RoverXchange Summer 2010
PresidentialROVINGS Summer 2010 Spring has sprung and now summer is here. I hope many of you have gotten out and off the beaten path to see the beautiful country around us, be it off roading up in the mountains, or biking some single track, or climbing some 14ers. The snow pack has been a bit reluctant to leave, making some trails hard or impossible to finish, and others are still not open for use. Please remember to tread lightly and let others you see on the trail know that as well, if a trail is not clear it is not acceptable to make your own go around. I’ve seen some evidence of that on some of the trails I’ve been on and we need to make sure that we all do our part to keep trail intact, some times that means reminding ourselves of that fact, other times it’s letting others know. Our club has adopted another trail to maintain, that being Red Elephant hill and Mill Creek. These trails are just west of Idaho Springs and are in need of our attention and care, please watch the forums for an announcement of the trail work day and help us keep these trails open. The Land Rover National Rally planning is coming along, and we hope to see you all there this October in Moab, UT. I’m really looking forward to being there this fall, with cooler temperatures and the trees changing color (many make the I70 drive just for that reason alone), it should make for a new experience. Speaking of club events, I want to thank Wendy and the other helpers for putting on a great club BBQ. We had a spectacular location on Flagstaff mountain outside Boulder, and a great member turnout. We would have had even more show up if the short trail run we had planned for didn’t turn out to be a whole day event, due to unusually wet trail conditions and our planned exit trail being gated off. At least all the trucks made it through safely, and we had an interesting day learning recovery techniques. See you on the trail, Jeff Corwin
RoverXchange The Rover Xchange is a mostly 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 Jeff Corwin jeff.corwin@solihullsociety.org VP Eugene Higby eugene.higby@solihullsociety.org Treasurer Hans Schultze hans.schultze@solihullsociety.org Secretary/Membership Paul Donohue secretary@solihullsociety.org Trail Events Coordinator Jim Hall jim.hall@solihullsociety.org Special Events Coordinator Wendy Vaughan wcvsweetirish@gmail.com Rally Coordinator Chris Doty chris.doty@solihullsociety.org Rally Sponsorship Coordinator Mike Pomponio mike.pomponio@solihullsociety.org Land Issues Coordinator Jim Hall jim.hall@solihullsociety.org Newsletter Tate Crumbley tate.crumbley@solihullsociety.org Website Admins David Garbs admin@solihullsociety.org Dan Russo dan@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 (tate.crumbley@solihullsociety.org) or mailed on a CD to Tate Crumbley at the following address: 2010 E 98th Ave, Thornton, CO 80229. Materials will be returned upon request.
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A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
RoverXchange Volume 14, Issue 2, Summer 2010
IN THIS ISSUE Arizona Land Rover Rally
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Updates From Solihull
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Trip Report: Shelf Road
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First Discovery
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Letter from the Editor
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2010 National Rally Information
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Lift Your LR3
12
Experiences of a Rover Dad
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2010 Rally Sponsors
15
Membership Application and Renewal
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Arizona Rally, March 5th-7th Our rally trip plan was to drive down with Mark & Beth Muskopf in their beautiful green D110, Mike & Jenny Burris in their well prepared Discovery II, and Drew and me in my red D90. We met at the IHOP in Castle Rock at 7:30 Thursday morning. Right away, we knew something was wrong when Mike showed up sans Jenny. Over breakfast he explained how she was not feeling well after a doctors injection for her back pain. It was decided that the two Defenders would head out on schedule, and we would keep in touch with Mike on how Jenny was doing, hoping that they would be able to catch up later in the day. As we headed south on I25, it became painfully apparent that Defenders are not made for interstate cruising, as anything over 70 mph took some major effort, especially driving into head winds. I soon adopted a drafting position behind Mark’s D110, you might be surprised to find out how far back you can be and still feel the drafting benefit. Just be careful to keep in the draft or you may find yourself losing ground quickly, even as you put the pedal to the floor in an attempt to keep with the lead vehicle. Beside the gas station-to-gas station drive that anyone with a Defender can relate to, our first real stop was Albuquerque, NM. We stayed the night there, and ate at a great BBQ place called Rudy’s. On a side note, they are opening a branch in CO Springs in June 2010. That night, we got confirmation that Mike and Jenny would not be making it out to the rally.
