Discourse 19

DISCOURSE THE MAGAZINE OF THE DISCOVERY OWNERS CLUB

Number 19 January / February 2005

Cotwolds Laning New Year’s Year ’s Eve. Getting back before the clock strikes 12!

www.discoveryownersclub.com

Discourse 19 - Page 1 Photograph Courtesy of Paul Walker

The Small Print For the purposes of this notice, ‘Discovery Owners Club’ and ‘Club’ are interchangeable and assumed to mean the same thing.

Discourse Articles The Club reserves the right to edit or refuse articles received from members. Views expressed by members contributing to this magazine are those of that member and may not necessarily be those of the Club. Every effort is made to verify the contents of member’s articles, but the Club can not accept responsibility for the veracity of its content.

Caveat Emptor Every effort is made to ensure advertisements are bona fide. The Club can not accept responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised. The moral is “buyer beware”.

Public Liability Insurance The Club has Public Liability Insurance for registered Club events of a non-competitive nature. Cover is provided for full Club members, their spouse or partner and children residing at the same address.

Family members as defined in the Club rules travelling in a separate vehicle are also covered. Road traffic accident risks are not covered by the Club’s Public Liability Insurance. It is the responsibility of the member to ensure that they have proper and legal Insurance cover for themselves and the vehicle from leaving home until returning home.

Club Events Activities in particular but not excluding off-roading and green-laning are undertaken solely at the participants’ own risk. Vehicles should be suitably insured and prepared for the undertaken activity.

Participation in any Club organised event is on the understanding and acceptance that safety is the responsibility of the participant.

Green Lanes All ‘green lanes’ are highways as defined by the Highways Act 1980. Green laning events require the same level of insurance, road tax, MOT and driver’s licence as normal roads.

Association of Rover Clubs The Club is a non-competitive member of the Association of Rover Clubs (ARC), an organisation bringing together all member Land Rover clubs for organising events (both competitive and non-competitive) and providing many essential services to member clubs. The Club’s ARC Representative is Alan Smart.

GLASS The Discovery Owners Club supports GLASS (Green Lane Association). GLASS is a national rights of way user group representing the interests of motor car users on unsurfaced minor highways or ‘green lanes’ in England and Wales. GLASS promotes responsible off-roading and the Club endorses this.

Club Web Sites & DOC Forum www.discoveryownersclub.com and www.discoveryownersclub.org are the Club’s website addresses. www.doc-forum.co.uk is our forum address. For instant access, all you need is a valid membership number to register on site. Once registered, you can log on anywhere in the world to catch up with your favourite club, post replies and help fellow Discovery Owners.

Subjects range from Caravanning to Humour. There’s optional email notification for individual postings, entire topics or forums.

Back Issues Two ways for members to obtain Discourse back issues: Printed copies at £2.50 ea together with a self addressed A4 envelope stamped at 41 pence, or CD-ROM at £5.00 including postage (this would have all back issues).

Cheques should be made payable to ‘Discovery Owners Club’ and sent with your order to the Membership Secretary.

Advertising in Discourse Advertising space will be available in future issues of Discourse. Advertisements can be whole page, half page and quarter page in either black and white or full colour.

Suppliers and dealers wishing to advertise in Discourse should contact Alan Smart for a Rate Card and details of space available.

Small Ads for DOC Members Members can place small ads for Discovery stuff in Discourse for free.

However, if you have a cottage to let or anything else that would bring in some income, then you’ll also be able to advertise in the small ads section but will be expected to make a contribution to the production costs of Discourse.

Complimentary Show Tickets From time to time, the Club receives complimentary tickets to shows the club is attending. The Club’s policy is to make these tickets available to those members willing to help on the Club stand during the event. If you are willing to help at the event on the Club stand and / or allow your vehicle to be displayed, please contact the Club’s event organiser (listed in What’s On) whose decision on the distribution of those tickets shall be final. Surplus tickets shall either be destroyed or returned to the event organisers.

Data Protection The Club recognises its responsibilities under the 1998 Data Protection Act. The Membership Secretary is the Club’s Data Controller. The membership database of current and past members shall be for the Club’s exclusive use and shall not be made available to any third party. Elected Officers of the Club may have access to member information having shown good reason. Ordinary members may request contact information of another member. This shall only be through a Committee member who will contact the member to first ask permission.

Committee Meetings Under the rules of the club, members may attend, but not participate at committee meetings. If you plan to come along, please let the Club Secretary know in advance.

Articles for Discourse When submitting articles for inclusion in Discourse, please save the document as a text file without embedded images. Images should be separate and sent either as photographs or digital images in .jpg format on CD. All files should be sent to the Club’s Editor for selection. They should only be sent to the Publisher directly by prior arrangement. Photographs will not be returned unless requested.

Contents REGULARS Land Rover News Member’s Letters Club News The Glove Box Merchandise Merchandise Order Form Committee Corner Local Section Meets Events Diary

THIS ISSUE Helping Out at a Hill Rally Fitting a Terratrip Discovery 3 - A Test Drive New Year’s Eve Laning Off-Road Driving Tuition Our Grand Day Out The Red Shed Chronicles High Peaks Antics Blinkey’s Journal Part 2 Peak Discovery

8 10 12 14 16 18 21 22 23 24

This issue of Discourse has been published using Adobe InDesign CS for Windows. © Copyright 2005. The design and layout, use of typestyles, and source files created in the production of this publication are the copyright of the Discovery Owners Club. Special artwork, photographs and images used in this publication are copyright of the originator. No element of it may be copied in full or part in any form without the express written permission to do so.

Discovery Owners Club, PO Box 12003, Birmingham, B44 0ZQ. United Kingdom

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4 6 7 11 25 26 26 27 27

Committee & Representatives

Executive Committee Peter Greenway Chairman Email: chairman@discoveryownersclub.org

Alan Smart Secretary, Archivist, Wessex LSR The Bales, Cow Lane, Kimpton, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8NY. Tel: 01264 772851, Fax: 01264 773300, Email: secretary@discoveryownersclub.org Lee Jones Membership Secretary, Sth. Staffs LSR 73 Tottenham Crescent, Kingstanding, Birmingham, B44 0ST. Tel: 0121 603 3632, Mobile: 07759 299031, Email: memsec@discoveryownersclub.org

Paul Walker Vice Chairman, North Worcs LSR 17 Ditchford Close, Hunt End, Redditch, B97 5XT Tel: 07939 411995, Email: vicechair@discoveryownersclub.org John Francis Treasurer 32 Lichfield Road, Halewood, Liverpool, L26 1TT Tel: 0151 486 9910, Mobile: 07766 168869, Email: johnfrncs5@aol.com

Management Committee Malcolm Bourne Events Co-ordinator Tel: 07746 028833 Email: events@discoveryownersclub.org

Stefan Tapp Publicity & Press OfďŹ cer Email: @discoveryownersclub.org

Horness Spencer Discourse Editor 16 Bishopstone Close, Redditch, B98 0AT Tel: 07795 442580 Email: editor@discoveryownersclub.org Jon Hunt Merchandising Officer 236a Bromwich Road, St Johns, Worcester WR2 4BE Tel.: 07971 219583 Email: clubshop@discoveryownersclub.org Sean Butler-Lee Internet Officer http://www.discoveryownersclub.org Email: internet@discoveryownersclub.org

Local Section Representatives Don Hoaglin Kent LSR 23 Springcroft, Hartley, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8AR Tel: 01474 707531, Mobile: 07714 696270, Email: kentlsr@discoveryownersclub.org

Mark Hooghiemstra Scotland LSR The Cottage, Wood of Aldbar, Brechin, Angus, DD9 6SZ Tel: 01307 830441, Email: scotslsr@discoveryownersclub.org

Kim Hollings North West LSR 15 Knowsley Crescent, Offerton, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 4JB. Tel: 0161 480 7096, Email: k.hollings1@ntlworld.com

Malcolm Bourne Cheshire LSR Tel: 07746 028833 Email: malcolm@bourne8.wanadoo.co.uk

James Wood Yorkshire LSR 12 Ingham Road,Bawtry,South Yorkshire.

DN10 6NW Tel: 07801923563 Email: DragonOak@aol.com

Roger Spencer Nottingham LSR Tel: 07766 222386 Email: rspencer-airedales@ntlworld.com

Discourse 19 - Page 3

Land Rover News

Delivered in Style LAND ROVER’S SERIES II DISCOVERY WINS CATEGORY AWARD AT AUTO EXPRESS MAGAZINE’S 2005 USED CAR HONOURS The Land Rover Discovery Series II has won an Auto Express Used Car Honour for the fourth consecutive year with the ‘Best 4x4 Off-Roader’ accolade for 2005.

Judged as the best vehicle in its category, the Discovery beat off competition from BMW’s X5 and the Kia Sorento, having sold over 200,000 in the UK since its launch in 1989. The Range Rover was also highly commended in the ‘Large Executive Car’ category.

Commenting on the Discovery’s award, Auto Express editor-in-chief, David Johns, said: “Still the best used buy in this sector, the recently replaced Discovery is king off the road, with amazing mud-plugging abilities and a rugged image that few of its rivals can even dream of matching.”

He added: “Land Rover’s marketing men have done a brilliant job over the last decade of bringing Land Rover to the forefront of luxury brands, where it now happily mixes with the most prestigious German makers.”

(2,349 Discovery 3s sold in total during 2004) – maintaining its position as the best-selling large 4x4 in the UK, a tag that looks set to continue with an order bank well into March 2005.

Hot on the heels of the Discovery is the Freelander, which beat 2003’s sales figure with 22,506 vehicles sold, maintaining its position as the best selling of all 4x4s in the UK. The Range Rover, now almost three years old, continued its sales success with 6,484 sold in 2004, which places it at the top of the UK luxury vehicle sector with a 20% share of the segment comprising vehicles priced at £45,000 and over.

