The Landy May 15

When you pick up someone’s abandoned old project – and it turns out that you’ve hit the jackpot

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‘it’s just a very basic, original and unmodified 90’

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A SHINE OF THE TIMES… When Landy fans talk about ‘shinies’, they normally mean chrome-laden 90s or Range Rover Sports.

But Mat Hind’s Series II gleams just as brightly as any of them.

Despite having had a gentle life, this 1960 88” was in need of a spruce-up when he bought it. But that’s not all it got – because Mat decided it deserved to be taken back to showroom condition.

Full story: Page 22

The Carmichael 6x4 Range Rover is ideal for putting out fires… with a touch of class!

Full story: Page 34

Land Rover has built the ultimate Defender. But you can’t have one – unless your name’s James Bond…

Full story: Page 10

Big news from the club scene, with the launch of the Odyssey Challenge Full story: Page 46

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New indoor LR show • 26 April, Donington Park • Bargain tickets still available!

GREAT BRITISH LAND ROVER SHOW: ALL ROADS LEAD TO DONINGTON! THE GREAT BRITISH LAND ROVER SHOW is now just a few short weeks away. And visitors can expect to see a wide range of Landies on display at Donington – from historical classics to modified exotica and everything in between.

Before you’ve even got into the exhibition hall, you’ll see a variety of notable Landies which bridge the gap between ancient and modern. That’s because among other things, the Dunsfold Collection and Project Jay Preservation Group will be bringing

SPONSORED BY BEARMACH The Great British Land Rover Show is proud to be sponsored by leading parts and accessories supplier Bearmach. For the last half a century, Bearmach has been supplying OEM and its own branded quality-assured parts for all Land Rover vehicles – making it the ideal partner for what’s going to be a huge one-day supermaket of Landy bits. Bearmach will be present at the show, as will several of its top distributors – meaning you can be sure of getting unbeatable deals on whatever parts or accessories you need.

vehicles along to exhibit – including examples of some of the very first and last Range Rovers and Discoverys.

Dunsfold are yet to confirm exactly what will be in their exhibit, but take a look at what’s in the 119 vehicles in the collection (which you can do at www. dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/collection) and you’ll hardly be able to contain yourself. At present, it seems likely that the exhibit will include at least one significant Range Rover.

The Project Jay Preservation Group is dedicated to saving the earliest Discoverys – the fabled G-WACs which were used in Land Rover’s launch activity for the vehicle. Between them, the group’s members own a number of restored Discos, as well as several which are in the process of being brought back to their new condition – and they intend to bring one of each along, illustrating what goes into saving an early Discovery.

With an extensive display of readers’ Land Rovers also featuring as part of the show, as well as a special appearance by selected front cover vehicles from The Landy, there’s going to be no end of top-notch trucks to feast your eyes upon!

As if that’s not enough, the Dakar heroes from Race2Recovery will be

running high-speed passenger rides in its competition Land Rovers on the offroad track within Donington’s fabled race circuit. And best of all, a wide variety of traders from across the Land Rover scene have booked stands in the exhibition hall – from tool makers and parts suppliers to insurance agencies, accessory manufacturers and top-class bespoke tuners, they’ll all be there!

There’s a full show guide in the centre of this issue of The Landy, between pages 24 and 25. Inside, you’ll find more information on who’s coming and what’s going on. Make no mistake, on 26 April Donington is going to be the place to be!

Among the attractions will be vehicles from the Dunsfold Collection and Project Jay Preservation Group, as well as high-speed passenger rides by Race2Recovery

VISITORS’ INFORMATION

• The show is at Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP • Show opening times are 10am to 4pm • If you have applied for free tickets, please remember that these will only allow you entry from 12 midday • The free tickets are all gone now, but advance tickets are still available at a cost of £5 per adult • Adult tickets on the door will cost £10 • You can buy advance tickets by calling 01283 553243 8.30am5.30pm Mon-Fri or visiting www.greatbritishlrshow.com • Under-16s and disabled carers go free • Parking is free • Race2Recovery rides cost £20, with £5 going to an armed services charity. Tickets will only be available on the day, direct from R2R at its stand on a first come, first served basis • Please note that dogs are not allowed at the show. This is a rule imposed by Donington – we have no control over it

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Evoque Goes Green Issue 15: May 2015

Mike Trott

L

and Rover has revealed a facelifted version of the Range Rover Evoque for the 2016 model year.

The revised vehicle is only subtly different to the original Evoque in terms of looks – but there are big changes under the bonnet, where a new engine allows the cleanest models to produce as little as 109g/km of CO2 emissions.

The revisions behind the new look are very straightforward, with new headlamps at the front, a touch more mascara around the tail-lights and a few extra colours to choose from. But this is no ‘doorhandle’ launch.

Instead, the big news is that the 2016 Evoque will get a new diesel engine from JLR’s Ingenium range – meaning it’s the first Land Rover to benefit from the company’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre in the West Midlands. This will make it one of the most economical 4x4s in the world.

An all-aluminium 2.0-litre four-pot, the new unit will deliver up to 68 mpg.

Hence the headline CO2 figure of 109g/ km, which equates to an annual road tax bill of just £20; vehicles to which this applies will wear a blue ‘Evoque’ badge to draw attention to their ultraeconomical status.

There’s a subtext to this story, however. These figures only apply to

the two-wheel drive version of the Evoque – in which the new engine is tuned to develop 148bhp. In 4x4 models, the same unit delivers a more persuasive 177bhp – though even this still gives you 59mpg and a hardly shabby 125g/km of CO2.

The Ingenium engines achieve their standard-setting efficiency by using variable valve timing and low-friction technologies, while a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system keeps NOx emissions to a minimum.

Service intervals have been extended in comparison to the old model’s, too, allowing the vehicle to cover 21,000 miles rather than 16,000 between visits to the workshop.

Should none of this float your boat, the Si4 petrol engine will still be in the ranks. The range-topping 236bhp unit continues to give the Evoque a 0-62 time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 135 mph.

Whichever engine you go for, the driving experience will be enhanced by a thorough set of interior upgrades including eight-way adjustable leather seats, (14-way electric with massage if you really want to push the barge out), new door casings and an 8” touchscreen infotainment system. There are no less than 12 new colour themes to choose from, too.

Redesigned instrument surrounds and soft-touch materials add further

luxury to a cabin that wasn’t exactly short of it in the first place, and all models now get DAB radio reception in a six-speaker stereo system that can accommodate SD-card based satellite navigation. Land Rover’s InControl app system is enabled in all models, with higher-spec versions getting additional functionality.

Options include HDD-based navigation, rear-seat entertainment with 8” video screens and wireless headphones, and Meridian stereos with 11 or even 17 speakers.

Further techno touches include a form of keyless entry that lets you wave your foot beneath the back bumper to open the tailgate. Handy if you’re

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How do you restyle a style icon?

Above: There’s an array of uprated goodies inside the Evoque, with lush electric seats, a new stereo system and an 8” touch-screen infotainment system with InControl Apps juggling a couple of hell-raisers and your weekly shopping.

In terms of driving, the electronic toy box includes All-Terrain Progress Control (off-road cruise control, basically, for speeds of 1.1-19mph) as seen on the Range Rover and Sport. Back on the highway, LaneKeeping Assist provides a gentle steering correction when you stray from your lane without signalling, and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) alerts you with visual and audible aids if you’re approaching and object too fast. If you don’t react quickly enough, the latter system will

deploy the anchors for you to reduce the severity of the impact or even stop it from happening altogether. Another safety function is Attention Assist Estimation, which monitors your driving for signs that you’re starting to nod off and sounds the alarm if it thinks all that luxury is getting you a little too comfortable.

It all adds up to an Evoque that’s smarter, safer and more economical to own – as well as looking a little sharper than before. The 2016 models will be on the road by August this year, with prices expected to come in at about 5% more than the outgoing range.

Above: A more aggressive front end has been glued on to the Evoque, with a revamped grille and air intakes. Adaptive LED headlights are now thrown in as standard Below: A modified rear spoiler and reworked tail-lights complete the Evoque’s looks

The Evoque has always led with its looks. It first attracted attention by looking like a concept car – so no surprise that Land Rover’s stylists have used the lightest of touches in revising its appearance.

Up front, there’s a new bumper and grille – two grilles, in fact, depending on spec level. The air intakes are bigger and top five-door models now get the bonnet vents used on the three-door Coupe.

All the vehicle’s lights are now LED, with the headlamps becoming fully adaptive, and there’s a new high-level brake light beneath a revised rear spoiler. New roof fins promise an improved signal on your mobile, and the choice of alloys is expanded to include three new designs.

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First Pictures of Evoque Convertible

Land Rover has released the first official pictures of its forthcoming Range Rover Evoque Convertible.

Taken forty metres below the streets of London, in the 26-mile network of tunnels dug as part of the Crossrail development, these show that as we revealed last month, the Evoque Without Roof will be little changed from the concept vehicle first shown in 2011.

Rumours about a production version, which have been rife ever since the concept broke cover, intensified recently after spy shots emerged of an Evoque cabrio apparently taken on the roads around Gaydon. The vehicle, which Land Rover says will be the world’s first premium compact SUV convertible (presumably they don’t include the Lightweight in that), will go on sale

next year after a likely unveiling at this autumn’s Frankfurt show.

The Crossrail photos were taken during filming for a YouTube promotional video – a session which Land Rover says, hopefully with tongue firmly in cheek, was ‘a development test with a difference.’

‘The tunnels are still under construction,’ said Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes.

‘So we had a unique opportunity to explore the vehicle’s all-terrain ability in uncharted territory.’

The Crossrail project is actually Europe’s biggest construction site. So with this kind of all-terrain conquest under its belt, the Evoque Convertible can be expected to take over where the Defender will soon leave off as the unrivalled workhorse of choice for the world’s builders.

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Thieves hit Landcraft 90 Mike Trott

If you’ve seen David’s 90 since early March or have any information that could assist North Wales Police in their investigation, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

As the epidemic of Land Rover thefts continues unabated, one of the elder statesmen of the scene has become the latest victim. David Mitchell, proprietor of Landcraft 4x4 in Bala, North Wales, had his Defender 90 stolen in early March – from a location which proves that no vehicle is safe.

David had owned the 300Tdi 90 for more than 16 years. Bought secondhand, it was a Land Rover that he regularly kept at the Landcraft site to use as a workhorse.

‘The vehicle was pinched 2.1 miles away from the main road from off the Landcraft site,’ David told us. ‘I kept it as a back-up vehicle on the site, so we don’t know the exact time or day it was

stolen, because I would often leave it there for a few days.

‘They took my red 90 this time, but on another day it could quite easily have been my 110 or Range Rover.’

David’s truck was well known in the area – an off-road prepped 90 with winch and full internal roll cage, plus a distinctive number plate: M1 LRE. The vehicle was positioned next to a couple of containers when stolen and the thieves broke into these too, taking several items before loading up the Defender and making their getaway.

‘The police believe it may have been someone local, perhaps hearing something through word of mouth,’ continues David. ‘You wouldn’t have known it was there from the main road, anyway.

‘It is disappointing. I had become attached to it, yes. It was one I used to rally and race in and had very much become a working 90 on the site.’

Land Rover theft shows no sign of going away, despite various initiatives purporting to tackle the problem. The police continue to urge owners to remain vigilant, protect their vehicles with security devices and, wherever possible, keep them in a locked garage.

It remains the case that a determined gang will succeed in finding vehicles to steal – sadly, the best advice continues to be that all you can do is try and make it easier for them to go and steal someone else’s instead.

On this occasion, that someone happened to be David Mitchell. The epidemic remains as rife as ever.

Conserving the Bengal Tiger – with help from Land Rover Satpuda Landscape Tiger Programme (SLTP) is the latest beneficiary of Land Rover’s ongoing worldwide support for wildlife conservation.

The scheme, which works with the government and communities from the Satpuda region of central India with the aim of protecting the endangered Bengal Tiger and its habitat, further strengthens Land Rover’s partnership with the Born Free Foundation – which set up the programme ten years ago to help these endangered predators.

Around 350 of the remaining 2200 Bengal tigers in India survive in the Satpuda Hills, with the forests of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra offering the best hope for preserving the creatures in the wild. A network of seven Tiger Reserves linked by forest corridors makes this the largest block of tiger habitat in India.

‘This incredible project allows us to cement our strong relationship with the Born Free Foundation to help protect the Bengal tigers and their surrounding communities,’

commented Global Brand Experience Director Mark Cameron.

‘The project’s Land Rover vehicles with their all-terrain capability have played a vital role in supporting this programme, enabling the team to reach areas which would otherwise be inaccessible and safely deliver personnel and equipment into the most challenging situations.’

For more information about the Born Free Foundation and its worldwide activities, visit www. bornfree.org.uk

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Comment

I said a bit about Land Rover and its heritage last month. My point was that compared to the way Jeep relates to its enthusiast fans, even if they just modify and restore old ones rather than buying new shinies, Solihull seems to distance itself from a huge set of people who don’t buy Evoques but are right at the heart of what its history is reallyd about.

When it comes to Land Rover’s heritage, nobody can match the Bashall family for hero status.

Brian Bashall started the Dunsfold Collection in 1968, and now it numbers 119 vehicles – including pre-production models, prototypes, one-offs, test vehicles and firsts and lasts from the factory.

These days, Brian’s son Phil is at the helm. And Land Rover owes him a huge debt of gratitude.

Dunsfold is a charity, and it recently launched a campaign to try and raise enough money to buy a permanent home for this priceless collection. The vehicles currently live in various barns loaned by well wishers, which seems like a terrible waste of something so precious.

The Collection runs an open weekend every couple of years. And the next one’s coming up – it’s on 13-14 June. It’s an all too rare opportunity to see all these vehicles together, and a fine excuse to donate something to the cause.

How much would it cost to build a proper home for this many Land Rovers? More than the average punter could dream about, for sure.

But the sort of money Land Rover could lose down the back of the sofa.

A conference centre, dealership experience and museum all in one would surely enhance the brand.

You’d think it would more than pay for its own upkeep, too.

Land Rover has supported Dunsfold well down the years. But if it were to put its money where its mouth is and invest in its heritage rather than always just talking about it, what better sign could there be that the green oval is in good hands?

Alan Kidd, Editor

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Dunsfold’s appeal to Landy fans everywhere The famous Dunsfold Collection of historic and notable Land Rovers has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at bringing all its 130-plus vehicles together under one roof for the first time.

Having recently achieved Charitable Trust status, Dunsfold hopes to secure a museum building that will allow regular public access to its unique collection of Land Rover vehicles.

At present, the full collection is only brought together once every two years

for the trust’s Open Weekend – the next of these will be on 13-14 June this year, but the aim of this campaign is to make every day an open day.

The Collection was started in 1968

by Brian Bashall, who had a love of strange prototype and pre-production Land Rovers – and discovered that it was of interest to others. At that time, Land Rover itself wasn’t interested in retaining these vehicles, so without Brian most of them would have been lost. The Transport Trust, which

is the UK’s only national charity established to promote and encourage the preservation and restoration of Britain’s transport heritage, recognised the importance of Brian’s work in 2003 when it awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Over the years, the Dunsfold Collection has expanded to include not only prototype and pre-production vehicles but examples of almost every model made by Land Rover from 1948 to the present day – including military trucks, record-breakers, royal cars, limited editions and display vehicles.

The Collection now has more than 130 unique Land Rovers and Range Rovers, which are housed in a number of barns around Surrey and can only be seen at the aforementioned biennial Open Weekend. This event draws visitors from all over the world, who come to view a collection which truly is unique.

The aim of the appeal is to make every day an open day. The trustees of the Dunsfold Collection want to ensure the vehicles are safeguarded for future generations – along with a collection of more than 2000 model Land Rovers and an archive of Land

Rover engineering drawings, marketing and promotional material, manuals and handbooks.

So, how can you help turn this dream into a reality? For a mere £35 a year, you can become a Friend of the Collection – which will entitle you to receive a regular newsletter, as well as privileged access to the Collection at the Open Day. Enthusiasts and supporters may also make a donation via the Collection’s

expected to do so in 2015. With few qualifications and little civilian work experience, this is a group for whom finding work can be very difficult.

Alan Volkaerts, Operations Director at Lode Lane, commented: ‘Jaguar Land Rover recruited over 100 ex-military personnel in 2014, the majority here in Solihull. We aim to increase this to 150 this year and

be an employer of choice for military personnel who are leaving or have left the services.

‘Ex-military staff have valuable skills that can be directly transferred to the automotive industry. By working with ex-military staff and helping them strengthen their employability skills and relevant work experience, we can make a positive contribution to society

Clubs

website at www.dunsfoldcollection. co.uk – by doing so using the donation form you find there, you’ll allow the Collection to benefit from Gift Aid. Individuals and businesses can gain a place on the Dunsfold Collection’s ‘Wall of Fame’, too – this will form a permanent record of those whose passion for the Land Rover marque has helped preserve the Collection for future generations. Again, more details are available on the Collection website.

Could This Be You? Ten ex-military personnel will be starting work for Jaguar Land Rover shortly, after completing the company’s new ‘Inspiring Tomorrow’s Workforce’ programme for former servicemen and women.

The group undertook six weeks of training at Solihull designed to give them confidence and employability skills for the future. Having been unemployed since leaving the Armed Forces, all ten applied for the 1300 vacancies recently announced at Lode Lane – with success across the board. ’I spent three years as a Private in the Infantry and left as my contract had finished,’ commented Michael Connolly, 19. ‘All I have known is the Infantry and it’s daunting to know how to find another career in the civilian world.

‘The course has given me a great insight into manufacturing careers and, thanks to the support of the employees and training staff, I now have the skills and experience I need to work in this industry. I hope this will be the start of a new and fulfilling second career which will allow me to work up the career ladder.’

‘It’s great that Jaguar Land Rover is offering support to ex-military staff to help them prepare for job opportunities and ease their transition from military to civilian life,’ added Former Military Engineer Clive Smith. ‘I lost both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan and was medically discharged. It’s really tough to know what to do and how to apply yourself.’

Some 24,000 people left the forces last year, and thousands more are

as well as increasing the talent pool for our growing business.’

If you’re ex-military, or coming to the end of your service, and working for Land Rover sounds like a way into the career you want, you can apply for a place on the ‘Inspiring Tomorrow’s Workforce: Military’ programme. To find out more, go to www.bmetc.ac.uk/ military, or email itw@bmetc.c.uk.

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JLR staff set volunteering record Land Rover is used to setting new standards on a regular basis. But 2014 was a milestone year for a different reason, as JLR’s employees racked up a record-breaking 115,000 hours of voluntary time.