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by Jeff Corwin The next day we had breakfast and then stopped in to say “hi” to Rob Dassler at Southwest Rovers LLC. We got a tour of his shop and projects in progress. Rob is well known for his Defender work, and is one of the best sources for rebuilt (more like completely overhauled) LT230 transfercases, along with LT77 and R380 manual transmissions. We then headed out towards Flagstaff and then down into Phoenix. We went this route as Mark & Beth had a friend they wanted to meet up with. As it turned out, Drew had some family there, and I also had some relatives in the nearby area. We got into Phoenix near dinnertime and temporarily went our separate ways. Unfortunately, I was unable to plan anything last second with my relatives, but I did get to meet Drew’s relatives and joined them for a nice dinner. We then hit the road again, heading south for Tucson. Drew and I got a bit of a head start on Mark & Beth and thought they would catch up quickly. I thought wrong, and after about an hour on the road and Beth’s text message asking where we were, we decided to pull off and wait for them. This was a smart choice for us as I didn’t plan out any directions if we got separated. We rolled into Tucson around 11pm, found the hotel, and crashed out. Saturday morning was our official start to the AZ rally. We checked in, received our packet of information, and got lined up for the trails. Getting to see so many new faces and vehicles is always great, and so is seeing and speaking with those whom you know only from other rallies. We both
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
got in line for a medium level trail called Chimney Rock, lead by a guy in a well build white D90. We had a large group of 14 vehicles, including two LR3s and one J**P on 37” tires acting as a tail gunner. The trail started just outside town on a bumpy and dusty service road. Luckily, everyone had already aired down at a gas station a mile or so before, and after about five miles or so, we reached the trail head. We all stopped and made sure the group was still together, and then headed out. It started as an easy, meandering road with only the slightest of obstacles, then about 3 miles in, our trail leader stopped just across from a creek bed and announced that there was a rock garden playground on the other side and that we’d have a bit of play time before heading further up the trail. One could not have asked for a better layout for this wheelers’ playground. It was like a little chunk of Moab had been white washed and dropped onto the trail just for us off roaders. A few trucks played around in the rock garden area, including our D90: the traction and obstacles were incredible. So good, in fact, that I had forgotten to lock the tcase for most of the time playing around. We then gathered up and headed back onto the main trail, following a stream bead for most of the remaining trail. There were some long water crossings, though none were very deep, probably only up to the hubs at times. We stopped for lunch in a small clearing and enjoyed each others company for awhile, being leery of stepping one one of the thousands of cow pies strewn everywhere, as most of the trails in the surrounding area are on cattle land. After lunch, we continued along the trail once again following a stream bed. There were some minor obstacles spattered here and there, but nothing a stock rover couldn’t handle. At the end of the trail we all grouped up for a nice photo shoot. Saturday night was also when the banquet was held in the Hilton Hotel where the rally was staged (and many RoverXchange
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guests stayed). Raffle tickets were sold and many good prizes were had. Both during the banquet and afterwards, a number of participants had their fill of food and drink. Sunday morning’s line up showed off how many partook a bit strongly on the drink side of the prior nights festivities. No surprise there, really, as most were staying at the hotel and didn’t have to worry about driving anywhere that night. Drew and I asked about the various difficulties of the trails offered and decided to go with one of the tougher trails called Charouleau Gap. It was a long trail that started on the back side of Mount Lemon, and then traversed over and through it back towards Tucson. The trail leader had chosen to run it in this direction due to the rain storm that was rolling in later that day, as the side we started on would become a slick mud-fest once wet. The trail started as quite easy going up and around the mountainside on soft dirt, then slowly changed over to some loose gravel and shale. We reached a long, loose climb referred to as The Escalator. Once at the top, we stopped and surveyed the mountain range as this was the highest point we had reached—perhaps the highest of the day. From there, we began our descent into the valley and soon entered into our first of many stream crossings. We made so many crossings it’s hard to recall them all, suffice to say some were simple, shallow crossings from one side to the other while