RoverXchange Fall 2008
208 Reasons for Nirvana
PresidentialROVINGS The end of the year is approaching quickly. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in this position for a year already. It certainly has been exciting! We put on our biggest rally ever and it went pretty darn well. Thanks again to all of you who helped make it happen!! We have received quite a bit of very positive feedback, and a lot of people are already looking forward to coming to next years rally in Leadville (July 28th – Aug1st, 2009). It’s already time to start the planning! As the holidays approach, many of us are not thinking about trails and trucks, but before we know it, spring will be here! This next year is looking to be a great time to get out and hang with the club. This letter is being written following our annual Holiday party, which was well attended and a good time. This was also our general club meeting and we are so very pleased to announce that Paul Donohue was elected to the position of Secretary on the Executive Committee, as Beth Muskopf resigns at the end of the term. Thank you Paul for stepping up!! Unfortunately, we were unable to find a replacement for the Treasurer, a position that will be vacant as of January. We were also hoping to secure a new rally coordinator and newsletter editor to help out for this next year. I would like to thank Jenny Burris, David Lane and Ralph Bradt for their dedication to these positions. As is understandable, times and lives change and other commitments take precedence, so it is time to welcome new faces to these posts. You could be one of those faces! I know that the holidays are very busy, and many of us are already stretched for time, so for me to ask for volunteers right now is a long shot. But if you could, please consider filling one of the vacant positions. For the club to do well, it is imperative to have members who are active in the key functions of the organization. There will not be any further meetings until January, and the transfer of duties would take place then. The positions and their responsibilities are posted on the website, but feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. karen.kreutzer@solihullsociety.org We would love to add you to the team! I hope 2008 was good to you and trust that 2009 will be even better!! Karen Kreutzer Solihull Society President
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Fall 2008
RoverXchange
The Rover Xchange is a quarterly publication of the Solihull Society 4-Wheel Drive Club, Inc. All material in Rover Xchange, unless otherwise noted, is the property of Solihull Society and may not be reproduced without permission.
Solihull Society Contacts President – Karen Kreutzer karen.kreutzer@solihullsociety.org VP – Andy Snow andy.snow@solihullsociety.org Treasurer Jenny Burris jenny.burris@solihullsociety.org Secretary/Membership Beth Dyson-Muskopf secretary@solihullsociety.org Trail Events Coordinator Jim Hall jim.hall@solihullsociety.org National Rally Coordinator Ralph Brandt ralph.bradt@solihullsociety.org Rally Sponsorship Coordinators Karen Kreutzer karen.kreutzer@solihullsociety.org Mike Pomponio mike.pomponio@solihullsociety.org Land Issues Coordinator Jim Hall jim.hall@solihullsociety.org Newsletter Dave Lane dave.lane@solihullsociety.org Website Admin David Garbs admin@solihullsociety.org Website – www.solihullsociety.org Newsletter Articles and Photos – Articles must be submitted in either Word (.doc) or text (.txt) format. Digital photos can be emailed or mailed on CD in either a JPEG, TIFF or EPS files. The articles can be submitted either via email (admin@ soliullsociety.org) or mailed on a CD to David Lane at the following address: 106 Estack Place, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126. Materials will be returned upon request. Advertising – $25/issue or $100/year for 1/4 page ads. Payment must accompany all camera-ready ads. Make check payable to Solihull Society. Free classified ads to members. $5/issue to non-members. Club Membership – $50/year includes membership in the Colorado Association of 4-Wheel Drive Club, their newsletter, the Rover Xchange newsletter, and all the trail rides you can take! Make check payable to Solihull Society and mail it to the address on the back of this newsletter.
RoverXchange Volume 12, Issue 3
IN THIS ISSUE Presidential Rovings
2
Trip Report: 2008 Land Rover National Rally
5
Thank You for Another Great Year! By Shannon Etnyre
Fall 2008
2008 Land Rover National Rally Giveaway Build 8 Membership Information
Application, information and benefits of joining the Solihull Society.
11
5
Trip Report: On the Road to the National Rally 13 Maybe this was not the greatest place for a photo opp...