More than 9600 employees helped educate future engineers, deliver presentations and mentor those on work experience placements. That’s

36% more than in 2013, and between them they donated 45% more of their time to their local communities.

The vast majority of volunteers (85%) were involved with JLR’s ‘Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers’ programme, which reached out to 300,000 young people in the UK last year.

Genie Creamer-Hyland, Principal Engineer at Solihull, commented:

‘I joined the company in 2011 as a graduate and have enjoyed supporting educational programmes such as Young Women in the Know alongside my production role. When I was younger, there was little information available about engineering careers, so I’m really passionate about giving others the opportunities which were not available to me.’

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Bond tools up with Land Rover’s finest The last few years have seen Land Rovers become as familiar a part of James Bond movies as vodka martinis, shaken not shtirred. And Spectre, the 24th title in the series (go on, see if you can name all the others), will feature two more – both of them steroidpumped monsters from the recently formed Special Operations division.

First up, predictably enough, is the Range Rover Sport SVR. The most powerful production Land Rover ever,

with 542bhp from a psychotic 5.0-litre supercharged V8, is also the fastest factory vehicle ever to wear the green oval. Yes, even faster than a Turbo D. Definitely handy when fleeing from gun-toting baddies.

When fleeing from them is less important to Bond than running them over, the Defender Big Foot is likely to become his transport of choice. With a bespoke suspension set-up making room for 37” tyres, this is a proper

off-road monster – it’s a good bit more extreme than most of what you’ll see being built in the UK, but as a homage to the sort of stuff Iceland’s off-road specialists do to vehicles it’s a fantastic piece of eye candy.

Unlike the SVR, however, you can’t buy a Big Foot from a Land Rover dealer. Ironic, you might think, if you’re a Land Rover traditionalist – because perhaps rather more than the SVR, you’d actually want to.

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NEXT MONTH

BETTER THAN A 90? This is one of the best hybrids we’ve ever seen. And it was built to a budget, too.

But what’s this? A 3.5 Tdi…? Tell me more…

PLUS

Which Land Rover would you choose to tow with? When the original Range Rover Sport got the 3.0 Tdv6 engine, it started making a very strong claim for the job The kind of Land Rovers owned by celebs normally tend to be the new, shiny variety. But Bob Marley was one of the biggest global names ever to drive a Solihull vehicle – and it wasn’t any kind of status symbol. To mark what would have been his 70th birthday, his 109” pick-up has just been restored

NEXT MONTH’S LANDY IS PUBLISHED ON 27 MARCH You can pick up your copy of our June 2015 issue from

newsagents or Britpart dealers – or read it online at www.thelandy.co.uk

01283 553243 • enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk • www.thelandy.co.uk • www.facebook.com/thelandyuk Editor Alan Kidd Assistant Editor Mike Trott Admin and Editorial Assistant Gemma Pask Art Editor Samantha D’Souza Contributors Dan Fenn, Gary Noskill, Paul Looe, Photographers Steve Taylor, Harry Hamm, Dick Hair

Advertising Sales Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Advertising Production Tel: 01283 553242 Publisher Sarah Kidd Email: sarah.kidd@ assignment-media.co.uk Every effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Landy are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor

the consequences of actions made as a result of these

nearest Britpart dealer can be found at www.britpart.com

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

Where a photo credit includes the note CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence.

Details are available at www. creativecommons.org The Landy is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ

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Golden anniversary for Spalding’s Landy Heroes Lincolnshire Land Rover specialist celebrates 50 years as a family business Mike Trott Fifty years is a long time, especially when it comes to business. But if you’ve owned and run a company for half a century, you must be doing something right!

The British 4x4 Centre, more commonly known as the 4 Wheel Drive Truck Centre, has just celebrated its 50th anniversary under the ownership of the Battley family – and 90 years as a business in total!

‘We’re very proud of the milestone,’ said Tim Battley. ‘I was only three months old at the time when my father bought the business, so I didn’t know too much about it!’

Established in 1925, the workshop started out as Haresigns Garages.

Initially it was a blacksmith’s and general repair shop, then later it became a taxi and light haulage centre for the community.

After further expansion, the original premises soon became too small. Now, a new location was needed to cope with the growth of the haulage element of the garage.

The new garage was designed and built next to Mr Haresign’s two cottages, which were turned into one

home at the same time. And ironically, the workshop was completed in 1948 – a year we are all familiar with!

Mr Haresign toiled away in his new workshop until 1965 when, having previously approached the Battley family about the potential sale of his haulage business, he decided to do so once more with regards to the garages.

The Battleys bought the business – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Tim’s father and grandfather ran the garages for years, catering for the community’s motoring needs as they worked on farm vehicles – as well as Jaguars, Bentleys, Rolls Royce and British Leyland motors.

Tim’s dad, Peter Battley, learned his skills from Levertons of Spalding, which led to him focusing on Land Rovers. Tim joined the company in the late 80s – and the pair have been working on weird and wonderful projects ever since.

‘Persistence – that’s the key, I think,’ Tim told us. ‘Just keep going at things. My dad had a nervous breakdown some years ago, so I sat down with him and said “Right, do we expand or shrink?” We decided

to shrink the business and get it controllable; we had nine guys working with us at one stage.’

Now the environment is a lot more relaxed – or at least as relaxed as it can be! Peter manages the stores, which hold a vast stock of classic Land Rover parts, while his wife tends to the office work – leaving Tim to concentrate on cracking on in the workshop.

‘Persistence – that’s the key, I think’

Talking of parts, the company carries spares for Land Rovers from 1948 to present. And if they don’t have what you need, they’ll simply make it. Restorations, modifications, engineering projects; it’s all part of the fun for these guys.

‘We pick and choose what we do and give a time frame to the customer.

If I need help, I’ll get dad in to give me

a hand, but nothing really fazes me,’ continues Tim. ‘Most of our customers have become friends more than anything. That’s when they start throwing challenges at you! I like the thinking challenges though, the thought process, designing and building – it mixes it up.’

Tim says the company won’t be doing anything too extravagant to

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk celebrate this epic milestone. ‘Business as usual,’ more like. When business as usual can involve restoring an old leafer, servicing a farmer’s 90 or building a galvanised Series I bulkhead

from scratch, that sounds like every day’s a celebration. Here’s to a treasure of a garage – let’s hope people can still earn a living from doing exactly the same thing in another 50 years!

Above and below: The Battleys have built many fantastic modified Land Rovers over the years, for all sorts of reasons. But when a work truck comes in for maintenance, it goes straight to the head of the queue – because all the time it’s in the workshop, someone’s waiting for it back so they can do their job

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Issue 15: May 2015

Servicing your Land Rover is unlikely to be one of those jobs you actively look forward to, but it’s a lot less problematic than certain other tasks you might face in the workshop. Which is nice, of course, because one of the best ways to avoid having to do those horrible jobs in the first place is to… keep your Land Rover properly serviced.

And with that in mind, Allmakes 4x4 has just launched a set of handy kits designed to make servicing less of a hassle than ever. Available for virtually every Land Rover from 1989 onwards, as well as the pre-Tdi 2.5 TD 90 and 110, these Service Kits (the clue’s in the name) include everything you need to get the job done right.

There are two grades of kit available. The basic Allmakes 4x4 Service Kit, which comes with a 12-month warranty, comprises a mix of branded and aftermarket components, while the PR2 (Premium Range) Kit uses only OEM components and is supplied with a 24-month warranty.

Inside both kits you’ll find washers and fuel, air and oil filters. Oil is sold separately, but you can find out how much you need when purchasing your kit at www.lrservicekits.com. All you have to do is enter your Land Rover’s registration, select whether you’d like the Standard or Premium kit option and add some oil to your order.

Service Kits range from £6 to £21 plus the VAT. As always, spending it right means spending it once, so at that sort of money we’d certainly be going Premium every time. www.allmakes4x4.com

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EXMOOR TRIM was already known for its high-quality cabin improvements for Land Rovers. But now it has teamed up with a small company in Malvern which specialises in hand-crafted bespoke parts – and the results will take your breath away.

Just check out the Exmoor Spoked Leather Williams Steering Wheel. This is styled in homage to classic British vehicles of the past – and it would make a wonderful enhancement to the cabin of a Series Landy or a modern day Defender. Better still, like all Exmoor wheels, your vehicle will retain the indicator cancel function with it fitted.

Using stainless steel and high-quality leather, these 15”, three-point wheels come as a complete kit, with the outer boss polished and a black centre cap featuring an ‘e’ logo. With a beautiful polished finish and hand stitching, they come complete with all the necessary bolt, nut and washer fittings.

The wheel comes with a choice of 36 and 48-spline boss adaptors; while ordering, you’ll need to work out the right one for your vehicle, but Exmoor provide plenty of information on how to do so and will help you from the end of the phone if it all proves too much.

The price? At £360 plus VAT it’s cheaper than a lot of the cosmetic stuff we’ve seen for the Defender. And it’s been a while since we saw anything that comes close to looking this good. www.exmoortrim.co.uk

There was a time when the notion of lowering a Land Rover’s suspension was as good as unheard of. But, while 99% of the people who mod them still want to add lift, you do see the occasional one whose owner has taken inspiration from the whole ‘sport’ thing Solihull has going on with its new approach to what a Landy should be.

If that’s you, Britpart’s new XD Handling Kit is sure to push your buttons. Available for the Defender 90, Discovery 1 and Range Rover Classic, it reduces your truck’s ride height by 1” (25mm), tightening up its handling and reducing body roll.

The kit includes coil springs (which retain the originals’ rates), Cellular Dynamic shocks, anti-roll bars, turret rings, ball joint assemblies, bushes and all the nuts, bolts and washers required for installation. Britpart’s RRP is £469, so go shopping with that in mind. www.britpart.com

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One day, you may look at your Defender sideways on and notice that its camping chair style side steps that have become a bit long in the tooth. That’s if you haven’t already mangled them on some unhelpful part of the planet, of course.

Anyway, whether or not this time has come, Bespoke Cars’ Custom Side Steps are a tempting way to make your 90 or 110 look nicer. These are designed to maintain the vehicle’s ground clearance, and they’ll still look smart whether they’ve just been through the jet wash or had a pair of muddy boots clamber all over them. Talking of which, non-slip safety metal inserts mean they’re as practical as they are pretty, though at £895 a pair (whether for the 90 or 110) they’re not what you’d call cheap. www.bespokecars.co.uk

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RHINO-RACK’S latest product for helping you make the most of your Land Rover is the Foxwing Eco 2.1, a 270-degree awning which folds out to go right around the back and one side of your vehicle.

Shaped sort of like three-quarters of an enormous umbrella, the awning provides a shaded area of 6.7 square metres. It’s waterproof, rust-proof and UV-resistant, and Rhino-Rack says it can be set up and packed down in a matter of minutes.

The awning is designed to be mounted to the vehicle – it’s not just a free-standing job – and comes in a kit complete with brackets to fit Rhino-Rack’s own Vortex and Heavy-Duty roof bars. You’ll still be able to use it if your truck is already rigged up with Euro bars or a Pioneer tray, or indeed a cargo system from a different manufacturer, but you’ll have to get an optional fitting kit.

Also optional is an extension tent which covers the entire vehicle – definitely worthwhile if you’re going travelling in a very hot climate. But the standard issue does include all the poles you need, complete with camlocks to keep them in place, as well as pegs and ropes to stop it all blowing away.

Rhino-Rack says the Foxwing is suited to ‘utilities and small to medium SUVs,’ which is some sort of foreign talk for pick-ups and 4x4s. The company’s own pictures show it being used with a Defender 90, anyway, and calling one of those an SUV is like spilling its pint. The awning is available via TBR, whose RRP for the basic kit is £395 including the VAT. www.tbruk.com

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Issue 15: May 2015

You might not have heard of Method Race Wheels, whose rims have recently arrived in Britain courtesy of Xtreme Sales. But if you’re into racing, you probably know about its most famous customer – ‘Ballistic’ BJ Baldwin, the all-conquering desert racer whose successes include victory at the last two runnings of the Baja 1000.

You don’t have to be a world-class off-road competitor with a string of

high-profile sponsorship deals on your side to fit your Land Rover with wheels from the Method range. You just need to be in the market for a top-notch set of rims, that’s all.

The company offers a wide range of wheels, in an even wider range of sizes and offsets, whether for pure off-road or street-legal use. These include beadlockers as well as standard designs, as well as black, machined and diamond-cut finishes – and if the price is right, you can even order them with custom bolt patterns.

Depending on the style of rim you go for, sizes range from 15” up to 20”.

Several options are available with Method’s ‘Street Loc’ ring – a simulated beadlocker using zinc-plated bolts that’ll go on and on without starting to look grubby. The company says it has ‘applications for most trucks, SUVs and dedicated off-road vehicles.’

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On the competition front, Method offers lightweight wheels with and without beadlockers, all of which are fully strengthened to take the sort of pasting a full-house race truck dishes out. Beadlock rings are forged in 6061 aluminium and fastened using Grade 8 zinc-plated bolts across the range, whether you’re looking at wheels for racing or general extreme off-road use.

‘As racing enthusiasts, Method Race Wheels are driven to look beyond conventional ideas of industry standards,’ says the company.

‘Engineering, rigorous testing, data collection and proven performance redefines what is possible in the creation of our wheels and accessories.

Method Race Wheels is committed to bring you the finest quality products with the most complete line-up of off road race wheels.’ www.xs4x4.parts We all know about EGR valves – annoying items to be removed and disposed of immediately. Standing for Exhaust Gas Recirculation, this little gadget aims to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by recirculating some of your truck’s exhaust gases back into its engine. It works, presumably, but it strangles your engine in the process and that’s why so many of them end up in the bin.

Simply removing the valve and blanking it off is considered enough on the TD5 engine, but on the 300Tdi it can be better to swap it for a new one.

That’s because carbon deposits can build up within the EGR valve over time, and eventually this will start to affect its performance. Fitting a new valve on your Defender, Disco or Range Rover 300Tdi will be like blowing into a Kleenex when you have a cold – it will instantly be able to breathe better.

Bearmach is now offering a replacement valve for your 300Tdi at the suggested retail price of £69. That’s a lot for a box of tissues, but not much for a Landy that runs properly again. www.bearmach.com

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Britpart’s new IID Tool Pro will soon be appearing in a lot of Land Rover specialists’ workshops. The letters in its name stand for Integrated Interface Diagnostics – basically, it’s a black box that can run multiple diagnostic and calibration tasks quickly and easily, making it a key bit of equipment if you spend your days working on Landies from the electronic era.

The unit has an innovative app interface supporting iOS and Android devices, and isn’t VIN locked. Britpart says it’s easy to use, ‘with no or minimal training required’, and that it can be used for a multitude of tasks – key programming, fault code clearing, park heat activation, on-the-move sat-nav enablement, air-suspension calibration and much more besides.

The unit can display up to 8 live values at once, using numerical and graph views, and allows you to save, recall and export maintenance logs.

And that’s just scratching the surface.

Its original values are backed up on first use to allow for resetting to factory standard, and it comes with a year’s free firmware updates – which are embedded into its memory, not delivered on an easily-lost SD card.

The IID Tool Pro supports diagnostics on the Evoque, Freelander 2, Discovery 3 and 4, all Range Rover Sports and L322 and 405 Range Rovers. So, again, one for workshops rather than private owners – as a RRP of £2099 probably just about makes clear… www.britpart.com

Also new from Britpart is a replacement air suspension compressor for all nonHItachi Discovery 4s and Range Rover Sports. Made by the OE manufacturer, the kit includes the compressor itself along with a bracket, relay and fixings. www.britpart.com

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Touching History Issue 15: May 2015

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Many people never get the chance to witness the inside of a thriving car manufacturing plant – yet alone the home of the world’s best 4x4. But in the Defender’s final hours, Land Rover has opened the gates to the public and you can see how a true legend is still being made in the 21st Century

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Above: Having dedicated over 50 years of service to Land Rover, Roger Crathorne knows the manufacturing plant like the back of his hand

Words Mike Trott Pictures Mike Trott and James Arbuckle

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t’s not often that you’re beckoned warmly inwards through closed doors for a closer look at the mysteries within. This is especially true when the building in question happens to be a car factory.

So the fact that Land Rover has opened its doors to let the public see how the Defender is being put together in the 21st Century comes as a very welcome surprise.

As everyone knows, the Defender is now into its final year of production.

But rather than sit in a corner and sulk about the imminent demise of this iconic vehicle, the heritage of which stretches back a mesmerising 70 years,

Land Rover has decided to give its finest creation a proper send off.

The Defender Celebration Tour gives people like you and me the opportunity to visit and even walk between Defenders that are in the process of being built this very second. And lying in the heart of the Defender manufacturing plant itself is the Celebration Line, a reincarnation of the production line from 1948 – which bears more similarities to today’s conveyor belt than you might think.

‘It was an idea that initially came about around our 50th anniversary,’ says ‘Mr Land Rover’ himself, Roger Crathorne. ‘We used to do a lot of agricultural shows and the idea was to take it round and exhibit at those. But the idea was shelved’ Roger also told us that the idea was proposed for a second time around the

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Above: Building a Defender is still a very labour intensive process, requiring engineers to carry a wide variety of skills as they are rotated round from one job to another. And with 120 Defenders being churned out each day, no wonder sparks are flying 65th anniversary, but was once again thwarted when a decision couldn’t be made as to where to place the attraction. In the end it came down to Alan Volkaerts, Operations Director for the Solihull Plant, to find a spot within the spiritual home of the green oval.

‘Only Land Rover could pull this off,’ smiles Roger.

Many of us, myself included, picture the car manufacturing plant of 2015 to be a room filled with plants, with classical music floating in the air to keep all the glistening robot arms happy and productive. Visit Land Rover’s epicentre though, and you’ll be greeted with a very different experience.

You start by entering the Defender Body in White hangar, a loud and busy factory which sees Defender bodies being hammered, drilled and welded Left: The Defender is still made in much the same way as it was back when its predecessor – the Ninety – came along in 1983. A new set of doors are said to be transferrable to a Defender that’s even 25 years old! Spot welding is one of the many methods used to create this iconic machine as seen here

‘It will be sad to see it go’ Right: Of the 328 robots found within the manufacturing plant, less than ten are positioned along the Defender production line – the rest are used to make the more luxurious Range Rover and Discovery vehicles. We did find one hard at work, though – when Land Rover tools up to build the Defender of the future, the line will look a lot more like this

together by real people. Yes, billions have been spent in the last few years as Jaguar Land Rover continues its quest for world domination under the backing of parent company, Tata Motors, but manufacturing a Defender is still a traditional procedure.

Lode Lane has not been without its fair share of investment in recent years (they now have the largest auto paint shop in Europe there, for example).