others were extended drives along the stream bed, and a few were treacherous due to unseen holes and boulders. At one particular crossing, at least three of the trucks were getting stuck on a boulder just under the torrential flowing water. The third truck ended up properly stuck – high centered on one rock, with another wedged up against the rear axle. Out came the winch for the only time that day, and a quick recovery was made. This was all made a bit scarier as it had been raining now for the last 15-20 minutes, and we were all wondering when we would have to be concerned about a flash flood, or at least a substantial rise in the water level. Luckily, neither ended up being an issue that day, but I’m sure it would have been had we been there an hour later. A few climbs and crossings later we reached an optional obstacle in the form of a steep and rough climb out of the
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water. Two of our group opted to give it a go, Dan in his Equipe D90 was having a hard time of the wet and slippery rocks, but managed to find the right line and get it done. The other truck, an overbuilt J**p on 37” tires, whose driver was familiar with the trail made shorter work of it. I took my red D90 up another optional exit, just a steep slab of rock. With a bit of wheel spin due to the wet tires from the water crossing, I was up it and back in line with the rest of the trucks. The rest of the trail continued in similar fashion, but as we came closer to the end, the trail changed to rutted out dirt with some mud pits from the rain. In the end we all had a great run and headed back for the showers at the hotel. That was the end of the official rally, but Mark, Beth, Drew, and I still had some 800+ miles to go till being back home in Denver. Come Monday morning, the weather was still poor, rain still came down, and there was still a forecast of rain or snow on the way back to Denver. We decided to head back to Lowes and fabricate a top for the D90. With two rolls of Gorilla tape, a sheet of hard board insulation, and a pocket knife, we fabricated upper door extensions that brought our doors right up against the soft top and back to the B-pillars of the roll cage, and filled in the “A” shaped gap from the B-pillar to the roll cage’s angular rear brace. Amazingly the top looked quite good, and during the road trip back got minor “improvements” like weatherstripping made of gorilla tape folded over on itself. The top is so good, that as of one month after our return, it is still on the D90. Yes, it will be coming off for the summer season, but I fully intend to fabricate a more permanent version of it for future use. Our return drive included everything from nice sunny conditions, to high winds, to rain, and even snow. Due to the snow in the forecast, we decided to make the drive all in one day. This was a good decision by all accounts as Raton pass was already piling up with snow as we came through. We did stop again at Rudy’s in Albuquerque for dinner. We finally rolled in at almost 3 am, but we were home safe and sound. We were exhausted from our whirlwind of an extended weekend rover rally, but already thinking of what trip to do next.
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Updates from Solihull Range Rover Evoque unveiled courtesy www.landrover.com
The highly anticipated all-new Range Rover was revealed to the world at an exclusive 40th anniversary celebration at Kensington Palace, on 1 July, in association with Vogue. The all new Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover to date, with sub 130g/km of CO2 emissions - continuing our commitment to environmental sustainability. Range Rover has remained true to the spirit of the original LRX Concept car first revealed in Detroit in 2008. Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director, said: “It marks a bold evolution of Range Rover design, providing customers with a desirable, premium and coup√© like SUV. In 2008 we introduced the LRX concept car: after a positive reception worldwide, the natural step for the business was to turn the concept into reality.” Its official public debut will be at the Paris Motor Show on 2 October this year and it will be available in the showroom from late 2011. Be part of the exciting journey, visit our launch website www.helloevoque.com
Goodbye to Charles Spencer King The father of the Range Rover, 85 year old Charles Spencer King, passed away on June 26th following a cycling accident. His passing coincided with the 40th anniversary of the original Range Rover in 1973 and was shortly before the release of the new Range Rover Evoque. In recent years, he had made it clear in that he did not approve of current positioning of the Range Rover as a status symbol rather than a utility vehicle. He was the nephew of Spencer and Maurice Wilks, General Manager and Chief Designer of Rover during the early years of Land Rover. “Spen” King was the Chief Engineer for new Vehicle Products when he started work on the Range Rover in 1966. Over his career, he worked at Rolls Royce, Rover cars, Triumph, and various positions within British Leyland.