Letter from the Editor Welcome to a New Year!
14
Trip Report: 2008 Land Rover National Rally 17
7
By Eric Meyer
8
19
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: 2008 National Rally by Shannon Etnyre I grew up taking family trips off road in California exploring the Mojave Desert and Pismo Beach. By six months old I was camping on the sand dunes and even got my own ATV when I was five, back when they only had three wheels. These wonderful family experiences coupled with my husband, Eric’s obsession with pushing the capabilities of any vehicle, made us destined to work 4x4 Rover expeditions and off-road challenges into our own family vacations. That being said we became a family of three in July of this year when our son Cole was born and the 2008 Land Rover Rally in Moab with our Range Rover Sport was our first family vacation. It was only a week before the Rally that Eric mentioned the possibility of going to Moab since he had heard about it on one of the Rover forums. I told him to look into it and that night he came back and said that the 2008 Rally started in a few days and lasted all week. Next thing I know we were all securely strapped in our Range Rover Sport jumping out of our pants with excitement on our way down to Utah. With the Rally drawing people from all over the U.S. and some from around the world, the least we could do was make the trek from Idaho; heck we’re practically right around the corner. We knew most of the Rovers we’d see would be Series, Discos, Old-School Range Rovers, and Defenders, but we were still surprised to see only a handful of the newer Land Rovers. We thought we might have gotten in over our heads since we had never really taken our Sport onto serious terrain and we didn’t really know what we were doing, and the fun buttons on the console did not help our case. We were completely nervous about how our next few days of trails would go. I’m not sure what we expected, but the fact that beginner’s instruction was offered on the first day was a great start. We thought we’d have a few demonstrations and maybe drive down a few dirt roads, but they don’t call this a Rally for nothing. Instead, our instructor Dave threw us right into the deep end and was crawling up and down the Moab rock structures on the Fins N Things trail immediately. It was a great group of students and vehicles since there was actually every type of Land Rover model! I still wouldn’t believe what a Land Rover, even our stock Sport, could do unless I saw it with my own eyes. But these vehicles are amazing and the drivers sure have some guts. We
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
couldn’t stop smiling, not even for one second. Our instructor, Dave, was the key to our great adventure. He drove a Classic Range but also had a new LR3 at home with the same technology as our Range Sport. He made sure we pushed the limits, defied gravity, while keeping everything intact on our vehicle. He taught us how to use all the fancy buttons on our dash and boy did we use them. I’m still in awe that we crawled up rock shelves and ledges with ease in a completely stock vehicle. I can only imagine what we’ll be able to do when we strap on some big tires and maybe some rock sliders. For whatever reason, I had absolutely no hesitation about heading down the trail and threw all my inhibitions out the window. I trusted my husband who was driving, and our vehicle, and put our lives in Dave’s hands. Cole was happy in his little five point harness car-seat and barely felt any of the bumps. We came away with a few scrapes underneath the vehicle and the most amazing few days of our life. All the while our baby sat quietly in the back seat being “rocked” to sleep. This was a perfect family vacation. Initially I was very nervous to introduce Cole, 8
weeks old at the time, to our trail groups. I wasn’t sure anyone would be too excited about having a baby on board. Thankfully, some of the drivers were thrilled that we were starting our baby out so young and were eager to say so. They even introduced us to their “babies” who were now thirty years old and driving along side their parents. Cole mostly slept during both days of trails and would awake when the Range would stop while we were waiting our turn on a climb. Since we stopped often, it was a breeze to feed and change him in the backcountry. Everyone was great and would ask constantly how Cole was doing. I was so proud of our little guy for behaving so well. We couldn’t have imagined it any better.
We can’t wait to take Cole out on the trails next year at the Colorado event. I’m not sure our little guy will be as cooperative at one year old about being strapped in a car seat all day, but we’re going to do it. How could we resist? Everyone embraced us like we were family and taught us how to really have a great time. Cole may not remember his first vacation, but Eric and I will never forget it. It has truly been a life changing experience. We have never had so much fun before! We can’t wait to do it all over again next year at the 2009 Rally in Colorado.
