matt specified the Recaro seat option from Land Rover, and FCX retrimmed them to match the dashboard

‘I get a real kick standing off to one side

in a main dealer’s showroom and

watching their clients walking straight past

the £100,000 Range Rovers to look at our

Defender first!’



For some of us, our vehicles are much-loved companions with whom we share some of the biggest moments of our lives. They carry us to church on our wedding day; transport our wives to the labour room for that big moment (or that big 32-hour wait, in some unfortunate cases); even carry us on our final journey towards the end.

The point is that a car really can become part of the family. Granted, some of them become rebellious in their teenage years and we can’t wait to get rid of them, but tell me this: is there

a more fitting vehicle to be part of a family than a Land Rover?

There are some Land Rovers out there that fit the bill perfectly. They’ve only ever been owned by… no, that’s too heartless, let’s say only ever loved by one family.

Those of you who weren’t getting married last month may have noticed the pristine 90 we featured, which was for sale at the Land Rover Centre in Huddersfield. The company manages to come up with some ridiculously well-kept Land Rovers and here we have another: a 1982 Series III with, get this, 36,000 miles on the clock.

This delightful 88” has had quite a relaxing life, gently accumulating miles with a family in Devon by running around on their estate and making the occasional trip to London town.

Mark Griffiths is the Sales Manager at Land Rover Centre Huddersfield. He describes the Series III as the ‘most usable’ of all the Series Land Rovers. So where does this 88” rank?

‘It’s one of the best Series IIIs we have seen,’ Mark says. ‘But then again, in the past we have owned one of the Telethon Series III Land Rovers, which originally came to us with 36 miles on the clock, and a number of other very low mileage Land Rovers. So it is probably in the top ten!’

The Series III came to the Land Rover Centre as a Truck-Cab model, but has since been converted to a Soft-Top. ‘Soft tops seem to be better sellers,’ says Mark, ‘as families tend to use them as a fun vehicle. Taking kids and dogs to the beach, pottering around in them and travelling to holiday homes – that sort of thing.’

Pottering around in Devon for a work life and then moving on to the beach for retirement is not a dog’s life but a Land Rover’s life. No wonder this Landy has only done 36,000 miles – it spends all its time sunbathing!

Being on a Y-plate, the 88” is one of the last Series IIIs built before Land Rover went over to coil springs.

The notion of such a vehicle, now in its fourth decade, with barely more

than 1000 miles a year on the clock, seems outlandish – yet the team at the Land Rover Centre seems to have a knack of coming across such lovely examples. We asked Mark if it’s just luck, or it they scour the country in search of such fine specimens.

‘Yes, “scouring” is one of the most important parts of our job,’ he admitted. ‘However, as we have a reputation for buying and selling some of the very best Series Land Rovers in the world, a lot of them find us and come to us without ever appearing for sale elsewhere.’

Lucky for some. But what’s all this ‘usability’ about? You could, after all, get yourself a really nice Discovery for the sort of money it would take to

put a leafer of this quality behind your garage door, so why would it be worth investing in a Series III at this moment in time?

‘The Series I is getting a bit “precious” these days,’ explains Mark. ‘And while I know some people will still use them as everyday transport, in the main they tend to go to serious enthusiasts and collectors. Plus, they are not quite as usable as the later Series Land Rovers.

‘The Series II/IIA is my particular favourite – it has the usability of the Series III, save for the crash gearbox – which I quite like – but it has a bit more classic appeal with the metal dash, round heaters and instrument panel in the middle. The early ones with push

Mike Trott

It’s easy to come up with an endless list of high-quality leafers when you’ve got a worldwide reputation for buying and selling them. But even for Huddersfield Land Rover Centre, it was a red-letter day when a pristine Series III rolled through the door with a mere 1000 miles a year on the clock

‘A SERIES LAnd RovER IS A gREAt AddItIon to thE fAmILy – gAInIng moRE cLASSIc cAR StAtuS And cREdIbILIty’





button start and metal spoke steering wheel do it for me.

‘Unfortunately for the paying public, the Series II/IIAs are also tax exempt and, in the case of some very early ones, MOT exempt – so the prices for these have risen quite sharply recently. This means that although they are still a good investment (you can have a lot of fun in the safe knowledge that, if looked after, you will always get the majority of your money back), it does require a significant financial outlay to get one in good condition which isn’t going to turn into a money pit or a “hobby” vehicle.

‘The Series III doesn’t have quite the same classic appeal as the II/IIA. But it’s a little bit more affordable, a bit less precious, and a bit easier to drive, with

the syncro gearbox and servo brakes on later models.’

Starting to sound tempting? Yes, thought so. As Mark says, prices for the Series III aren’t quite as scary as they are for other leafers. Still, if you want the best or, in this case, a beautifully turned out beach bum of a Land Rover, you’ll pay top dollar for one because they are that good.

‘A Series Land Rover is a great addition to the family – gaining more classic car status and credibility,’ says Mark. ‘There are few classic car marques with a better parts back up and enthusiast club base. In general, the ones that we sell are equally happy taking the kids or the dogs to the beach, or sat alongside other examples at a classic car show.’

It’s always hard to predict the future. But with money earning little in the bank, a nice classic Land Rover will provide a lot more smiles than a few numbers on a bank statement. And while they have increased in value steadily over the last decade, there’s little sign of that easing up – so if you keep it long enough, there’s a good chance that it will provide a good return on your investment when the time comes to move it on.

So, this is a Landy that was one of the family for more than 30 years. And now it’s looking for a new home. One where it’ll take its owners everywhere they want to go, forever putting a smile on their faces, and make them money at the same time. We doubt it’s going to be looking for long.

Above: Like all good classics, the 88’s interior is basically unmolested and in excellent condition. After only covering about 1000 miles a year and spending its whole life in one family, that’s what you’d expect of such an original vehicleBelow: Something that’s not original is the Series III’s body. It came to the Land Rover Centre as a truck-cab, but they know from experience that soft-tops sell better – and to be fair, there’s nothing in the world that looks this good



There are many vehicles out there that I would like to buy and modify, or customise, or make right. I would like to have a Series I and return it to brand-spanking-new condition. Same goes for a Range Rover Classic LSE… and a Series IIA… and a Series III…

That’s probably sounding quite familiar to a lot of you. I’d quite like to take an old V8 Defender and turn it into my off-roading whip, too. The list is endless.

No, it really is. I even have a soft spot for the P38 Range Rover as well. No surprise, then, that I was more than a little bit curious when I came across Ian Jackson and his very special Mark 2.

This is an example of a vehicle owner who has handed over the keys to a workshop owner with instructions that it not be returned until it’s perfect (or something to that degree). A blank-cheque project. Fortunately for Ian, he wasn’t the one sitting at home waiting for said cheque to bounce, because he bought it from the guy who actually had that pleasure.

Now, some of you may be wondering why on earth you would pick a P38 to receive the all-inclusive treatment at your local garage. After all, this isn’t exactly the most highly regarded vehicle from Solihull’s history. But as Ian quite rightly points out: ‘Anyone

who really loves their car will happily spend lots on it.’

So how did he come across this P38 dream car? And why was he looking in the first place?

‘I was looking for a short-term project about a year ago. I was a bit bored and had some spare money in my pocket, which is always a dangerous combination! So I was looking for a new toy.’

Ian is not a man who is short of toys as a general rule. In last month’s Landy, we profiled the V8-engined Series II he also owns (complete with the galvanised chassis his wife bought him for his birthday). Go looking for a theme and you’ll quickly surmise that it’s a V8 thing – which was why this particular P38 grabbed his attention.

There’s no shortage of V8 Rangeys in the world, of course. This one is a 1996 4.6 HSE model... except it isn’t. Not any longer, at least.

What’s really under the bonnet is a 5.0-litre JE Engineering V8 which, as far as Ian is aware, was fitted in 2003. With an uprated camshaft and ported inlet manifold with big trumpets, what this means – besides having bragging rights over all other P38s – is that under his right lower limb, Ian can deploy 280 stallions as opposed to the regular 225. Enough to make it worth gripping the steering wheel a little more tightly, in any case.

‘I came across it at a local garage in Gillingham,’ he says. ‘It looked unloved and a bit scruffy, and I thought I could have some fun with it and sell it on for a tidy sum.

‘I was in the market for a P38 – actually a pre-production CVC-plated one, but I spotted this one instead. It’s always had a nice presence – I’m a police officer and drove one while I was on traffic duty a few years back. It holds the road really well, but obviously it’s no sports car.’