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Trip Report: Shelf Road
by Paul Froshauer
Editor’s note: Soon after this will go to print, Paul is going to Afghanistan with the US Army.
I had posted on the Solihull Society forums in the unscheduled trail run section about doing a few moderate trails on the weekend of March 20-21st. I had some interest from another Land Rover enthusiast site, but their members were not able to make it. Dan, who goes by the handle RoverRage on the Solihull forums said he would join me and we decided to take a trip up Shelf Road and down Phantom Canyon Road on Saturday March 20th. So, it became an “unofficially official” Solihull run. On Friday it snowed a lot, and weather reports stated that Saturday morning was still going to be cloudy with some snow showers. I was a little unsure about whether or not we would be able to make the run happen, but Saturday morning turned out to be nice with hardly a cloud in the sky. We met in southern Colorado Springs and left for the trailhead at about 9:30am. The trailhead for Shelf Road is north of Canon City and we arrived at about 10:30. There were 3 to 5 inches of fresh snow on the ground. There is a campground nearby named “The Bank” that we took a look at before hitting the Shelf Road.
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Shelf Road is a fairly smooth dirt trail leading from Canon City to Cripple Creek. It is not particularly difficult; there are no obstacles, but it is very scenic and somewhat historic. It is part of the Gold Belt tour, that carried people back and forth during the 1890s Cripple Creek gold rush. The beginning of the trail is by far the most scenic if you are heading north. The trail is literally cut right into the side of a canyon, so you have a very steep drop on one side of you and an incline on another, which was a little interesting with the snow on the ground. My girlfriend Abby who was visiting me, and had never been this far west certainly enjoyed looking out the window into the deep canyon with no guardrails. You travel along this “shelf ” for a while, gradually increasing elevation. Then pass through a narrower canyon where there is a large rock formation with a keyhole before finding yourself in a wider valley. After driving through the valley you will find yourself climbing rather steeply before you come to an overlook with a nice view of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range to the south. Then, you will continue to climb again until you arrive in the Cripple Creek area. At about 1:00pm we stopped for lunch in Cripple Creek before leaving for Phantom Canyon road. Phantom Canyon road heads south out of Victor, Co in the direction of Canon City and is another part of the Gold Belt tour. It is another dirt road, but is somewhat wider and smoother
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
than Shelf Road. It leads into another canyon; however, unlike Shelf Road; it travels along the bottom instead of being carved into the side of the canyon. By this time of the day most of the new snow at lower elevations had melted and the weather was warming up. There are a few notable spots on this road; one is a rock formation that resembles a man’s head; there are also a few tunnels that were cut out of the rock; another was a tree that seemed to be growing sideways out of the canyon wall. Abby’s and Dan’s younger son seemed to get a kick out of this. We finished up a little before 4pm. Overall, Shelf Road and Phantom Canyon are not challenging trails. They could probably be traversed in normal cars, but a reasonable amount of ground clearance is needed, and in slick conditions 4wd would be necessary. These are trails that a group would run if you are more interested in scenery and history than obstacles.