On the corporate sales (fleet) side of the business, Land Rover has also enjoyed a very successful year, with a record 7,509 vehicles sold to companies. All models in the range increased their sales through the year, with the Freelander leading the way as the best-selling 4x4 in the corporate sector, with three years’ free servicing and very competitive whole-life costs now making it an even more appealing alternative to typical fleet choices.

Land Rover UK managing director, Phil Popham, said: “Last year, the 4x4 and luxury sectors became increasingly competitive and challenging with a whole host of exciting new entrants to the market, so to achieve yet another sales record in the UK is extremely satisfying. To remain the market leader in this climate takes some doing, but our results speak for themselves, with the Freelander increasing its market share in the most challenging part of the sector, Discovery maintaining its position as the best selling of the large 4x4s, and the Range Rover continuing as the undisputed king of ultimate luxury motoring.”

Land Rover Looks East LOOKING FOR GROWTH IN ASIA AFTER a few years of uncertainty under different owners sales are picking up in Japan for Land Rover.

In fact they have more than doubled since 2000 said managing director Matthew Taylor at the Tokyo Motor Show.

“We have had to do a certain amount of re-structuring and we are now getting some rewards for it,” he added.

Discovery Leads 2004 Land Rover sold 47,147 vehicles in the UK in 2004, beating last year’s record by 128 units in a year of increasing competition in the 4x4 sector.

Leading the charge in 2004 was the Discovery range, including the previous generation model and the recently launched award-winning Discovery 3. The previous model remarkably increased its sales in its final year of life, leading the company to run out of stock in October – a month before the all-new Discovery 3 arrived at dealerships.

In its first full month of sales, the Discovery 3 took 10% of the entire 4x4 sector in December with 1,089 models sold

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Sales stalled first under Rover ownership then after BMW sold off the famous off-road marque to Ford. There were problems with dealerships which had been taken on under the previous owners.

“We are now plugging into the other Ford brands, particularly Jaguar and Volvo, our preferred partners globally,” added Taylor. “This means we can re-establish the brand and position it in the right way.”

From 1,200 sales three years ago Land Rover will grow to 3,000 in Japan this year, mainly Range Rover and Discovery. Taylor said: “This is about where we expect to stay for the next five years, we are not looking for huge sales numbers as our vehicles are very much niche players, but they are high margin sales for us.”

Land Rover does have greater ambition elsewhere in the

Land Rover News Asia Pacific region – particularly China where the market is starting to boom.

Fleet Award For Discovery 3

“We are looking at that market closely,” said Taylor. “We are working with Volvo to establish a network there and the way that market is growing it could be our third largest sales outlet after the UK and United States by 2010.”

That could lead to Land Rover starting production in China at some point in the future he added. “We have to look at all the markets in that region and plan how we move forward. Currently Taiwan, Thailand and China are where we anticipate good growth. Beyond that we could be looking at South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.”

Land Rover started assembling Freelander models in Thailand last year.

Land Rover has won a prestigious Fleet News Award for the Discovery 3, which was named winner of the ‘Best Large SUV category’.

Nominated by an expert panel of judges, which included fleet managers, residual value experts, consultants and suppliers, this is one of the most coveted awards in the fleet sector and follows the recent success of both the Freelander and the Discovery 3 in winning their respective categories in the 2005 Fleet Excellence Awards.

The judges said of the award: “The Discovery 3 just does a better all-round job, providing a luxury driving environment with good on-road manners and incredibly strong off-road performance. Coupled with its very strong residual values, ability to take seven people in comfort and the potential of diesel motoring, it was felt this was the strongest contender in the sector.”

Superchips hit Discovery 3 SUPERCHIPS – A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY Power of Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 boosted by 36 bhp, torque by 71 Nm. Superchips, the world leader in engine management system tuning, can now re-programme the 2.7-litre diesel engine of the all-new Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6, delivering a maximum power gain of 36 bhp and boosting torque by 71 Nm. The conversion costs only £511.13 including VAT and has no adverse effect on fuel economy.

The most impressive power and torque gains kick in from around 2,500 rpm, with the greatest power increase of 36 bhp achieved at 3,802 rpm and the biggest torque boost of 71 Nm at 3,427 rpm. These astonishing improvements make the engine far more responsive and greatly improve overall ‘driveability’, giving a more rewarding driving experience both on- and off-road.

LAND ROVER CLAIMS 2005 FLEET NEWS AWARD

Land Rover Learning Land Rover’s Dealer Apprenticeship programme has received a commendation from the Learning & Skills Council for its commitment to the development of young people following a record intake of 430 apprentices.

The Apprenticeship scheme, based both at Gaydon and Halewood, the Merseyside based Jaguar production facility, takes each apprentice through a 3½ year development programme consisting of placements at 174 Dealerships, across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Engine performance is deliberately limited by vehicle manufacturers to allow for the possibility of the worst grade of fuel being used or the car being allowed to run for many miles without a service. Superchips removes these performance barriers by re-programming the engine’s electronic control unit (ECU). It’s a quick and easy operation, though the technical research and development process that lies behind the modification is amazingly complex.

With unrivalled experience, Superchips can make dramatic performance improvements to over 700 cars, including the vast majority of makes and models. All types of engine are catered for, whether normally aspirated, turbo petrol or turbo diesel.

Conversions are carried out at Superchips’ 85 dealers nationwide and at the company’s headquarters in Buckingham. In some parts of the country, they can also be done at a customer’s home or place of work, courtesy of one of the network’s mobile units. If required, Superchips can also arrange favourable insurance via specialist brokers.

For further details and to locate your nearest dealer, visit www.superchips.co.uk or call 01280 816781

Discourse 19 - Page 5

Member’s Letters

Members’ Letters Allfootstompingpraisegivingpointmakingerrorfindingholediggingadvicegivinghelpwantingdifflockingoffroadinggreenlaningtarmaccruisingtrailortowingclubmemberletterwritingdiscodrivingpeoplewelcome.

CLUB SPIRIT

FACE LIFT

The events of one weekend in november just go to prove what a friendly and helpful bunch the members of the Discovery Owners Club are.

After splitting an injector pipe while out laning , the rest of the group rallied round attempting to source a replacement part , after several phonecalls to around a dozen and a half suppliers, main dealers and independants within a large radius , nothing was available , “ we don’t get asked for them very often “ someone said .

All the facilities to effect a 10 minute repair , tools , knowledge but no part !

By sheer coincidence (or was it something else?) another member of the party blew a head gasket on the same stretch of road and ground to a halt in the same layby as me !! .

Again everyone came up with a rescue plan , I was flat bed taxi’d back to base while the rest continued with what was left of the trip , leaving the blown gasket in a pub car park to be retrieved later , any excuse ! .

Below is a photo of myself taken at the change over of my Ionan blue 1992 200 series Discovery and my new Avalon Blue 1995 300 series. Personalised bits had to been removed from the 200 but DOC stickers remained.

The 300 will have to stay naked of stickers untill i get hold of lee for a new triangle and chris for SBC 008 (Shiney Blue Crew) then club shop for DOC’s etc. I may leave it shiny for a while but a few mods will appear. (Don’t leave it too long! Ed.) Malcolm Bourne.

Names and places have been omitted to save embarresment but if you were there you know who you are .

In all honesty i’m not 100% sure if everyone was a member of the Discovery Owners Club but none the less the spirit was there and a big thankyou to you all .

STEVE GADD ( # 573 )

TRADING POST FOR SALE Parts for sale: (all in VGC) Discovery 300TDI. Simbars - Bike rack, holds 4 bikes & fits to spare wheel. £35.00 Jackmates – front recovery & Highlift jacking points. £25.00 Highlift rear jacking point (tow bar fixing). £5.00 Steel wheel (unused) £15.00 Steel wheel £10.00 Rear Light clusters. (with indicators, pair) £25.00

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Range Rover Classic.

Nearside/passenger foot-well carpet. Beige (unused) £5.00 Tailgate Carpet (inside handle). Grey. £5.00 Radiator Muff & fixings, Metal grill type. £5.00 Defender.

Roof-bars, genuine.

Please contact Colin on 01902 790739 or e-mail: dotcol@dheslop.fslife.co.uk Colin Heslop (1109) Coven, South Staffordshire,

£35.00

Club News

WorcsDOC Christmas Party VICKY HILL December 11th 2004, and the Worcs. group find themselves once again at the DS&S working mens club in Bromsgrove for their annual Christmas bash.

Organised

by Paul and Evie Jones, this was the 3rd event held at the club, Fancy dress, Skittles, and plenty to eat and drink was the order of the day, and again they did us proud.

The group, numbers swelled by Pauls relatives (boy oh boy has he got a big family) consisted of a variety of guises, Anthony and Cleopatra (naming no names but I was offered vast amounts of money to destroy the photographic evidence………….. which I declined), Pirates, St Trinians, Clowns, Witches, plenty of Fathers (and Mother) Christmases and for the top of the tree, a fairy.

Anyone who knows Bill Jones, will know what I mean when mentioning Bill and fairy in the same sentence just doesn’t have the correct ring, but yes, Bill was our Christmas fairy, all burly six foot plus of him.

We were divided into groups of five ready for the skittles competition, I’m not sure if some were aiming at the skittles or trying to blast a hole in the wall behind, but the speed some of the balls were sent down caused those in the pit picking up the skittles to scatter as well.

A food break stopped play halfway through the competition and we all dived into the scrumptious buffet that had been laid out, sandwiches, sausage rolls, chicken legs, etc. etc. you name it, it was there.

This was then followed by the raffle, now this is a raffle to beat all raffles, not just 2 or 3 prizes, or even 20 or 30 prizes, there must have been over 50 prizes, all donated by members, friends and

family. I don’t think anyone who bought a ticket went home without winning something.

Judged by the bar staff, we then held the fancy dress parade, Bill was the winner of the mens and Sue, Bills wife won the ladies dressed as a clown, I think it went without saying, especially after telling us they’d called into the local supermarket on their way to the club! Just picture it, a fairy and a clown wandering through the supermarket aisles!