Besides that thunderous V8 at the head of the show, there are plenty of other features around the vehicle that have received attention during its makeover. These include an ITG filter in the custom air box, uprated anti-roll bars and spacers for the wheels, the latter giving it a broader stance and a welcome bit of extra stability.

The exhaust system is part stainless and includes a sports catalytic convertor. With all the extra noise and propulsion, the front brakes have bigger discs, while the rear discs are drilled and slotted upgrades which Ian has fitted personally.

‘The engine work is said to have cost £20,000 and I have a stack of service bills totalling as much again. Since purchasing it, I have serviced it, had the wheels refurbished and fitted a replacement headlining – the factory one sags, as per all Range Rovers.’

Mike Trott

People used to shake their heads in amazement at the idea of Land Rover pushing the Rover V8 to 4.6 litres for the P38 Range Rover. That’s what Ian Jackson’s HSE was powered by when it was built in 1996 – but since then, it’s become a street sleeper with a 5.0-litre JE Engineering V8 under the bonnet and a soundtrack that’s pure TVR

‘it looked unloved and a bit scruffy, and i thought i could have some fun with it’

Above: It’s old, it looks standard and it’s in what you might call a slightly humdrum (albeit rare) paint colour. Add it all up and the Rangey ticks every box to be a classic street sleeperBelow: The 5.0-litre engine isn’t the only thing that’s unusual about this P38. Its air suspension still works, too…





A P38 with issues? You must be joking… However, as they go, some floppy material above your head is no big deal compared to what these vehicles are capable of coming up with to horrify their owners.

Ian’s pretty relaxed about it, though. As far as he’s concerned, the secret to making your vehicle love you is to make sure you don’t neglect it. ‘If you’re not using it enough, the battery does go flat and it’ll then have a sulk. But if you drive it once or twice a week, it will be fine.

‘I think everyone should own a Range Rover at some point. It’s a good all-round car and you can pick up a decent example of a P38 for around £2000 now. It’s Rolls-Royce motoring for Mondeo money.

‘I particularly like this one because the charcoal is an unusual factory colour. Any ten-year-old vehicle is going to have foibles and creaks, but this is quite refined – and it sounds like a TVR!’

Alas, there are some drawbacks. The least surprising thing ever is that fuel consumption is one of them. According to Ian, the Rangey’s MPG figure is enough to make you cry – this being as low as eleven around town. ‘The performance is fun, though. I’d considered converting it to LPG, but

was advised against it. Because it’s the 5.0-litre, it runs extremely hot as it is and I’d rather not risk it.’

There are still a few more alterations we haven’t mentioned, including a refurbished Clarion radio and a new sunroof, which Ian fitted after the old one had seized – another classic problem some folks encounter. For a final tweak, he also refinished the rocker covers to complete that impressive engine bay.

As we know, Ian didn’t have to fork out for all the work that’s been

done to his P38. So would he now do something like this himself?

‘Back in 2003, the P38 hadn’t been long out of production. But I wouldn’t spend a load on a car like this now. It’d bankrupt you!’

There’s your answer to that one. But there’s another obvious question, too. Air suspension…

Ian says he actually likes it. Maybe that’s because on his vehicle, it actually still works. Whatever, he prefers the Rangey’s ride to that of his Series II, which is currently up for sale because

‘the leafs are a little harder than my back prefers these days.’

Actually, the Range Rover might join it in the queue for the exit door, too. Ian is planning to build a kit car, so he’s kind of clearing the decks in preparation. He’ll be keeping the Freelander 2 he drives from day to day, though, but for the future he says he fancies a petrol L322 or Disco 3 as an investment.

Either of those sounds like a more interesting place to put your money than some high-interest account. And

that’s definitely the case with this fire-breathing P38, which is a lot tidier than when Ian bought it. Nicer, safer and quicker on the road… he’s right about these being great all-round vehicles.

As for whether everyone should own a Range Rover at some point… well, one look (and listen) should convince a lot of people that they indeed should, and that it should be this one, too. At the very least, you can imagine ‘JE-engined P38’ starting to crop up on those lists we all make of the Landies we’d do anything to own…

A previous owner spent £20,000 on turning an everyday 4.6 HSE into a posh rod. The money got him a 5.0-litre JE V8 with a fast road camshaft and ported inlet manifolds with larger trumpets. Add an ITG filter in a custom air box, and you’ve got an unstressed 280bhp at your disposal – as well as an exhaust note that’ll make you go weak at the knees. Since buying the Rangey, Ian has refinished the rocker covers to tidy up the view you get when you lift the bonnet



Over the last couple of months, we’ve been keeping you up to date with the latest project taking shape in the

workshop at Spinney Engineering. An 88” Series IIA has been undergoing a general refurb in pursuit of being brought back to the condition that befits a classic Landy – not all concours and unusable, but well sorted and ready for another few decades’ service.

Who would you expect to buy such a vehicle? A deep-rooted enthusiast, probably, or someone with a yearning passion and a wad of money burning a hole in his pocket.

But not a 16 year old. Your first ve-hicle can mean a lot to you, as can your first Land Rover, so when both happen at the same time, you’ve truly come of age. And that’s just the way it is for Spencer, the lad to whom Spinney boss Andrew Poulson was happy to sell the recently completed IIA.

‘The new owner plans to keep the IIA forever,’ says Andrew, ‘and I hope he does. It’s so nice to see someone so young with a genuine passion for Land Rovers – good that he hasn’t been distracted with girls and beer… yet!

‘His dad’s always liked Land Rovers and Spencer has always wanted one, so he’s bought this one now. He’ll play about with it for a year or so before passing his test, but I hope it’ll be his first and only car – that’s the plan anyway!’

It might be another year before Spencer can drive on the road, but the refurbishment included a few jobs necessary for the IIA to come back from an MOT station smelling of roses. First, the vehicle has had a complete rewire and, after a respray, the seats have been re-installed and new seals fitted around the hard top.

‘The rest of the jobs have just been to check everything on the vehicle such as the lights, in readiness for the

MOT – which of course she sailed straight through as we expected. You do get a little bit more excited towards the end of a job, though. You begin to

work that bit faster so you can cross things off on that mental list you’ve got in your head!’

We all admire the brilliant Bronze Green colour of Land Rovers and it’s part of why Andrew chose to put the IIA in this colour, too. ‘It’s my absolute

An undoubted benefit of buying an old Land Rover that’s been through the refurbishment process is that the interior doesn’t look like something the cat brought in. Most Landy enthusiasts, aside from the most ardent classic fans, would agree that the perfect look is somewhere short of factory-fresh: you want it to be up to that standard of quality, but with the dents and scars of time left in place to give it the right feeling of character

‘It’s nice to see someone so young with a genuine passion for Land Rovers. Nice that he hasn’t been

distracted with girls and beer… yet!’

Mike Trott

When Andrew Poulson at Spinney Engineering started work on refurbishing an 88” Series IIA Hard-Top, little did he know it would end up with a buyer who doesn’t even have a driving licence yet. But this Landy’s new owner is impressively definite about what he wants to do with his prized truck – which is to keep it forever

fReshLy RestoRed, spINNey eNgINeeRINg’s seRIes IIA pRepARes foR LIfe wIth Its New 16-yeAR-oLd owNeR





favourite colour. I use Vehicle Refinishing Specialists in Boston, Lincolnshire for most of the respray and paintwork jobs I need doing.

‘I asked the guys for Land Rover green, but they said there was no such thing. “Nonsense,” I said. They did have British Bronze Green, however, and I must say it’s probably the best version of Land Rover Green I’ve seen. Sometimes it can be a bit too light or not quite right, but this is lovely.’

With the IIA project finished, Andrew found time for a short break away. Not that it deterred him from thinking about Land Rovers, of course! ‘I was sitting on holiday having a beer and couldn’t help but think I could be at home fitting my new exhaust. I think they call it a high stress level!’

Andrew can rest assured, though, that this Series IIA is going to someone who’s really going to love it. And as first vehicles go, what a vehicle! As well as being a genuine classic, which is only likely to increase in value, Spencer has got himself a fantastic looking machine that’s 100% British and absolutely full of character.

And, of course, it’s a Landy that’s just had a skillful refurbishment to back up its decades of service. Where will Spencer be sixteen years for now? Who knows… but we wouldn’t mind betting he’ll be there behind the wheel of a Land Rover.