Nevertheless, the Defender is still conceived in one of the 26 shadow factories set up around Britain prior to World War II, which back then aimed to increase the production of aircraft and later proved an ideal location for the Wilks brothers in 1947.

The roof and skylights spell late 1930s but, because the Defender, Discovery and Range Rover are all made

under the same roof, it only takes a few minutes to walk from the dark ages of automobile assembly to a state-of-theart section where new Range Rovers are riveted together.

At present, Solihull builds approximately 1000 vehicles each day. From that impressive number, normally about 100 are Defenders – though that has risen to 120 thanks to an influx of orders from customers wanting one of the last ‘true’ Land Rovers.

There are 328 robots working on Land Rover models – but less than 10 are on the Defender line. This is still a labour intensive system employing a small army of engineers; they’re constantly rotated from one job to another so as not to succumb to boredom.

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Issue 15: May 2015

Above: Once all the body panels have been machined, the pieces of the Defender are loosely ‘draped’ over a skid (or two for a 130”) and slowly transported to the paintshop, ready to look clean - but that won’t last!

The Defender’s body is built bit by bit, with the rear tub being assembled before the doors, wings and rear sides join later on, all preparing for the moment they can be sent off to that big paint shop.

Interestingly, you can fit the doors from a brand new Defender to one that is 25 years old… in theory, at least. The problem is that the doors are set manually, so often taking one door from one Defender and trying to slot it on the next can prove a little, er, tight.

Strolling along on the tour, I was amazed that I could actually reach out and touch someone’s brand new Defender, with the hustle and bustle of downtown Mumbai in the air. Maybe this is why Defenders get under your skin more, because they are put together by flesh as opposed to metal.

Once the aluminium body segments have been loosely draped over a skid (two for a 130) and wheeled to the paint shop, a touch of colour is applied.

It takes about three whole days to build a Defender: the first to machine the bare metal panels, ready for a second day in the paint shop, while the third day is all about final assembly.

While the Picassos get to work, the chassis is ‘sequenced’ on to its own production line where the drivetrain is installed, ready for the rendezvous with its body later on. The bulkhead has its own special production line, too, because this is the most important component around which everything gels together.

Once the Defender has finally been assembled, each vehicle has to go through rigorous quality checks

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Above: Once the body shells have been cleaned down with chemicals and smoothed over, the numerous layers of glossy paint are applied before wax is injected into the cavities to make sure the paint lasts

including wheel alignment and a water inspection station, which simulates monsoon downpours to show up leaks. Owners of early 90s, please stop laughing now.

If seeing all those glinting new Defenders lined up doesn’t put a fizz through your waterworks, then maybe the next item will! This is that magical room in the Defender plant with its black exterior walls and just a set of double doors through which to enter.

To do this, you’ll need to ‘clock in’ for your shift and put on your ‘cow gown’ – because inside, it’s 1948.

The Celebration Line shows what it would have been like back when the Series I was first revealed to the world, displaying a mock production line, details of the initial plans and the figureheads (or gods) who were responsible for the world’s best four-wheeled vehicle. You can even leave behind your thoughts on what the new Defender should be like…

So, what is it like to build heritage every day? Ask the Martin family – they’ve worked for Land Rover for over three generations. The late Frederick Martin joined in 1954, working on the Series I and II before finishing in 1979.

His son David, and grandson Tony, still work on the Defender line today.

‘It hasn’t changed too much over the years,’ says Tony, a Production Associate checking quality, who has worked on the Defender line for more than 20 The bulkhead is the most important part of the jigsaw as it holds the rest of the pieces together. That’s why it has its own mini production line

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Above: Like father, like son – here you have Tony (left) and David Martin, who between them have over 65 years of experience working for Solihull’s greatest ever export years. ‘The stamping of the VIN used to be done by hand and now it’s done by machine.’ That’ll be the woodpecker noise you hear while walking around the factory, then.

David, 65, is a Despatch Driver and the longest serving Defender Manufacturing employee, having joined back in 1970. ‘All the heavy lifting is done by machines now,’ he says. ‘We used to pick up stuff with both hands behind our backs. It’s much kinder on your body now!

‘It will be sad to see it go. Hopefully someone will see sense down the line and bring it back.’

Well, it won’t ever be back in the shape and form we’ve all come to love.

However, the Defender will live again.

It won’t be next year and may not be the year after that – but there will be another Defender.

It will be a very different Defender, however, both in the way it’s designed and the way it’s put together. It will be built by robots and driven by giving instructions to computers, not heaving on a lever and steering wheel at the same time. But Land Rover is clear that it must remain true to what it is.

Will it still have the same doors as the ones that were being made before

you were born? Maybe not. But it will still be a vehicle worthy of the Defender name. Just like its customers, Land Rover wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Issue 15: May 2015

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‘It adds a bit of variety from the van and the Audi!’

Gleam Oval

W

e talk about ‘shiny’ vehicles sometimes, often in a derogatory tone, expressing our displeasure at the thought of a vehicle that is too precious to use for work or play in case a scratch emerges on its gleaming, expensive-looking paintwork.

The fact that some of these Land Rovers would look more at home in the storefront of Tiffany’s is one reason why you don’t tend to see them being chucked at the countryside.

Words and Pictures Mike Trott You could argue that this fresh breed of Land Rovers – the likes of the Evoque and the rest of the Range Rover family, along with the Discovery 4 and now its baby brother – won’t carry the same level of character that a Defender holds, nor the same level of enjoyment.

Nevertheless, there is one man who has defied the ‘shiny’ label. He has a Land Rover which carries an abundance of charm – and is the shiniest, most gleaming machine I’ve come across in a long time.

‘It’s a 1960 Series II, which I got it back in 2013. Around June, I think,’ says Mat Hind.

This could be an unfair bit of stereotyping on my behalf, but when you picture the average owner of an early 1960s’ motor vehicle, you don’t always think young and fresh-faced. Perhaps more a weathered being who’s seen as much of the world as the vehicle they now cherish!

But then, this Landy doesn’t look like it has ever had chance to weather.

‘I had it from just down the road, but it has spent most of its life in Horncastle,’ explains Mat. ‘It had gone into a showroom back in 1978 and just sat in there not really doing much.

‘The chassis had gone a little on the thin side, however the bulkhead and the body were in really good condition.’

After acquiring his new toy, Mat felt his Landy deserved to be returned to showroom condition. This meant whipping her into shape with a few new bits and bobs – otherwise known as a full rebuild!

Once he’d got it completely stripped, the first thing on the agenda was to give this 55-year-old relic a galvanised

chassis so she can feel the part as well as looking it.

‘We repaired what was needed on the bulkhead and overhauled virtually everything else: the engine, gearbox and axles. We fitted new springs, too.

Then I had a professional respray on the bodywork to finish it off.’ Makes it sound so straightforward, doesn’t he?

The exterior has certainly been done to a very high quality – as has the interior, for that matter. I can see it now, Mat sat at the lights waiting for the

Fans of classic Land Rovers tend to see the word ‘shiny’ as a bit of an insult. But not every gleaming piece of metal has to be brand new and driven by the latest dull pop star from a talent show. Mat Hind’s Series II, for example, will still be looking beautiful long after the shine has worn off today’s crop of soft-roaders… fluorescent green to illuminate ahead of him, when a group of young ladies stroll by and casually check themselves in the glossy reflection of this 1960 mirror. Talk about versatility…

It didn’t just start with this one, though. Mat’s love of Land Rovers runs through him thicker than blood – thicker than his glossy paint job, even.

‘My dad got me into Land Rovers when I was ten or eleven. I’d always liked the Series Landies best. For me the Series II is the ultimate, though.’

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Indeed, anything with the Series II name seems to whet his appetite. He’s got a IIA 109 Station Wagon waiting in the wings for a similar rebuild, too.

‘This would be my second Land Rover rebuild in two and a half years,’ he says. ‘It’s a bit worn out. It’s just finding the time to actually spend on the thing!’

Some people may look to a Land Rover for their off-roading needs, to satisfy their hunger for mud and to give it a good thorough workout. You know the kind of Landy they tend to own – 90s or Discos with big tyres and even bigger winches. The type of truck which, if it was a person, you’d invite along on your stag do.

If Mat’s is up for getting down and dirty (and it is a Land Rover, after all), it’s much better at hiding the fact. It’s more like the demure but foxy English teacher who was your guilty pleasure at school. It looks polished, but you can’t

help but imagine what it must be capable of when it lets its hair down…

Moving swiftly on, while Mat doesn’t do mud-abuse in his Landy he does still get about in it. You’ll see him with the Series II Club at various shows up and down the country, wowing even more onlookers and causing bumps and stumbles among the crowd as people turn to check their reflections in it as they walk by.

While Mat might get a kick out of that, he also gets a smile on his face every time he drives his Landy. ‘It adds a bit of variety from the van and the Audi,’ he says. ‘Some people don’t like the way they drive, but I know what they’re like. I learnt to drive in one of these, around my grandad’s farm. I was off-roading before on-roading!’

There’s a thought… Why don’t we have people getting to grips with car control in a safe, open environment before they’re let loose on tarmac? I

bet you’d see more people enjoying our precious green lanes too! And people wonder why you have so many successful Scandinavians in motorsport…

For Mat, the looks and the way it drives are its best features. And being graced with the Deep Bronze Green from the most luscious of coniferous forests means this Landy will be pulling for many years to come.

Series Land Rovers have been going up in price over the last few years, to be sure. But even now, £25,000 would still get you a fully restored example on a galvanised chassis that’s good to last for another quarter of a century.

Which poses a question every Land Rover enthusiast should be asking themselves. If, you had £25k to spend, would you splash it out on a year-old Range Rover Evoque – or something like Mat’s Series II? Thought so. Proof, then, that not all ‘shiny’ vehicles are bad.

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DONINGTON PARK • 26 APRIL 2015 • YOUR OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE

the great british land rover show proud to be sponsored by bearmach The Great British Land Rover Show is an all-new addition to the annual show calendar in the UK. Organised by the team which ran the British Indoor 4x4 Show during its heyday, it’s a one-day supermarket of all things Land Rover, from tools and parts to specialised accessories and bespoke vehicle builds.

We’ve tried to make this show a bit different to most of the others. For starters, it’s indoors. You want to be able to browse for bits, talk to traders and chat with your friends without getting frozen or rained on, after all, and the exhibition hall at Donington is ideal for just that.

In addition, we’ve not gone overboard on the features at this show.

You’re going to be here for the trade stands, first and foremost, and in a one-day event that doesn’t leave a lot of time spare.

All the same, we’ve organised a display of Land Rovers brought along by readers of The Landy, the free monthly newspaper on all things Solihull, for you to feast your eyes on.

These include modified off-roaders, cherished classics and all manner of everyday Landies – but the one thing they have in common is that each one of them is owner by someone who, like you, loves their Land Rover.

We’ve also invited the Dunsfold Collection to come along with a few of their many unique and fascinating vehicles from Land Rover’s history. And the Project Jay Preservation Group will be putting on an exhibit with a difference, with before and after examples of

the earliest Discoverys showing what goes into restoring a rotten classic.

And then there’s Race2Recovery.

Famous for its rallying endeavours, this pioneering Land Rover motorsport team will be running passenger rides on Donington’s off-road track, giving you a taste of what it’s like to compete aboard a full-house race truck. And for

everyone who takes a ride with them, five pounds will be going to charity.

We’re very grateful to Dunsfold, R2R, the Project Jay group and of course to you, our visitors, for helping make our dream of a new Land Rover show come to life. We’re indebted to the traders who have made it possible by putting their faith in a new event, and of course

to Bearmach for supporting us as title sponsor. Thank you all – and we hope you enjoy visiting the show as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it on!

VISITORS’ INFORMATION • The address of the show venue is Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP • Show opening times are 10am to 4pm • If you have applied for free tickets, please remember that these will only allow you entry from 12 midday • Adult tickets on the door will cost £10 • Under-16s and disabled carers go free • Parking is free • Race2Recovery rides cost £20, with £5 going to an armed services charity. Tickets will only be available on the day, direct from R2R at its stand on a first come, first served basis • Please note that dogs are not allowed at the show. This is a rule imposed by Donington – we have no control over it

exhibitors’ guide 1948 Original Equipment (A14) Biddlestone, Llangarron, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6NT 0333 444 1948 sales@pmlgb.com www.originalequipmentshop.com 1948 Original Equipment has been conceived from experience, necessity and a desire to shape the future. We are inspired by the great explorers and pioneers who realised the best equipment made their achievements possible. We provide equipment, clothing and gear for anyone considering adventure travel, exploring or just having fun in the great outdoors. Our customers guide us.

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / LIFESTYLE & LUXURY

4x4 Autoparts Online (D122) www.4x4autoparts-online.co.uk Thousands of quality Land Rover and 4x4 items in stock.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

4x4 Overlander (A1) 01422 243966 www.4x4overlander.com Overlander 4x4 equipment and accessories. 4x4 Overlander supply Land Rover Overlander 4x4 products to meet the challenges of our customers.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

4x4 Zone (D121) 0789 5143869 info@4x4zone.co.uk www.4x4zone.co.uk Join us and discover Eastern Europe & Asia. We are a team of people who enjoy overland trips in our 4x4 cars. 4x4zone is owned by Marcin Burzynski.

This is an important fact, for not only is your tour guide ‘multi-lingual’, he is also ‘multi-cultural’. This is essential when touring abroad, especially Eastern

Europe. We offer you all our experience gained over the years, our knowledge, the desire for adventure.

With such a team, each trip will be an adventure of your life. Join us at Vampire 4x4 Tour, Montenegro 4x4 Tour, WWII Memorial Tour, TransMongolia 4x4 Expedition and others.

• TRAVEL

AA Drive Tech (B43) Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4EA 02920 725725 nationwide4x4@AAdrivetech.com www.aadrivetech.com AA DriveTech’s specialist 4x4 off-road team will be showing their capabilities on stand B43. As part of the AA, AA DriveTech provides practical and theoretical driver training for professional 4x4 and ATV drivers. Courses are accredited to nationally-recognised LANTRA and RoSPA standards to help you meet ‘duty of care’ obligations. Training takes place at venues throughout the UK. • OTHER

ACH Special Vehicles (B27/28/31/32) High House Wharf, Heyford Lane, Weedon, Northants, NN7 4SF 01908 612063 sales@achsv.co.uk www.achsv.co.uk NEW ACHSV Land Rover 110 with VB-4C Full Air-Suspension. ACHSV Performance and Styling Accessories. Wilderness Lighting – HD LED Spots and Light-bars. Front Runner Outfitter – All the gear you will ever need. Warn, ARB, Terra Firma – parts and accessories. ACHSV supply new vehicles and kit out to your specification or we can update your existing vehicle. Contact us for detail!

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / PARTS & ACCESSORIES / WHEELS & TYRES / LIGHTING

Ashtree Land Rover (C88) Brokenford Lane, Totton, Southampton, SO40 9DY 02380 865289 ashtreelandrover@gmail.com www.ashtreelandrover.com Refurbished and galvanised Land Rover bulkheads,

front panels, ancillaries and brand new British made doors.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Beam Ends 4x4 (D133) Unit 6, Richmore Industrial Estate, Near Dilhorne, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST10 2PR 01782 551155 • PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Bearmach (C70) Unit 8, Pant Glas Industrial Estate, Bedwas, Caerphilly, CF83 8GE 02920 856550 amya@bearmach.com / info@bearmach.com www.bearmach.com We will have display vehicles, display stands with parts and accessories. We will have a mechanic from our YouTube channel doing live demos on our project Defender.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Bespoke Cars (C79/80/83/84) www.bespokecars.co.uk Bespoke Land Rover interiors and exteriors.

LIFESTYLE & LUXURY Bilstein (D129) 7 Vitruvius Way, Meridian Business Park, LE19 1WA 0116 2898345 Spare Parts / Tuning Suspensions / Motorsport • PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Black Paw 4x4 (B49) Unit 1, Forest Business Park, Fulford, York, YO19 4RH 01904 625073 info@blackpaw4x4.com

www.blackpaw4x4.com Land Rover servicing, repair and overland preparation based in York. Front Runner, Eezi-Awn stockists & National Lunar stockists.

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / VEHICLE WORKSHOP / PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Blackline SV (B61) Shepherds Grove East Industrial Estate, Hepworth, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2BG 01359 256086 sales@blackline-sv.co.uk www.blackline-sv.co.uk Blackline are pleased to debut its range of Defender accessories coated in the super hard-wearing, great looking Line-X. On display is our new Defender 90 V8 Black & White Limited Edition also available as a turn key purchase. All accessories can be ordered on the day and will be available through our on-line shop.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES Bolt on Bits (B33/34/37/38) 84 Whitehall Road, East Birkenshaw, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD11 2ER 01274 688388 sales@boltonbits.co.uk www.boltonbits.net LED lighting to suit all Land Rover needs and large variety of unique switches, interior and exterior trim and bumpers.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES / LIGHTING

Bristol Transmissions (C75) Unit 4, S+H Building, Foundry Lane, Fishponds, Bristol, BS5 7UZ 01179 524920 service@bristoltransmissions.co.uk www.bristoltransmissions.co.uk Displaying our products, gearboxes, kits.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Convoy For Heroes (A20) PO Box 3112, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 5BN www.convoy4heroes.org.uk Born from a desire to help and inspired by the bikers at Wootton Bassett, with close ties to the military, how could Land Rover enthusiasts help our armed

exhibitors’ guide forces? Convoy for Heroes is a not for profit, Land Rover owners initiative dedicated to Help for Heroes, who provide facilities and support services that benefit British servicemen and women injured in action.

• CLUB / SOCIETY

Croytec (D118) PO Box 164, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 9YT 01691 791349 info@croytec.co.uk www.croytec.co.uk Croytec design and manufacture aluminium trim and styling components for the interior and exterior of the iconic Land Rover Defender. Our products are high quality machined from billet aluminium in polished or anodised finish. Croytec also offer a range of VDO gauges and Carling switches to complement their range. Take a look at our stand to browse our range of products.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

CSK Land Rover Specialists (B45/46) Unit 31 Hoddesdon Industrial Centre, Pindar Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 0FF 01992 217830 chris@csklandrovers.co.uk www.cskautomotive.co.uk CSK Specialise in all Land Rover models offering full vehicle customisation, performance tuning and styling enhancements, mechanical and service work and our main speciality rust prevention treatments using the finest Dinitrol and Waxoyl products and a full soundproofing package to refine your vehicle.

• WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT / LIFESTYLE & LUXURY

Defender Demister (C76) Barn 3, Crown Barns, Lea, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7JZ 07975 722131 roy@acmewildside.com www.defenderdemister.com Side window demisters and stainless steel vent pins • PARTS & ACCESSORIES The Dunsfold Collection (Forecourt) Dunsfold Collection, Whispers, Guildford Road, Cranleigh, GU6 8PR

01483 200822 collectionadmin@btconnect.com www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk The Dunsfold Collection of Land Rovers is a registered charity dedicated to the preservation of Land Rover history.