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First Discovery
by Tedd Brenner
We got the new D1 ready, packed up, gassed up, and were on our way to Moab for a long weekend of wheelin’. “New,” is a relative term: The Discovery that we are talking about here has 150k+, just a shell, but a new engine swap, 3” Rovertym springs and front radius arms, OME Shocks, Treadwright mudders, ARB lockers front and rear, M.I.T. Automotive custom bumper in the front, and a rear on the way, not to mention plenty of under armor and a Superwinch X9. I felt excited and confident. Time to go to Moab! Not an hour after we left I smelled something burning. We pulled over before the Eisenhower tunnel, and lo and behold, the lower tail light lens had melted and was beginning to warp out of its housing. I pulled the lens out and tried to manipulate my exhaust when about a foot of it broke off. We waited, the smell went away, and the car cooled down a bit. I checked everything again, and we were back on our way. Later on, when it was dark, we were coming over a hill when the car decided not to join us. The throttle had no response, and the engine sounded like it was choking to death. We frantically pulled over to try to figure out what had caused the sudden stop. Check engine light? No. Filter clogged? No. Just then, another built-to-the-hilt D1 flew by, and I said to my girlfriend Meghan, “Is that your dad?” We called Rob, and sure enough, even after leaving over an hour apart and from separate locations, it was him. He turned around to find us and lend a hand. Later, when we finished the job, I asked him, as we slid under the car onto the pavement, if he thought that the car with the flashers on the side of the road was me. “I hoped it wasn’t, but I knew,” he replied with a sly smirk. The exhaust that had fallen off had re-routed the hot en-
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gine gases directly to the wiring harness that controls the fuel pump and the rear lights, and had melted some of the wires bare. Luckily, a wrap of the wires in new tape and a quick change of a fuse was all it took to get the car back up and running. Just to be safe, we replaced the broken exhaust pipe end as best we could and on the road we went again. Rob, my girlfriend’s dad, is one of those guys who prefers the road less traveled, rock over concrete, and four Hella Rallyes over streetlights. He lead us on a “scenic byway” route to Moab that, according to my girlfriend, may have been longer than going the regular way from I-70 to Moab. Nonetheless, we were mystified as after a few turns on some dark and barren roads, and passing some abandoned trailer homes, we were following the Colorado River turn by turn as it meandered through the dark red rock. To make our journey even more special, we were also driving by the light of the full moon. Rob took that opportunity to turn his lights completely off to see the moonlight glistening off the Colorado and the shadows cast on the rock… and maybe to startle his daughters, in the back of his car, a bit, too. We soon returned to civilization and reality as we turned onto 191, the main road into Moab, to find traffic cones and construction speed limits. I have to admit, at the same time last year, I journeyed to Moab in a different vehicle, and of course, down a different road—in previous chapters of my life, I was a Jeeper. Thinking about what happened on I-70 that night, I wonder what would have been different, had I been in my Jeep. I imagine we would have called AAA and had to have the car towed back to Grand Junction, and my trip, as it was planned, would have been over.
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
On the trails, I found that each obstacle looked smaller, each climb was a little easier, and each time I heard a noise, I wasn’t flat on my back checking everything like I would in the Jeep. The “pucker” factor of obstacles was basically gone. What confidence I have now with a superior truck! A little disclaimer: Jeeps are great off road vehicles. I see the Defender 90 as having similar qualities to the Jeep with the short wheel base, and I cannot knock it beyond saying I now prefer the Land Rover platform above the Jeep. I would still rent a Jeep to get around and maybe play a little in a place like Moab, but driving the Rover was a whole different experience. This time around in Moab, people actually looked at my Rover. Not just the simple “Oh, another built Jeep or Toyota,” but more like an “Ooh, that thing looks capable,” even with that weird exhaust repair. A few looks inside the cab, a few under the body to see what under armor was there, the sandblasted Rover was getting checked out, and the Jeeps seemed a little jealous, even though they said very little. It was a breath of fresh air to see that happen. I was part of a different following: one that may be more dignified, whose members take more pride in their vehicle name, and not some mountain 4x4 shop that puts their pictures and tire covers on everything with 4wd. I may not have tested the Discovery to its fullest yet, but I’ll be ready when the time comes. At least now that if it breaks, I know someone who can fix it. I’ll try and not let that happen. Happy trails!