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: North America...
By Asa Bjorklund
The Defender’s front wheel is hanging over the edge of the mountain. “We’re rolling off!” shouts my husband Cyril. Panic overwhelms me; I just want to throw myself out of the truck. Are we all going to die? Just like that? We have been travelling for the last two months aboard our Defender 110 Dormobile. We crossed arid deserts, snowy mountain ranges and dense forests, mostly on back roads and dirt trails, one day at a time, exploring the natural beauty of this exceptional area of the world. Our overland adventure started in Guatemala, through Mexico and to the western United States. We decided to do it in our Defender so we completely modified it for the purpose, turning it into the ultimate 4x4 mobile home. Since we’ve been living in Latin America for several years and we were traveling with our little daughter our interest was to concentrate our travels on the Western States of the US. From the Mexican border at Nogales, AZ we first crossed the legendary Sonora desert and its photogenic Saguaros cactuses. They are extremely beautiful and also extremely fragile. A little change in average temperature or humidity and they disappear completely from the scenery. They are also very slow… the first saguaro’s arm will finally “pop out” only after 75 years! All these reasons have made the Saguaro a highly praised and protected icon of the Southwest. Like the Saguaros every plant in the desert seems to have a natural defense system that involves thorns, spines or spikes. Nelson, our German shepherd, fell victim to the strange environment. He was definitely not a happy camper in the 110 degree heat, walking on the hot sand among the Chollas, Barrels and Prickly Pear cactuses. The poor dog is wondering, “What happened to the friendly lamp posts and bushes?” In rugged, wild, inhospitable terrain you have to plan carefully, we learned. One oversight can cost dearly. The Burr trail, takes you through the Waterpocket Fold, in southern Utah. It is an extremely arid and desolate area, precisely the place where you wouldn’t want to meet up with Murphy’s
You Know Your Rover. I Know Your Real Estate.
Tom Cryer Broker Associate The Kentwood Co. 303-773-3399 303-638-3202 tcryer@kentwoodco.com www.MyTownCryer.com
RoverXchange
Law. When we started the trail our fuel calculations were tight. Then the gas stations we banked on at Bullfrog and then Halls Crossing, on Lake Powell, never materialized. With nowhere to go but forward we pushed on to the point when it seemed the 110’s Td5 was pretty much running on fumes. Thankfully our trusty Defender made it to Mexican Hat, AZ where a huge, peculiar, Sombreroshaped rock formation showed us the way
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: Sightseeing in St. Louis By Quiten
I blame it all on Sir Edmund Hillary… So we got off to a late start (Friday) and went to meet Eric and Scott in St Louis … Then we drove about looking for a place to park .. we found it too… Down on the river side of the St Louis “gateway” arch there are these great steps leading down to the river ….. It was there, we were there, how was I to know that they would be so perturbed.. Carlane said “What are they going to do, tell us to move?“ So up we went … I backed the 88 up a few steps, set brake, took pictures, crossed road took more, Came back to the truck, changed lens, took more pictures, got back in the truck, drove off the steps, across the side walk and was proceeding to depart when a red faced and angry park ranger runs
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: Sightseeing in St. Louis By Quiten
down the hill and starts yelling for us to “STOP THE TRUCK“ Things started going down hill from there …. They pulled me out of the truck handcuffed and searched me, called in reinforcements… There were about 10 rangers, they poked and prodded the truck, They searched and looked in the truck… They never opened the hood tho…. They took pictures, made measurements of the track and wheelbase … Took pictures of the tires, all four of them .. What were they thinking?? That I was a serial backer up the steps at national monuments??!!! Honest officer we were just parking here on top of Mt Rushmore for a moment…… Bother. Well they held me in cuffs for and hour and a half .. No you can’t stand up… No you cant have a hat …. They called the drug sniffing dog, a very pretty dog btw, I was starting to worry a trifle by this time.. Mind you I had not been arrested or mirandized… They took all the gas receipts, the printed out map quest directions and all the other paper work away and Xeroxed it … A police van showed up. I was waiting for the rollback … Then someone with sense arrived… She decided we were probably NOT terrorists … Idiots perhaps but not terrorists… So we got to move around and not be treated as dangerous. She wanted to know what we were thinking … I told her we were driving across the country and it was like taking a garden gnome on vacation… Pictures in unlikely places. Well we didn’t have a gnome but we DID have a Land Rover.. J Of course by that time the FBI had been called… So we all had to stand around waiting for them. The Chief Ranger said the FBI had wanted to impound the truck, confiscate the computer, the phones, the cameras, damn near anything .. She didn’t think that was necessary so they didn’t do it.. The rangers let us look through and tidy up the truck. The
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
DealershipDISCOUNTS
Our members receive exclusive discounts at Denver area Land Rover dealerships. The Colorado Denver East Dealership offers Solihull Members:
15%
DISCOUNT ON PARTS
Service and Labor is only $97.50 per hour. Regular rate is $115
The Colorado Flatirons Dealership offers Solihull Members:
15%
DISCOUNT ON PARTS
The Colorado Springs Dealership offers Solihull Members:
15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABOR JC’s Rover offers Solihull Members:
10%
DISCOUNT ON LABOR Parts typically 10%-20% cheaper than list.