Andrew originally took the IIA in to break it for parts, but as he went through it he found it was too good to scrap. Most of its major components were left well alone, though it’s had a full rewire and all the brakes have been renewed

When Spencer is finally able to drive his Land Rover on the road, it will be exactly 50 years old. Yet he’s only its third owner, the first having kept it for a staggering 44 years after driving it home on 22 April 1965. The intervening decades saw it submerged under a sea of ever-changing paint colours, all of which were stripped away one by one in the Spinney workshop before the exposed Birmabright was primed then finished off in a suitably handsome British Bronze Green

‘i’m hooked. it’s like a drug – once you start, you can’t stop’

Land Rovers can be a source of marital strife, or they can bring families together. For Tom Francis and his dad Adrian, off-roading is a shared pastime – and it’s led to them driving a pair of Landies which are very different but, deep down, reassuringly similar

Spending time with family is always important. It is, after all, your family.

But you won’t necessarily always want to do the same things, particularly if age, gender and level of apathy come into play. Even watching TV can be problematic in a household. While your mother, sister or wife may be craving a dose of Strictly Come Dancing on a Sunday evening, you may be wishing you were sitting in the electric chair as opposed to watching a D-list celebrity attempt the Cha-Cha.

It’s times like these when the men need to go and find an alternative. And what better way to spend some father/son time than spending it working on and driving Land Rovers? Take, for example, Tom Francis and his dad, Adrian. Like father, like son, they say, but with this pair it could be quite easily the other way around.

‘My boy always liked off-roaders,’ explains Adrian. ‘We used to take him to spectate at events. We then decided to buy our own, and now we’re hooked.’

No sooner had Adrian rented out a garage than the guy from the adjacent building let slip that he was a marshal at a playday site. The pair went along as passengers, and they’ve been addicted ever since.

‘Now I’m hooked,’ says Tom. ‘It’s like a drug – once you start you can’t stop!’ Since getting started by buying something small and Japanese, the two of them have found a love for Land Rovers and now own a pair of very special vehicles.

For Tom, his 1988 Defender is also his daily drive. ‘Wherever I go, it comes with me,’ he says. And it’s quite a capable machine for something that takes him to work and back.

The original 2.5TD engine has been replaced by a 300Tdi unit. An R380 Defender gearbox mated to a Discovery LT230 transfer box, both from Ashcroft, gets power to the four corners ends of the truck, while 35” Simex tyres and ARB lockers front and rear help keep the wheels both turning and gripping. Tom has lifted his

Defender, too, using +2” Old Man Emu springs along with +2” and +5” shocks at the front and rear respectively. It’s disc-braked at the back these days, too, and the axle is controlled in the centre by a high-angle A-frame ball joint.

Adrian’s Land Rover is a little different. Partly because it’s a Discovery, but more so because it’s a large yellow thing called ‘Big Bird’. As you know, not all birds are capable of flying - like the chicken you had for lunch last Sunday, for example - but this bird has spent much of its life trying to. In its former life it was a patrol car used at Heathrow Airport – meaning that from the day it was built, almost a decade passed before it was ever registered to go on the road. Now, at last, it can go and do some off- roading rather than just being blown about by Boeing’s finest.

The Disco has a 300Tdi engine, but elsewhere there are a few differences between it and Tom’s Defender. The Big Bird has been lifted by 2” and fitted with Terrafirma Pro Sport +50mm



Words and pictures mike trott

HAPPY FAMILIES

With its shorter wheelbase, 35” Simexes and ARB diff-locks, Tom’s 90 is the more overt off-roader of the two. It’s still his everyday drive, though – in his words, ‘wherever I go, it comes with me’





shocks all-round. The corners are shod with 285/75R16 Cooper Discoverers rather than the 90’s full-on Simexes, and there are a lot more electrical appliances about this vehicle. Strobe lights, LED light bar, search lights… enough for the other kind of disco, you might say, and that’s before you get to the Huets sound system.

Two Landies with a lot the same but a lot different, too. So, naturally, we came out and asked who has got the better truck.

Needless to say, a decision wasn’t made quickly and much debating took place. Tom and Adrian did reach a verdict, however, after some hours…

‘Me and my dad discussed this for ages and couldn’t decide,’ Tom says. ‘I would say the Defender is better off-road as it has a shorter wheelbase, but then again the Discovery is better in other areas as it’s a lot more comfy.

‘Being slightly longer is the downside. The Defender is more of a “work horse”. Realistically, they are equally as good and bad as each other!’

Same blood, different ideas on prep. Tom and Adrian like everything Land

Continued overleaf

Above left: Suspension is an Old Man Emu affair, with +2” springs controlled by +2” and +5” shocks at the front and rear respec-tively. The front axle rides on 3-degree castor-corrected radius arms from Qt, and the steering arms are protected by heavy-duty bash guards. You can see a set of extended brake flexis here, too Above right: The 90 is from an era when they came out of the factory with drum brakes on the back, but like most which have been sorted for off-roading it’s long since gone over to discs. You can see the high-angle A-frame ball joint here, as well as a diff guard and air-line to the ARB locking diff

Something a great deal of original TD-engined Land Rovers have in common is that they’re not TD-engined any more. The engine from hell has been replaced by a 300Tdi, which is mated to an R380 gearbox and LT230 transfer case. Inside, the cabin is pretty much standard but has the comfied-up vibe of a Defender that’s used as a daily driver: it’s very different to the blingy cabin in Adrian’s Disco, though a bank of ARB Air-Locker switches is the kind of bling a lot of Landy fans will relate to

Rover, but deciding on which is best is harder. In the case of their view on the ultimate Land Rover, Tom just likes anything with the badge. ‘My ultimate Land Rover would be the Defender 2.4-litre TDCI in black with van sides, or it could be a IIB Forward Control, or the Discovery 4… I like any Land Rover really! As for Dad, his ultimate Land Rover is being built as we speak, based on a Discovery 1 chassis.’

As for their current vehicles, Tom is still hungry for more mods. He’ll be putting a cage on, strengthening the chassis and turning the truck cab into one with van sides so that it’s not quite as tight up-front.

Adrian, on the other hand, is looking at fitting a front winch and a rear locker and sorting out the gearing so that it’s not as slow.

But why move on to Land Rovers rather than carrying on with the oriental motor they started with?

‘I enjoy driving what is a British icon, I guess,’ says Tom. ‘The looks you get from people on the road are priceless at times. My dad enjoys them as he thinks they’re just different to any other car on the road.’

This father and son team found Land Rovers together and will undoubtedly continue to be hooked on them well into the future. We don’t mind this kind of addiction, though. Working on a Land Rover long into the evening can beat most forms of entertainment. Especially sitting on a sofa watching Strictly Come Dancing. Strictly Go Spannering? Now, that would be a family show worth watching…



There are two very different facets to the way Adrian’s Discovery has been modified. Underneath, it might not be as extreme as Tom’s 90 but it’s still an above-average playday machine with +2” springs and +50mm shocks giving it height and flexibility alike. It’s well armoured against ground impacts, but between the suspension lift and the effect of a set of 285/75R16 tyres (that’s as good as 33” tall in old money), it doesn’t make contact with Mother Earth very often. Then there’s what you’ll find inside this former Heathrow Airport patrol car. A variety of LED lights create the sort of ambience you just don’t find in a Land Rover (or much else, aside possibly from a Tom Waits song), and then there’s the Huets sound system. The speakers in the rear have been mounted into the trim very professionally indeed, and if you get a stronger sound this side of the O2 Arena you’ve done better than most of us

‘it was looking scraggy. so i set to with the grinder!’

Greg McGuire only meant to use his Discovery for laning. But then he discovered how much he enjoys winching. And, as itturns out, grinding…

Ionly bought it for laning,’ says Greg McGuire. ‘All I did was put a winch on the front. But it’s just gone from one extreme to another.’

People are forever saying you need to have a plan when you set out to modify a Land Rover. But from the way Greg tells it, that’s the opposite of how his

1992 Discovery ended up on the winch challenge scene.

To be fair on Greg, he owned and laned the Disco for several years before things started getting extreme. As well as the winch, he added a full internal roll cage, but that was about it.

Then, one day, the civilised pleasures of laning started giving way to the demands of challenge competition. And a project was born.

This is where the planning started, right? Wrong. Greg fabricated a rear winch mount on the back of the chassis, cutting a hole in the door to fit a fairlead… and started getting hung up on tree stumps.