• CLUB/SOCIETY

FCX Defender Outfitters (C76) Farrows Oast, New House Lane, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9JL 01622 535101 sales@FCX.co.uk www.FCX.co.uk Land Rover Defender leather interior trim, off the shelf or custom made to order. Defender merchandise, models, mugs and t-shirts. Home of the world’s only double DIN cubby box!

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES / LIFESTYLE & LUXURY

Frogs Island 4x4 (C77/78/81/82) 178a Milton Park, OX14 4SD 01235 832900 steve@frogsisland4x4.com www.frogsisland4x4.com Distributors of parts and accessories for Land Rover vehicles including Allmakes Service Kits, Terrafirma, Rock Oil and KAM Differentials.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Gigglepin (B47/48) Building One, Gaza Industrial Estate, Scabharbour Road, Hildenborough, Kent, TN11 8PL 01732 463600 workshop@gigglepin4x4.net / shop@gigglepin4x4.net www.gigglepin4x4.net Gigglepin is a family-owned independent Land Rover specialist in Kent. Working on vehicles from 1948 to current day we have full workshop and service facilities and can offer anything from a lightbulb change to a full ground up rebuild. Gigglepin also specialise in high performance winches and is the ‘Home of the Twin-Motor Winch’.

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / PARTS & ACCESSORIES / LIGHTING / WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT

Global Roamer Corporation (C93) 3396 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, B.C. V7V 1M9, Canada 604-925-1260 info@roamerdrive.com www.roamerdrive.com Roamerdrive overdrives are fitted to both Defender and Series Land Rovers. Simple bolt-in installation takes under three hours. Fuel consumption is improved, cabin noise reduced and engine life prolonged. ‘Overdrive’ is engaged using a hand lever.

No electrical connections are required. Sold in over thirty countries and used extensively on expeditions, these overdrives and renowned for reliability and simplicity of design.

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Go-Exploring.com (C91) 020 7097 3808 info@go-exploring.com www.go-exploring.com Fully catered guided off road tours in Southern Portugal.

• TRAVEL

Herts Insurance (B41) 0844 888 4 888 www.hertsinsurance.com We offer specialist motor insurance for classic and modified cars, which cover the car for its true value we understand that your car plays an important part in your life, because we share that passion for cars.

In fact, many of our staff are genuine car enthusiasts and we think that makes a difference when you ring for a motor insurance quote. For competitive motor insurance no-one will try harder than us to find you the best deal, no matter what you drive. Get a specialist quote now to see for yourself what makes HIC insurance the best choice. We believe that our customers look to us for motor insurance with real added value as well as service that exceeds their expectations.

• INSURANCE

Kahn Design (A8) www.kahndesign.com Vehicle conversions, luxury bespoke leather interiors, light alloy wheels, aerodynamic body styling, performance engine upgrades.

• LIFESTYLE & LUXURY

The Landy (A10/11/12) Repton House G11, Bretby Business Park, Bretby, Derbyshire, DE15 0YZ 01283 553243 enquiries@assignment-media.co.uk www.thelandy.co.uk The Landy is a unique free distribution Land Rover newspaper – the first of its kind in the UK! It’s full of the latest Land Rover news and scene lowdown, the best product reviews, inspiring adventure stories and features on a whole host of classic, modded and everyday Landys. The Landy is available to pick up from most Britpart stockists and other Land Rover workshops, showrooms and parts specialists. It’s also available to buy in WHSmith stores for just £2. Or you can download each issue, for free on our website.

• OTHER

Landy Bits n Bobs (C97) South Yorkshire 07401 723040 landybitsnbobs@googlemail.com www.landybitsnbobs.co.uk Land Rover anti-theft – “Ardcase’ Security” T-shirts, camping and cast iron cookware, wood burning stoves, LED lighting, bushcraft.

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / LIGHTING / TRAVEL Llanerchindda Farm (D125) Cynghordy, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0NB 01550 750 274 info@cambrianway.com www.cambrianway.com Guest house, 2 self catering cottages and activity centre based near the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. The perfect base for individuals or groups of up to 35 with map room with lanes marked, GPS hire, guiding and on site 4x4 course open to residents only. Bar and restaurant on site serving breakfast and evening meals.

• TRAVEL

exhibitors’ guide

M12 Off Road (C92) Skando The Nabb, Oakengates, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9BX 07976 180696 www.m12-offroad.co.uk Your first choice for Land Rover accessories!

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Make Ends Meet (D123) Unit 3, Colour Block, Racecourse Road, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2EY 01386 556868 make.ends.meet@btconnect.com www.memfast.co.uk Range of metric and UNC rivet nuts, rubber nuts and our own NATO approved rivet nut hand installation tool – the best in the world and made in the United Kingdom.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Marant Land Rover (B35/36) 2 Compton Cottages, Moor Park Way, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8EL 07989 565 937 info@marantdesign.co.uk www.marantdesign.co.uk Marant Design are demonstrating MarantAir along with their range of exciting and easy to choose Defender Upgrade Packages. MarantAir is a fully Electronically Controlled Air Suspension system for the Land Rover Defender. There will be a static display within the hall with a second MarantAir vehicle outside providing demo drives. Email info@ MarantDesign.co.uk to book your demo drive.

• EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT / PARTS & ACCESSORIES / LIFESTYLE & LUXURY / WHEELS & TYRES / LIGHTING Mobile Storage Systems (C101/102/105/106) Lund Court Farm, Nawton, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 7TZ 01751 430318 info@mobilestoragesystems.net www.mobilestoragesystems.net Strength by design. Since 1999. Mobile Storage Systems offers a wide range Land Rover storage units that are finished to the highest standard possible. All of our products provide the strength, durability and

practicality that our customers are looking for. We have a range of Land Rover drawers, chests, window guards, cubby boxes, glove boxes and more.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Mode Land Rover (C85) 11 Courtenay Road, East Lane Business Park, Wembley HA9 7ND 020 8904 4400 www.modelandrover.com We stock leading brands of Parts & Accessories available to buy for your Land Rover Series, Defender, Discovery, Freelander or Range Rover, as well as being able to source more specialist parts on request.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

NWS Motor Services (B47/48) A41 Higher Heath, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 2HX 01948 840888 info@nwsmotorservices.co.uk www.nwsmotorservices.co.uk Come and have a chat with us! Europe’s largest Land Rover engine rebuilder, we recondition and remanufacture 2.7TDV6, 3.0TDV6, 3.6TDV8 engines for Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Jaguar XF&S. In 2014 we developed and manufactured our own branded superior quality crankshaft bearings. Order from our stocks! We look forward to seeing you on stand B47/48.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES / ENGINES & ENGINE PARTS

One Life Adventure (D132) 1 Beaumont Street, Todmorden, Lancashire, OL14 5JZ 0161 265 5799 info@onelifeadventure.co.uk www.onelifeadventure.co.uk • TRAVEL

Optimill Ltd (B51) Unit 2b, Garden Vale Business Centre, Greenfield Road, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 9PD 01282 860952

optimill@yahoo.co.uk www.optimill-ltd.com Land Rover accessories. Front & rear door hinges with exclusive European design registration, also bonnet hinges with registered design.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Project Jay Preservation Group (Forecourt) 01765 677124 roy@g-wac.com www.g-wacdiscoverys.net Two 1989 Discoverys that were part of the factory launch fleet at Plymouth in 1989. G465WAC is undergoing restoration. G526WAC is preserved and currently on the road, and has been featured in the Land Rover press.

• CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Plasma Part (D117) Unit 1, Debdale Lane, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5HT 0844 822 8040 thomas@plasmapart.com www.plasmapart.com PlasmaPart design and build Plasma Cutters and Welders for retail to stockists and the general public and also sell a wide variety of welding and cutting consumables and safety equipment.

• WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT

Race2Recovery (C89/90) www.race2recovery.com Professional motorsport team enabling the participation of people with disabilities in motorsport.

• CLUBS & SOCIETIES Raptor Engineering (A19) info@raptor-engineering. co.uk www.raptor-engineering. co.uk Defender / Puma / Discovery Consoles / Pods / Binnacles and accessories • PARTS & ACCESSORIES Rocky Mountain Spares Ltd (C93) Parabolic springs, shocks, extruded door tops, oil filter adaptors.

Ruskin Design (B39/40) 223 Gloucester Crescent, Leicester, LE18 4YH 0116 277 3701 sales@ruskindesign.co.uk www.ruskindesign.co.uk Ruskin Design will be showcasing a complete retrim of a Land Rover Defender on a mock up stand.

Samples of our hand-stitched leather trim kits and replacement seats will also be on display and show car.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES / LIFESTYLE & LUXURY

Shire Fabrications (D126) Unit 8, Vernon Court, Vernon Street, Shirebrook, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG20 8SP 07830 600060 / 01623 740877 shirefabrication@yahoo.co.uk www.shirefabrications.com Selling fabricated parts.

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

SP 4x4 Ltd (C73) Oglet Farm, Oglet Lane, Liverpool, L24 5RJ 07547 501465 / 0151 425 4743 splandrover@hotmail.co.uk www.sp-4x4.com Retail of new Land Rover parts. Specialising in Land Rover body panels.

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Spanish 4x4 (B54) 07792 569061 www.spanish4x4.com Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned overlander looking for an excellent holiday with an easy pace, relaxed atmosphere and tons of other things to do and, as importantly, the time to do them. You don’t need to be an expert just a competent driver and the rest we will experience together. We offer all types

exhibitors’ guide of holiday so you can come in your own 4x4, fly (or drive) out to us and use one of our 4x4’s or if you want be a passenger.

• TRAVEL

Timber Trail 4x4 (C112) Unit 5 Cadleigh Close, Lee Mill Industrial Estate, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9GB 01752 898820 timber.trail.4x4@gmail.com www.timbertrail4x4.com Suppliers and distributors of parts, accessories, and off road equipment suitable for all Land Rover models, including Discovery, Freelander and Range Rover.

Timber Trail 4x4 – Home of the Land Rover owner.

• PARTS & ACCESSORIES / WHEELS & TYRES / LIGHTING / ENGINES & ENGINE PARTS

Tyres Direct Online (B64) 196-197 Camford Way, Luton, LU3 3AN 01582 585845 info@tyresdirectuk.co.uk www.tyresdirectuk.co.uk Tyres Direct Online is one of the UK’s leading 4x4 wheel and tyre specialists. We are the import agents for Malatesta and Fedima and hold large stock on BFGoodrich, General, Toyo, Kumho, Maxxis, Cooper, Federal and Weystone. You can order on our website or visit our shop in Luton to view our full range.

WHEELS & TYRES

Urban Truck (C74) 01908 366788 www.urban-truck.com

The URBAN TRUCK range consists of a number of after market editions from the Land Rover Defender 90 and 110 range.

• LIFESTYLE & LUXURY UTV Products (C105/106) 38 The Courtyard, Bostock Hall, Bostock, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 9JN 01606 553109 martinwickes@utvproducts.co.uk www.utvproducts.co.uk Reputable UK stockist of LED lights and light bars to suit all makes of 4x4. All manufactured to highest standards and fully guaranteed by people who genuinely care about after sales service.

• LIGHTING Venture 4x4 (B44) 15 Washdyke Lane, Osgodby, Lincolnshire, LN8 3PB 01673 828120 andrew@venture4x4.co.uk www.venture4x4.co.uk Overland tours Iceland. Guided and fly drive.

• TRAVEL Xplor Land Rover (B23/24) Kerrison House, Horsey, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR29 4EF 01493 393300 info@xplorlandrover.com www.xplorlandrover.com We shall be selling just some of the thousands of quality Land Rover parts available from our online shop. There will be bargain sales of service and filter kits, accessories, body and engine parts, interior trim and exterior fittings. We shall have items for every Land Rover model from the Series to the Range Rover.

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT 1948 Original Equipment (A14) ACH Special Vehicles (B27/28/31/32) Black Paw 4x4 (B49) Gigglepin (B47/48) Global Roamer Corporation (C93) Landy Bits n Bobs (C97) Marant Land Rover (B35/36) PARTS & ACCESSORIES 4x4 Autoparts Online (D122) 4x4 Overlander (A1) ACH Special Vehicles (B27/28/31/32) Ashtree Land Rover (C88) Beam Ends 4x4 (D133) Bearmach (C70) Bilstein (D129) Black Paw 4x4 (B49) Blackline SV (B61) Bolt on Bits (B33/34/37/38) Bristol Transmissions (C75) Croytec (D118) Defender Demister (C76) FCX Defender Outfitters (C76) Frogs Island 4x4 (C77/78/81/82) Gigglepin (B47/48) Global Roamer Corporation (C93) M12 Off Road (C92) Make Ends Meet (D123) Marant Land Rover (B35/36) Mobile Storage Systems (C101/102/105/106) Mode Land Rover (C85) NWS Motor Services (B47/48) Optimill Ltd (B51) Raptor Engineering (A19) Rocky Mountain Spares Ltd (C93) Ruskin Design (B39/40) Shire Fabrications (D126) SP 4x4 Ltd (C73) Timber Trail 4x4 (C112) Xplor Land Rover (B23/24) ENGINES & ENGINE PARTS NWS Motor Services (B47/48) Timber Trail 4x4 (C112)

LIFESTYLE & LUXURY Bespoke Cars (C79/80/83/84) FCX Defender Outfitters (C76) Kahn Design (A8) Marant Land Rover (B35/36) Ruskin Design (B39/40) Urban Truck (C74) WHEELS & TYRES ACH Special Vehicles (B27/28/31/32) Timber Trail 4x4 (C112) Tyres Direct Online (B64) LIGHTING ACH Special Vehicles (B27/28/31/32) Bolt on Bits (B33/34/37/38) Gigglepin (B47/48) Landy Bits n Bobs (C97) Timber Trail 4x4 (C112) UTV Products (C105/106) TRAVEL 4x4 Zone (D121) Go-Exploring.com (C91) Landy Bits n Bobs (C97) Llanerchinnda Farm (D125) One Life Adventure (D132) Spanish 4x4 (B54) Venture 4x4 (B44) INSURANCE Herts Insurance (B41) WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT CSK Land Rover Specialists (B45/46) Gigglepin (B47/48) Plasma Part (D117) LAND ROVER SERVICING Black Paw 4x4 (B49) CSK Land Rover Specialists (B45/46) Gigglepin (B47/48) OTHER AA Drive Tech (B43) The Landy (A10/11/12) Race2Recovery (C89/90)

experience the thrill with race2recovery

WHEN WE FIRST visited Donington to talk about the Great British Land Rover Show, we were surprised and delighted when they offered us use of the off-road track in the infield of the circuit. Without a second thought, we knew exactly what we wanted to do with it.

That’s why we’re so delighted that Race2Recovery, the world-famous off-road rally team, will be offering high-speed passenger rides throughout the Great British Land Rover Show.

The team, which supports injured servicemen in their recovery and became the first ever to finish the Dakar Rally with a disabled crew member, will be running its Land Rovers on the little known off-road course in the infield of Donington’s racing circuit – and as a visitor you’ll be able to buy tickets on the day for the ride of a lifetime!

These are only available a firstcome, first-served basis from the Race2Recovery stand at C89/90. An opportunity like this is priceless, but it has a price nonetheless – which Race2Recovery has set at £20 per ride, with £5 of that going to an armed forces’ charity. You’ll not get many chances to pay so little for something you’ll remember for so long, so get your ticket while they last!

What is Race2Recovery?

RACE2RECOVERY gained global prominence at the start of 2013 when, against all the odds, Major Matt O’Hare and Corporal Philip Gillespie became the first ever disabled crew to finish the Dakar Rally.

In an event that saw three of the team’s four Qt Wildcats fall by the wayside (one suffered a mechanical failure, one was excluded for missing checkpoints and the third saved its crew from serious injury by doing what it was built to do and staying up in a multiple high-speed roll), O’Hare and Gillespie were the last of the finishers to see the chequered flag in Santiago de

Chile. They may have finished 69 hours behind winner Stephane Peterhansel, but compare the monstrous funding and cast of thousands it takes to challenge for victory in the Dakar with the reality of a small team helping amputees race in the toughest conditions to raise funds for charity and you’ll see that even though this is a proper professional outfit running top-class vehicles, simply taking a place in the same parc ferme as the winning works teams was an achievement of incredible note.

The team’s Dakar campaign was run to raise funds for Tedworth House Personnel Recovery Centre, a facility

created thanks to the phenomenal success of Help for Heroes. This is one of Race2Recovery’s chosen charities – others are the limbless veterans’ charity BLESMA, the Meningitis Research Foundation, the Soldiers’ Charity ABF, the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Help for Heroes itself.

As well as the Dakar, Race2Recovery campaigned a vehicle last year in the inaugural Defender Challenge by Bowler. The team finished second at the end of the season, having gone into the final race almost neck and neck with the eventual winner. A feature of

the Challenge is that all the vehicles are technically identical; with this in mind, the results over the season demonstrate that disabled crews really can compete in top-level motorsport and be just as competitive as their able-bodied rivals.

Llanerchindda Farm – the best way to visit Wales!

EVERY TIME WE VISIT Llanerchindda Farm, we come away wishing we lived there. Under its previous owner, this idyllic B&B on a hillside near Llandovery became known as the place to base yourself on green lane trips – and under the management of Martin and Lynn Hadley, plus sons Mark and Andrew, if anything it’s become even more popular.

The Hadleys bought Llanerchindda in 2005, having previously run a successful hotel in the Lake District.

And they know that the way to a green laner’s heart is through his stomach.

Try arriving at lunchtime (we did, and boy were we glad of that) and you’ll be fed to perfection. Lynn and Mark are geniuses in the kitchen, Martin and Andrew are a great front of house team and all four of them know the local rights of way like an old friend.

If you want marked-up maps, mobile sat-navs, a guide to join you in your vehicle or a lead car to pilot you along the way, it’s all part of the service. The family are very involved in green lane maintenance and work with GLASS and Treadlightly to keep the rights of way in good condition by ensuring their visitors are wellinformed about where they can and can’t go.

There’s enough lanes accessible from Llanerchindda to keep you going all week, so it’s good that as well as being able to feast on delicious home-cooked meals you can also get a good night’s kip here. The farm has a variety of accommodation including a cottage that sleeps nine – perfect for a group green laning holiday.

And that’s where we think Llanerchindda really comes into its own. If you visit this part of Wales for a day or weekend, you’ll head straight for the classic lanes like Strata Florida and Soar y Mynydd – but linger a little longer and, especially with your hosts’ knowledge at your disposal, you’ll find that there are dozens more beautiful, scenic lanes waiting to be discovered.