Back to the serious stuff, well, as serious as you can be, in fancy dress after a few drinks, we continued the competition, until, taking it in turn we’d all had three attempts at sending three balls hurtling down to knock over nine skittles, or in some cases trying to kneecap those picking them back up again.

Scores were added up and shields were presented to: Ladies Winner Ladies Runner Up Mens Winner Mens Runner Up

Ann Willetts Vicky Hill Paul Walker Nathan

Booby Prizes for lowest scores went to: Alan Jones Angie Members of the winning team were all given gold medals and the second and third received silver and bronze respectively.

We all agreed it had been another tremendously successful evening with £96.50 being raised for our club funds. A big “Thank You” to everyone who donated a raffle prize, and to everyone who bought a raffle ticket for charity.

WELL DONE PAUL AND EVIE FROM EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE WORCSDOC CHRISTMAS PAERTY!

Vicky Hill

Discourse 19 - Page 7

Members Article

Helping out at a Hillrally ROY PRESTON I helped to set-up at the “Scottish Hillrally” in the hills near Perth last year, and had a great time, so I volunteered to help at “The Hillrally” near Ruthin in North Wales in October.

llyn Forest where we assumed that some of the stages would be starting from. The day was finished off with a good meal at the local hostelry.

Wednesday was a fine day and a few hours were spent at the Rally HQ, which was based at Llysfasi College, mark-

My Discovery is fitted with basic road tyres, which restricted my movements a little in Scotland because the organisers didn’t want to have to recover me in the sticky bits.

To ensure that I wouldn’t be left out of the fun at this event I bought a spare set of steel wheels at a “sortout” I fitted them with Colway 235/70/R/16 C-TRAX MT and took them with me to Wales.

The set-up was due to take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and the event run on Saturday and Sunday 16th & 17th October. My wife and I are not into camping at our age and therefore booked some self catering accommodation in the nearby village of Gwyddelwern from the Monday for a week, with the intention of having a day sightseeing and then help with the set-up from Wednesday.

Ten days before the event was due to take place I was informed that “The Hillrally” had been cancelled but Margaret and I decided not to cancel the accommodation and have the whole week touring.

A few days later a friend rang to say that Marches 4 x 4 Management Ltd had decided to take on the running of the event which would now be called “The Welsh Hillrally”.

I was given the phone number of the new Chief Marshall, who would be in charge of the set-up, and rang him to confirm that I would be there on the Wednesday.

After a leisurely drive to Ruthin on the Monday with the spare wheels, ropes and waterproofs on board, we settled into our cottage and planned our route for the next day.

We had nice day out on the Tuesday having a coffee stop at the Horseshoe Pass and lunch at a pub in Bala. We then drove some single-track roads that led up to the Pen-

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ing up maps then the CM allocated set-up crews to particular stages. I also fitted my spare wheels which had my new Colways mounted.

I was allocated to a crew of six and we departed in two Discoverys and a Range Rover, with stakes, red tape and arrows, to set-up a stage that was based round a farm where the route followed a number of farm tracks and fields.

When we arrived at the farm we saw a hard top 90 coming over the fields at great speed and wondered whether we were at the wrong spot and about to be confronted by an irate farmer who would tell us in no uncertain terms where to go. But no, this was the most enthusiastic farmer we had ever met and he had just finished setting the route for the stage and knocking in all the stakes for us. Not the usual 2-inch square stakes but 4 inch fence posts and roped between them where the route was not clearly defined.

Members Article The farmer, Aled, suggested that we should take a run round the stage but felt that the Range Rover and my shiny Discovery should be left at the farm and that two of us could ride with him. I got in the back, there were no sheep in there but you could tell that there had been, and away we went with the other Discovery following on behind.

Aled attacked the stage as though he was on a timed run and left the Discovery trailing behind, I should say though that the Discovery had lost low box somewhere and had difficulty up some of the steep slopes in high box.

As we ran alongside a hedge the route took a 360-degree turn through a gate and then back along the other side of the hedge. At the speed we were going I had my doubts some great tracks. My Colways did a fine job and I didn’t get stuck anywhere.

The event attracted 39 competitors, not all of them finished the course, and the two days of marshalling were soon over. I spent Saturday and Sunday marshalling at four different stages and saw some good fast runs.

The prize giving was held in one of the college barns late afternoon on the Sunday and all agreed that without the hard work of an enthusiastic group of helpers the event would not have run. All the helpers received a rousing cheer from the competitors and their service crews.

that we would make it through the gate but I was amazed to see Aled do a handbrake turn through the gate and back up the other side of the hedge without any problem.

I had not previously seen anyone do a handbrake turn in a Land Rover but watched Aled at the next turn where he knocked it out of difflock before hand braking and then, when in a straight line, knocking it back into difflock.

The next two days were spent in some beautiful scenery in the Penllyn Forest and the Llantysilio Mountain knocking in stakes, stapling arrows, fixing red tape, placing Motor Sport notices on the edge of public footpaths and driving

For my part I thoroughly enjoyed the four days off roading and can recommend it to anyone to get in touch with rally organisers and offer to help. I am sure they will be glad to see you especially if you have a large hammer and a staple gun and I look forward to the first event of the year in April 2005.

Roy Preston (1354)

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Member’s Article

FITTING A TERRATRIP Tim Arnold Having non standard tyres causes a problem if you need to know your speed and distance. It is possible to wade through all the technical details and work out the correct speedo drive for the combination of tyres and differentials fitted but this is still not accurate and for Navigation events visible to the Navigator.

A GPS is one solution and a very accurate one but as they are not allowed on all events this was ruled out. A search of the web took me to www.donbarrow.co.uk where the Terratrip units can be compared.

As they where fitted to the Camel Discoveries I opted for the Terratrip 202+ which I purchased direct from Te r r a t r i p (01332 880468) and the unit arrived the next day.

As they where aware of the intended vehicle, a sketch of the sensor location on the Camels was included. This however still seemed vulnerable for an off rod vehicle so I have installed the sensor inside the handbrake drum.

Having marked its position I removed the rear prop shaft at the handbrake end and then removed the handb r a k e d r u m .

Due to the position of the prop shaft bolts it is not pos-

sible to use them for sensing, instead the brake drum was drilled and tapped to take four 6mm bolts on a 135mm PCD. The bolts where then fitted with locknuts and threadloc (can’t be too careful).

Next a bracket to hold the sensor was fabricated from 3mm mild steel and a 6mm hole drilled in the backplate for the cable to exit.

The sensor then needs to be carefully positioned as the air gap has to be between 1 and 1.75mm (now you know why it needs protection). The cable was the sleeved with plastic tubing for protection and routed around the gearbox to enter just in front of the transfer box lever on the centre console, and the up behind the dashboard reappearing at the back of the passenger grab handle.

Mounting the head unit is also difficult as no bracket is supplied and the fixings are on the back of the unit. I found a solution using brass pipe clips and a junior hacksaw. The unit only requires a permanent 12v supply; the backlight is switched on the unit. As it only requires a low current I picked up the supply from the back of the clock (purple/ white +ve and black –ve).

With all the connections made the unit can be calibrated, in calibration mode the unit counts the number of pulses received from the sender.

With the counter zeroed drive a measured mile (or kilometre) the number of pulses recorded is the calibration number.

For greater accuracy you can repeat the exercise several times and average the results.

Tim Arnold.

MILEAGE COMPETITION RESULTS Daren was kind enough to offer various Crayola kids activity packs for those closest to his mileage Two members (yes two) took up the challenge, results are as follows: Winner Runner Up

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William Jones Horness Spencer

The Glove Box

Hi-Clone Review - Part One

The Glove Box.

THE DYSON EFFECT FOR DISCOVERIES 4x4s BOOST CAR SALES The art of getting more out of a diesel engine is an old one. Solutions range from short term specially adapted formula’s in bottles available from most garages and service stations, all the way up to precise fuel pump modifications and ECU upgrades costing a few hundred pounds. For me, the shift from a regular petrol engined family saloon, to the throbbing 0-60 in “we’ll send you a postcard” times that my 300 TDi offers were a bit of a culture shock, and one which I am glad to say probably saved not only my licence, but my life as well.

Nonetheless, anything that promises to make my full tractor experience a little more pleasant by way of better acceleration, improved torque, and the Holy Grail of 4x4 ownership (or any UK driver for that matter) “better fuel economy” makes me pay attention like the meerkats of the the southern African grasslands. Hi-Clone has been making such promises. Heads up!

It’s not new, it’s not big, but it is clever. The concept is a simple one. Place a small static device into the air induction system, and get the air swirling. This swirling air effect improves the fuel / air mixture and atomisation, which promotes a more complete combustion as more of the available fuel is consumed. Result? In theory a smoother quieter ride offering more torque, less smoke and better fuel enconomy.

Convinced? I was. One of the first things I fitted to my Discovery upon purchase was a standard fitment K&N Air Filter. Easy to fit for even me, and according to the majority of people I could expect to see some change. I did (honestly), that little bit of extra torque low down was all my right foot needed to cancel out any fuel savings I may have had. Perfect.

As well as the “Hyperflow” air filter, these 3 devices are to be installed (1) inside the flexible hose connecting the air box to the turbo , (2) and (3) at either end of the flexible hose connecting the intercooler to the manifold. The kits are available for many different makes and models, the 200, 300, and TD5 powered Land Rover engines are all catered for, and accorting to the instructions are all fitted in minutes.

As you read this, I will be putting all of this to the test. Over the next 2 months I will compare the supplied Hi-Clone “Hyperflow” air filter with my standard fitment K&N option, and install the 3 Hi-Clone’s into my 300TDi (1998 model, 85,000 miles on the clock, no other modifications), following the instructions closely, along with my speedo and fuel consumption even closer.

I will let you all know how things went in the next issue of Discourse.