Green Diamond Tire’s offers Solihull Members:
10% OFF ON TIRE ORDERS
10
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Membership Information
Application for Membership/Renewal Please print all information clearly. Name:__________________________________________________________________Email:_________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City:_____________________________________________________________State____________________________________________Zip:_________________________ HomePhone:_______________________________________________CellPhone:___________________________________________________________ Occupation:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PresentLandRovers:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Past Land Rovers: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May we share the above information with other club members? Yes No Type of Application: New member Renewal
Type of Membership: Single (S) -- $40.00 Family (F) -- $50.00 Out of state (O) -- $30.00
Waiver: I/We, in consideration of my/our participation in the Solihull Society Land Rover Club, [hereafter referred to as club] do hereby release Solihull Society, its members, officers, sponsors, successors and assigns from any and all responsibility or liability for any and all claims, arising from or related to the activities and my/our participation in and all events sponsored and/or involving the club. I/We understand and acknowledge off-highway driving is a hazardous activity with inherent dangers, which can result in severe property damage, serious bodily injury and/or death. With full knowledge of such risks, hazards and potential for damage, injury or death, I/We voluntarily and knowingly assume such risks and hazards and agree, that the club, its members, officers, sponsors, successors and assigns shall not be liable in any way, to me/us for any claims for damages, injuries or death resulting from my/our participation in the club’s events. I/We acknowledge my/our vehicle is in good mechanical condition, and said vehicle is insured for bodily injury liability insurance and personal injury protection insurance and/or medical payment coverage, as required by its’ state of registration. I/We are advised to consult with our insurance broker/agent about availability of and adequacy of present medical payment coverage should I/We and/or our passengers sustain bodily injury, while operating my/our motor vehicle. I/We further acknowledge the driver/operator of the vehicle is licensed to operate a motor vehicle and the license is not under suspension. This waiver/release of liability is binding on our heirs, insurers, personal representatives or assignees.