Which is what owning a Land Rover is all about, isn’t it? Being able to take the road less travelled is one of life’s greatest pleasures – and when it’s the trail less travelled, well, that’s better still. And when you stay at Llanerchindda Farm, it’s more of a pleasure than ever.

Visit the guys from Llanerchindda at stand D125 for the chance to win a two-night stay. You can also contact them on 01550 750274, or by paying a visit to www.cambrianway.com.

STARS OF THE SHOW – THE At any Land Rover show you go to, one of the most intersting areas is always the car park – where people get the chance to wander around checking out each other’s vehicles. We’ve made a feature out of this by creating a display of readers’ trucks – you’ll find it in the compound at the side of the show hall beyond the bar, through the exit that’s dead ahead of you if you turn left at the main entrance. Here’s a taster of the Land Rover’s which have booked in – from the wildly modified to the lovingly restored. Stars of the show all – and all thanks to the people just like you who brought them!

‘I have spent two years building this,’ says Shaun Martin, ‘and have put a lot of time, effort and money into making it a truly unique extreme off-road defender. All the chassis, bulkhead and axles have been galvanised. It has full Extreme suspension kit on it with a fully rebuilt 300Tdi engine, large intercooler, full roll cage, custom stainless twin exit exhaust, Southdown snorkel, Td5 axles, double-yoked props, Td5 dash and interior, front and rear winches and so much more.

‘Although the vehicle is on a 1996 N-reg it appears to be brand new as every nut, bolt and part has been reconditioned and sprayed up. I would very much like to show off all the hard work that’s gone into it before I start taking it off-road and getting it dirty!’

This 1980 88” Series III is one of those ‘pride and joy’ Landies, rather than something amazing that someone’s built to be unique and take on the world.

‘It’s almost a standard Series,’ admits its owner Sam Taylor. ‘But I use it as an everyday driver so have fitted a new bumper with two spot lights, a reversing light mounted on the roof and, for a little bit of protection when off-roading I have fitted a roll cage in the back.

‘It still has its standard 2.25 diesel engine on its original chassis.

There’s a minor bit of corrosion, but it’s not noticeable. I have fitted some standard Defender seats and a cubby box in the interior – apart from that, to my knowledge the interior is original.’

You don’t see many modified P38s – but when you do, they tend to be good ‘uns. This one, built by Damian Roberts, is very good.

For starters, he’s fitted a 3.0-litre BMW 6-pot from a 530, getting a handy 200bhp. Inside, there’s a full Safety Devices roll cage, while down below the 33” Maxxis Bighorns you see are wrapped around a rare set of Compomotives imported from the USA. A wide-arch kit keeps the tyres legal, while +2” suspension using a rear panhard rod keeps them from fouling.

LANDIES BROUGHT BY YOU!

As ‘before and after’ pictures go, these ones take some beating. John Stokes had owned his Series IIA since he was 21 – and in 2014 he decided to give it a no-expense-spared restoration to original condition. The results are there for all to see – and talking of results, the Land Rover was promptly awarded Best in Show by the Series II Club and Best Series II at Leafers at T’Pit. Bad news: you’re about to get jealous. Richard Lofthouse has owned Land Rovers all his life, and he describes this gorgeous 90 hard-top as the result of ‘having the ability to realise my ideal requirements.’

What this means is that he gets to spend his days driving it for work, which involves accessing rural telecoms sites – and, on quite a regular basis, using it is the anchor point for a capstan winch while recovering stuck cherry pickers from muddy fields.

Low-level jealousy so far, perhaps, but there’s more coming: ‘secondly, it’s my bad weather personal vehicle,’ he says. ‘That’s when I take the seat covers and shower cap off!’ Yes, definitely getting some envy pangs now.

Finally, Richard drops the bomb. ‘Thirdly, it will be part of my retirement package when I leave the company in five years.’ Yes, there it is…

We all love a good ‘saved from the scrappy’ story, and that’s just what Andrew Bacon did with his 1994 Discovery Tdi. Not only did he save it, he renewed and in many cases improved the suspension, brakes, engine and so on. Obviously there was loads of welding to do, too.

The result was this high-spec overland vehicle. It carries a roof tent, winch, light bar and extended arches – and the really amazing part is that he did the lot over the course of eight weekends on a gravel driveway round the back of his house.

‘I was going to just weld it up and put some tyres on, but then I got a bit carried away!’ he says. ‘It just keeps evolving. Oh, and it has 220,000 miles on the clock and still goes like new.’

Here’s something you don’t see every day. Well, old Freelanders aren’t exactly a rarity at playdays, but this 2001-vintage Td4 is a bit different to the sad old MOT casualties a certain kind of off-roader likes to buy for scrap money before destroying it in a quarry and taking its remnants away on what could loosely be described as a trailer.

Built by someone we know only as Doobeydog (it may be that he or she was christened as such but frankly we’d find it a bit far-fetched, unless of course Frank Zappa was involved), this little giant-killer has custom 6mm ally sump and exhaust guards, a VCU Guard, a 2” rear reciever built in the kitchen and, get this, a full-size bed. (‘Yes,’ comments Doobeydog. ‘In a Freelander.’

Fair enough.)

There’s a custom storage area for the split charge battery as well as tools and so on – this is one practical Freelander. For that same reason, a 50mm suspension lift allows 235/70R16 mudterrains to go in place mounted on black 35mm offset wheels. Other goodies include extended breathers, silicone hoses, an EGR bypass and a BMW crankcase breather. As we said, a definite giant-killer. Call us predictable, but we think there’ll be a lot of people gawping in this one as they try to work out how he’s fitted that full-sized bed into such a small area…

a taster from dunsfold – and there’s more where that came from!

at the time of writing, we’re yet to find out what’s going to be parked on the concourse outside the Donington exhibition hall come show day. But what we do know is that there’s going to be a group of vehicles from the Dunsfold Collection – home to many of the rarest and most significant Land Rovers from throughout the company’s history.

The Dunsfold Collection was started way back in 1968 by Brian Bashall, who went on to become one of the elder statesmen of the All Wheel Drive Club. These days, it’s run day-to-day by his son Phil, and it recently became registered as a charitable trust. Phil and his fellow trustees have started a campaign to raise money which they hope will ultimately go towards creating a permanent home for the vehicles in the collection – currently 119 of them, which only ever all come together once every two years for the Dunsfold Open Weekend.

The good news is that the next of these special events takes place on

13-14 June. So if the vehicles you see at the show are enough to whet your appetite, you should make a date in your diary now – and if they’re not, well, you should make a date in your diary even more so, because if Land Rovers float your boat even a little there are things in the Dunsfold Collection that will carry you away on an ocean of delight.

We’ve put a few pictures on this page to give you a taste of what might be at Donington – and will definitely be at the Open Weekend. We’re very grateful to Phil for bringing some vehicles to the show, and we’re right behind Dunsfold in its bid to find a home in which every one of these wonderful Land Rovers will be able to reside permanently under the same roof. Please do pay a visit to www. dunsfoldcollection.co.uk, and for your sake and theirs try to keep the weekend of 13-14 June free – so you can take the rare chance to see the most remarkable collection of Land Rovers all in the same place at the same time.

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An Original Remastered It’s pretty rare to find an early 90 that hasn’t had at least some sort of major surgery – especially when it arrives in little more than kit form.

But down at Gumtree 4x4, they’ve just finished refurbishing a 1984 example that’s not just as good as new once more – it still has all the major components it was built with Words Mike Trott Pictures Gumtree 4x4

L A remastered vehicle wouldn’t be complete without some due care and attention within the Marine Blue paintwork. A pair of new seats and a popular addition of the cubby box have been installed inside this authentic piece of pre-Defender history.

That four-pronged steering wheel also connects to the luxurious option of power steering… well, that’s what it was back in the Eighties anyway!

ast year, we reported some of the difficulties Americans were experiencing when trying to import Land Rovers to the United States. Unless every piece of the Land Rover jigsaw is original and all the relevant numbers (chassis, engine, gearbox etc) are matching correctly, you’re likely to have a visit from the FBI – whereupon the car will be seized, impounded and even crushed.

This is a sad way to go, both for the vehicle and your day. But not every Land Rover has been taken apart like a turkey at Christmas. Gumtree 4x4 has recently finished putting an old 90 back on the road that hasn’t lost its engine to Dave from Plymouth, its axles to Bob from Hull and its chassis to Hamish from Fort William. The knee bone is connected to the leg bone, the leg bone is connected to the knee

bone and everything checks out just as it did when the truck rolled off the production line.

‘What we’ve got here is just a very basic, original and unmodified Land Rover 90 Hard-Top, with the once-optional extra of power steering,’ says Gumtree main man John Bowden.

‘We acquired it last summer and didn’t really do much with it at first, just doing the odd bit in between jobs. But then we cracked on with it before Christmas.

‘We bought it off a bodyshop owner who had stripped it right down to the chassis. He had painted every panel off the vehicle and bought new galvanised parts or re-galvanised the originals, then started to repair the chassis, but lost interest.’

That’s a bit like preparing a fancy a la carte meal and, just before you put the

scallops on the griddle, deciding to put it all in the bin instead. John and his team were given the ingredients already loosely reassembled. But when you’re preparing a gourmet meal, the last thing you want to do is pick up where someone else has given up. Far better to go back to the beginning and start again from the ground up.

The masterpiece we have here has got a bit of a sketchy history at best, popping up on the radar here and there over time. The feds don’t like that – it’s the sort of thing that can all too easily disguise a vehicle that’s been put together using stolen parts.

That’s why Gumtree has made an honest Land Rover out of the car once more. Having checked the VOSA MOT history, the 90’s most recent activity Continued overleaf

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Above: A real 90 – that is, a 90 without the Dixons showroom under the bonnet – needs to have some sort of 2.5-litre engine at the helm. This refurbed 90 has to make do with the pioneer of its generation. The uprated 2.5-litre naturally aspirated diesel may have been bigger than the old 2.25-litre from the Series days, but with only a 6hp increase it was never going to set the world alight. Still, you could take a sledgehammer to the thing and it would shrug it off like a 90 does mud Below: The VIN number is like your passport – at least to the USA anyway. If you do not have all your particulars, you will be stripped, searched and accused of being a fraudulent being. Match all the details, though, and you’ll be free to enter Above: The rear tub of the 90 was removed in order to give the chassis some attention. Note here, this is one of the many panels that has been resprayed Right: Galvanised parts have been used throughout this Land Rover, meaning it will see out the voyage to the Americas – and then keep going once it gets there Below: New vent seals keep things neat and tidy and keep the 90 from feeling like a disused barn

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Above: It’s always nice to look underneath a well-kept vehicle. In this instance, the standard axles have managed to come through the years relatively unscathed. Everything about this vehicle has been kept as original as possible, so the rebuilt brakes still use drums for stopping power. Some new brake lines have been installed, but the traditional suspension set-up remains shows that it was off the road since the winter of 2010/11 – by which point it had clocked 98,948 miles.

Now it’s ready for a new life across the pond – and with Transatlantic demand so strong for Land Rovers that’ll breeze through customs on the way in, it would be something of a surprise if that isn’t where it ends up.

What its new owner will get is a skilfully refurbished 90 with the original 2.5-litre naturally aspirated diesel engine in place. The 68bhp slugger might not be the most popular lump in the world, but it’s bomb-proof in the extreme and, critically, it has the correct numbers to match the chassis – which John says is as per the Land Rover Mi-

crocat data and V5. The VIN number is also clearly marked on the front chassis legs – in case you need to point it out to a swarm of gun-toting feds.

We’ve already mentioned that every body panel has been given a generous respray in Marine Blue and most of the galvanised components have been refurbished or replaced, but the 90 has also been given a new rear quarter chassis from a Td5 Defender.

‘The original idea was to fit an additional Td5 90 rear tank to increase the fuel capacity,’ says John. ‘The brackets are still there to be used if necessary, but can also be taken away fairly easily.’

The rear tub was taken off to make way for some more repairs to the chas-

sis – which, along with the well-preserved axles, was given a good old lick of paint once the work was complete.

The brakes have also being fully rebuilt – still keeping the original drums in place, but now with new brake lines.

There’s the addition of polybushes on the suspension now too.

In general, the rear tub is about as inviting as you’re likely to see when it comes to something with a 90 badge on the rear (this doesn’t actually have the badge, but you get the gist). Ahead of that, there are new seats and a cubby box to finish the cabin, and the door seals and vent seals have been replaced so it won’t be draughty on the road.

Well, not as draughty.

Above: Just because it was still original, that doesn’t mean the 90 was factory fresh. There was a lot of work to be done to get it ready for its new life Left: One thing that’s not original is that the suspension was refitted using poly bushes. US customs don’t mind that…

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk ‘The most difficult part of the whole build was trying to find the right fittings,’ says John. ‘Locks and linkages for the rebuilding of the original doors; they’re becoming a pain to source now. But other than that it was just the general run of the mill work.’

A few new plastic parts were needed in the odd place – the wheelarches, for example – and the wiring was redone after new light units and headlamp bowls had been installed. John even popped on a new front bumper to complete the makeover.

While this delightfully revived 90 may be set for a life on the other side of the Atlantic (or it could end up in Swindon), time doesn’t stand still at Above left: Door fixings were to be the bane of John’s life for this project, but he got there in the end. The door seals were replaced too so maybe this is a 90 you can have a conversation in…

Left: A new rear quarter chassis has been fitted to this 4x4, which is now well over a quarter of a century old. But with all the work John and his team have done on the Land Rover, don’t be surprised if it’s around for another 25 years from now

Issue 15: May 2015 Gumtree and John already has a selection of vehicles lined up ready to fill his project diary for some months to come.

‘We’ve got a choice of an early fourdoor Range Rover Classic, a Lightweight, a Series III Hi-Cap or a Series IIA 88” ex-military soft-top. At least one of them will get some attention over the next month or so.’

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The agony of choice, huh? If this 90 is anything to go by, whichever of the waiting quartet John plumps for is about to turn into a splendid example of a classic Land Rover. Whether it goes to America or lives on in the villages of Sussex, this truck will be a very fine ambassador for the independent Landy specialist that brought it back to life.

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Grandaddy Cool

‘when I saw the 90 it was being towed. so I decided to tail it’

Stuart Possnett says he doesn’t really like cars very much. He didn’t think much of the 2.5 n/a 90 he had to drive for work back in the day, either. But having spotted an old shed of a 90 that ended up becoming his for just £800, he’s been converted – both to the Land Rover way of life and, in the eyes of the three grandsons who regularly go with him on his adventures, to the coolest grandad on the planet

O

nce, we were all a lot younger – and a lot more innocent.

And for those of us who used to breastfeed on petroleum, playtime was a championship decider each and every time our model cars came out of the toy chest.

I myself would wheel out my favourite vehicles of the week for a race or two across my bedroom floor, longing for the day I would finally be in control of my own four-wheeled box of joy. During the agonising wait to petrol-fuelled

Words Mike Trott Pictures Stuart Possnett freedom, if I wasn’t providing other family members with obstacles to impale their bare feet upon I was relishing the opportunity to be driven about in a real car.

People always say that the youth of today have it so much better. Now, I’ve always remained a little sceptical about this statement – but after seeing what Stuart Possnett carries his three grandsons around in, there isn’t even one single murmur I could muster by way of dissent.

Back in my day, I had the choice of being transported in a British Racing Green (not that it was fast) Austin Metro or an orange Volvo 340. Delightful.

Stuart, though, has a Land Rover 90, which he acquired for just £800, and he’s transformed it from an old farmer’s hack to a ship-shape Land Rover that marks his grandsons out as the envy of every kid around.

‘The boys love it, they can’t wait to get in it,’ smiles Stuart proudly. ‘I live out in the sticks, so they always want

me to get it in some mud!’ His three young mud-lovers are Charlie, five, and George and Noah, who are both three.

So it’s just a toy, then, right? Wrong.

‘This is the only vehicle I own,’ says Stuart. ‘I don’t really like cars, to be honest. A new vehicle wouldn’t really appeal to me.’

Things weren’t always that way, though. A mere quarter of a century ago, one of Stuart’s old bosses happened to have a Land Rover 90. This was back in 1988, before the Defender name

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk was ever seen on the front of a bonnet, and it was at a time when Stuart wasn’t a particularly big Land Rover fan.

The naturally aspirated diesel engine left most people exasperated, not just Stuart. Still, it was a vehicle that he had to use on a regular basis.

The 90 he calls his own, though, has a 200Tdi engine lurking behind the silvery grey exterior. This isn’t a conversion that Stuart has undertaken himself, but he has plenty of receipts proving that it’s not some underpowered relic under the hood.

How Stuart came to acquire his bargain 90, is a little odd. ‘I saw this 90 being towed near to where I live – so I decided to tail it,’ he recalls. ‘I managed to track it down and asked the owner how much he’d want for it in its current non-running state. Unfortunately, the guy said it wasn’t for sale.’

Then, late last summer, there was a knock at Stuart’s front door. A friend had spotted that the broken 90 was now up for sale and asked if Stuart was still interested. And it doesn’t take a PhD in particle physics to work out what happened next!

A deal was done and before he knew it, Stuart was the proud owner of his very own Landy. Of course, there was still the matter of getting the thing to move: to overcome this little obstacle, further help from friends was needed.

‘Some lads round by me have a bit of a workshop and I needed them to get it running again. When I bought it, there was a set of off-road tyres in the back, so I let them have those in exchange for getting the 90 back on its feet.’

Even before this vehicle choked back into life, Stuart says it was still relatively unspoilt. And after all the hard work, the 90 really does look cherished – maybe even as much as the grandkids!

Speaking of work, let’s run you through some of the spanner action it took to turn the 90 back into a thing Stuart could drive about in.

The cambelt was done and the engine received a new fuel pump, while the body was sandblasted, repaired and then resprayed.

‘A friend of mine is a paint sprayer for MWH Cleaning Specialists,’ says Stuart. ‘I’ve known him for about 30 years and he sprayed the silver and grey colour on to the 90 you see now.

‘It’s strange, but when it was red and looked like it belonged to a farmer, everyone would give us a wave. Now that it looks a lot newer, you tend not to get that so much.’ Ah, the Land Rover wave. If only people in newer trucks knew what it was…

Before the radiant new paintwork was applied, some new flooring went into the 90 and its doors were reContinued overleaf

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Left: While Stuart may be the most ‘hip’ grandad around - and when we say hip, we don’t mean waiting for a replacement on the National Health Service waiting list - he makes sure the boys have plenty of fun, but in a safe manner too. Those twist and turn seats have three-point seatbelts and provide a welcome bit of padding, compared to sitting on park bench at least...

