Spring 2004 Rovers North News by Rovers North

25 Years of Rovers North: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes 1979, a quarter-century ago, seems so distant in our past. It was a time before CNN and 24-hour news. The Internet was an MIT project. PCs cost $4,000-$6,000 apiece and has less power than your Range Rover ECU. Phones still rang, not bleeped, and many still had rotary dials. Your television set, which could still be black and white, could choose only between VHF and UHF channels. Cable sounded new and strange; satellites were for space exploration, not television distribution.

Finally, here was a Land Rover that had enough power for US highways and mileage acceptable in the cheap-gas US market. So what did BL do? Keep the Stage I in high-price petrol Great Britain.

In Westford, Vermont, Mark Letorney wondered what to do with the dwindling availability of parts for his beloved Land Rovers. With Lanny Clark, he had imported a few Series Land Rovers and kept them going for friends who used them for work and play. Everyone dealing with British Leyland’s dwindling dealership network felt frustrated with the diminAn early invoice ishing number of genuine parts for any – rth No from Rovers British car. From his small garage, Apocalypse Now, The China Syndrome, a water pump and Mark kept finding poorly-made parts Kramer vs. Kramer and The Tin Drum all oil filter for an 88”. that offered little of the quality and won cinematic awards – it’s hard to rememlongevity for which they had embraced Land ber what was so special about each movie to merit Rovers in the first place. a prize. The Knack, The Doobie Brothers, Blondie, Dire Straits, Cheap Trick, headed the pop music The answer would become Rovers North. At a time scene. The Sugar Hill Gang would release the firstwhen the auto ever rap album. Country and Western fans industry seemed adored Kenny Rodgers, Barbara Mandrell destined for a and the Statler Brothers. Arthur Fiedler still long term tumble, led the Boston Pops. this new company would reintroThe United States ceded responsibility for duce an automothe Panama Canal to Panama. Rhodesia tive icon to would become Zimbabwe. Saddam Hussein enthusiasts would become the President of Iraq. The burned by British Shah of Iran would flee for Panama; Leyland but susAnastasio Somoza would trade Nicaragua More collectable than a Series I! The first issue picious of the for Miami. Diana Spencer was a kinderof Rovers North’s Newsletter, January, 1985. new product from garten teacher and nanny, not yet the Princess Detroit. Toyota's Land Cruiser had followers but of Wales. Margaret Thatcher, a greengrocer’s build quality [outside of drivetrain] was low and daughter, would lead the Tories to the then-longest prices seemed high. Rovers North seemed perfectly control of Parliament. placed to help northern New England and New York enthusiasts keep their Land Rovers on the Soaring interroad. When Land Rover determined that Rovers est rates, gas North should become the authorized source of price controls Genuine Land Rover parts, it meant no more frusand slow movtrating trips to British Leyland dealers who didn’t ing models want to see you anyway. helped close over 600 auto What Mark and his fellow enthusiasts knew about dealers in the Land Rovers could fill a telephone book; quickly, United States. Ford, GM and Chrysler suffered huge the telephone became the lifeline for Land Rover losses. A recession in England would devastate all enthusiasts everywhere in the U.S. The first Rovers industries and prompt new labor strife. British North News and Leyland, the failed attempt to emulate General Motors, controlled much of the British auto industry except for Ford and Vauxhall [GM owned]. British Leyland, sinking under a £100 million deficit, offered the U.S. only the TR7 and Jaguar models with any pretense of modernity; the MGB and Triumph Spitfire would soldier on for one year. The Rover 3500 V-8 sedan and the TR8 were still a year away. Rovers North Parts Guides became “must have” publications to every Back in 1974, British Leyland had pulled Land enthusiast. A Parts Guide for your Series Land Rover from the US market under the weight of Rover offered the reassurance that your faith was upcoming emissions and safety legislation. By not misguided. Someone really knew the innards 1979, the Range Rover, still only a two-door of your vehicle and could help you keep it running; model, would have to wait 8 years to enter the US help would be only a phone call away.

By Jeffrey B. Aronson

Bowler Wildcats storm the Dakar The Bowler Wildcat is a purpose-built race vehicle designed to compete in top-level off-road racing events using standard-build Land Rover components from the Defender and Discovery models. It is designed and built by a small Derbyshire company, Bowler Off-Road, which is supported by Land Jackie Loomans Rover. Eight Bowlers entered this year’s Dakar Rally, the legendary off-road endurance event which is usually dominated by factory “works” teams that enjoy huge funding. Of those eight, five finished and upheld the Land Rover name in one of the toughest events the world can offer. This year’s event was widely regarded as one of the hardest Dakar Rallies yet. The best-placed Bowler was driven by Belgian Jackie Loomans, who finished in 16th place. Loomans was also awarded the Total Fair Play Trophy after Stage 12, when he donated his spare tyre to a fellow competitor who was only two places behind the Wildcat at the time. Said a delighted Loomans: “We don’t look to the others, we don’t look at the standings – we just do our own thing.”

Before Rovers North, few clubs supported Rover owners; the Association of Land Rover Clubs of Canada started in 1974 with the Rover Owners of Virginia launching the U.S. club scene in 1975. Around the same time, The Rover Owners of America, which focused mainly on Rover cars, introduced features on the newer Land Rover products still unavailable in the U.S. In 1985, the Land Rover Association of America created a market legally. Land Rover would excite U.S. auto enthusiasts with the introduction of the Stage I V-8.

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