2010 Land Rover National Rally Moab, Utah Oct. 19 – 23, 2010 Trail Runs for all skill levels Driver training Cocktail Party Car Show Vendor Showcase Raffle Prizes Banquet
Online Registration available at http://landrovernationalrally.org/registration Register Early (Late fees apply after Sept. 19th) For more information: http://landrovernationalrally.org Or contact registration@solihullsociety.org
RoverXchange
Summer 2010
A Letter From the Editor tate.crumbley@solihullsociety.org
A lot has happened in the months since our last issue. As I sent the last RoverXchange to the printer, my wife was upstairs, in labor with our first child. The baby is now four months old, has been camping three times, and loves riding in the Rover. In fact, she attended the spring picnic with my wife…which I didn’t make because I was on the “Three Hour Tour” Lefthand Canyon run. This year, the LR3s have come out in force, leading to a cover and several trip reports (one inside). The LR4 hit dealer lots and looks pretty cool, and now Land Rover has released information on a new compact Range Rover called the Evoque. Spen King, the father of the Range Rover passed away; Land Rover will not comment if this were a result of seeing the Evoque prototype. OK, the last bit I made up, but the timing is quite a coincidence. In the excitement of the moments of the final layout, I missed crediting the Land Rover 10 Commandments by Jeff Aronson to his website, www.landroverwriter.com. Sorry, Jeff! Join me for the 2010 National Rally in Moab that’s coming up in October. My Disco is growing a bit this summer, with bigger tires, some gears, and assorted other parts, so I’m looking forward to trying it out on the slickrock and seeing how my daughter enjoys fourwheeling.
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Lift your LR3: Johnson Rods Lift Your LR3 and RR Sport It’s Easy and Affordable
Hitting the trails this summer with your LR3 or Range Rover Sport will be better than ever with a lift kit from Johnson Rods. Whether you’re planning a trip to Moab, seeking more challenging trails, desire more ground clearance or just need to fit larger tires, the 2.5 inch lift kit from Johnson Rods will get you where you want to go. Johnson Rods LLC, from La Quinta California, has developed a high quality affordable solution to lifting your LR3, LR4 and Range Rover Sport. By replacing your factory height sensor rods with the new ones built by Johnson Rods, the air spring system will increase your vehicle height by 2.5 inches in all operating modes while maintaining full functionality of the terrain response system. Effectively, your every day driving mode will be 2.5 inches higher and your off road mode will be 2.5 inches higher than the stock settings. Ride and comfort are not compromised and the off road performance is notably improved with the added ground clearance. Larger tires like the 32” Goodyear MT/ R’s 275-65-R18 or Silent Armors fit comfortably to further increase height and improve traction for off road prowess. Made from high quality stainless steel and precision tooled for accuracy, the suspension rod lift by Johnson Rods ensures a dependable lift that you can count on. “When I built these rods, dependability and quality were the primary
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by Greg Johnson drivers that when into the product. I chose a fixed (non adjustable) stainless steel rod because this was the most reliable method to ensure an accurate and dependable lift similar to the fixed length OEM part from the factory. By fixing the length, it eliminated any risk of being improperly adjusted and made the installation very simple. Then, by producing the Johnson Rods on high speed precision metal fabrication equipment I was able to make a high quality product incredibly affordable”, said Greg Johnson from Johnsonrods.com. Designed to be used either full or part time, their ease of use, functionality and price are the most common reasons cited behind making this product so successful. It takes only ten minutes to install with no mechanic or special equipment needed. This is a do-it-yourself installation that can be used full time to accommodate larger off road tires or part time–installed the night before, or even at the trailhead–for occasional weekend use. The original factory height sensor rods can be reinstalled easily at any time as needed. To accommodate full-time use, an alignment to adjust the wheel camber is recommended. Priced at $125, we think this stainless steel lift kit is a steal of a deal. To find out more about Johnson Rods log on to: www.johnsonrods.com
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