Right: Now this really takes the cookies and milk! Not only do these lucky grandsons get whisked off to the beach with their ‘rad’ relative, but one of them will get to sit in a designated Land Rover lover seat! It also happens to be a prime spot for dishing out those cheery waves

Above: You would look at those fairhaired angels and could quite happily conclude that butter would never melt.

Charlie, left, is perched on top of his favourite vehicle with his two brothers, when it was apparently more suited to a farmyard Right: Here is an ingenius solution to raising the front end of a 90, or any vehicle for that matter! The underside is being sand-blasted on this Land Rover’s journey to becoming spick ‘n’ span once more Below: The lads - and the dog - are out on one of their many adventures after Stuart’s 90 has finished its transformation. At some point, you may see all three of those faces peering from the front bench of a Landy - and if you do travel past them, be sure to smile and wave

paired, with the one on the back being strengthened in the process. The chassis remains original, however, with just a new rear crossmember fitted to pass the MOT last year.

At the opposite end, there’s now a KBX grille. Another friend of Stuart’s bought it for their Land Rover, but ended up selling it before ever having chance to install it. ‘Billy no-mates’ doesn’t apply here, it would seem…

A set of BFGoodrch All-Terrains and plenty of soundproofing later, Stuart declares that his 90 is a joy to drive – and, importantly, he can hear what his grandchildren are plotting behind him!

On that subject, there’s some proper twist and turn seats in the back of this Landy, with three-point seatbelts installed with the kids in mind. ‘With their mum and dad,’ says Stuart, ‘whenever they go somewhere it’s usually just from A to B. When it’s with me, though, we’ll head off into the forest or off to the beach for the day. I’ll climb

over the bulkhead to fit the boys and we can take the dog and jump in with the wellies.

‘The eldest, Charlie, wants me to get a snorkel so we can find ourselves some deeper water. He was in the front with me a while ago and he always tends to wave at other Land Rovers. Anyway, we were driving along and he spotted this Land Rover coming the other way with a girl at the wheel. He turned to me in shock and said, “She shouldn’t be driving that!”’

I didn’t like sharing my toys when I was younger either, to be fair, but you live and learn.

As for Stuart, it’s safe to say that he’s now become a fully fledged convert to the Land Rover way – and as a result he’s now the owner of a toy that keeps him and the boys entertained for hours. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever sell this 90,’ he says. ‘And if I ever do decide to let it go, you can be sure there will be another Land Rover lined up on the drive already!’

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‘These trucks were Designed to transport four fire-fighters across any type of terrain’

When emergency services need a Land Rover to do a dirty job, they normally turn to the Defender. But back in the days when the Range Rover was still a work truck, the Carmichael 6x4 was a common sight on MOD airfields and beyond – and it’s now one of the most recognisable classics of them all

A

Range Rover spells luxury, extravagance and comfort.

The complete opposite, then, to burning rubber on an airport runway in the rush to rescue a stricken aircraft that’s smoking, melting and crumbling into ashes.

Unless a Range Rover is dropping off an A-list celebrity or a member of the Royal Family at the entrance to the VIP lounge at Heathrow, you wouldn’t really expect to see one at an airport. Let alone one with six wheels!

Of course, the original Range Rover was more like a poshed-up but functional work truck, not a luxury car for millionaires. So back in the days when it was being built, the notion of

Words Mike Trott Pictures Ian Langley converting one into a fire tender didn’t seem so bizarre.

Anyway, here we have a TACR-2a.

Or a Range Rover Carmichael, if you prefer, which is a 6x4 truck built for rather more than carting around the wealthy. The Carmichael’s official title stands for Truck Fire-Fighting Airfield Crash Rescue Mark 2, so you can see why they shortened its.

There is a point to this long-winded title, though. The Carmichael was used as a rapid response vehicle for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from time to time. Normally, for rescue or utility vehicles, you’d automatically think of the Defender, maybe a 130, or even the odd Discovery. I have a

theory, though, on why the Range Rover got the nod ahead of the others on this occasion.

Most of us have to deal with the stresses and strains of the working day, of course. But fire-fighters are in a different league. Now, some people say that your surroundings can have an impact on your productivity while at work, and people do like to fill their offices with vegetation and obscure artefacts designed to bring them peace and tranquillity.

So, did the MOD figure that its firemen could use a comfy, relaxed setting on their way to a call-out? After all, what could be more stressful than heading flat-out towards a crashed

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk Vulcan consuming itself in a ball of flaming avgas? Maybe doing so aboard a Range Rover was the RAF’s equivalent of feng shui…

Or maybe that’s just cobblers?

Anyway, this particular TACR-2a is the property of one Ian Langley. ‘I’ve had the Carmichael for about 10 years now,’ he says. ‘Once it left the service, it went through the car auctions and ended up with its first owner in Guildford. I’ve had it ever since. I’m an ex-fireman myself and have owned different fire engines from the age of 17.

‘This particular TACR-2a was manufactured in 1985, before being put into service on 12 December later that year.

From 27 January 1987, it served at RAF Cottesmore and supported the Tri-National Training Programme there until it was demobbed on 18 May 2000.’

A lengthy career, then. But the old timer has come out the other side with no creaky joints and generally looks as good as the day it first enrolled. You may still be wondering what good a Range Rover would be in an emergency, though, so I’ll let Ian explain: ‘These trucks were designed to transport four fire-fighters across any type of terrain to effect the fast rescue of the aircraft crew, prior to the arrival of the heavier foam tenders.’

So, rapid response, then. Which means sufficient power was needed under the bonnet. Not a problem, it was 1985 and the Turbo D hadn’t been invented yet, so the only option from the factory was the 3.5-litre V8.

Even this had its work cut out, though. It might not have been designed for putting out fires on its own, but the Carmichael was built to carry up to 200 gallons of pre-mixed foam and water, as well as light rescue equipment – which takes a fair bit of shifting about. Not that that was the main concern, because obviously the vehicle’s

job was to contain an evolving disaster until the heavy mob gets there.

There are a few more ‘accessories’ on this model, too. ‘It has two rapid deployment (unclip a flap) side-lines of two lengths of Duraline hose,’ says Ian, ‘each fitted with an Angus ‘blabbermouth’ foam branch. There’s some bits and pieces on the roof – an area light

Issue 15: May 2015

on an extending stalk, a short extension ladder, a searchlight and reel and a spare wheel and cover.

‘In the rear locker, there’s some shelves for storing the hydrant standpipe, a key and bar, small gear box, salvage sheet, spare length of hose, extra branches, short hydrant length and gloves.’

That’s a lot of stuff, and buying a truck out of MOD disposal is definitely not the way to get it all. So sniffing out all the accessories and official kit has become a bit of habit for Ian. If he meets someone at a show who reveals something he hasn’t got, he ‘needs to get it’ and add to his collection, quickly.

Now Ian even has the corresponding helmets, boots and uniforms that the quartet would have worn.

‘When they came out of service, people would rob them for spares,’ he says.

‘It’s taken a while to get things like the helmet rack and the lamp reading light.’

Authentic accessories aren’t the only thing Ian collects. He’s got a bomb

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disposal wagon and even a WWII Jeep (well, Land Rover’s hadn’t been invented by then) that took part in the Normandy landings all those years ago.

‘I like to buy or keep things that have a bit of a meaning to them,’ he explains.

‘Something of sentimental value or that has an interesting history.’

For sure, the Carmichael certainly takes a different approach to the majority of Range Rovers you see. It’s not a surprise that Ian goes round the country taking this inferno buster to shows, given its condition.

‘Because these trucks would carry 200 gallons of water at times, it was quite easy to roll them over,’ he says.

‘Some would have damage down the sides or on the wings, but this one looks like it escaped. It’s been re-carpeted, though, as there were quite a few cigarette burns in the interior.’ Ironic, or just pure gross? Both, probably.

Speaking of smoking, you might get through a few sets of rubber if you keep a Carmichael long enough. ‘The extra axle does drag a little bit. You become very aware of it when reversing or turning a corner – you’d be surprised how much of a difference the geometry makes.’ Well, not smoking, exactly, but that’s an equally effective way of removing material from the tread.

As Ian mentioned, he’s a former fireman himself. And, given his love of vehicles with sentimental meaning, you’d think the Carmichael would be staying with him forever. But no, when we spoke to him he’d just bought another Land Rover fire engine with even more sentiment about it, so the Range Rover was about to find itself a new home.

We talked about how Defenders are often the go-to choice for rescue units.

That won’t ever change, especially with what the Range Rover has become these days. But this Carmichael proves that back then, the Range Rover wasn’t afraid of putting on its uniform, rolling up its sleeves and doing a hard shift for the cause.

Ian would certainly agree – and he has the fitting conclusion for this tale of a posh truck turned hard worker.

‘It’s also a nicer place to be during a disaster.’ Too right.

Above Left: The 3.5-litre V8 engine had to deal with the huge weight posed by the 200 gallon water tank, plus a few burly fire-fighters and their huge amount of kit Above Right: This is the rear locker where Ian keeps some of those hard-to-come-by accessories, including the hydrant standpipe and spare lengths of hose

36 LAND ROVERS AND PARTS FOR SALE w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 15: May 2015

Series I

Rear ally petrol tank, parabolic springs, electric fan, new temp gauge, 4 seats with belts. £5500.

Lancs, 01942 603091 05/15

Series I 88” soft-top (1956).

Solid chassis with full cage. Tax exempt. 2200TC P6 Rover engine conversion. Reconditioned carbs, runs superb and starts first time.

Used daily. ARC logbooked. Series III axles with large brake drums.

Series I hard-top (1958).

Needs a full restoration. New V5 present, chassis plate is present

and correct. This very rare Land Rover will make a very rewarding project. £4500. Halifax, West Yorkshire, 07825 855740 05/15

Series I 80-inch ‘replica’. Based on a shortened Series II chassis with a 2.5 nat-asp Defender engine. Has been used as a farm hack, is not road legal and has no

logbook, but could be used for trialling or to re-chassis a rotten 80. Chassis very solid and has no rot. Tyres have plenty of tread and hold air, but are not legal due to cracks in sidewalls. Electrics might need looking at, but starts every time. Has a leak from the oil filter, and exhaust has started to blow. Has towbar and electrics.

House move forces sale. £POA. York, 07790 617348 05/15

Series II

Ex-MOD Series IIA Ambulance (1972). Camper conversion. MOT July 15 (no advisories). Tax exempt, cheap historical insurance.

Stretcher bays converted into beds/seats, but could easily be returned to original for military shows. New 2.25 petrol engine fitted by MOD prior to disposal; vehicle has only done 4500 miles since then! New tyres, brakes and pipes in last 3 years. New lights, floor panels, wheel cylinders, coil and carburettor. Fairey overdrive.

Chassis in excellent condition (Waxoyled). Window washer system, phone changing points,

GUMTREE 4x4 SpecialiStS in land rover, range rover, diScovery, freelander and all 4x4s servicing, repairs, conversions, rebuilds & chassis replacements. performance and off road modifications. established in 1981, located in mid-sussex

tel: 01444 241457

DVD player and LED inside lights added. Rear roof insulated and carpeted. Comes with a driveaway awning. £3500. Cardiff, 07736 329789 04/15

Land Rover Series IIA (1969).

2.25 petrol. 48,389 miles. Beautiful marine blue Series IIA 88” softtop. In excellent condition, fully serviced recently, newly repaired starter motor and 10 months’ MOT. No need for tax! Essex. £3000 ono. 07966 242402, eccure@gmail.com 01/15

Series IIA 88 (1968). 200Tdi, galvanised chassis. MOT Aug. Strong Discovery engine. Brake servo. Solid bulkhead. Overdrive.

Exmoor Trim full tilt. Parabolic springs and uprated dampers fitted 6 months ago. Range Rover heater. Tailgate modified to open like a door easier for

loading. Electric fan, Range Rover radiator, Glencoyne 4x4 alternator conversion. New props and UJs. Phone charger in dash, high-back cloth seats, Hankook tyres on larger wheels. £5600. Telford, 07446 192319 05/15

Series IIA 88” (1966). Fantastic condition – 20 years in our family.

12 months’ MOT. Professionally rebuilt in 2003 on a galvanised chassis and converted it to a Montego 2.0 TDI engine with Fairey Overdrive. +2” parabolic springs. New bulkhead (2008), hood and more. Serviced, greased and Waxoyled every year. New clutch, stainless exhaust, FWH, gas shocks, Kenlowe fan, LED lights. Updated wiring loom, heater overhauled with new Clayton matrix. Recent props and water pump, new temp gauge, uprated brake servo. This is a beautiful, fully functional series IIA, improved from its original state but not done any serious off-roading. Growing family forces sale. £9995. Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, 07983 820829 05/15

Series III

Ex-military Series III 109 FFR (1984). 2.25 petrol, 24v. Genuine 40,700 miles, with only 6000 in last 7 years. Last serviced Aug 14, MOT Aug 15. Full military history, original military vehicle identification plate, set of military plates. Perfect chassis – no rust or welding been needed.

Front seats all covered, new rear twin seats fitted. Fully FFR and has .50 cal mount ready for use. Canvas in good condition.

5 brand new off-road tyres.

Halogen headlights. All light grilles fitted, plus side holders for fuel, water and oil. Driver and passenger mats and side steps, CD radio, military bumpers with NATO hitches. £5600. Croydon, 07780 680622 04/15

Land Rover Series III 88” (1980). 2.25 petrol. Less than 2000 miles in last six years (backed up by VOSA). MOT end of March 2015. Webber carb. Starts first turn of key, runs superbly.

Clean under bonnet. Bulkhead solid. Brand new driver and passenger doors. New seat belts, nearly new Defender rims and Michelin tyres. Brand new grille.

Headlight bowls painted correct marine blue. FWH. Includes a VGC deluxe centre seat. Currently a truck cab – included in sale will be a 3/4 canvas tilt and sticks, and a full hard top with windows and rear door. Not concours, but a great Series III. £3450. Cannock, 07913 340661 02/15

info@gumtree4x4.co.uk

Ex-MOD Series III 88”. 2.25 petrol. Fully rebuilt, with everything new or fully reconditioned – brakes, seals, body panels, rear tub, all engine parts, manifolds, radiator, pipes, fittings, lights, battery, doors, windows, locks, pedals, everything! Every nut and bolt replaced with stainless steel ones. This vehicle is now ready to last another 40 years! 12 months’ MOT. Stormforce fitted cover.

All new seats in the back with seatbelts, deluxe front seats, full seatbelt bar fitted, fitted rubber mats, electronic distributor.

Military number was 17 GF 34. £8995. Rhyl, Denbighshire, 01745 353476 03/15

Land Rover Series III 109” One-Tonne (1984). 2.25 Petrol, ex-military FFR, refurbished.

45,000 km. MOT June. 2.25 petrol on Solex Zenith carb. CJ Williams Arctic Heater. 24v electrics. Oil temp gauge and oil-cooling radiator. Original heavy-duty chassis and Salisbury rear axle. Can take a full-size spare on bonnet or rear door. Twin fuel tanks. Other military components removed during its restoration – these have been dry-stored and will be available to the buyer if desired.

Custom interior with reclining bucket seats, new inertia reel seat belts and clasps, Mountney 15” steering wheel and tailored soundproofing carpet. Two rows of custom bench seats mounted lengthwise in rear. £8995.

Swansea, 07824 158634 02/15

Series III 109” Fire Engine (1975). 2286cc petrol. Ex Guernsey and Alderney. Registered for road use in 2001. Good starter, drives and brakes well. No MOT or tax (as a fire engine it is exempt).

Fairey winch, some hoses, ladders, suction pipes and various fittings. £3995. Chorley, Lancs, 07714 331685 05/15

Sandringham Six. 6x6 Series III Stage 1 V8. 139” wheelbase. 95% complete with all parts needed to finish. One of only about a dozen known to survive. Rebuilt from the chassis up. Road registered, V5 in my name. Proper wide one-ton wheels, plus six new 7.50 x 16 Extra Grip tyres. Total photo library of every stage of the rebuild. Just needs brake shoes and wheel cylinders (new parts supplied), lights refitting and wiring connected. Original chassis mounting points for normal and flat-bed bodies. £8500, Bridgwater. 07590 487885 02/15

Minerva

Land Rover Minerva TT (1952). Recent overhaul, new paint, new suede gaitors. New

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk battery and alternator, 12v aux. Brakes overhauled, new diff and gearbox oil, seats re-upholstered. 4 new tyres.

Electronic ignition. Bulkhead sound, hood VGC, rust-free for its age! Road tax and MOT exempt. Isolator switch, new fuel pump. £4500. Hull, 07737 320448 05/15

90

Defender 90 Td5 (1999).

Recent service and MOT. 105,000 miles. Former Masai show vehicle, so loads of Masai extras including panoramic sliding side windows and quarter lights, roof rack, Fire and Ice style side steps, large spare wheel carrier, tubular winch bumper and headlight grilles. £7000 spent at Simmonites in Sep 2014, work included fitting Bearmach power chip, Warrior winch, Kenlowe fans, high-flow intercooler, silicone hoses, and loads more. £9995. Windermere, 07968 822854 05/15

Defender 90 300Tdi (1986) MOT May, 158,000 miles.

Professionally rebuilt using quality parts. Fully rebuilt 300Tdi including Allisport variable vane turbo, uprated intercooler and alternator and Janspeed stainless exhaust system. Ashcroft R380 gearbox, new flywheel and Sachs clutch. Disco transfer box, new wide-angle props, new halfshafts. Bearmach +2” lift with Pro-Comp shocks and galvanised front towers, Terrafirma steering damper, reversible rear dislocation cones. New steering box and pipework, double cranked rear suspension arms, fully rebuilt hubs. Front castor correction arms, Superpro polybushes, extended bump stops. New drilled/grooved brake discs and Mintex pads, new rear calipers, Goodridge braided hoses. 2010 Tdci doors and hinges. NAS-spec lights. KBX front grill. New crystal clear headlights. Winch bumper with 10-ton Goodwinch inc remote and Plasma rope. Rock sliders. Sump, diff, steering and tank guards. Mantec snorkel and breather kit. RDX steering wheel, TD5 seats and cubby, Raptor dash and pod, Mud-UK roof console, radio and CB, digital split-charge running two HD batteries.

285/75R16 Cooper Discoverer STTs on Mach 5 wheels. Sigma Cat 1 alarm with certificate of installation. Resprayed in solid Tamar blue, as used on 2008 Defenders. Chassis, crossmember and bulkhead are all sound and never welded. The chassis and crossmember were Waxoyled

Issue 15: May 2015

approx 3 yrs ago. Engine, diesel pump, turbo and injectors have only done 1500 miles. £10,750.