Not the idea. Nor was the amount of damage he was doing to the back body. ‘Finally,’ he says, ‘it had a few too many dents in it. I thought: “It’s looking really

scraggy now, it’s time for an overhaul.” So I set to with the grinder!’

And how? ‘We took the roof off, and then cut two feet off the back. When you put the light clusters back on, it works out at 22 inches shorter than standard. We cut it about three or four inches short of the crossmember, so hopefully it won’t twist, and just behind that we’ve got the new rear bumper.’

Next, on went a demountable exo cage, rock sliders and steering and diff guards. The latter came from Gwyn Lewis, who also supplied a +2” Old Man Emu suspension lift.

All this was happening at a time when people were falling over themselves to build vehicles with absurd amounts of lift and flex, but Greg was canny about all that. ‘I don’t want to go too far,’ he says. ‘I like to

keep it as low as possible – you see people going too high, and they go over too easily. You’ve got to have some height, but you’re taking up your centre of gravity and don’t want to go too far.’

That’s why, rather than fitting a full dislocation kit - as was so popular at the time - he simply made up a couple of relocation bars for safety’s sake, what with now having shocks that allowed so much more travel. ‘Even if it comes away an inch, it’s enough to go back behind the spring seat. So I’ve welded in some homemade bars. But other than that it’s pretty standard.’

Under the bonnet, the Disco’s original 200Tdi started life mated to an LT77 gearbox and LT230 tranny, and Greg saw no reason to mess with that. Like almost every engine on a modded Landy, the Tdi’s air supply was rerouted



words gary noskillPictures steve taylor

FAR FROM THE DAILY GRIND

A Superwinch X9 on a fabricated front bumper was among the very first mods the Disco was given. That and an internal roll cage were enough to see it through years of green laning – well, that and a diligent cleaning and servicing regime





through a snorkel, but the main addition was a full-width intercooler: ‘It’s a dramatic change. Now, from a standard Tdi, it’s got torque from nowhere. The other Discovery I’ve got, I’m going to put it on that as well.’ That’ll be a vote of confidence, then.

Despite the presence of the other Disco Greg mentioned, this one was never meant to be retired to a life of off-roading and nothing else. ‘When I bought it, it’d had one owner from new, a lady who only used it for school runs. It was immaculate; you could eat your dinner off the inner wings. That’s why I bought it – because I knew there would be a lot of life in the chassis. If you buy a second-hand vehicle that’s been off-road, they’re full of mud.’

Wise words whatever you’re planning to do with your Land Rover, and here come some more. ‘Every

time I go out, when I come home I clean it as much as I can. And I grease the UJs before every outing.’ You might think this is a Disco that looks a bit dog-eared, but how many of us can honestly say we treat our Land Rovers as lovingly as Greg?

And sure enough, stuff on this Disco lasts. Those UJs are still original, and even the Bosch battery he bought it with was still keeping a pair of winches on the go after five years. Talking of winches, two years’ competition didn’t kill their cables (‘I’m a bit of a nag for my winchman to make sure he puts it back on right every time’), and despite not having diff-locks fitted, the vehicle

was able to go most places on a set of modestly sized 265/75R16 Anacondas – even when up against challenge motors on 35s and more.

‘I like the winching,’ Greg told us. ‘I don’t like big tyres where you just drive it. I like the winching side of it, I like a challenge. I like to do the setting up and the rigging of the pulleys.’

And the prepping of the truck, we’ll be bound. Which is why, whatever you think of it at first glance, this is a Discovery we can all learn from.

Greg bobtailed the Disco by taking its roof off and cutting just under two feet of metal from the back of its chassis, finishing it off with a winch mount fabricated into his home-made crossmember

However handy you are with the welder, building a roll cage is never a bad one to trust to the pros. In this case, the pros in question were also mates, so it was more of a no-brainer than ever – and the results are very cool indeed

It’s not a hobby. It’s a way of life. How often have you heard that old line being trotted out by someone who goes off-roading once a month, or has a motorbike that only ever comes out when it’s sunny?

For a few people, though, their Land Rover really is their way of life. Not their job, not their passion – just the way they live.

Thirty years ago, everyday life for a chap called Rudi took a turn that convinced him it was time to leave it behind. He had made his home in the UK but, gripped by an unscheduled but pressing desire to be somewhere, anywhere else, he bought a 109” Series III and just started driving.

The Land Rover, which was being disposed of by a regional water board, was only three months old when Rudi bought it. Power came from a 2.25-litre diesel engine and everything was pretty much standard, though the truck was already fitted with a mechanical winch. Rudi added a roof rack and headed over the Channel to France, where harvesting jobs sustained him as he drove south. ‘I worked a little bit and drove a little bit,’ he says, ‘and I seemed to manage okay.’

Life may have continued in much the same manner, had it not been for a chance meeting with a man who intended to ride his Kawasaki motorcycle to Africa. Something about

this plan inspired Rudi, and he agreed to join him on the trip. It was to cement an unshakeable bond between the man and his truck.

‘My vehicle is very important to me,’ says Rudi. ‘It’s all I have.’ It makes sense, since there are years and years of memories packed into this Landy.

And what memories they are. Picked up along his travels are hundreds, possibly thousands, of souvenirs. African fertility masks jostle with Norwegian fishing floats, and every single one of them tells its own story. To part with any of these items would be like losing a chapter of his life.

This might all sound a bit dramatic, but Rudi prizes his vehicle over



A LIFELIVED IN A LAND ROVER

Seeing the world in a Land Rover is a bit like holding someone else’s baby. It’s great, but when the going gets tough you can just go back to real life. For some people, though, the roads and trails ARE real life…

FOREVER TRAVELLING: THE LIFE OF A MODERN-DAY NOMAD AND HIS 109” SERIES III





everything else in life. He has, over the years, been offered thousands of pounds for it, but has steadfastly refused to sell. ‘To part with the vehicle is unimaginable,’ he told us when we met him. ‘What would I do without it?’

It’s no surprise, then, to learn that Rudi’s biggest fear is having his truck confiscated. Intriguingly, he feels there is a greater risk of this in Britain and Europe than throughout the rest of the world. ‘Over here, the police can take your vehicle away for something as trivial as you carrying a little pen knife,’ he says. ‘You’d never get that in Africa.’

Something else you might not get is the narrow escape Rudi had in, of all places, Wiltshire, when the police

pulled him over. ‘Fortunately, the officer was a Land Rover fanatic! Once we’d chatted about the vehicle for a bit, he let me off with a caution.’

Sure enough, it pays to have a unique-looking Landy. ‘The car is a

great point of contact,’

says Rudi. ‘It often provides a starting point for me to make connections with all sorts of people, and I’ve made many friends because of it. I think owning any sort of 4x4 says something about you as an individual, especially if it’s a Land Rover.’

Owning an old Landy helps in other ways, too – one of them being that wherever you go in the world there’ll be someone who can work on it. The 2.25 diesel, for example, was first rebuilt

in Mombasa. ‘I was nervous,’

Rudi admits,

‘because the mechanics there pay no attention to keeping things clean.’ But he was impressed by the work they performed, especially as they had nothing like the tools we’d expect in this country. ‘They’re great at replacing

broken parts, but don’t have a great idea about how engines work. This can be a problem, because if

something goes wrong, you want to know why it’s gone wrong. It’s no good just replacing it without finding the cause, because the same thing will happen again five minutes down the road.’

You don’t spend all that time with a Series III without learning which end of a spanner to hold, and sure enough life on the road saw Rudi becoming more than a little adept at identifying faults himself. Despite that, he decided to let the experts take over in 2001 when, several more rebuilds later, the original engine finally needed changing. In its place went a 200Tdi unit, and the job grew into a major overhaul of the entire vehicle. A new rear crossmember

was fitted, and Rudi had the original drum brakes converted to Mercedes discs. ‘That was an excellent decision,’ he says, ‘and because the parts come from Mercedes, I can pick up spares anywhere in the world.’

Behind the new engine, the original gearbox remained in place. After a good many rebuilds, it might have had a touch of the Trigger’s broom to it, but soldiering on is one of the things Landies of that era are known for.

It won’t have escaped your notice, of course, that despite looking like a festival wagon, the Land Rover is Rudi’s home. Not home from home, not a ‘way of life’ (that lovely phrase again), just home. Back in those harvest-picking days as he travelled through France, he slept in the back, though after a while he moved into a roof tent. He bought a sound-deadening kit, as you would when the road is your life, and fitted a winch on the back to further diminish the danger of home becoming a thing you have to walk away from.