Signature____________________________________________________________________________________Date______________________________________________ Club Use Only: Cash Check # Quicken Deposit slip
11
RoverXchange
Email to member Roster Member card # Welcome packet
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Land Rover Flatirons Vintage Day Vintage Day was a great success! This year’s Land Rover Flatirons Vintage Day was a huge success. It was by far the most well attended “Vintage Day” to date, not only from competitors, but from customers and neighbors also. The weather was perfect as the sound of cool music from Bruce Coleman’s sound stage and the smell of BBQ covered the event. Kids were having a great time in the jumping castle and the participants were eager to tell all about their special rig and why they deserved the vote for this year’s best. Over 150 people came from all over to take part in voting for their favorite Land Rover. Neighbors strolling down from the community at hand as well as long time customers and vendors strolled through over 30 display vehicles learning what Land Rover was all about. The winners this year were as follows: 1st place - John Lopez and his 109 series III, 2nd place - Bill Smith and his 67 series IIa expanda roof and 3rd place was Nick Taylor and his 96 Defender 90 right hand drive diesel. Congratulations John on a job well done. An integral part of Vintage Day is the vendor booths that were set up by specialty businesses that cater to the LR crowd. These businesses all had great displays set up and were able to tell a little bit about what their business specialty was and how to get information. We would like to thank all of the following people that made Vintage day a great success. Kirby Garrison for his never ending passion and love for the Land Rover Lifestyle, Keith Kreutzer with Rover Tracks, Josh White with Overland Journal, Mike Pomponio from Solihull Society, Owen Jones and Paul Stapell with High Country Expeditions, Matt and Kelly Bush from Hi Country Off Road products, Audra from Havana Manor, Catherine Davis with Allstate Insurance and most importantly the Land Rover Flatirons team, giving it their best and having a lot of fun doing it. Check here for more pictures of the days events: http://picasaweb.google.com/landroverflatirons/VintageDay2008#
12
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
By Kirby Garison
Trip Report: Sightseeing in St. Louis By Quiten
only thing I found missing was my pocket knife :-( The FBI really DO wear those dark suits in the hot sun… Amazing. The FBI agent refused to shake my hand, officious prick… So I got charged with: Driving off the marked road….. Seams reasonable enough .. And perhaps more seriously, misdemeanor disorderly conduct that I MAY have to show up to deal with….
I don’t know about the disorderly part, I thought all in I was pretty orderly... All in all a fun day … Rgds Q
Ps The pictures are on the bottom of the new index page , I am thinking poster sized ... ..
http://www.roverist.com/album2/
13
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
CLASSIFIEDS & ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESIDENT - shall preside over all membership and Executive Committee meetings and be present at all events when possible. He shall be the executive officer and shall have the duty to carry out the policies and decisions of the Board of Directors. VICE PRESIDENT - shall, in the absence of the President, serve in that capacity. He shall also serve as a Parliamentarian and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. SECRETARY - shall keep and preserve all records and minutes of the meeting of the regular membership and the Board of Directors, shall keep a file system of membership and shall receive and answer all general correspondence pertaining to the organization. TREASURER - shall keep accurate and complete records of the funds and accounts of this organization and shall collect all dues and maintain a record thereof. He shall make only such disbursements from the funds of the organization as are directed by the Board of Directors and Article VII hereof.
Ballots shall be issued to each membership at check in.
Do you have stuff that you need to sell? Did you know that classified ads are free to club members? Simply send an e-mail with a description of what you’re selling along with asking price and contact information and we’ll run it for free in the RoverXchange classifieds. Send it to:
newsletter@solihullsociety.org
A Letter From the Editor Thank you everyone!
I wanted to extend by gratitude to the entire Solihull Society on another great year. I have had a blast in Moab where I was able to actually make it twice to play. The Rally was our best ever and with all of the sponsorship and donations that would not have happened without the greatest bunch of people I know. I wanted to also send a special thanks to those not in the club that helped with the newsletter. You are also a testiment to why we have this club. I hope to see all of you in the new year where maybe, gas prices will stay down, and we all get to play more. Dave Lane.
dave.lane@solihullsociety.org
14
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Bill Burke’s
4-Wheeling America 970-858-3468 … bb4wa@bb4wa.com
Premier Training for all users of 4-wheel drives and all skill levels. Driving Techniques. Recovery. Safety. Environmental Awareness. Getting Prepared. Trail Spotting. Navigation. Field Fixes.
●Private Instruction
DVDs by Bill Burke
One-on-one with Bill Burke.
●Getting UNStuck ●Getting PREpared
●Group Training
Comprehensive 2-day training programs that include all you need to know about going into the remote back country safety.
●Industrial & Government Training Programs
Custom safety programs for organizations that use 4WD vehicles in their operations.
Safe recovery techniques. Real life situations!