Somerset, 07713 880368 05/15

Defender 90 off-roader. MOT Dec. Converted from a 110 in 1993. Discovery 200Tdi engine, just had full cam belt kit including tensioner, water pump and radiator, and good second-hand turbo fitted. Good chassis, bulkhead looks mint. External cage mounted to body. Tubular front end. LED headlights, sidelights, indicators and tail lights. Raptor dash, Puma bonnet, cubby box, Scooby seats (3 seats in back as removed 4th for tools etc). 285/75R16 Insa Turbo Special Tracks. 30mm wheel spacers. New +2” lift springs 3 months ago. Shock relocation kit with 11” travel shocks and dislocation cones all round. Twin snorkels (one for heater, which needs finishing). Diff guards, steering guards, bush cables, rock sliders, brand new tank guard.

Winch bumper (no winch). Swing away wheel carrier. Tow bar with electrics. Spare A-frame ball joint supplied as it will need one soon. £POA. Doncaster, 07429 145045 04/15

Land Rover Defender 90 300Tdi (1995). New rear crossmember. Stainless toolboxes in tub. P&P rear hoop, Britpart snorkel and wading kit, LED lights and 4 Hella spots on Terrafirma roof bar. Superwinch Tigershark on First Four front bumper with synthetic rope. T-Max dual battery system. First Four tree sliders, 2” Terrafirma lift, Qt diff and tank guards, HD steering arms, cranked radius arms and wide-angle props. Mach 5 alloys with BFG tyres. Defender X-Lock.

Four wheel bearings and a caliper recently fitted. Solid chassis. £8000. Yelverton, Devon, 07584 411698 03/15

Defender 90 SW (1989). 82,000 miles. MOT October. 300Tdi engine. Full cage, diff and side protection, snorkel, front winch bumper (no winch), hands-free stereo, fully lined interior, 6 seats (Exmoor Trim). New fuel tank, brake servo, pads and discs, steering box, recon 5-speed box, pistons and rings, bearings and head skim in last 12 months.

New project forces reluctant sale. £5950. Basingstoke, Hants, 07908 124557 05/15

Advertising your Landy for sale is FREE for private sellers.

Just call Gemma Pask on 01283 553242

37

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w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 15: May 2015

STOCKIST DIRECTORY

South-East England

Importers, Exporters, Wholesale Distributors & Retailers of Winches & Accessories

TDS Goldfish Winches - The Best!

East Foldhay, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6DH Tel: 01363 82666 • Fax: 01363 82782 • www.goodwinch.com • sales@goodwinch.com

East Midlands

Gumtree 4x4 “Independent Specialists in Land Rover, Range Rover, Discovery and Freelander.”

West Midlands

South Wales

Foundry 4x4 Ltd

Cast Iron Quality & Service The Old Bakery, Rear of Vale Terrace, Tredegar, Gwent, NP22 4HT

www.foundry4x4.co.uk

Defender 90 truck-cab (1984).

133,999 miles. MOT September.

2.8 Daihatsu engine. Snorkel.

285/75R16 Fedima Siroccos. +2” springs and shocks. Heavy-duty steering arms. Chequer plate wing tops. Range Rover grille.

New push-button doors. CD player. Honda CRX seats. Side-exit exhaust. May swap. £3400.

Newark, 07961 009001 05/15

info@foundry4x4.co.uk • 01495 725544

North West England

North East England

Defender 90 300 Tdi. Emigration forces sale. Excellent condition. New turbo, perfect chassis and immaculate bodywork. Six seats. Just serviced ready for sale with four new tyres. Starts first turn and drives very well. In the past restoration it has had a new 300Tdi bulkhead, TD5 front panel and new rear crossmember. £4995 ovno. Southam, Warks, 07719 069686 03/15

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

www.gumtree4x4.co.uk

Defender 90 County 200Tdi (1992). X-Tech replica. Galvanised chassis. Meticulously upgraded.

Engine runs very nicely through the free flow exhaust. No oil leaks or nasty clunking. Clutch is good and steering is accurate (by Defender standards!) 12 months’ MOT. £6250. Bewdley, Worcs, 07889 928421 03/15

admin@gumtree4x4.co.uk • 01444 241457

www.island-4x4.co.uk Online Land Rover Part Specialists Offering Worldwide Mail Order

* Free Mainland UK Delivery Over £50 * * Delivery France, Germany and Belgium £10 unlimited weight and parcels *

sales@island-4x4.co.uk Defender 90 300Tdi (1989).

MOT June. Rebuilt on Marsland galvanised chassis in 2014, using +2” suspension. Starts first time and runs very well. Full-width intercooler. Snorkel. Aggressive off-road tyres with good tread including spare. Midland CB. Dixon Bate drop plate with 3.5-tonne towball (only pulled light trailers). All offers considered. £4750.

Rushden, Northants, 07747 889327 05/15

South-West England

North East Scotland Defender 90 300Tdi. 168,000 miles. Front and rear ARBs, upgraded steering arms, underbody protection, Allisport intercooler, heavy-duty clutch just fitted, chassis and bulkhead in mint condition. £5500, Liverpool.

07956 361888 05/15

Defender 90 300Tdi (1985).

Full 12 months’ MOT. Excellent condition. Rust-free chassis. Full external cage and challenge-style tube front wings. Rock and tree sliders. 12,500lb front winch with remote, Plasma rope and air freespool, 9500lb rear winch with remote. 265/75R16 Insa Turbos on beadlocked rims.

Quick-release steering wheel, Raptor dash, ARB compressor with tyre inflator. Rebuilt LT77 box and Discovery transfer. +2” Terrafirma suspension with front and rear shock turrets and dislocation cones, wide-angle props and heavy-duty halfshafts.

Diff guards. XT disc handbrake. Qt 3-degree cranked arms front and back. Snorkel and diff breathers.

Side-exit exhaust. Heavy-duty steering arms. New timing belt, alternator, starter motor and heavy-duty battery just fitted. £4650. Doncaster, 01709 863555 or 07930 876533 05/15

Defender 90 (1986). 300Tdi. 12 months’ MOT, 95,500 miles.

300Tdi and R380 from a Disco fitted professionally at 76,000 miles in 2009. Solid chassis.

Disc brake rear axle conversion.

Momo steering wheel, high-back half-leather XS seats. Performance air filter. Replacement rear crossmember, fuel tank, front brake calipers, rear brake lines, steering damper and tow electrics, also clutch master cylinder, newer-type clutch pedal assembly, brake servo pump, fan belt tensioner and water pump housing. Includes a new bulkhead (the one on the vehicle has some rust). Very low mileage for the year. £4750. Sturry, Kent, 07843 228220 05/15

110

Ex-Army 110 FFR (1987). 2.5 nat-asp diesel, 5-speed manual gearbox (no PAS). MOT Aug. Only released from the Army in August last year, and its condition reflects this. It’s still fitted with all its Clansman radio equipment, Dexion racks, TUAAM boxes, antennae and bases, ARFAT, radio battery box/table with set trays, DCCU, headsets, batteries for clip in and pressel boxes. It also has a snorkel breather adaption and has had Wolf wheels fitted. The SA80 rifle racks are still there and there are bull bars which haven’t yet been fitted but will be part of the sale too. Overall condition very good – chassis and engine

To advertise in The Landy, call Ian Argent on 01283 553242 w w w. t h e l a n d y. c o . u k

Issue 15: May 2015

We’re on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelandyuk are excellent. Hard top has been insulated. The vehicle is nearly 30 years old and has done approximately 100,000 miles. May swap/ part-ex for a Disco auto diesel or similar with PAS. £3999. Bolton, 07928 191564 05/15

Defender 110 (1986). 2.0 Mpi engine on LPG. Galvanised chassis, FSH, 101,000 genuine miles.

3-door with rear bench seats and storage cupboards, decked out in wood and fitted with power sockets. 5 recent Bridgestone all-terrain tyres and new wheels. Disco axles with renewed disc brakes.

Later TD5-style seats and centre console with CD changer. 2.0 Mpi engine with LPG in rear 100-litre tank. Immaculate outside with no marks or rust. Recently replaced timing belt, shocks, brake pipes, radiator, alternator, slave cylinder, full exhaust system. All old MOTs etc. May part-ex. £4200. Sutton Coldfield, 07790 901977 05/15

Land Rover Defender 110 Td5 (W-reg). VGC. Full MOT, 120,000 miles, bodywork very good. PTO Superwinch, heavy-duty Snatch chassis, uprated diffs, lift kit and heavy-duty suspension, Safari Snorkel, LED spot lights, side lockers, rock sliders, ZU wheels, sump guard, light guard, high lift jack, CD player, CB, 3 front seats. £6300. Bewdley, Worcs, 07889 928421 03/15

Land Rover 110 County (1984). 145,000 miles. Manual, 3.5 V8 with LPG. MOT December.

7 seats. Good working order, tidy, needs loving £2200 ono. Hastings, 07703 727730 05/15

strengthened steering bar, rock sliders, 285x16 Marix Lion tyres, snorkel, diff guards, internal batteries (2), spare wheel and fuel tank. Carries waffle boards, strops, shackles, snatch block, fire extinguisher and first aid kit, all of which will be included.

Everything required for the MOT works as it should. This is a readyto-use off-road package. £1845.

Newquay, Cornwall. 01637 877367, 07974 747442 05/15

Range Rover Classic Vogue SE (1992). 3.9 V8 auto. MOT Nov. 163,000 miles, engine rebuilt 20,000 ago. Full leather interior, heated windscreen etc. Ex mountain rescue, very solid underneath and drives lovely. Could do with been resprayed on the bonnet and roof. Reluctantly selling due to buying a house. £2850.

Taunton, 07703 827969 05/15

Range Rover 4.2 LSE. 1 owner from 1993-2013. Air suspension just removed and replaced with 4 new shocks and springs at astronomical cost. Paintwork and interior excellent, usual saggy headlining but not too bad. Totally original underneath.

Realistically priced. £3750.

Anglesey, North Wales, 07971 466841 03/15

Range Rover Vogue 3.9 EFi Auto (1990/H). V5 shows Demo + 1 owner from new. 81,000 miles with FSH and old MOTs. Electric windows, electric mirrors, remote central locking, air-con, original stereo and Vogue alloys, front fogs. Recent headlining, tune-up exhaust and new alternator. £9950. Brighton, 07795 023663 or 01273 323244 03/15

Discovery

Standard equipment includes climate, cruise, steering wheel controls, electric front seats and Harmon Kardon stereo. Sunroofs have been sealed shut. £3000.

Bromsgrove, Worcs, 07889 855699 05/15

Discovery 300 Tdi. Off-road ready. 8 months’ MOT. Insa Turbos, winch and bumper, spot lamps, 2” lift kit, CB radio, snorkel. No back seats. Recently serviced with new pads, discs and wheel bearings all round. Plenty of spares included – clutch, stub axles, calipers, driveshafts etc. This is an off-road vehicle, not a show truck. £1200.

Derby, 07970 975987 05/15

Discovery V8i GS Auto (1999).

Off-road prepped. 136,700 miles, MOT September. Good condition for year, with no rot. Clean and tidy – used every day. Slight wear to driver’s seat. +2” lift, winch bumper, rock sliders, Terrafirma straight-through middle silencer (sounds lovely). Off-road tyres, LED spotlights. New truck forces sale. £2000. Bodmin, Cornwall. 07771 587819 05/15

Discovery 300 Tdi (1994) bobtail. No MOT, currently on SORN (could be put back on the road, but I have no idea what it would need). Virtually new 285/75R16 Kumho Road Venture MTs on modular wheels, Terrafirma springs and shocks, competition fuel tank in boot, wheelarch extensions, snorkel and roof-mounted light bar. £1600.

Harbrough, Lincs, 01469 577170 or 07936 377314 04/15

Kardon hi-fi, hill descent control, diff-lock and auto gearbox with sport mode. Excellent condition, chassis never welded. No work needed for last 4 MOTs. New parts include radiator, battery, recon steering box, all steering rods and dampers, brakes, fluids, exhaust manifold skimmed and uprated Wurth studs and nuts installed.

Bodywork generally very good – a few small dings and scratches, but it gets machine polished and quality products used on it.

Genuine reason for sale, in that it does less than 3000 miles a year and we don’t get enough time to enjoy it. £3850. Swindon, mark@troll.org.uk 04/15

Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi trayback. L-reg. 3” body lift and 4” suspension lift. KAM rear LSD + electric diff locker, drop-in electric locker at front, +5” shocks all-round, Gwyn Lewis wide-angle rear prop, double cardon front prop. £6500, Shepperton/ Farnham. 07957 658847 04/15

Land Rover Discovery 200Tdi bobtail (1991). 185,000 miles.

Manual. 10 mths’ MOT. 24-spline diffs, five Insa Turbo Special Tracks, +3” Pro-Comp springs, +5” Pro-Comp shocks. 2” front shock droppers, -2” rear droppers with relocators. Full tubular front end. Full-width Sierra Cosworth radiator and Transit intercooler.

Fuel pump professionally tuned.

Breather kit, snorkel, Polybushed, 3” body lift, extended brake lines, side-exit exhaust, tank and battery relocated behind seats.

Very solid. It is what it is – it needs a few bits. Sold as seen. £2000. Tibshelf, Derbyshire.

Contact via tor@assignmentmedia.co.uk (message will be forwarded) 03/15

Range Rover

Range Rover 200Tdi bobtail (1989). Road-legal, 136,000 miles, MOT April 2015. Starts and drives well, good steering, engine (replacement 200Tdi from a Discovery) and gearbox (also Discovery, with diff lock).

Bobtailed and shortened back almost to the front wheels. Mods include +2” suspension, 13,000lb and 12,000lb front/rear winches with remote and synthetic rope,

Land Rover Discovery 2 TD5 ES (1999). 166,000 miles.

MOT Aug. Td5 Alive tuning box, EGR valve blanking kit, larger alloy intercooler, Samco boost hoses, de-cat exhaust. Devon 4x4 heavy-duty bumpers, Warn Powerplant winch, Devon 4x4 steering guard, Safari Snorkel, heavy-duty galvanised fuel tank guard, xenon headlights, 6x light bar (requires wiring), Aeroquip brake hoses, Polybushed trailing arms, uprated shocks, 265/75R16 mud-terrains with lots of tread.

Land Rover Discovery 2 TD5 ES (1999). 7-seater. 147,000 miles.

MOT November. Java Black with dark grey leather. Remapped

by Alive Tuning. Winch bumper, snorkel, rock sliders, +2” suspension, 265/75R16 all-terrains, performance air filter, diff and steering guards, DRL lights, EGR removed, CB, parking sensors, LED interior lights, adjustable towbar.

Standard ES spec includes heated electric leather seats, dual-zone climate, twin electric sunroofs, heated screens, cruise, Harmon

Discovery 200Tdi auto bobtail.

Built several years ago and used as a daily drive as well off-road toy, with dickie seats in the back.

Tubular bumpers. Aluminium tank with integral guard, using original filler. Rock sliders on box sills. Sealed wheelarches – no dirt traps! 4-point play cage. Ally rear floor. Range rover tailgate.

Td5 headlights. Currently on SORN and has no MOT. Still a presentable vehicle, but it has been used and the paint has gone dull. £POA. Tetbury, 07970 079727 05/15

Specials

Foers Ibex 6x6 pick-up. 1992 (K-reg), first registered in UK 2002. 87,500 miles. MOT May. One owner from new (Environment Agency). 4.6-litre V8 petrol/ LPG, very cheap to run. Automatic gearbox, PAS, built-in winch.

Electric sunroof, CD player, cruise control, rear Air-Locker, compressor, dual-battery controller, immobiliser, tow bar. Pick-up bed has 12-foot alloy dropside body.

Drives and goes very well. All in very good condition and must be seen. £11,500, Chippenham, Wilts. 07980 278833

88” ALRC Tomcat racer. Highly competitive, for sale due to lack of time and other commitments.

Built and raced by both Tim Dilworth and Dave Hughes, with many wins. 4.6 V8 (approx 300bhp) located in the centre of the vehicle. Jag 3-speed auto box, rebuilt with all necessary internals including rachet shift. Pete Roberts transfer box, heavy duty axles, big vented brakes, camber and castor correction on front axle, radius arms and panhard rod to rear. 12” King bypass 7/8” rod shocks with remote reservoir to front and 14” King bypass 7/8” rod shocks with remote reservoir to rear. Quick-ratio TD5 steering box, Peugeot brake servo and master cylinder, competition springs and mounts, heavy-duty props.

Big rear-mounted radiator with twin fans. New foam-filled alloy tank, Tomcat bonnet and seats.

Professionally wired and relayed.

Car comes with ALRC logbook.

Offered for sale at a fraction of the build cost. Willing to consider any sensible offer. The 4.6 engine and gearbox could be removed if not required by purchaser. I can also supply a 4.2 and 4-speed auto box at cost if required. £6995. North Wales, 07926 869158 05/15

Freelander monster truck pick-up on Discovery 300Tdi (1996). Approx 190,000 miles (est). MOT April 2015. Solid chassis and body, engine and running gear all fine and everything works. Electric windows and mirrors, PAS, bull bar, spotlights, CD stereo, towbar, sunroof, sump guard. NB windscreen is badly cracked. This is a one-off custom vehicle. £1995. Spalding, Lincs, 07447 441990 05/15

Parts

Land Rover / Range Rover steel wheels. 15 x 8 modulars, bought new and adapted to outer beadlock mount. Little used and in good condition. Supplied with stainless cap head bolts and nylock nuts. All rims are straight, with no buckling, and all stud holes are in good condition. In order to make a set of wheels like these you’d need to aquire a set of modulars (£180 new or £100 second-hand), buy the 8 rings (£200) then have them stitch welded on (£100), buy 80 stainless steel cap heads and nuts (£50) and then drill out the valve holes for heavy-duty inner tubes. Why bother when they’re here for half the price and no effort! Postage not included in the price, but I can crate them up for your courier. £250. Bridgwater, Somerset, 07980 929146 05/15

bought it, a steering box and other bits. Will make a great truck for trials, comp safari or just for fun.

I also have some genuine Tomcat panels and doors available separately, and could organise a deal on the lot if wanted. £700.

Montgomery, Powys.

Genuine Land Rover bonnet windscreen fastener. To fit Series I and military Series vehicles.

Part number MRC5314. Includes the catches and the parts to go on the bonnet. Remanufactured. £70. Contact care of tor@ assignment-media.co.uk (message will be forwarded)

Unimog axles. One complete, one part-stripped in prep for discbrake conversion. £1000, offers invited. 07968 960619

Defender 90 bonnet in metallic green. Taken from a 96-plate model. Replaced after a small bump so some light damage – fits reasonably well but has a dent or two. Perfect in every other way. Would be good enough if repaired, or would be ideal for an off roader. Small dent to leading edge in the middle and slight kink on driver’s side about 6” up. Did close perfectly before removal, to the point where it held down but wouldn’t quite catch. £85. Newton Abbot, Devon.