Further standard-issue overland modifications included interior plug

sockets and twin long-range fuel tanks, as well as a CB radio. We spotted a sat-nav unit in the cab, too, but Rudi told us he seldom uses it. ‘I just guess where I’m going. I always seem to come out somewhere.’ One concession to comfort was a cab heater (how very luxurious), while a marine bilge pump and two Hozelock connectors went in to let him drain out or top up his supply of drinking water.

Reading a spec list like this, it’s easy to lapse into assuming you’re talking about any old overland vehicle. But those souvenirs tell a different story, one which has seen Rudi turn his back on the lure of wealth and the vices of society to become a very contemporary kind of nomad.

Most of us would feel at least some sort of regret about passing up the chance to spend decades surrounding ourselves with the trappings of wealth. But, for Rudi, losing society’s burdens meant finding contentment.

‘I have my truck,’ he tells us. ‘I am happy enough.’ With his Land Rover and, truly, with his way of life.

FOREVER TRAVELLING: THE LIFE OF A MODERN-DAY NOMAD AND HIS 109” SERIES III

Rudi’s Land Rover is like a self-propelled museum of a life spent on the move, through countries and cultures which are wholly unfamiliar to the rest of us living our safe existence back home in Europe. A collection of souvenirs like nothing else fills every scrap of space on board: you look at some of it and wonder how the border crossings must go, but this isn’t some tourist buying gewgaws from a honey-trap market stall – these artifacts are the possessions of a real life spent on the move through the lands they come from

‘My vehicle is very important to me. It’s all I have.’

Rudi tells us he started off sleeping in the back of his 109” before later investing in a roof tent. You’d certainly not get very comfortable in there now. Adding to the general feeling of incongruity about his life, the African artifacts rub shoulders with various Western souvenirs



South-West England

South-East England West Midlands

SERIES I

Series I (1956). Petrol engine. Restored approximately six years ago, fantastic condition, any viewing welcome. £10,000, 07973 131603

Series I (1955). Completely rebuilt with a Buick 3.5 V8 engine. Estimated to have cost £20,000 to build. Very fast, noisy, road-legal. Tax and MOT exempt. Leighton Buzzard area. £7750 (firm), 01296 668339

SERIES II

Land Rover Series IIA (1969). 2.25 petrol. 48,389 miles. This is

a beautiful marine blue Series IIA 88” soft-top. In excellent condition, fully serviced recently, newly repaired starter motor and 10 months’ MOT. No need for road tax! £3250 ono. 07966 242402, [email protected]

Series II Land Rover 88” (1960). 11 months’ MOT. Range Rover V8 engine (fully rebuilt), galvanised chassis and bulkhead, stainless exhaust. Rover P4 diffs, Stage 1 V8 brakes,

Polybushed suspension, 205x16 Bridegestones. New wiring loom, original headlamp units with HID bulbs. Recently had a full external respray. £6250. Kent. 07787 177397 or [email protected]

SERIES III

Series III Lightweight, 1981, RHD. 31,625 miles. 2.25 petrol/LPG, galvanised chassis, MOD

green and black. Ex air support signals regiment, originally FFR but converted to 12-volt by a previous owner. Five new wheels and tyres (originals also includ-ed). Recon box with complete new clutch. Two new petrol tanks. Newly Polybushed. New rear halfshafts and drive members, rear shocks, brakes all round (new front drums) and exhaust. Canvas in good condition. All receipts are with the vehicle. Currently on SORN, MOT May 2015. £4250 ono. [email protected]

902000 (W) Land Rover Defender TD5 Truck Cab. 2” suspension lift kit, new condition

black modular wheels with Insa Turbo Special Track tyres, snorkel, heavy duty front winch bumper, CD player, grey techno cloth seats (3), PAS, towbar and alarm. Excellent condition. New cylinder head/water pump and all cooling hoses fitted due to cracked fuel lane. Custom tub cover and swing away spare wheel carrier. Straight through S/S exhaust. Driven daily, hasn’t been off-roaded... yet! MOT April 2015, tax September 2014.

Steve Parker Land Rovers LtdServicing, Repairs, Spares and Conversions

Lloyd Street, Whitworth, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 8AA

www.steveparkers.com [email protected] • 01706 854222

LR Centre Ltd“We Live and Breathe Land Rovers.”

Bridge Industrial Estate, Speke Hall Road, Speke, Liverpool, L24 9HB

www.lrparts.net [email protected] • 0151 486 8636

Gumtree 4x4“Independent Specialists in Land Rover, Range

Rover, Discovery and Freelander.”

Unit C17, Ditchling Common, West Sussex, BN6 8SG

www.gumtree4x4.co.uk [email protected] • 01444 241457

McDonald Land Rover LtdLand Rover Parts, Accessories and

Servicing

Unit 18, Mile Oak Industrial Estate, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8GA

[email protected] • 01691 657705

Importers, Exporters, Wholesale Distributors & Retailers

of Winches & Accessories

East Foldhay, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6DH

Tel: 01363 82666 • Fax: 01363 82782 • www.goodwinch.com • [email protected]

TDS Goldfish Winches - The Best!

www.island-4x4.co.ukOnline Land Rover Part Specialists

Offering Worldwide Mail Order* Free Mainland UK Delivery

Over £50 ** Delivery France, Germany and Belgium £10 unlimited weight

and parcels *

[email protected]

Foundry 4x4 LtdCast Iron Quality & ServiceThe Old Bakery, Rear of Vale Terrace, Tredegar,

Gwent, NP22 4HT

www.foundry4x4.co.uk [email protected] • 01495 725544

South Wales

East Midlands

North West EnglandSTOCKIST DIRECTORY

LAND ROVERS FOR SALE

70,880 miles. £7950. Falkirk, Scotland. [email protected].

Defender 90Tdi. Late 1994. Pick-up with Truckman top and 5-speed gearbox. Low milage, new MOT. Nice condition throughout. £4995, 01420 473470

Defender 90 Heritage. Much loved but rarely used. Heavy tow pack, non-smoker, very well kept, good for insurance, reliable. Four owners. MOT Oct. Part service history. Manual sunroof, air conditioning, MP3 player, leather trim, folding rear seats, spare wheel (full), PAS, traction, alarm, immobiliser. £13,000. Call Pete on 07834 763919 or email [email protected].

Defender 90 TD5 pick-up. 139,100 miles. 12,000lb winch (cost £500, new 2 months ago from Gigglepin), Devon 4x4 winch bumper (£800), rock sliders, snorkel and diff breathers, diff guards, front and rear sump guards, bucket seats, light guards

all round, dislocation cones, fully Polybushed. Cubby box, full chequer plate, rear bump guards, CD stereo with Alpine head unit and aux lead. Great truck with strong TD5 and solid chassis. Last serviced in January, MOT 04/15, tax 03/15. £6750. [email protected] 90 TD5, 2002. Drives

exceptionally well with lots of power, great gearchange and transfer lever action. 2” Britpart Super Gaz lift kit fitted. Boost Alloys (including spare) with Hankook Dynapro MT tyres. 30mm wheel spacers. Electric windows, remote central locking, heated seats, heated front and rear windscreen. Winch bumper with Warn winch, Kenwood CD stereo with aux input. Seats in good condition. NAS lights all round. Must be seen! £8295. [email protected] edition 90. Over 40k

worth of receipts for work carried out and professional mods. Bespoke tuning, K&N air filter, Allisport intercooler, Hayward and Scott stainless straight-through exhaust, hybrid turbo. Recaro race seats (heated), uprated roll bars, lowered suspension. Boss wheels, LED lights, Alpine sound system, Bluetooth, sat nav, uprated cubby box. Brand new 13,000lb winch and front bumper. Momo wheel,

North East England





GUMTREE 4x4

SpecialiStS in land rover, range rover, diScovery, freelander and all 4x4s

servicing, repairs, conversions, rebuilds & chassis replacements. performance and off road modifications.

established in 1981, located in mid-sussex

tel: 01444 [email protected]

upgraded brakes. FSH. £20,950 [email protected]

Recently built 300Tdi tray-back. Very high spec. Only done one event since build. Custom interior, GP winches, Mach 5s, Ashcroft shafts/CVs. Please get in touch for full specification and work done. Hundreds of pics available. Offers around £10,000. 07841 193027

