BACK TO THE FUTURE
Land Rover Experience North Yorkshire’s new Heritage Driving Experience
W
e all know that the Land Rover brand has an enviable heritage. From the expediency of the basic design of the Series One, a vehicle that was initially little more than a temporary fix, the Rover Company and its subsequent incarnations have created not only some of the world’s finest 4x4 vehicles but instilled the sense of adventure in generations of owners. From the earliest days, the company offered the opportunity to experience the ‘breadth of capabilities’ of the vehicles and train owners and explorers to drive off road. The North Yorkshire Experience Centre franchise has recently changed hands and new owners Nick and Jonathan Rumboll are very 16
aware of the broad appeal. They are active in the countryside community and even though they enjoy driving vehicles from the luxury end of the scale, they are very connected to the nostalgia of the brand. Not only that, the majority of Land Rover Experience instructors are true brand enthusiasts and have their own tales of what inspired them to join the team. It’s not just a job, it’s a way of life, almost a vocation, many own Defenders and this enthusiasm is reflected in their instruction.
guests on a hands-on exploration of Land Rover history from Series One to New Defender. The Heritage Driving Experience offers the guest the opportunity to drive a 1953 Series One 86in, a 1997 Wolf 90, a 2015 Defender 110 XS Station Wagon and to come right up to date, a New Defender. This is a proper history tour of Land Rover development from basic leaf spring utility, squaddie proof functionality, country set rugged comfort to modern gentleman farmer or adventurer of the future.
Subsequently the decision to establish a heritage fleet at Land Rover Experience North Yorkshire and offer a Heritage Driving Experience was made very early on in the business future planning; to take
The poster boy of the new experience is ‘Ernie’ the Series 1. Powered by a standard 1997cc ioe petrol engine, it is a perfect introduction to leaf sprung Land Rovers. Basic, characterful, simple
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
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