Horness Spencer (974) Discourse Editor

INDUSTRY figures show that sales of 4x4 are up again. Increasing by 13 percent, even though 4x4 vehicles have had a rough press recently for poor fuel economy and drivers accused of blocking up roads around schools and being aggressive, UK sales are at record levels.

Commenting on the growth, Al Clarke, head of communications at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said, “They are lifestyle vehicles that customers want to buy. Yes, they do get used in towns but equally they are used in the country by people for their work and for leisure.

“Owners do pay more taxes for that privilege. Why pick on 4x4s?

You could equally pick on owners of large-engined sports cars.

Manufacturers have done a lot of work developing fuel efficient and low emission engines for 4x4 vehicles and they do not have a bigger road footprint than a big estate car for instance”.

The Land Rover Freelander leads the compact SUV sector with a 30 per cent share of the 66,584 total sales. While In the large SUV market, sales are up 15 per cent to 46,794 registrations. Sector leader is the Land Rover Discovery with a 22 per cent share of the market.

Mechanical Terms #4 VICE GRIPS: Another tool used to round off bolt heads if nothing else is available. When used as a clamp on a drill press, you can ensure they will release as soon as your drill bit touches the desired metal, resulting in it flying across your workshop like a frizbee at 200 mph.

TIMING LIGHT: A stroboscopic instrument used for illuminating grease build-up.

For more information go to http://www.hiclone.co.uk, or call 01707 870 858.

Discourse 19 - Page 11

Members’ Stories

Discovery 3 - A Test Drive Paul Walker Disclaimer: The following article is my own personal impression and opinion and is in no way a reflection of how the Discovery Owners Club members or its committee past & present view the new car.

First impressions…WOW…second…. too much plastic…third…is there enough buttons. After sitting there for a few minutes and playing with the buttons of which, most are self-explanatory I set about getting the drivers seat to my liking. I then started to notice little things like the fact

What can I say, you’re read the hype, seen the TV advert, probably even seen one on the road, but have you testdriven one yet? Well a set of circumstances came about that allowed me to get to my local Land Rover dealer and so I booked a test drive. I was told I could have one from between 9.30am to 11.30am, a whole two hours worth.

So on the Saturday morning at 9.30am on the dot I turned up at the dealers with my two kids in tow. After signing an insurance form and giving my address and handing the keys over for ‘Donald’ I was given the keys to a D3, a TDV6 HSE, and was told ”see you about 2.00-3.00pm Mr Walker”. “Great I thought; a full day’s test-drive even better”.

Walking out to the car, it becomes apparent just how large the new Discovery is, huge slab like sides; making it look like a small panel van. The step in the roofline has been toned down, the alpine lights have all but gone - they are now part of the roofline. The huge blank area on the rear door, by blank I mean, it has no shape, nothing to draw your eye to, the reason being that the spare wheel isn’t there. Go on admit it, we all look at the spare wheel on the rear of discoverys, we read the cover, we notice the type of tyre, but on the D3…….nothing……blank….. But more on the rear door later. The front still looks too much like the new Range Rover, and is in my mind too square

and boxy, at least the Tdi’s have curves. However, saying that, it does give it that mean butch look. I’m still not convinced about fitting spoilers on the front of 4x4’s; I mean after all they are meant to go of road, who wants to keep fixing it every time it gets broken? The key fob has the new style fold away key (well new to me anyway) so after working out the central door locking I managed to get the kids into the rear seats and get myself behind the steering wheel.

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that they have kept the driver’s and passenger’s air systems separate, and that the heated front screen seems to be standard, nice move Land Rover. Other things were the two stage heated seats, the radio/CD unit is a masterpiece, and again controls are on the dash and on the steering wheel bezel. I can confirm that the stereo set-up is loud, very loud, well it should be with thirteen speakers and an active sub-woofer. Starting the car up was a joy; no noisy rattles like the Tdi’s, soon all the warning lights went out and as I went to pull away I came across my first hate, the electronic handbrake, trust a Land Rover with 7895miles on the clock, it had developed a fault causing the warning light to remain lit all through the test drive. So off the forecourt we went and into the nearest petrol station to fuel up. It was here I found my second hate…. the fuel cap and the outer cover, talk about cheap and nasty. It was a case of tapping the outer cover it to open it and then finding a non-locking cap inside…I can foresee a lot of fuel siphoning going on. For £40 grand I would have expected better than this.

On with the drive, and after getting on the nearest motorway I was very impressed with it’s smooth pick up from stand still and the slick gear change, I was soon doing over the ‘ton’ when I noticed two things, 1) I still had another gear to use, remember the D3 has a six speed box in the manuals and 2) I was now rapidly approaching my exit junction. So off I came to find a nice set of country lanes to throw the car around on, just to give the suspension a work out, I stopped in a lay-by and had a play with the controls for the suspension, setting them on low I hit the road, what can I say, I am impressed. The car held the line I picked tight into and out of the bends; one of the local roads has a long bend that tightens as you go into it, in my 300Tdi I can hit the bend at 60mph but have to ease up and brake about ¾ of the way round, thus leaving the bend at about 45mph. In the D3 I hit the same bend at 65mph and came out at 55mph and with a lot less body roll. That

Members’ Stories is when I noticed that the suspension was set for the off road level; silly me had miss read the instructions and had set the suspension on high. “Whoops”, after resetting the height, I thought about repeating the bends but time was getting on. So I drove onwards to the first (of many) green lanes, which I intended to test-drive in the new D3. This lane is nice and easy with a good solid stone base but gets very wet and muddy due to the side embankments and the local farmer who drives it in his tractor, the D3 took it in it’s stride no problem.

I hate it; I think Land Rover should have left well alone, the large single door worked fine from 89 to 03. I wonder how long it will take for someone to design an after market side-hinged door to fit in it’s place? There is no drop down step like on the Tdi’s or Td5’s so as for getting in it is a bit of a struggle. And as for the spare wheel, just what was Land Rover thinking? I have heard that they said it was to come into line with EEC rules; but Renault has showcased a new car with the spare on the rear door. But Land Rover; what a place to put it, just in case you don’t know, it is now

On to the next lane, this is a real gem, it’s rutted, rock strewn, and because it has a good solid base holds the water; thus making it very muddy at times. This was a low range 1st & 2nd gear job, taking care with the steering so to avoid the hedges. This was the lane to test out the features of the ‘terrain response’ Again it impressed me, but the real tester was to come. After a nice drive on some A roads and a quick blast up a dual carriageway it found me at a nice steep hill, time to test the hill descent control.

Bearing in mind this is the first time I have used HDC, I stopped the car, pressed the button, looked at the dash, a little green light came on, fine, then I noticed the LCD screen, sort of like a trip computer giving you information all the time, It was saying that HDC was not fitted to this car? Hang on a minute, big yellow button is HDC, the green light on dash is lit, so it must be fitted?

Unfortunately as the car had to go back to the dealers I didn’t try the hill, just on the off chance. However driving round the block put me at the bottom of the steep hill, time to see how well it’ll climb. Low range 1st gear and a steady throttle saw the car climb it’s way to the top with the minimum of fuss; I have yet to drive up this hill in my own 300Tdi; So here I am in a £40k car getting it covered in mud and fighting the ruts and the running water in them.

Some people have all the fun.

Then I collected my Mom and took her out in it so she could pass comment from the passenger side. Again a drive on the A roads lead us to a green lane, (see the trend here?). This one has a nice big ford and is stony bottomed, it has also now developed a nice big hole on one side, which if you drove into it would swallow the front end of your car. The D3 took it all, no fuss, no issues, just like a walk in the park. By now the car was getting very muddy and time was getting short. So it was a case of finding a car wash somewhere, whilst doing this, the dealer rang, asking when I would be returning the car, as they had customers waiting to use it. Now it was a case of panic stations, we had to find a car wash quick, the first one we found had a queue, the second one decided to break down on us, but after getting the garage owner out to fix it we ended up with two washes for the price of one.

Anyway we returned the car to the dealers and they were happy.

Back to the comments I made earlier, the rear door is a split type tailgate not unlike the Range Rover style. However I do not like the curved shape in it, in fact I will say

mounted underneath the rear floor pan. Sorry land Rover but I think that’s an own goal. Again, who will come up with the swing-a-way rear door mount option?

Other issues I have with new car include when selecting reverse both wing mirrors move to show you the bottom of the rear body panel, why? When reversing I like to see where the car is going, especially when I reverse the caravan, I don’t want to watch the floor! I could not find any way of overcoming this problem.

I cannot comment on the sat-nav as it was not fitted in my test car. Also Land Rover designers have still not overcome the issue of dirt collecting on the rear window, I was constantly using the rear washer jets and wipers, maybe they should have had a look at the rear spoiler that is available from Formula 4x4.

Would I buy one? Yes, if my lottery numbers came up.

Would I off road it? Probably not for the time being; I’d wait to see who else did first and see what mods could be done to it. I would use it more as the family car and to tow the caravan.

Final verdict, It gets the thumbs up from me, If you haven’t already; then get down to your nearest dealer and book a test drive, you’ll like it.

My Thanks go to Richard Parkinson at Land Rover Droitwich for allowing me to take the car out and sorry about the mud.

Paul Walker Vice Chairman http://www.droitwich.landrover.co.uk/

Discourse 19 - Page 13

New Year’s Eve Laning

New Year’s Eve Laning PAUL WALKER As some of you may know, in 2003 I organised a laning trip on New Year’s Eve down in the Cotswolds, an area that is close to my heart. Anyway after the success of that trip I decided to venture further afield, hence the 2004 trip was planned to take place in North Wales. After much map reading and checking of “Wayfinder” and e-mailing a fellow laner who was doing the route before me, I now had a route that had been driven only 2 weeks beforehand…Magic I thought until I then heard that “the Wayfarer” was now under a 6 month TRO…However all was not lost as other routes around the area were deemed to be ‘Discovery’ friendly. So now it was a case of finding out who wanted to go from the “Worcs section” At the first mention of the trip I had 6 cars, but as each monthly meet came and went the list got to be fewer and fewer, At the group’s December meeting I finally had a list of 4 cars.