110

110 2.5 petrol/LPG, C-reg. 121,000 miles, on SORN. Solid chassis, spot lights, chequer plate, rear worklight, tubular side steps, roof rack, fog lights. New alter-nator Feb 2013. Engine rebuild Feb 2011 including new valves, bearings and piston rings. MOT May 2014. This Landy is 27 years old and does have a few marks. £2200. [email protected]

Defender 110 300 Tdi twin-cab pick-up (1996). Front winch, Four new tyres, new brake pads all round. Very well maintained. Excellent runner. Five alloys. Cam belt changed at 165,000 miles. MOT 05/15, tax 09/14. £5950. [email protected]

Defender 110 XS Utility. Warn winch, full roof rack, steering guard, full set of Land Rover seat covers and mats, seats like new under covers. New tyres. Leather seats, heated front seats, air-conditioning, electric windows, CD stereo, traction control. MOT and tax November 2014. £15,500+VAT [email protected]

Range Rover

Range Rover Vogue SE 3.9 V8 Auto Pick-Up. Professionally con-verted. Tan leather electric seats,

lockable pick-up cover on gas struts. Engine rebuilt with Viper Hurricane performance cam, polished and ported heads, K&N air filter. Milltek Racing stainless exhaust with tubular manifolds. 1” lowered suspension. Mountney hardwood sports steering wheel, custom headlining by Nationwide trim, 5 new Goodyear Eagle GT+4 235/70/16s on fully refurbished alloys. Bull bar and spots, rear light protection, full tow bar kit. West Midlands. £4500, 07734 599399, [email protected]

Range Rover P38a (1996). 5.0-litre V8 engine built by JE Engineering with massive spec and extensive service history. Uprated rear brakes. Large front disc conversion. Air suspension working. Wheels recently pow-der-coated. Headlining replaced. Massive amount of car for the money. Removable tow bar, original tool kit. £2850. Kent. 07787 177397 or [email protected]

Specials

Land Rover 109 200Tdi. Twin tanks, body-off refurb, chassis checked and no welding required, HD military style crossmember, new bespoke bumperettes, 3 coats of Shutz to chassis, tub and wings, galv bulkhead and front panel, Defender front wiring loom, professionally wired rear, new LED standard style lights, high level brake light, LED camping/reverse lights and internal strip lights, Pioneer CD, Toro overdrive, P38 PAS box on 12mm plate welded to chassis, safari roof, 5 General Grabber 235/85R16s, head skimmed and crack tested, timing belt changed, electric fan. Viewing essential. Must go to a good home. £6500 ono. Call Mat on 07908 582133 or email [email protected].

Land Rover 109” Dormobile. Genuine 1970 Factory Conversion. 200 Tdi. Series IIA gearbox with overdrive, 3.54 diffs. 6-pot engine and gearbox available separately. Body-off rebuild completed 2010, including chassis and bulkhead, new brakes, Autosparks loom, 5 new doors, front door mirrors, all new window runners and side frames. Sympathetic paint job. Swing-away spare wheel carrier,

side sun shade, repro wardrobe, kitchen. New roof window seals, seats re-upholstered, oil pressure gauge, and wheelarch altered under wardrobe for Porta-Potti storage. ‘Canvas’ is original and has a few pinholes at the top at each end, but does not leak. Roof vent replaced. Engine received new rings and bearings prior to installation; returns 30-34 mpg and is happy at 65 mph. The vehi-cle is missing its table and there are signs of wear and tear inside and out. A rare Landy that has been recently rebuilt and sympa-thetically upgraded to make it a comfortable home for two whose reliability has been proven over the last few years. Tax exempt, £100 per year insurance. OIRO

£7500. Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. 01484 682496, 07799278578, [email protected]

WantedSeries I or II for restoration.Anything considered. Preferably pre-1960. Private buyer. Cash waiting. Steve, 07970 102651, [email protected]

PartsDiscovery clutch pressure plate (part #FTC575). Brand new, still in box. Herts area. £offers. 01992 465721

Discovery Mk1 complete front end, including lamps, grilles

and templates for modifying to look like Disco 2. Offers invited. Herts, 01992 465721

BFGoodrich M&S tyre. 235/70R16. Only ever done 40 miles. Offers invited. Herts, 01992 465721

Land Rover spares for sale. Truck cab, £150. Bonnet, £100. Tailgate, £20. Doors, £20. Ifor Williams canopy, £80. Roll cage (brand new), £500. Call Claire on 07554 661053

Unimog axles. Pair of Mog portals. One complete, one part-stripped in prep for disc-brake conversion. £1000, offers invited. 07968 960619

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This year is the Cheshire Land Rover Club’s 10th anniversary. It’s not been around as long as some (Staffs and Shrops turned fifty this year, as did Peak and Dukeries), but a decade is still a milestone worth celebrating – and a group from the club did just that in spectacular style.

Starting in John O’ Groats, over the course of seven days our group planned to traverse the length of mainland Britain to Land’s End, via a combination of A-roads, old military roads, old coach roads and green lanes.

The challenge, which was timed to coincide with a club laning weekend in Devon and Cornwall, was run to raise funds for St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice. It was taken up by five trucks in total (four 110s and a Discovery 2), and a big thank-you goes out from all of us to Mark and Roger for their organisation and planning.

Naturally, being from Cheshire, we all had a long drive just to get to the start point at the most northerly tip of mainland Britain. Up here,

The Cabin was our haunt for dinner before a rather wet and blustery night’s camping, and again for breakfast before we set off. Many thanks here go to Sarah from the End to Enders Club, for taking photographs beneath the John O’Groats sign and noting our personal details for their website.

By 9.15am on Sunday 17 August, we were on our way to Wick, passing cyclists at the beginning of their tortuous route to the ‘other end’ – and feeling somewhat smug that we were travelling in the relative comfort of our Land Rovers as they battled the headwinds and driving rain!

Travelling down the A9, the ‘spine of Scotland’, we continued to Inverness and picked up an old military road that runs down the eastern side of Loch Ness to Fort Augustus.

We arrived at the Cumberlands Campsite in Fort Augustus mid-afternoon. A short first day, but enough to marvel at the Scottish Highland scenery – the word ‘stunning’ just doesn’t do it justice.

It wasn’t all beautiful, though. Despite liberal applications of insect repellent that left us smelling like a chemical plant, the midges were still making a meal of us! It always sounds ridiculous – but once you’ve experienced the full horror of a midge attack, Scotland’s resident pests are no laughing matter.

Day two saw our first foray off the beaten track as we followed a lane

alongside the Caledonian Canal… which came to an abrupt halt after about 100 yards. Abandoning that idea, we made a quick about-turn on to the A82 and headed south-west towards Fort William.

Highlights of the journey south through Scotland included the Tulloch Road, which runs past Glen Douglas Munitions Depot, and the run along the western shore of Loch Lomond to

Alexandria. The A76 from Kilmarnock to Dumfries was another fantastic run, twisting and turning through the Lowland countryside.

Day three saw us cross back into England, a little cheer marking this milestone as we continued towards Carlisle. After lunch, we had the opportunity to re-run some of the Club’s ‘Route 66’ challenge of last year, from Whitehaven to Redcar. Starting



End to End adventure for Cheshire quintetWeek-long charity run from John O’Groats to Land’s End marks Cheshire LRC’s 10th anniversary

in Greystoke and culminating on the old coach road between Dockray and Wanthwaite near Threlkeld, we stopped for a quick tea-break at the old mine before trundling into Keswick at around half past two.

The following day was our longest, as we headed south out of the Lake District and skirted the west side of the Yorkshire Dales National Park en route to our next bit of fun. Unfortunately, my brake master cylinder was losing a bit of fluid and the necessary stop at Land Ranger in Middlewich to remedy this took up a little bit of time; still, on to our camp for the evening.

It was while we were pitching up that we discovered casualty number two: Andy’s truck was losing water through a tiny hole in one of the coolant hoses. Not debilitating, but it would need to be kept an eye on nonetheless.

An early start on the Thursday, as we didn’t want anything to interfere with the laning activities, saw us reach Hereford, head through Eastnor and continue into the Gloucestershire countryside.

We managed loads of lanes around the Cotswolds, between Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Cirencester. Only one was blocked by overgrown vegetation – though this involved a half-mile

reverse back to the road, so it was troubling enough!

Street in Somerset was our stop for that evening. The long days were starting to get to us by then, so an early night was very much called for.