“For less cash than the cost of recovering a vehicle from a back country crisis, drivers can experience the pleasures and pains of primitive roads under the watchful eye of a well-equipped guide & instructor, learning the abilities as well as the limits of their vehicle.” C. Able, Rocky Mountain News
“A valuable lesson I learned from Bill was that the biggest part of back country driving lies between the driver’s ears.” P. Donohue, Solihull Society
Watch this DVD before heading out! W/30-page booklet. Excellent Dealer Discounts. “...The learning started before the first turn of a key and continued right up until our goodbyes. Simply put, Bill is an outstanding instructor...he sets the standard by which all others must be judged! ...a much appreciated benefit of our time together was Bill’s encyclopedic knowledge of the environment...” Nick Vanoff. VA - Private Training
15
RoverXchange
www.bb4wa.com
hold BLM & for USFS permits to operate on public lands. AWe Newsletter Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: North America... to salvation into town where we could finally fill up and relax.
By Asa Bjorklund
From the deserts of the southwest we moved into the Rocky Mountains. The Colorado snow fall of the 2007-2008 winter season was one of the heaviest on record. Our itinerary was taking us on various 4x4 trails across the high alpine passes but, in early July, some of these passes were still completely blocked by snow. Still, we managed to cross steep, rocky and snowy Engineer Pass, at an altitude of just under 13,000ft. The Forest Service had finished clearing the snow just the day before! Because of uncertainty whether the pass was open or not four wheelers had given up on travelling it that day. The breathtaking views were all ours! Once over the top, we decided to camp just below the tree line, at just under 12,000ft. High altitude and an immaculate moonlit sky brought us a real cold night, especially inside the Dormobile’s top bunk. The pop-up top’s fabric does not insulate very well form the cold. Luckily the “bottom floor” was much warmer for our two little passengers down below. The tranquillity and the magical night views made us forget the low temperatures. That amazing spot below Engineer pass was to become our number one favourite spot of our entire trip. After weeks of driving through arid deserts and mountains ranges we were impatient to discover the great rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. Even though the northern California Ocean is freezing cold, our Nelson jumped into the surf with great fun. Elin was also happy to run and play on the fog-swept beach. Huge forest fires had almost kept us from coming here. California’s Trinity Alps and the Central Valley were on fire and most roads through there were closed. Everything on the coast was green with lush vegetation in constant mist. It was hard to believe that only a few dozen miles away tens of thousand of acres were ablaze. We decided to go check out the famed Redwood and found a little dirt road that took up into an old growth grove and into another world. We had seen impressive Douglas fir trees in other places but these Redwoods truly belong to another league! Even our 110 looked out of scale! Cyril was reminded of the scenery in The Lord of the Rings movie. Among these 300 foot towering giants we felt as small as Tolkien’s hobbits. After the Pacific coast we headed for the Sierra Nevada… which takes us to our current situation: Our Defender was on the verge of rolling down the mountain. After controlling our initial burst of panic Cyril has carefully manoeuvred our vehicle back onto its four wheels. We look into each others’ eyes and glance back at our year old daughter in her baby seat. She’s totally relaxed and happy, oblivious to our current distress. We are still in shock. We are out of harm’s way now but totally lost. We had been struggling up a horrible goat trail, concentrating on the driving until our close call. The GPS tells us we’re well above 9,500 feet; right in front of us we can observe the breathtaking Palisades Glaciers. We’re not supposed to be here. We must have made a wrong turn somewhere. Cyril gets our 110 in gear, pops the clutch and we start to backtrack. A tense hour of very technical 4 wheeling follows. Little by little we move down the slope until we encounter the fork we had missed earlier in the day. That one orienteering error could have been fatal to our little family. We just have to find a place to set up camp now… not a simple task with a baby to care for. Being above the tree line, at 9,200 feet does not make it any easier. Mountain weather can change strikingly fast. As the California sun sets over the rugged peaks of the Palisades skyline we witness it firsthand. Dark, menacing clouds move in from every directions and we can feel gusts of
16
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: North America... wind shaking our Landy as we desperately look for a spot for the night. All this business up the goat trail made us forget about the time. For our family to set up camp, on top of the normal stuff, means caring for Elin: changing diapers, feeding her, watching her during her play time and finally trying to put her to sleep. Ideally 4:00pm is a good time to stop driving. Right now it is already 6:00pm and we don’t even have a campsite. Needless to say Elin is not approving and makes it loud and clear. We’ve got to stop soon.