While at the meeting I informed the members wanting to go that they would have to be up early…Just how early came as a bit of a shock to some of them…They would need to be at Frankley Services on the M5 north bound for 5.30am………

Due to the uncertainty of a couple of the members turning up, I then placed a post on the club forum advertising a couple of spare places on the trip, these were soon filled

by Dex & Tazman. They were told the time to meet, and arrangements were made for Dex to meet me at junction 1 on the M54, as this would be easier for him after travelling from Bedford. God knows what time he got up that morning. Anyway on a cold damp New Year’s Eve morning three Discoverys met at Frankley Services, Bill from Evesham, Joe from Studley & myself, I had gained two passengers since the group meeting in the form of Vicky Hill &

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Chris Mayneord, About 20 minutes later Darren (Tazman) arrived from Gloucester. After a quick chat and toilet stop we were on our way. I had arranged to pick Darren (Dex) at junction 1 of the M54, So I left the motorway and made my way to the lorry park as per the arrangement, after

about 5 minutes I rang Dex on his mobile to ask him how long he was going to be? His reply was that he was now in front of the other 3 Discoverys on the M54…. What had happened was, as I had pulled off at junction 1 Dex had driven over the top of the junction and had tried calling me but could not get though. This now left me with a chase on. After putting the pedal to the metal I caught up with the other cars, to find no sign of Dex…What was going on? I rang Dex to find that he had pulled into the services on the M54. Arrangements were made for a group holt just

by Chirk near to the MacDonald’s island on the A5. The 2 Darren’s went off for a toilet stop while Bill, Joe & I carried on along the A5 into Llangollen. It was while we were in Llangollen awaiting the 2 Darren’s to catch up that news came over the CB radios that Tazman had broken down, rumour was that his alternator had gone bust, by the time Dex arrived in Llangollen Tazman had got hold of the AA and they were on their way to him. It was still dark at this time in the morning and as I was unsure of the location of the start of the first lane, after a quick chat with the rest of the group it was decided to wait for daybreak. This decision was for two reasons, one to give the AA & Tazman time to sort out the car and two so when we went looking for the first lane, we would find it and not cause a nuisance to the locals.

A phone call from Tazman told me the AA had turned up and they were awaiting the local motor factors to open up to sort out another alternator, Darren said he would rejoin the group as soon as possible, but we were to start laning now without him. So to the first lane we went. This starts in the village of Glyndyfrdwy and heads in a southeasterly direction finishing in the Ceiriog forest. While driving this lane we were over taken by a local farmer & his son in a pick-up, we caught up with them half way through the forest, good mornings were exchanged as we drove past.

New Year’s Eve Laning It was during this last section of the lane that Chris Mayneord offered to map read, as some of you know when I lead a group of cars on a laning trip I usually do the map reading as well as drive, years of practice as a HGV driver has taught me how to map read, change gear & turn the steering wheel ;-) Anyway as Chris offered to do it, he got the job, Our next lane was near a place called Pont-y-Meibion, according to the map there was a bridge to cross to get to the start of this lane, As were driving along I noticed a bridge on our left hand side in a small valley, I thought it might be ours but Chris lead us past the little lane that led to it, I asked Chris if we should have taken that lane, He’s reply was not that convincing to me so I pulled over to the side of the road and took the map of him, after studying it for a few seconds and checking my GPS, And then having Vicky Hill check and confirm with her GPS (Vicky was back passenger) it was found that we should have taken the little lane down to the bridge. Luck was with us now as about 30 yds ahead was a small layby, so the whole convoy turned around and headed back along the valley. The first car I came to was Bill Jones, I stopped by Bill’s car, and said we had missed the lane, Bills comment was along the lines of “whose doing the map reading”, I replied “that Chris is”, Bills reply was “he wants sacking”, “good point, Chris your sacked, I’ll map read you can do the gates” was my reply.

On arrival at the next lane at Cwmclwyd, we found it to be a gentle climb up the side of a forest, having passed though a couple of gates we spotted a sheep in a spot of bother, The sheep had got it’s head stuck inside a plastic feed bucket, the wire handle had become trapped behind the sheep’s horn, there was no way that the sheep could remove the bucket, So the sacked map reader became a shepherd for a few minutes.

After a brief chase and a few tugs the bucket was thrown into the forest and the sheep allowed on its way. The rest of this lane is a rocky climb but nothing a standard disco couldn’t handle. Next re moved on to a place called Llechrydau, here a lane heads south to a cross roads this we followed and then turned right, or west if you are

studying the map, we drove though what was a forest, but is now just a load of tree stumps, it was along this section of lane that I bellied out “Donald” Thank you to Bill for the rear pull. It was during this recovery that we were harassed by a stroppy farmer on his tractor, He was very abusive verbally and intimidating in his actions with his

tractor. Dex, Chris & myself walked up to the next gate and studied the lane surface, we decided it was far to wet and rutted to drive, and with the farmer still with eyesight, we decided to turn around and go on to the next lane. So it was back down the rocky lane, It was while we were returning to the tarmac road between this lanes that I received a phone call from Tazman, He was fixed and on the move, he asked me to give him the details of our next lane and he would meet us there, I passed on the details and hoped he would get them, (mobile phones and mountains don’t really mix too well). Our next lane was in the village of Tregeiriog and runs in a southwesterly direction. We arrived in the village and parked up to have a bit to eat and study the maps, while looking around at the views and trying to work out our position I spotted what I thought was disco driving up a hedge line, I got my binoculars out and picked out the rear door of a discovery with a roof rack and a set of amber beacons, This had to be Tazman, I handed the glass’s over to Dez so that he could confirm my thoughts, While this was happening, unbeknown to me Bill had raised Tazman on the CB and he confirmed it was him up the lane, this he confirmed by flashing his amber beacons.

Now it was a case of catching Tazman up and over taking him on the lane, not an easy task as the lane was narrow and steep, after a slight problem at the start of the lane with a v-shaped gully the group soon caught Darren up.

Darren had found a gateway just wide enough to pull over into to allow me past. Once I was back in the lead it was a case of following the track up the hill.

Continued on Page 19

Discourse 19 - Page 15

Members’ Article

Off Road Driving Tuition Gordon Saxby with Overland Pursuits, Surrey.

It’s a small world isn’t it … for quite a while I had been telling my wife of my intention to buy a 4x4 (probably a Discovery because you can get them with air-con!). Just as well I had been, because one day while on a trip to the local dump – sorry refuse collection point – Pauline saw a big Land Rover with stickers all over it drive in. It turned out that the chap ran an off road training company and they were local, so she collected a leaflet.

ings and a couple of pay-and-play events. I tried to gather as much knowledge beforehand by asking large numbers of questions on the Mud Club and DOC forums.

A few months later I popped out one Saturday afternoon “just to look at” a Discovery, because “it’s the sort of thing I might like”. A week later I collected it!

A trawl of the Internet found me the Discovery Owners Club and the Mud Club, both of which looked like an excellent source of knowledge so they were both duly joined.

The following couple of months saw a few green lane out-

All of a sudden Christmas was upon us with all the usual “stuff” that surrounds it. Christmas morning we all sit down to open our presents, which our 3 young boys very much enjoy. Now then, can you guess what I found in a small white envelope under the tree? Yes, you’ve guessed it – the leaflet about off road tuition with Overland Pursuits!

After a few chats with David, a Saturday morning was arranged for early February.

At 9:15am we set off on the 20 minute journey to Abinger Hammer … luckily the roads were not busy! After a quick introduction, we settled down into David’s classroom, overlooking the pastoral scene of prize English Shorthorns contentedly grazing. And fully equipped it was too, an overhead projector for the slides, a whiteboard for explaining the difficult bits, course notes and tea or coffee!

We spent about an hour going over the basics such as the benefits of 4x4, diff locks, hill climbing and descending and much more. You may be thinking that this is a wasted hour, but I found it very useful to have things that you think you know explained and put into context.

After a 5 minute drive we arrived at the small course that Overland Pursuits have custom built for their training courses. It isn’t a big course, but it has everything David needs.

Before we did any driving, David ran through a checklist to ensure the car was safe to use. We spent the next 2 ½ hours driving round the course doing specific activities and practising the topics that were discussed in the classroom.

I am by no means an experienced 4x4 driver, but I had already done a number of events including a day in the Berwyn Mountains in Wales, which covered some interesting terrain! So a lot of what we covered was not new although it was good to practice it in a controlled environment with a very experienced driver beside me.

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Members’ Article The one thing that had been on my mind to ask about, which I had not yet experienced, was what to do after a failed hill climb. You might know the type of thing … you decide to give that large, long, steep climb a go but find yourself stalled or stopped half way up. My question was what do I do now?!

OK said David, let’s practice it – “OK Gordon, drive up that slope and when you get near to the top, stop” … OK, said I and off I went and duly stopped just near the top. Discovery seats are very comfortable when the car is pointing significantly skywards!

Apparently, there are two techniques for descending from such a position (plus a third, much less graceful one).

If your engine is still running, keep your foot on the brake and clutch and engage reverse. Then let the clutch out until it bites and take your foot off the brake. Oh yes, it’s best to make sure you are in low box! Hold the steering wheel tight, look behind you and enjoy the controlled decent!

If your engine has stalled, keep your foot on the brake and clutch, engage reverse, take your feet off both pedals, hold the steering wheel and while looking out of the back window … start the engine. Yet another controlled decent!

I felt very pleased with myself.

Pauline then took the wheel and was then taken through all the elements as well. Descents seem to look much steeper from the back seat, you know!

Finally, David and I had a chat about recovery techniques and I even had a go with a kinetic rope.

To finish off the morning we set off on a drive along some of the green lanes, which start just outside the training course.