Our sixth day would be the easiest. Popping into Taunton at one of the ‘out of town’ shopping complexes, Eddie made some running repairs to a mud flap that had come adrift during the previous day’s laning while Andy got some pipe and jubilee clips to repair his leaking water hose. Arriving at the campsite at South Moulton in Devon, we prepared for the final leg of the journey.

The final day arrived and we decided that as the journey from the camp site to Land’s End was more than 140 miles, and it was ‘changeover’ day, we’d better kick off at 7.30am. After a two-mile jam courtesy of the August Bank Holiday traffic on the A30, we began our laning activities for the day.

Just east of Truro, unfortunately, Eddie and Tracey’s truck started dropping diesel from a split fuel line. We decided it wasn’t something we could repair ourselves; Eddie gallantly suggested that we should continue to Land’s End without him, while he waited for the AA.

Just 45 miles from the finish, it was disappointing to lose one of our group.

But the show must go on – and so it was that at 2.30pm, we arrived at the Land’s End Visitor Centre.

We parked up and headed straight for the Land’s End Hotel to sign the End-to-Ender register. And when you’re in Cornwall, obviously, it just has to be Cornish Pasties – so we were all sat munching away when we got a phone call from Eddie. The AA man had worked wonders and he and Tracey were just parking up in the car park. Great news – the whole team had made it!

Each of our Landies covered 1063 miles during the trip, and passed through 21 counties. A great week

aboard our beloved trucks: thanks to everyone at all the places we camped, and of course to those who donated to

our charitable cause. And here’s to our next ten years as part of the Cheshire Land Rover Club!





The latest three rounds of the 2014 Comp Safari Interclub Championship were held in quick succession over the second half of summer. They were hosted by the North Wales Land Rover Club, Midland Off Road Club and All Wheel Drive Club – giving the guys from Staffs and Shrops LRC, who run most of the rounds throughout the rest

of the year, the chance to just turn up and enjoy ourselves!

Here is a round up of these events:

3 August: North Wales LRC, Eglwys Bach, Conwy North Wales LRC have not held a comp safari in a fair few years, but the availability of a brand new piece of

ground gave them the opportunity to do so. Spectacular views of the Welsh hills in the distance provided a perfect backdrop to a fast 3.7-mile course comprising open fields, rolling hills, jumps and thick woodland.

Race day dawned damp and long grass made the first runs very slippery, but Kevin Stubbs set the early pace – while John Walters did the opposite, sliding off-track into a ditch and bending a steering bar in the process.

Rob Hart had the first roll of the day, having slid through a hedge on an off-camber bend. Later in the day Neil Rogers, in his production class 110, went off in the same place and ended up stuck in the hedge, luckily not rolling this time. Colin Davies also rolled his 100” diesel, landing upside down in the woods.

With times getting quicker after lunch, Ian Roberts set a new fastest lap with his twin brother Peter just a second slower. But Peter was put out of the running when his gearbox blew up on his seventh run.



Comps coming thick and fastHigh-speed Interclub action sees three championship safaris in just over a month

Words Ann Marie CooperPictures Ian Horsman

Simon Cooper, meanwhile, had a scary time on lap six when his throttle stuck fully open in, of all places, the woods. He made it out in one piece, somehow – one way to record your equal fastest lap, I suppose!

From a field of 30 entrants, Kevin Stubbs took first place over Ian Roberts and Wyn Williams in Class 1. Bert Bullough took first in Class 2 over Bryn Charles, and Steve Strutt took first in Class 3, as well as third overall, followed by Dave Hooper and Simon Cooper. Classes 4-6 were won by Colin Davies, Andy Bayliss and Neil Rogers respectively.

24-25 August: Midland ORC, Baden Hall, EccleshallMidland Off Road Club returned to Baden Hall for its Bank Holiday weekend event, with a very rough, twisty and technical 3.6-mile course promising two hard days’ racing to come. Kevin Stubbs set the early pace among the 35 entrants, with Ian and Peter Roberts close behind.

A special mention here must go to Rob Walker – who, having bought a new motor, managed to complete one lap. That’s one more than he managed at the previous round, though, so onwards and upwards!

Dan Emery suffered at the hands of the ground at Baden, with punctures on laps one, two, five and eleven… followed a broken steering arm on the final lap! The first lap of day two also saw the end of Bert Bullough’s race, after he snapped a propshaft and gearbox output shaft.

The fastest lap of day one went to Pete Roberts, but Kev Stubbs shaved a couple of seconds off this on day two. This was, however, on a shorter course,

as alterations had to be made after a night of persistent rain.

First, second and third in Class 1, and overall, went to Kevin, Pete and Ian respectively.

A maximum on lap 5 didn’t stop Steve Strutt from winning Class 3 ahead of Alec Fern and Blair and Mark Perman, while Dave Harlow beat Paul Shore to victory in Class 2 after a

‘smashing’ weekend saw him rip both wings off Ryan Cook’s old Land Rover. Paul Mansfield came ahead of John Hewitson in the diesel class, and Mark and Adam Woodhouse took the leaf sprung class.

7 September: AWDC, Sweet Lamb, LlangurigA total of 21 registered interclub championship drivers joined the All Wheel Drive Club in Mid Wales, part of an excellent 61-strong overall turnout. The Sweet Lamb complex is legendary in comp circles, and drivers faced a gruelling seven-mile course taking them up and down the Welsh mountains.

The first interclub racers to drop out on the first lap were Alec Fern, due to a failed master cylinder, and Jon Aston, whose engine blew in the wake of a stuck throttle. Peter Roberts also had brake problems on lap one, having to pull off course and take a maximum time.

Ian Chiles on the other hand, was setting some very fast times indeed – until his fly-by-wire throttle failed on the last lap, costing him a class win. Steve Strutt was setting some blistering times, too, until one of his wheels literally snapped in half on course. He returned to the pits on foot with his navigator, so as to push a spare up one of the steepest hills in the site so

he could change it and continue on the last lap. Sadly, this also cost him a class win.

The last lap also saw Kevin Stubbs get wedged in a ditch a third of the way in, after getting a puncture and being caught in Pete Roberts’ dust after letting him past. Kev’s navigator Jo Barnett ran for a marshal, who recovered the vehicle – allowing them to limp round the rest of the course and take 26 minutes instead of the 35-minute maximum.

The whole event was won by AWDC’s Rick Mann, with Chris Bird and Andy Degiulio second and third. Of the interclub crew, Ian Roberts

came fourth overall and first in Class 8, with Neil Rogers and Colin Davis also taking home class wins.

It has been great for all of us SSLRC members who are involved in the championship to go and enjoy the hospitality at these other clubs’ events over the summer. But now we’re looking forward to the last round of the season, a two-day safari at Stone which includes after-dark runs – always a favourite!

Details of the championship, including full results from all rounds and the latest standings, can be found at www.saslrc.co.uk.





For some people, summer means spending weekends relaxing in the garden or heading to the beach. But not for the Mud Monsters crew.

For them, it involves planning and getting ready for one of the biggest weekends of the year – when the normally members-only Mud Monsters site opens its gates to the public. This gives people the chance to have fun exploring the site and experience the friendly atmosphere the club has to offer – as well, of course, as joining up if they like what they see.

It’s not the biggest event of the year for no reason, though. The summer open day also hosts the annual charity auction and raffle that Mud Monsters have become well known for.

Being a well established club that’s active in many areas of off-roading, there are always lots of members and businesses that are eager to offer support, with an array of goodies for both the auction and the raffle that have people coming back year after year. Without that support, the day wouldn’t happen, so the club cannot say a big enough thank-you to everyone who helped to support us.

The weekend started at 2pm on the Saturday, with all-comers welcome to turn up and start setting up camp. The weather held out and the sun was shining, making it a perfect night for camping, silly games, a few drinks and a big BBQ. A highlight of the night was the tug of war, and also seeing who was the fastest team at pulling a car up a hill! Sitting round the campfire afterwards provided the perfect time to unwind with friends old and new.

The real fun started at 10am on Sunday morning, though, which is when the driving begins. Due to the popularity of this event, the club organisers spend more than two days setting up a variety of different

routes. These range from very easy white routes for those in a smart new Range Rover, all the way up to taped challenge punch routes for the fully modified. In between is a punch hunt, and of course the playday areas are fully open.

But there’s a big difference between this and your average playday. From 12-1pm, the driving stops for the main event – the charity auction and raffle.

This gives everyone a chance to sit down and take in the sun while working out what to bid on. The auction and raffle took about an hour to get through, thanks to the amount of prizes that had been donated – which ranged from T-shirts and hats to the top prize of the year, a 320-amp alternator donated by Red Winches.