Contact care of tor@assignment-media.co.uk (message will be forwarded) 04/15

Defender 90 interior. Removed from a 2013 model. Includes seats, trim, door cards, centre console, seat belts, safety frame, speakers, rear trim set, seat belt mount and carpet set. £2250.

Chepstow, Monmouthshire, 01291 624584 03/15

88-inch Land Rover competition frame. Professionally built Tomcat copy. Made from a shortened TD5 Discovery chassis, so can run TD5 radius arms.

Comes with a 5-speed gearbox and transfer box that I got when I

Matching set of 5 secondhand tyres. 235/85R16C. Standard road-going pattern, reasonably chunky but nice and quiet. Removed it when I fitted off-road tyres. As new. £275.

Chichester, 01243 788811 Quaife 6-speed 4wd gearbox.

To fit Range Rover, Land Rover or Discovery, or any 4wd vehicle.

I believe it was one of a batch Quaife did for a customer building off-road Land Rovers for the Middle East. Perfect condition inside but has had repairs done to the case. Professionally welded and re-machined. Dog-leg 1st and 6th. Split 50/50 front/rear with Quaife centre diff. All dogs in perfect condition, all parts have Quaife numbers so spares should be no problem. No bell-housing or gear lever, but should be easy to replace (I believe the lever is the same as their standard 6-speed gearbox). Spline shaft on the side for the centre diff lock. £3000. Towcester, robriding@ msn.com

39 Warn 8274-50 12v winch.

Has been used but comes with a new fairlead, new live and earth connections and second-hand wired remote (with missing plug). £750. Barnstaple.

Contact care of tor@assignment-media.co.uk (message will be forwarded)

Nissan Patrol Y60 axles. One Pair, 3.9:1 ratio, with vacuum rear locker. These axles will easily take 38”-plus tyres and plenty of abuse. Ideal for conversion on to Land Rover. Axes removed from a vehicle only recently taken off the road. All internals fine, may need brake parts or bearings but nothing serious. Can deliver to most of UK for around £100-120. £600 for the pair. Forres, Moray. 07780 980373 Haynes Land Rover buying and selling manual. Hardback, 176 pages, covers all LR models.

Great read, unmarked pages, as new. £5, 07989 951895

Maxxis Creepy Crawler tyres.

Set of four 35x12.50R16s on 16x10j Land Rover modulars.

No punctures or gashes. £500.

Derby, 07817 886950

Wanted Discovery M-reg bits for off-roading. Tyres, winch, winch bumper etc wanted. Guildford area. Contact via tor@assignment-media.co.uk

Advertising your Landy is FREE for private sellers. Just call Gemma Pask on 01283 553242

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Cheshire LRC’s snowy welcome in Wales

Words Steve Jervis Pictures Andy Boyle Last Christmas has long since become a dim and distant memory. But at the Cheshire Land Rover Club, we’re still relishing the fun we had on the last Sunday of 2014 – when, just in time for their Green Lane Day Christmas Special, Santa brought… snow!

North Wales was dusted with what looked like a sprinkling of Tate and Lyle’s finest icing sugar as the day dawned. And the real icing on the cake came from the variety of decorations applied to the seven Land Rovers that ventured out for the day.

Members were encouraged to spruce up their trucks in a festive manner – while paying a small ‘entry fee’ whose proceeds went towards Macmillan Cancer Support.

The group formed up at the Rhug Café in Corwen – where, after a brief

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coffee and bacon butty break, the award for the best-dressed truck, and best-dressed individuals, went to Andy and Karen Boyle.

The convoy of two Discoverys, a couple of 110s and three 90s headed for Bala and Dolgellau on what was a beautiful, crisp winter morning. After the Boxing Day sprinkling that hit Wales and the Midlands, temperatures were still very much on the frosty side.

As usual, there was plenty of banter lashing about on the CBs. Come a-cropper at your peril…

Not that there were any major mishaps along the way for the guys on the airwaves to get stuck into. Fraser did manage to get his truck broadside at one point, over-correcting after his nearside front wheel dropped off the edge of the road, but Ray managed to stop before T-boning him so all’s well that ends well!

Our route took us west to Bala and beyond to Coed y Brenin Forest, home of some beautiful lanes, before we headed back along the Tanat Valley and finished the day on the English border at Llanymynech. As a club, we attempt to get out on to our local lanes at least once a month – and with some of the landscape we were treated to after Christmas, you can see why we keep coming back!

Our Christmas run was another great day out, with everyone enjoying themselves – a fine finish to 2014 for the Cheshire LRC, and a little more money raised for our chosen charity.

Here’s to more of the same as winter turns into summer!

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Dorset LRC clears the way Andy Wilson Members of The Dorset Land Rover Club are doing something positive and proactive to help keep some of their county’s beautiful byways open.

As part of the club’s Responsible Rural Recreation policy, Rights of Way Officer Jim Welch has had a series of meetings with members of the Highways Department at Dorset County Council.

These ‘summits’ have aimed to investigate how the Dorset Land Rover Club can be involved in helping to preserve and maintain the county’s byways and unclassified country roads.

Having sorted out an inevitable stumbling block with regard to insurance, DCC Highways gave the club the go-ahead to start work – even lending it warning signs to erect when members are at work on the lanes.

The first clearance day began with a rendezvous at Corfe Castle, before the work crew, equipped with saws, loppers and secateurs, drove up over Rollington Hill to West Hill to start

clearing the masses of encroaching vegetation that was all but blocking Ridgeway Hill at Cocknowle.

By the end of a very hard day, DLRC members had cleared a stretch of just over 400 yards of the trackway. And they were very pleased when every person using the lane on that Saturday said how nice it was to see them helping to keep the lanes clear. People also commented on the fact that no lane clearing or maintenance had been done for years!

Club Rights of Way Officer Jim Welch said afterwards: ‘If we want to keep using these byways, we owe it to other users – whether on cycles or horseback, in vehicles or on foot – to do what we can to help to maintain this vital part of our county’s heritage.

‘We’ll be organising more clearance days, and we hope that by so doing we can demonstrate that the Dorset Land Rover Club’s mantra of “Responsible Rural Recreation” has real meaning and value.’

SASLRC prepare for the new season Last year was a busy one for the Staffordshire and Shropshire Land Rover Club. And 2015 is going to be every bit as action-packed too, as the club and its members look forward to another series of top-quality trials, comps and more.

The season kicks off with the ever popular May Day Interclub, held annually at Baden Hall near Eccleshall. This is always a great family weekend, with loads of games for the younger kids and, as well as the RTV, CCV and safari, a Tyro open to novices and younger drivers aged from 13-up.

All the events are run under an ALRC permit, allowing any Rover club member to take part, and the safari is open – drivers are welcome from any MSA affiliated club.

The May Day Comp Safari is also the first round of the 2015 Comp Safari Interclub Championship, for which Staffs and Shrops LRC joins forces with North Wales Land Rover Club and the All Wheel Drive Club to put on a series of six events forming a championship.

Other events throughout the year include the annual Martin Gallis Memorial Comp Safari and the Medlicott CCV, which is run together with the club’s annual bus trip to the Bishops Castle Beer Festival (fancy dress encouraged!) Then there’s the annual Majors Memorial Trial at Eastnor, and not forgetting the Family Games Weekend, this year held at Norbury, where club members put their sack racing, egg tossing and welly wanging skills to the test!

In addition, this year the SSLRC will be setting out and running the Comp Safari at the 2015 ALRC National Rally at Eastnor. Yet another feather in the cap of what is one of the most active and successful Land Rover Clubs anywhere – to view the full calendar, join up or just find out more, stalk them on Facebook or visit www.saslrc.co.uk.

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Calendar

Off-Road Playdays Muddy Bottom

Minstead, Hampshire

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks

Parkwood 4x4 Tong, Bradford

25 April Devil’s Pit

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire Dates are apt to change, so always check with the site before travelling

28 March

6 April

Kirton Off Road Centre

Thames Valley 4x4

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Kirton Off Road Centre

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

26 April

Hogmoor, Bordon

Cowm Leisure

29 March

12 April

Devil’s Pit

Cowm Leisure

4x4 Without a Club

Whitworth, Lancashire

Future 4x4

Avon Dassett, Warwickshire

Kirton Off Road Centre

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

5 April Avalanche Adventure

Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire

Bala 4x4

Bala, Gwynedd

Dundry Off-Road Dundry, Bristol

Frickley 4x4

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Muddy Bottom

Minstead, Hampshire

Harbour Hill, Aldermaston

Boxgrove

Chichester, West Sussex

Essex, Rochford and District 4x4 Club Rayleigh, Essex

Whaddon 4x4

Milton Keynes, Bucks

Kirton Lindsey, North Lincs

Slindon Safari

Fontwell, West Sussex

Whaddon 4x4

Milton Keynes, Bucks

3 May Avalanche Adventure

Avalanche Adventure

Bala, Gwynedd

Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire

Explore Off Road

Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent

Frickley 4x4

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Picadilly Wood

Hill ‘n’ Ditch 4x4

Thames Valley 4x4

Mud Monsters

Hogmoor, Bordon

Kirton Off Road Centre

Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire

Future 4x4

Bolney, West Sussex

Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire

19 April

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks

Whitworth, Lancashire

Avon Dassett, Warwickshire Mouldsworth, Cheshire East Grinstead, West Sussex

Green Lane Convoy Events

Bala 4x4

Dundry Off-Road Dundry, Bristol

Frickley 4x4

Frickley, South Yorkshire

Muddy Bottom

Minstead, Hampshire

North Yorks Off Road Centre Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks

Picadilly Wood

Bolney, West Sussex

Thames Valley 4x4

Slab Common, Bordon

29 March

11 April

25 April

UK Landrover Events

UK Landrover Events

Lost World Adventures

Durham Dales

3-6 April

4x4 Treks Galloway

Lake District

12 April

Galloway (Laggan Challenge)

Landcraft

UK Landrover Events

19 April

4 April

Yorkshire Dales

5 April

UK Landrover Events North York Moors

Snowdonia

Landcraft

Berkshire

25-26 April 4x4 Adventure Tours

Dorset and East Devon

Atlas Overland Wessex

Waypoint Tours Wiltshire

Snowdonia (Adventure Plus Day)

26 April

UK Landrover Events

UK Landrover Events

Peak District

Lincoln and Belvoir

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Spring is in the air at Sudbury

Words Sue Coulson Pictures Ralph Coulson

The first day of March was a glorious, sunny, Sunday. Perfect for a day of springtime trialling!

Our journey to the Sudbury site, through the country lanes of North Essex, was almost like a laning trip in itself, and a rather splendid way to start the day.

Sudbury is quite wooded and set around a central deep bowl. This allows for some interesting climbs, and a wetter, muddier section at the far side of the site gives you plenty of chance to get stuck.

The first section twisted through the woods then dropped in and out of a gully before finishing with a short, steep climb to the finish. Sounds simple, but you needed to be paying attention – as one of the CCV drivers found out when he completely missed out gate 10!

The next section was a perfect demonstration of why off-roading is an ever-changing challenge - a mud run which had been testing the day before during set-out, but with the sunshine and wind, it had dried considerably and become much easier. The final two gates still caught out most, though, with only a couple getting clears.

The next sections were equally challenging, combining things like tricky tree roots to hop over and loose, sandy soil that sapped your power – interesting on the steep climbs.

With five sections before lunch and another four in the afternoon, the day was long with everyone taking full advantage of the southern sun. At the end, Alex Howard (7pts) was 1st overall in the RTV, with Mark Neale (16) winning the leafers class. In CCV, it was all about Jim Bushell – who didn’t score a single point all day.

That’s what you call setting the bar high as the season gets underway!

Don’t Just Settle For An Egg This Easter!

This year’s Easter weekend will be some holiday if the Essex Land Rover Club is anything to go by. In its 14th Easter Interclub weekend, the club will stage several trial events – Tyro, RTV and CCV – at the Essex Gateway site in Thurrock (near Lakeside Shopping Centre and adjacent to Arena Essex). There will also be a Comp Safari, staged by the Southern Counties Off-Road Club.

The weekend aims to provide tons of fun to those who attend. It’s open to all clubs in the East Anglia region, both ALRC and non-ALRC, and promises something for everyone – including the kids, with a Bike Trial and Easter Egg Hunt to keep them entertained.

There’ll also be a raffle taking place, with various Land Rover prizes to win and the proceeds going to Essex Air Ambulance.

Camping is available, but there are limited toilets. However, details of the local amenities will be provided in the welcome pack on site. Marshals are still required to help make sure the event runs as smoothly as possible – get in touch with the club if you’re interested by visiting www.elrc.info.

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Punch-up in the valleys The Severn Valley Challenge was created after two clubs the Ystradgynlais Overland Club and Mud And Dirt 4x4 decided to join forces.

After MAD members attended a playday, followed by YOC’s Wild Valley Challenge (which is now part of the new series), the idea (after a few beers) of running a punch hunt challenge within the Severn Valley formed. This escalated over some weeks and we eventually booked a date at Baskerville Hall back in November.

Neither club is unfamiliar with punch hunts, and challenge teams set out a number of punches to accommodate both the most modified machines and experienced drivers, to the more casual green laner, with two categories open – the Challenge class and Novice class.

Thirty trucks competed in the hunt, with talks over the campfire taking place later in the night with people saying how great and fun the event had been, and that challenging should be a regular spot on the calendar. So without further ado, we now have the Severn Valley Challenge!

We have a few sponsors onboard at present, but are seeking further interest before the series kicks off in April.

There will be cash prizes and trophies for the winners, along with sponsor items – so it will surely be a sweet victory for one lucky person.

The series will comprise of six separate dates. Four of these are oneday events, with the other two being set over a weekend. One-day events will be a good old fashioned punch hunt, while the two-day affair may include night sections, a prologue and special stages.

The events will be run under MSA regulations, meaning a Clubman’s Non-Race licence is required. This only costs £27, so these will be affordable events for everyone.

Entry fees for the single day events will be no more than £55, while the two-day events will be around £150.

Catering as well as the relevant amenities will be provided for all sites, and camping is available at most locations (ask the organisers in advance). For more information on the events, entry forms or a breakdown of the rules and regulations for the series, please visit www.yoc4x4events. com or mad4x4.org.

The series is still looking for marshals and people to help out with the organising of the event, so if you’re interested, ring Geraint Williams on 07805 143618.

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Viking 4x4 announces Odyssey as Challenge sponsor for 2015

The Viking 4x4 Club has announced a season-long deal with Odyssey Batteries to sponsor its 2015 winch challenge Series. The agreement, reached with EnerSys, the company’s UK importer, will see Odyssey becoming the primary sponsor for all teams competing in the six events of the championship.

Odyssey’s arrival on the scene follows LRS Off-Road’s decision in autumn 2014 to withdraw after six years as sponsor, during which time the Viking series has come from nowhere to become possibly the most respected one-day challenge championship in the country.

Maintaining the traditions that have seen it become such a success, the format for each event will remain the same as it has from the start: 50 punches, set out over challenging terrain, at venues across the Central region of England from Kettering to the East and Leek to the West.

Odyssey, whose batteries are used in many of the world’s leading competition vehicles, is keen to promote the grassroots side of the off-road scene. That’s exactly where the Viking 4x4 Club pitches this series – even though some of Britain’s top teams have come from here and in some cases continue to compete.

‘It is easy to associate the Odyssey Battery brand with the leading drivers and teams that compete in Ultra4, extreme 4x4 and winch challenge events across Europe,’ says EnerSys’ Chris Pretty. ‘EnerSys also recognises that it is important to support those people at the other end of the scale who give up their time to safeguard the Winch Challenge Series as an established fixture in the calendar.

We believe that by supporting the Viking 4x4 Club and encouraging new members, it will guarantee the ongoing success of this series.’

Viking events are well known for their friendly rivalry, and for the

encouragement offered to newcomers to the challenge scene. For the first few years, the series ran three classes based on the number of winches and lockers on the vehicles taking part, however 2014 saw the introduction of an Entry Level class for trucks with an MOT and a single low-line winch (that is, not 8274-type). The idea was to open up the event so that the average ‘green laner’ could also take part.

The entry fee for this class was also offered at a reduced rate of just £35 per event (£15 cheaper than the other classes). There are a couple of rules such as an MSA comp license, which is relatively low cost and readily

Clubs

accessible, and wire ropes are not allowed, but the aim is simply to get as many people involved as possible.

So, if you’ve always wanted to give it a try but haven’t ever got round to it, or find the standard of competition at top level events intimidating, this should be the perfect place to start.

Viking’s championship has always been an excellent one – and now, with Odyssey on board as sponsor, it’s going to be better than ever!

You can check out the Viking 4x4 Club website for further information.

To register for the series, or to find out more from the man behind it, contact Pip Evans on pipevans@hotmail.com.

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Isombridge hosts Shrops curtain-raiser

On 21 February, the Shropshire Off Road Club descended upon the rural settlement of Isombridge for its first competition of the year, with 15 valiant entrants taking to the thawing countryside ready to begin one of their many trials.

This site is used twice a year and has a brilliant mix of terrain, making it very easy to generate a variety of sections. Being on the border between England and Wales means the club can afford to dip their hands into the treasure chest that each country has to offer, in order to find suitable sites to do battle on… Fortunately, they haven’t started jousting with each other just yet!

Having said that, SORC thrives on its competitive events and links up with other clubs – such as the Muddy Millers and Staffs and Shrops LRC – throughout the year to further satisfy its thirst for victory.

And after waiting through the long winter, a CCV trial was just what the doctor ordered. Though several vehicles needed the attention of a doctor themselves by the end of the day – of the 15 that lined up at the start of the first section, only 10 made it to the end.

Mathew Bennett, identifiable in his green Land Rover with the stylish enhancement of silver gaffer tape on wings (pictured above), took the honours for the CCV. Dan Ryan finished joint 1st in the super modified class, alongside Simon Powell.

SORC has been going for around eight years and stages one trial event each month, with the next scheduled for 22 March at Hucknall’s Farm – no, you’re okay, it’s not Mick’s place…

There will also be an August Bank Holiday bonanza at Ratlinghope later on in the year, an all-out club weekend which is surely one of the highlights of the calendar. In the meantime, it’s back to the drawing board for some of the drivers as they plan how to get back on terms with Mr Bennett…

To find out more about SORC, and to check out their full calendar, either visit www.shropshireoffroadclub.com or search for them on Facebook.

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