The course was very enjoyable, I learned a lot and confirmed the bits I already knew. Pauline, as an absolute novice, also found the course very useful. Having an experienced driver coaching her gave her more confidence to try the more difficult bits.

More about David Harmes David has over 25 years experience of driving off-road.

His interest in 4x4 vehicles started at an early age when the first vehicle that he owned was a Land Rover Series 1.

This, of course, was only a toy, but was the beginning of a lifetime enthusiasm for Land Rovers and 4x4.

In the late seventies, whilst living and working in Panama, the only way to get to most parts of the country was in a 4x4. The vehicle in this case was a Jeep CJ7, which coped well with the many extreme situations.

The need to drive through tropical jungle, and mountainous regions mean’t that he soon learned successful driving techniques, and how to avoid or overcome the many hazards encountered. In particular, with survival in an extreme environment dependant on the vehicle, it was important to learn a defensive driving approach, protecting the vehicle so it can get you home.

Several spells in Nigeria confirmed the value of a robust 4x4 vehicle, and the need for skills to drive it safely. In the UK, he has owned and driven a variety of 4x4s over the years, and has driven regularly off-road in the UK and Europe.

He is a member of the Land Rover Series 1 club, the Camel Trophy club, and is an active member of the Dunsfold Collection, writing their quarterly newsletter. The Dunsfold Collection is a museum of over 60 rare and unusual Land Rover vehicles, and David is a regular demonstration driver at their Open Days.

After years of giving instruction and advice to beginners to off-road driving, and organising green-lane tours, David was persuaded to combine his professional training skills with his hobby, and this lead to the formation of Overland Pursuits at the end of 2001.

Contact David Harmes, Principal Instructor at Overland Pursuits on 01306 731530, or see their web site at http:// www.overlandpursuits.co.uk.

Discourse 19 - Page 17

Down Your Way

Our Grand Day Out “The Yorkshire New Year Bank Holiday Outing” Being fairly new to the post of Yorkshire LSR, I figured I ought to actually organise something for my fellow DOCers to do. Therefore, in the spirit of blowing away the festive cobwebs, I organised a green lane trip for Monday 3rd January. Thought we’d try and start the year off on the right foot so to speak (or even with the right foot).

good, the officious little man in the car park demanding to know why we were parked there spoilt it a little. He was only slightly mollified to learn that most of us had actually eaten in the pub. Guess he’s used to those inconsiderate ramblers parking anywhere they please…

We travelled two more small lanes. One has been partially tarmac’d, but we saw some nice sheep on the way. Which hugely pleased our passengers as we had the three girls on

So we decided on the Peak District and did a few of the lanes that were done on the Grouse and Claret weekend BEFORE last October. (Many thanks to Kim and Roger for sharing those lanes with us).

We started out by meeting up at Woodall services on the M1 at 9.30am and then headed off in convoy down the motor way. Considering it was a Bank Holiday Monday, the traffic was rather light and we made good time. Our first green lane of the day was reached via a few, very narrow, ‘regular’ lanes that were an enjoyable bit of the drive in themselves. We followed the A619 out of Chesterfield, into Baslow then a little lane north of Bakewell (not going there no matter how quiet the day was!) to Monsal Head 185715. board – aged 5.5, 3 and 20 months. Spotting sheep and cows were the day’s highlights for them. And the other lane was a foot deep in mud in parts, which was fun. What was even more amusing though, was the large party of walkers who had clambered over a dry stone wall and were walking in a field to avoid the mud on the lane. We still got dirty looks of the older ones in the group. A lot of the younger people looked faintly envious though.

From left to right we have: Ray and family in 300tdi, Roy and Margaret in 200tdi, Brent and girlfriend in 300 V8 (and almost bald road tyres – apparently it was too cold for him to change to muds or some such excuse), then we are in the TD5 (we being James, Kris and three small children).

Finally, bringing up the rear in his well prepared 90, instead of her Disco, Wayne and Angela of Croatia Overland – still yet to join the DOC but he did promise me he would!

Quick photo shoot in the scenic viewpoint and down the very steep, narrow lane to the start of the first track at 177722. Over a fairly full River Wye and up the very aptly named ‘Rutwell Hill’. I think a few people in the convoy were a little surprised by this lane – I know we were! It has taken a severe beating since we last drove it in October.

However, even Brent on his road tyres managed to scramble up the steep ruts and we passed through many muddy gateways between there and the next stretch of tarmac at Millers Dale 134732.

We paused for lunch at the pub in Tideswell (which, incidently is named due to the preponderance of ebbing and flowing wells in the area. Bet you never knew that), and whilst the staff inside were friendly and the food was

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The best bit, however, apart from the decent into Castleton, was the Roman Road we finished the day off with. The lane starts at Hope 168845 and comes out on the A57 at the top end of Ladybower Reservoir 152893. It’s not quite as straight as it looks on the map, but it makes great driving. Gravelled slope running up from the road and when you break out onto the top of the hill, the view alone is worth the trip.

Luckily, the weather wasn’t your typical Bank Holiday drizzle

Members’ Articles either. We had glorious clear blue skies and the slanting sunshine made the puddles even more inviting. And there

Continued from Page 15 Crossing over a Tarmac surfaced road and continuing along the lane that became rutted and water logged. It was while we were on this second section of lane that I saw in my wing mirrors a couple of Suzuki SJ’s following us. I pulled the convoy over onto a grass bank by a gateway and allowed the SJ’s to overtake us, Chris and myself walked over to the edge of the lane as it went down hill and followed the ledge of the valley.

We watched the SJ’s for a good ten minutes as they bounced and rocked their way down the side of the hill. Now it was our turn, with diff locks and low range selected it was a case of rejoining the ruts and heading after the SJ’s.

After about 80metres the ruts petered out and the surfaced became rockier, also the angle at which the lane dropped down the hill was getting slightly steeper, As we drove on

were some great puddles along parts of the track. On one side, we had fabulous scenery and on the other, deep dark woodland. There was one particularly narrow bit, where we all had to fold in our wing mirrors and inch through a pair of large stone gateposts, one of which was listing into the gateway.

There were the mandatory walkers who scowled and frowned in our general direction. A couple of mountain bikes who rode anywhere they pleased, and we saw some evidence of scrambler bikes that had made their own track up a steep piece of hillside that wasn’t marked with any kind of path.

we could hear and feel the car’s suspension working over time coping the ever increasing large rocks. At some point Chris got out of the car to take photos, just near to the end I noticed a large rock on the left and side of the track, I steered right to give it a wide berth but was too quick on returning back to the left hand side of the track, after all there was a 100ft drop into the valley on my right. This is where I bent my rear bumper, as the rear of the Discovery dropped of the edge of the large rock.

Finally, we made our decent down the wonderfully steep, rocky, boulder strewn track just as the sun was setting.

Who said we’re only in this for the mud? :-D If you fancy a day out like this, come and join us for our monthly meeting at the Brotherton Fox Hotel every 3rd Friday of the month, as we’re are already discussing our Easter outing, as well as the LRO Spring Show at Driffield.

The party then collected at the end of the lane and after a quick discussion we decided to attempt two more lanes.

These were easy by comparison to what we had faced all day. Due to the time it was decided to stop laning for the day and make our way back to Llangollen and the A5, It was then a case of a tea break on the main car park in the centre of Llangollen, Yes we did get some strange looks from the locals. And then it was a case of heading home…………My thanks go to Bill, Chris, Vicky, Dex, Esther, Tazman, Esther, Joe & wife. I hope you enjoyed it.

Paul Walker North Worcs. LSR

by James Wood, Yorks LSR

Discourse 19 - Page 19

Advertisement Feature

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Members’ Story

The Red Shed Chronicles III Return of the Red Shed Like many other children of the 60s and 70s, I’m a big fan of Star Wars and it’s “lived-in” universe, as opposed to the frankly worrying world of Trekkies, where everything is clinically clean and perfect all the time.

Centrally placed in the more plausible Star Wars is the Millennium Falcon, trusty steed to Han Solo and his hairy sidekick Chewbacca. An ugly looking spacecraft, misused and abused by several shady owners, the Millennium Falcon always seems to be in a permanent state of underfunded repair or upgrade, bits hang off here and there, it’s dash board requires an occasional hefty thump to make it work, and when all else fails Han simply pleads with it verbally not to let him down. That said, it’s a highly cherished bit of kit, defended with the proud boast “She may not look much, but she’s got it where it counts”. And how cool is that? I remember seeing Star Wars as a kid, hearing those words and telling my seven-year-old self that some day I’d be that cool. One day I’d own some form of transport that was equally dismal yet desirable, and that I too would breeze around casually ignoring the protestation of tired engineering, drawing comfort from my own personal Millennium Falcon being fallible but unstoppable.

With my cost-free acquisition of a well-used 1989 Disco, that juvenile dream came true, at last satisfying the kid in me from nearly 30 years ago.…..except it was soon more of a nightmare. Whenever the right pedal was depressed the old 3.5litre V8 growled in to warp drive and catapulted the Landrover from stand still to what felt like light speed, but it was a heap to look at, countless bits didn’t work, didn’t line up or were simply missing, and driving it was at times like taming a Wookie. But it kept on going and that was what mattered.

With the MOT soon to expire I faced a challenge unknown to Han Solo and with a sobering bump back to planet Earth a military colleague who cares for MOD Landrovers looked over Shed.

“Well…” sighed Colin as he eased himself around under the Disco, “Your track rod ends are both knackered, the rear shocks are shot, there’s a lot of rust along the driver’s sill, the steering box is absolutely pissing fluid and you’re losing coolant somewhere…Look..” and with that he showed me his fingertips stained blue from tracing the source of spilt fluid. There were a few other bits too. Quite a few in fact, so I resorted to making a list and simply working through it. Stemming the loss of coolant was going to be tricky. Red Shed had a new radiator when I took her on, and a few new hoses yet still it lost nearly all it’s coolant weekly. Now I’m no fan of so-called miracle cures, especially if they come in suspiciously small bottles but as an almost temporary measure I threw a dose of RadWeld in to the system. It seemed to work, although the down side was that Shed would often arrive at work or at home in clouds of steam as the fully pressurised fluid

then looked to escape elsewhere through aged, perished hoses. In the end, I replaced every one of them.