By Asa Bjorklund
It is about 7:00pm now and the Palisades Glaciers are making us pay dearly for our visit. Elin is screaming for her dinner and wants to get out of her seat, the wind is blowing and it is about to get completely dark. Cyril is driving as fast as the trail allows: We’ve got to lose altitude and find shelter from the wind. In these conditions our Dormobile pop-top would simply be blown away like an umbrella in the wind. Look! “Here’s the place!” signals Cyril. We see a reasonably flat spot, right behind a strange wind carved rock outcrop. We don’t think it twice and stop. Immediately our daily routine starts. I take Elin and change her diaper, Cyril pops the Dormobile roof open, and Nelson sniffs the surroundings. Chairs are unfolded, dry-bags are opened, food is warmed, Elin is fed. We work fast and mechanically. We’ve been on the road for almost two months and the tasks we perform are familiar by now. Our old sedentary lives seem so remote, yet our journey is coming to an end very soon. After the Sierra Nevada we will push on south-east towards Phoenix, the only major metro area to be
crossed in our 10,000 miles journey. Phoenix will also be the end point of our marvelous overland adventure. For the time being Phoenix is still far away in our minds. The wind has died down and the sky is filled with bright, crisp stars. Elin has gone to sleep and we are savoring a hot cup of Sleepy Time herbal tea, the silence, the peacefulness is gripping. Another day has gone by, filled with adventures and beautiful places. Soon we will be comfortably asleep inside our Land Rover, dreaming of what tomorrow might have in store for us. DEFENDER DORMOBILE TECH SHEET: When moving two adults, an infant and a large dog into a Defender 110 for months at a time with the intent to travel through isolated wild country, the preparation of the vehicle is essential. Our
17
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Trip Report: North America...
By Asa Bjorklund
Land Rover had to be livable without sacrificing its extraordinary 4x4 capabilities. 1- Sleeping: For sleeping we decided to equip our Landy with a Dormobile pop-up top. First developed in the UK in the 60s’ the pop-up system is still basically unchanged two generations later. The fiberglass roof top is supported by a stainless steel structure fitted with a canopy that opens from left to right in an accordion like shape. Access to the sleeping bay is from the inside of the vehicle (as opposed to the outside with a roof tent) and it allows for full standing in the middle of the vehicle. These features are very practical for all sorts of situations: bad weather, mosquitoes or even for a middle of the night emergency “relocation”. Our daughter’s sleeping was one of our main concerns. We spent a great deal of time trying to figure out a comfortable and safe solution. At the end we bought a cheap foldable crib at Baby’s “R” Us. It sits right behind the front seats at night and it folds away during the day. This system proved to work perfectly all along! 2- Eating: For cooking we installed a stainless steel gas stove and sink unit (also from Dormobile, UK) and an ARB freezer-fridge. 3- Storage: We handmade cabinets and chests for storage of our gear (food clothing, tools, photo equipment, etc…). We used ACM (aluminum composite panel) cladding material for its lightweight, resistance and durability. All the cabinet hardware is marine grade. 4- 4x4 Enhancements: To support all the extra weight and get better clearance the original suspension was replaced by an Old Man Emu heavy duty shocks and springs kit. Both differentials were upgraded with ARB air lockers. We also have mounted an ARB front bull bar and a Warn winch. For the wheels we fitted a set of Firestone Destination M/T tires. In difficult driving situations we found all these improvements were invaluable (i.e. Palisades Glaciers!). They gave us the confidence needed to venture in hard to access places.
18
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
2008 Giveaway Truck...
By Solihull Society
Thank you to all of our sponsors who donated parts for this year giveaway. A gigantic THANK YOU to all who showed up at JC’s Rovers to work on the truck! Another gigantic THANK YOU to Jeff at JC’s Rovers for letting the club use his garage to put the truck together.
19
RoverXchange
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Solihull Society PO Box 480864 Denver, CO 80248-