It would take forever to list all the donations, but without these prizes and

the people who bid on them we could not have raised £3350 for charity. £3000 of this will be going to Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice and £350 to Sussex 4x4 Response, who helped out by marshalling on the day – as indeed they do at a number of our events.

By the time the end of the day came around, the site was full of big smiles and lots of dirty trucks. Both classic signs of a successful playday!

All the team at Mud Monsters would like to say a huge thank you to all who donated an auction or raffle prize. Thank you too to all who turned up and gave so generously to the cause, and to Sussex 4x4 Response who helped out by marshalling. But the biggest thank you goes to Chestnut Tree House, for helping so many children – and giving us an incredibly worthwhile cause to raise money for.



Kids’ hospice wins from Mud Monsters eventAnnual open day raises £3000 for charity

Words Mark McMillenPictures Matthew Howard, Jim Thawley and Geoff Turtell

Fun on four wheels (and paws) at Plas Coch The August Bank Holiday is a great opportunity to have some off-roading fun, and you know that it’s guaranteed each year. That’s why the North Wales Land Rover Club has made it their big weekend for a number of years now.

This year was as big as ever, with a whole host of other activities going on in addition to each day’s trials. The venue was Plas Coch in Anglesey and as well as the CCV, RTV and Tyro events, there was live music by Out of the Blue, a raffle and big Sunday night quiz and even a dog show! So the whole family could really could join in.

The NWLRC were even joined by members from the Red Rose Land Rover Club, and everyone enjoyed the challenging trial sections set out across all sorts of terrain. Proceeds from the weekend went to the Welsh Ambulance Service – and it was a record-breaking year for this, with £800 being raised.

After three days of glorious summer off-roading, the victors were Howard Morris in the CCV; Daffydd Jones and Andrew Akers in RTV short and long-wheelbase respectively; and Andrew Akers again in Tyro.

A mixture of clubs and people, a concoction of different trials and all sorts of entertainment meant this was a bank holiday to remember for all the right reasons. Roll on 2015!





SCOR looks back on a sunny summer of trialsHappy memories as the season draws towards its close – and no shortage of inspiration to get the spanners out and start the prep for 2015!Summer is quickly becoming just a memory, but the Southern Counties Off Road Club are looking back at some excellent trials from back when the sun was out.

At Newdigate in July, a site the club had only previously used once before this year, competitors were greeted by sunshine and a dried clay surface. Landowner Tom Kier had been busy with a digger to make some new obstacles, and COC Andy Grant had made the most of it during set-out. Andy including whatever mud and water he could find – which meant going early was a bonus as the climbs got harder as more water was pulled on to them.

Despite the small size of the site, we crammed in eleven sections – some of which proved too much for some. A few casualties on the day included Marc Graham, who destroyed a prop

and diff near the end, and Barry Bicknell, who lost his PAS.

The following month, the club returned to West Harptree – a famous site, and another sunny event in store!

A few new faces arrived to join the club, one of them behind the wheel of a very nice Lightweight. In traditional old-school trialling style, this was still on leaves – which didn’t prevent it from going on to win RTV Class 1.

Conditions were perhaps a little dry, as there was more grip than we actually needed, but Andy had once again set out some great sections. One included a very steep hill climb to the one gate; only a few were successful in reaching it, including Pete Burns in a standard 90.

Alan Ayres came next and gave it everything, launching it into the air and coming down with a mighty bang. His rear prop was lying on the floor, diff bolts torn apart, the spline sheared off in the gearbox... now, that was doing a proper job! That was the end of his day to say the least…

Andy also made sure everyone was happy when it came to the annual club barbecue, too, bringing a vast array of meat from his local butcher! All in all, what better way could there be to

spend the summer – happy days for us all to look back on when the winter closes in and we’re busy in the garage getting our trucks ready for more fun next year!

Words Rob AdamsPictures Tom Mew and Tim Trussler







CORSE is a club that sets out to put the fun back in trialling. And there was certainly plenty of laughter at its recent Butchers Wood event – much of it caused by club founder Mark Edwards.

‘I certainly gained some smiles,’ said Mark, ‘while others were almost on the floor with tears at my attempts at the rock climbs, and there was sheer disbe-lief that I would even try such lines on a section… with road tyres on!’

That one’s going to need a bit of ex-plaining. It went like this, see. Normal-ly, the bloke who sets out a trial doesn’t also compete in it. An unfair advan-tage, some might say. But ‘normal’ and CORSE are two words you don’t hear in the same sentence all that often – so Mark promised his fellow members that since he was doing both, his handicap as a competitor would be to do it on tarmac rubber. Not even mud and snow – proper girly tyres.

‘My theory was that I could give the beast some beans and still not ever have to worry about breaking a shaft,’ he explains. ‘Though in hindsight, maybe I could have let the PSI down from the 35 that I currently have in there!’

The site at Butchers Wood isn’t the biggest. In fact, Mark reckons it’s close to being the smallest the club has at its disposal, but despite this there’s a great variety of scenery in it – as well as technical challenges thrown up by the ever-changing terrain. ‘Within 200 feet, you have forest fertile sand, an open sand pit where you would pay top dollar for sand blasting and hard sandstone rock climbs, finishing off with deep mud and water – which we depth-tested to all of a few inches from the edge and lost a one-metre cane…’

Something else it has is overgrowth. Lots of it. Arriving early in the morning to set out, Mark says he was put more in mind of Jurassic Park than Sussex as he wandered through the tall ferns. ‘Luckily, from years gone by I know the site well and I could roughly remember where the ground should be among all the undergrowth.’

Between Mark and all the other competitors, who helped with laying out and collecting canes, the club man-aged to put on a trial of 10 sections. All of these were laid out in the style he favours, with wide gates: ‘let the terrain be the hindrance, not the gates.’

Mind you, says Mark, despite having a start gate some 15 feet apart, Gary still managed to knock down the red 10 while trying a different line!

Looks a lot like Mark wasn’t the only one to get them laughing. You can check the club out at www.4x4corse.co.uk.

CORSE puts the fun back in trialling

As the Defender Challenge by Bowler series resumed for its fifth instalment of the year, a familiar name rose to the top of the standings. Ed Cobley took the honours at the Woodpecker Stages rally in the county of Shropshire, claiming a fourth successive victory this season to further entrench his position at the top of the championship leader board.

The landscape around Ludlow typically provides damp conditions for stage rallying, and the weather in late August meant it was no different for this year’s Woodpecker – the first to host the Defender Challenge. Thus the six teams were faced with the task of navigating their Bowler-prepped 90s through the tricky conditions, as 43 miles of forest stages stretched out in front of them.

Most of these were on gravel, giving the Defenders a very different kind of traction challenge to the one they faced in the previous round at the Welsh Hillrally. Nevertheless, Cobley and co-driver Allan Jackson managed the task better than the rest of the field and took the rostrum’s top step yet again.

‘I’m ecstatic to make it four in a row,’ said Cobley. ‘It was so slippy, but the car once again did everything we asked it to do. It’s an iconic car, and I think this series is showing another element to the Defender. It’s been a brilliant event and I’m looking forward to the next round already.’

The Race2Recovery team, backed by Land Rover, had another successful weekend, also enjoying a fourth consecutive podium finish in Ludlow.

Driver Ben Gott said: ‘It was another brilliant race – the car is in tip-top condition so we couldn’t ask for much more. It’s been a great weekend and to finish second was unexpected.

‘It’s just the second event with the Defender 90, but I think we’re pretty much used to it now and are looking forward to the next event.’

The series has now completed five of this year’s total of seven rounds and the inaugural season of the event appears to have gone down well so far.

Providing a pathway to international rally competitions such as the Dakar and the Africa Race are still the main objectives of the series, and Drew

Bowler, Managing Director for Bowler Motorsport, is satisfied with the job done so far.

‘The series is going really well and is delivering its aim of bringing in new people to this kind of motorsport,’ said Drew. ‘The feedback from the competitors is really good and everyone is enjoying it.’

The series will return on 24-25 October at the Sunseeker Rally in Poole, Dorset. Ed Cobley and the Race2Recovery team will be keen to continue their good form when they fire up their engines again in the south, with Cobley hoping to extend his championship lead in the process.



Four in a row for CobleyDefender Challenge champion-elect wins again at Woodpecker Stages

the landy november 2014

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