The track rod ends were simpler. There was nothing to trace, no diagnosis, they just needed replacing. This too was far from straight forward in practise though and required some school-boy physics in the form of heat from a blow lamp to ease the seized ball joints from the track rod. Much the same was true of the rear shock absorbers.

The lower retaining nuts on them were so badly corroded I simply applied an armful of torque and sheared off the complete stud at the bottom of each one, before fitting a robust, new item.

It was all very rewarding stuff, exerting brute force on the vehicle, then being able to strike another job off the long list, and within a couple of months and less than five hundred quid since I acquired her, the Red Shed was squaring up to her first MOT under my command. There was just one small snag still outstanding: The steering box.

This was still leaking, sometimes leaving puddles of fluid under the car, other times just seeping out. Either way it would fail the MOT and render my other efforts wasted.

Shed just didn’t justify a new steering box, but sourcing a reliable re-conditioned one wasn’t easy. Seeing them advertised in the numerous 4x4 magazines at under £200 from mail order refurbishment specialists didn’t enthuse me. Sure it would be cheap, but the engineer in me was simply uncomfortable with the idea of such a complicated and heavy duty item coming in so cheaply. And one thing Colin had also advised when he found the box leaking was to not buy a cheap refurbished one, as these can often be put together from component parts of other failed boxes which then fail themselves.

After weeks of telling myself I still had ages to sort out the problem, the morning of the MOT arrived. And still nothing had changed where the steering box was concerned.

What I needed was a bit of bluffing to get the car passed, then take it to Sodbury the following weekend where I was determined to find a replacement steering box. And something Colin had said stuck in my mind. “’Course what you need is rain on the day of the MOT, then they’d never see the fluid!” he’d jokingly suggested.

Looking outside it was a dry, sunny winter’s morning. No chance of rain but the principle of hiding the leak gave me a slightly unscrupulous idea.

The last thing I did before driving to the MOT tester was drench the steering box and it’s surrounds with boiling water, effectively steam cleaning it, then as I arrived on the garage forecourt, I quickly dived underneath and wiped off a solitary tear of steering fluid from the drop arm. It was almost as though the Disco was restraining tears of laughter at the devious plan. [Ed. The Force is strong in this one] But it worked and an hour later a new MOT certificate acknowledged my efforts both in hard graft and cunning cheating. OK, so it was a bit naughty, and I knew that. But with the annual test hurdle out of the way I could concentrate solely on finding a new steering box at Sodbury…

Bob Larcombe

Discourse 19 - Page 21

Down Your Way stream, you can see Steve crossing there in Photo five.

From here it was a short run to the middle one of three dams that form the

High Peaks Antics Roger Spencer - Notts LSR. Steve and Sue who live near to me asked if I would like to spend a day driving a few lanes in the Peaks around Ladybower Reservoir. This is an area that I have been to several times over the years, but never off road. The only answer to give was yes, so the last weekend in November saw my daughter Zoë and myself meet Steve and Sue on route. That was the first surprise of the day; also in Steve’s Disco were Carole, her son John (husband Graham was away working) and their chocolate Labrador Shaun. Once past Matlock Steve asked over the CB if I wanted to drive a lane we had driven before, as it was close to the A6 we were on at the time. So the first lane of the day was from near Darley Dale station over the hills to Birchover.

Photo one shows “The Birchover Chickens’”whose field the lane goes past outside the farm.

After this we headed through the grounds of Chatsworth House, North towards Ladybower. The next lane started high in the hills outside Hope, Steve had already driven this lane before but I hadn’t, this was the reason we were here! The lane is an old Roman road that squeeze’s through narrow stone pillars, climbs over rocks, runs through mud holes and winds its way up the hills that border the reservoir.

Photo two shows one of the views on the way up, while Photo three shows the view from the top,

back along the way we had come (taken from where we stopped for lunch).

Photo four, shows my Discovery (known as T2 for short), at rest during this lunch stop. This rest point is shown on Ordnance Survey maps, it’s a stone monument called ‘Hope Cross’ (I would love to know how it got it’s name and why it’s there). I was very disappointed to note that the plantations of trees prevented views over the water. The second surprise of the day was the number of people up there! While on this lane 20 to 30 motorbikes, a similar number of mountain bikes and who knows how many hikers came and went. The lane ended with a great long run down hill to a ford through a

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reservoir. The visitor’s centre there has good toilets, a café and a bike hire shop run by the Peak District Ranger Service. A short walk from the car park took us to the base of the dam seen in Photo six. Even in the early dusk, this was a very impressive sight; the high water level of the reservoir makes the overflow run over the top of the dam instead of just running off down a concrete pipe somewhere.

After an hour here we left to head back towards Matlock, the last lane of the day was driven in the dark with all lights blazing and was great fun as all of us had driven this lane before in daylight (but from the other direction). What had been a slow rock crawl up hill in the past was a lot easier going down hill. We again finished at a river, this time below Monsel Head.

Its always worth remembering to try lanes from each end and at different times of the day to find the most amount of fun that can be had from them. Should you have access to Ordnance Survey CD-ROM’s this area is on Region Six of the Central Edition. For the good old-fashioned paper maps, OS Landranger at 1:50,000 the ‘Old Roman Road’ starts at SK 17090 84865 (height above sea level there is 205 meters, rising to 318 meters at the Hope Cross lunch stop.)

The Notts Section at the moment is small and we are always looking for local D.O.C. members to join us in days out. This does not mean just off-road driving, as with the rest of the club the Notts Local Section wants to do whatever the membership wants. My contact details are in the front of this magazine. It is hoped that the new-year will bring enough members to start a local monthly meet at a pub in the area. At present we have Steve and myself along with Graham and Andy, so other members and their family’s are most welcome.

Happy Disco-ing Roger Spencer D.O.C. #840

Members’ Story

Blinky’s Journal Part 2 December 23nd 2003 Land Rover day! After a late start to the morning, I phoned Jon Colman at Sandton Land Rover and arranged to meet him at his dealership. Anke and Graham arrived to lead us to the destination and after a pleasant drive we arrived just after 11.30am. Graham then made his excuses and left Anke with us to tour the dealership, and go around the Land Rover Experience.

The dealership was stunning, a huge parts department, a workshop to die for and pleasant friendly staff. After our tour, we all climbed into Jon’s Range Rover Vogue and headed off towards the Land Rover Experience. What can I say?

Awesome. The Land Rover Experience in Sandton is also designed as a corporate entertainment centre. It boasts a pub too! You can sink a few cool Windhoeks and watch the vehicles attempt a particularly tricky section of the course if the desire grabs you.

We drove around the course, the Range Rover taking everything in it’s stride. All of us were suitably impressed with the different and natural obstacles and terrains that the course contained. After the drive, we visited one of the new PAG centres, boasting Land Rover, Volvo and Jaguar all at the same site. The workshop was the size of a multi-storey car park. Awe inspiring. A well laid out site, and again , the people were incredibly friendly.

As the rest of the day was meant to be a rest, for the long journey on the 24th, we went back to hotel, lounged around the pool and then, in the evening, had dinner with Anke, Graham and Ruth. We bid them goodbye after the meal, and looked forward to our trip to Tshukudu the next morning.

December 24th 2003 The roads were clear and well signed, and we made excellent progress along the route. We stopped at a fuel station to top up our tank and our bellies, and noticed, to my surprise, that Binky was dripping fuel from the filler tube.

We resumed our journey and stopped for pancakes at a place called Harries Pancakes, which had been recommended to us. In hindsight this was possibly one of the best moves of the day. While we were there, a couple arrived in a Toyota, we exchanged “hellos” and continued our meals.

Stomachs suitably filled, we got back into Binky and hit

the road. We were making excellent time and the weather was getting hotter. We climbed the mountain roads and our altitude increased, all seemed fine. As we descended the mountains, the vehicle decided it had had enough.

Something was not right, so I pulled over to the side of the road. As I did I noticed the ominous sight of smoke from the bonnet. We were 30 kilometres from the nearest town, and we had no cell phone signal. I popped the bonnet and had a look to see what had occurred. At this point I started to worry, and I was also scared. The heater hose had split and all the coolant had run out on to the hot engine. There was nothing I could do, I had no spare hose, no spare water and no tools had been supplied with the vehicle.

I had to make the call, do I lock my wife and children in the car and hike for either mobile phone signal, or help, or do I sit in the car with them and wait. The second option had no merits, so I locked the car, and began hiking up the road for signal. Luckily after a few kilometres I got 2 bars of signal. I could not get through to the rental company, so I rang Anke. She was so helpful, I gave her the numbers, then realised the battery on my phone was dying.

How much worse could my luck get? I had to hope Anke could get in touch with the rental company and after making sure she knew where we were, I hiked back to a very hot car and family. They were safe. I switched SIM cards with Maddy’s phone and left them again to get signal, different phone gave a signal just 20 yards from the stricken vehicle. Luck!

I sat at the side of the road and waited for Anke’s call, it was very hot, and all I could smell was hot oil and coolant. A Toyata pulled over and reversed toward me. Two familiar faces appeared.

It was the people from the pancake place. They offered to tow us to the nearest garage. I was so pleased I thought I would burst.

At that point the rental company called and advised the AA had been called and they would contact me to find out where we were. We hitched up the Discovery to the Toyota and our journey to Tshukudu resumed, albeit slowly, with no power steering and no assisted braking. After 10 kilometres we pulled into a garage. Janice and Mike then decided they would tow us to Hoedspruit, the nearest town (and just 13 kilometres from our final destination).

We accepted their gracious offer and followed them into Hoedspruit. We pulled to the side of the road, and the AA called. I advised of my exact location and they informed me someone would be with me soon. Janice and Mike popped off in the Toyota to a local bottle shop, and we waited for the AA. Continued in Discourse 20 Neil Brownlee.

Discourse 19 - Page 23

Members’ Article

Peak Discovery

through!

Its Sunday, its cold, its sunny, ….and its been snowing all Anyway I venture off towards Snake Pass, in some stunweek in the Peak District! ning scenery, and drive up a small single And……I’m only 34 tracked road, to be miles from Buxton. Roll greeted by thick lying on the fun in the sun! snow, ok low box and raised the suspenI’m driving across the sion, crawling along A54 from Congleton to hit some very deep Buxton and finally get ruts in the snow, have to the plateau on the to dig out a bit, traction top of the Peak, there’s regained carried on, loads of snow and roads only to be confronted that are closed to “normal” vehicles, I venture on to one of by a wall of snow as high as the bonnet! Now I know my those roads, albeit somewhat carefully. limits, and this was it. Tooled up or not, it was not safe to venture further, especially on my own.

What greeted me was a sight more like the Alps, beautiful weather and snow every where.

So it was off back to the main roads and enjoy the rest of the day cruising around Derbyshire.

There were cars abandoned by their owners earlier in the week, resting at odd angles as they had veered off the Looking from my office window on the tallest building in road. I do tread carefully as someone has been here beCrewe on the Monday, I can see those snow covered fore churning up the snow and causing some deep ruts.

Peak Towards the end of the very snowy road, a red car comes Simon Grego at me wheels spinning and the driver has no intention to slow down despite the wintery conditions, I conclude that the man was mad as he had no chance of getting

DOWN YOUR WAY - Cheshire Malcolm Bourne Since september we have continued to meet in the Red Lion having friendly chat, a days pay & play had to be cancelled due to the site closing for the shooting season, 9th Jan saw us on a trip to Derbyshire for some well organised lanning thanks to Kim (tom) Tomlinson see report in his own words, at the Feb meet I gave out some entry forms for transtar events where we are having stands this season a full list supplied to Lee and Tim for inclusion in events, a A board has been sign written for us (free) for using at our displays, so with the inclusion of more days out and full list of shows we can look forward to a good summer ahead.

Malcolm Bourne (dabbermalc)

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Discovery Owners Club Merchandise

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1. T-Shirt Short sleeves, available in Black / Green.

Sizes S,M,L,XL. £10.00

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2. Sweat Shirt Long sleeves, available in Black / Green.

Sizes S,M,L,XL. £16.50

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4

3. Polo Shirt Short sleeves, available in Black/Green/ Claret. Sizes S,M,L,XL. £12.50 4. Jacket Khaki jacket with fleece lining and zipped pockets. Sizes S,M,L,XL. £35.00

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6. Spare wheel cover Semi-rigid “Discovery Owners Club” wheel cover. State tyre size when ordering.. £20.00 (Made to order. Not stock item)

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5. Fleece Black microfleece with zipped pockets.

Sizes S,M,L,XL. £23.00

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7. Baseball Cap Black adjustable cap. One size. £7.50 8. Mug Yellow with green logo £3.00

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10. Triangle Window Sticker White with Black text vinyl window sticker. £2.00

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9. Umbrella Green with DOC logo. £15.00

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12. Key Fob Leather with DOC insert. £2.00

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11. Tax Disc Holder Green with yellow DOC logo facing inside. £1.00

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13. Silver Club Sticker Vinyl weather resistant sticker.

33” Silver Sticker - £3.00 22” Silver Sticker - £2.00

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ORDER FORM ON PAGE 26.

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15. “Turn me over” Sticker Red vinyl sticker. £3.00 16. Discourse Back Issue CD-Rom CD-Rom containing all back issues of Discourse in Adobe Acrobat Format (PDF). £5.00

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14. White “dot com” Sticker Vinyl weather resistant sticker. £3.00

UK Postage & Packing Items

Cost

1,2,3,4,5,9

£2.95

6

£9.95

7,8

£1.95

10-15

£0.50

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Committee Corner

Merchandise Order Form

Committee Corner Next Committee Meeting: Sunday April 14 2005

Order Details Item No. Description

AGM UPDATE Size

Qty

Price

TOTAL: £ Your Details Name: Address:

Telephone: Membership Number: Send this form (or a copy) along with payment payable to “Discovery Owners Club” to: Jon Hunt, 236a Bromwich Road, St Johns, Worcester WR2 4BE. United Kingdom. email enquiries: clubshop@discoveryownersclub.org

From The Editors Keyboard Go on. You know you want to. Compare this issue of Discourse to British Rail. Yes, I know it’s late, and I am genuinely sorry. There, that’s the awkward part over.

Apologies to Tim Greenwood for missing off his name on the front cover of issue 18. A quick “copy and paste” and it was gone.

Club Member’s who contributed to Discourse, and should be saluted this issue are as follows: Paul Walker Roger Spencer Stefan Tapp James Wood Gordon Saxby Tim Arnold Bob Lamcombe

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Roy Preston Neil Brownlee Vicky Hill Simon Grego Malcolm Bourne Tim Arnold Steve Gadd

Following the Discovery Owners Club AGM on the 19th March 2005 at Leamington Spa, the Discovery Owners Club is pleased to announce the following changes to the committee.

After 3 years as Club Chairman Neil Brownlee decided to step down and three nominations were received for the post. Darren Burgess, Peter Greenway and Malcolm Bourne. All three gave a short address to the attending members with their past experiences and their aims for the club if voted in. After some close voting Peter Greenway was elected Club Chairman. Peter brings previous Club Chairman experience, a wealth of knowledge and is well known on the Land Rover circuit.

Malcolm Bourne agreed to take on the Events Co-ordinator role after Tim Arnold stepped down (new partner, new baby, more work!) after 3 years in the role. Malcolm has experience of, and contacts for car and transport shows, he is a very keen caravanner and has buckets of enthusiasm.

Darren Burgess is a popular club member and will continue to help with his wealth of overland travel experience and technical knowledge.

A new position was voted in for a Club President and we are very pleased to see John Capewell accept this role.

John is DOC member #1 and was one of the founding members. John will be out there working more magic for the club and putting in a good word for us at every opportunity he can.

At the AGM John was very happy to take on the new role and said, “I am confident that the club had moved forward and was in a good position to become the biggest club within the Land Rover movement” Stefan Tapp, also a member since the clubs inception five years ago takes on the role of Press and Publicity Officer, and Jon Hunt takes on the role of Club Shop Officer.

The remaining Committee positions remain the same as each member stood down and were duly re-elected.

An additional resolution was unanimously voted in to change the club’s ARC status from non-competitive to competitive; this amongst other things will allow DOC members to enter competitions under the clubs name.

The next 12 months look very exciting in the club with the added benefits of some very big names coming forward and offering substantial discounts to club members. Some discounts are so good; they will give you the cost of membership back and put money back in your pocket. How’s that for value!

STEFAN TAPP Press & Publicity Officer

Local Section Meets

Regional Meets

North Worcs / South Midlands (3)

Cheshire Contact: Tel. Location: When: Time:

Malcolm Bourne 07746078833 Red Lion Barony rd Nantwich Ches.

2nd Tuesday of every month.

8pm onwards Paul Shapter.

01752 704301 tbc

Paul Walker.

07939 411995 The White Hart PH, Evesham Road, Redditch, Worcs.

Second Tuesday of each month 8:00 pm onwards

Nottingham (14) Roger Spencer.

01159 175506 Mobile: 07766 222386 tbc

Scotland (20) Contact: Tel:

Kent (12) Contact: Tel: Location: When: Time:

When: Time: Contact: Tel: Location:

Devon/Cornwall (1) Contact: Tel: Location:

Contact: Tel: Location:

Don Hoaglin.

01474 707531 Black Lion, Southfleet.

First Wednesday of each month.

7:30 pm onwards

Mark Hooghiemstra.

01307 830441

South Staffs / North Birmingham (4) Contact: Tel: Location:

Lee Jones.

0121 603 3632 tbc

Northampton (2) Contact: Tel: Location: When: Time:

Neil Brownlee.

Wessex (9)

Billing Quays, Northampton, (nr Aquadrome).

First Thursday of each month.

7:30 pm onwards

Contact: Tel: Location: When: Time:

Alan Smart.

01264 772851 The Rack & Manger, Crawley, Hampshire.

Second Wednesday of each month 7:30 pm onwards

North West / Manchester (17) Contact: Tel: Location: When: Time:

Kim Hollings.

0161 480 7096 Mobile: 07831 541245 The Railway PH, 1 Avenue Street, Portwood, Stockport.

Second Wednesday of each month 8:00 pm onwards

Yorkshire (16) Contact: Tel: Location:

James Woods.

07801 923563 tbc

Discovery Owners Club Events 2005 [Tim Arnold] For more details on any event contact the LSR for the organizing group.

EVENT Heritage Run Gaydon ARC National Hosted by SROC LRO Spring Show.

LRW Show.

LRE Show.

National 4x4 Show Langley Farm.

Beaulieu 4x4 Show.

August Bank Holiday Camping Weekend LRO Autumn Show September Camping Weekend.

Abingdon 4x4 Festival.

London to Brighton Land Rover.

CONTACT

Yorkshire Group Worcestershire Group Northants Group Northants Group Yorkshire Group Wessex Group Worcestershire Group North Midlands Group Worcestershire Group 01235 520240 before 9pm Kent Group

DATE(S) 30th April 1st May 28th - 30th May

Cancelled by Organizers 27th - 29th August

24-25th September

Discovery Owners Club Bonfire or Halloween Night, Any Voulnteers?

Discourse 19 - Page 27

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Printed by Hawksworth Graphics - 01889 565234 Photograph Courtesy of Simon Grego