Experiences of a Rover Dad At 5:45 a.m. my Palm meeting reminder began to buzz. My first thoughts were who on earth wanted me awake that early on a Saturday morning. A review of the appointment said Tate and Dad in Denver. Okay, it’s not a normal thing for Tate to schedule appointments in my calendar, so must have been important. It’s May 15th, his birthday and the morning we were to go on the Solihill Society’s spring trail run. One problem – he was not to pick me up until 7:45. I guess someone forgot there was a two hour time difference between Charlotte and Denver. So much for that planned good night’s sleep! After a long shower to wake up, a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and fresh fruit and double checking for the needs of the day, I was ready to go and waiting out front to be picked up for my first ever Rocky Mountain Rover trail run. At 7:45 a.m. on the dot, Tate’s white Disco rolls up, and I’m ready for a simple drive to Boulder and a pleasant 2 ½ hour trail ride through the base hills of the mountains. At 9:00, we rendezvoused at Starbucks in Boulder but were the first ones there—not a good sign. Fifteen minutes later, ten Rovers had rolled in and what a mix of Rovers it was: John P’s D110, a mix of Discos, three LR3’s and Jeff Corwin’s Range Rover. Not a Jeep in the crowd but a full range of Rovers. Guess I’ll see what they can all do. By 9:30, we were rolling into the trail head. To my amazement, there were large signs posted everywhere: No Shooting. What was that popping noise? Must have been backfiring Rovers, I thought. Don’t be fooled; the hills were full of rifle fire. Never fear. We were a pack of more than 20 and could take on anyone. Hey, at least ten of us were experienced Rovers. On to the first challenge—a simple hill to climb. No sweat. “I’ve done it dozens of times,” was the response by our leader, Jeff Corwin who was first. What’s this? Jeff
RoverXchange
Summer 2010
by Tony Crumbley
had to winch to get up. Guess we had better not try this challenge. Oh, what a little Rocky Mountain mud can do to a morning climb. “Let’s try The Squeeze,” I heard someone say, so off we go down those bumpy, rocky trails. Regardless of the that, Tate called them roads. No way. Elk paths maybe, but not roads. Back home, we’d call them pig paths! About that time, we hear over the radio “hold up.” Up ahead, Andy is off the road, headed down the mountain. We sure were glad it was Andy and not us. Out comes the winch, and 30 minutes later, Andy was taking photos of where his Rover went over to share with his wife back home. Now onto The Squeeze. It didn’t look too bad. Just a few big boulders around a curve that then went up the mountain between a rock wall and a tree that clearly had more bare spots on it than bark. After 30 minutes of coaching from Jeff and John, three cars had made it through The Squeeze. Tate was up next. Did the senior passengers get out and take photos like any sane passenger would? No, we were foolish enough to ride. Halfway through the challenge, the Disco is stuck. Two and a half wheels on the ground and the winch is being unrolled to pull us up. Ah! This is a great time to get out and take a photo. So what does any smart father do for his son? I open the door and start sliding out. Oops! I forgot about gravity, and as soon as I began sliding out, the Disco began heading down the mountain—sideways! One of the spotters grabbed onto the bumper to www.SolihullSociety.org
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counter balance the change in weight, and I slide back in and close the door. Oh well, I guess I get to experience the full Squeeze after all. It’s not too bad once the winch was attached, just a slow ride up the hill with just a few bangs and bumps as we passed over the boulders. Next came Paul in his LR3: “No sweat, I got a button for this,” he said. Sure enough, the button worked and through the Squeeze he went. Next was another LR3. This was going to be a breeze. Half way through, we see tires turning, rocks and mud flying, but no forward movement. “Push the right button, push the right button,” we hear. “Oh yeah, wrong button. This isn’t sand!” Up he went. After nearly two hours of tackling the first challenge, the tailgunner John P brought drove up back with his D110 like he was driving on the interstate. Now we hear, “That’s it for challenges. There’s just a leisurely mountain run the rest of the way.” It seems there was one more challenge. One of the Rover dads was asking for duct tape. “What’s the problem?” we ask. It seems his son had discovered the effects of cactus thorns on jeans. Those of us on the trip also discovered one thing that duct tape could not do: take thorns from a kid’s pants. So for the rest of the ride, the young Rover mate would wear a pair of pants 14
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made from his dad’s hockey socks. What a sight to see! On to the barbecue we thought. It was not well past noon and no more challenges. Over the radio we hear, “Hold up again. Andy’s in the soft stuff again.” My first thoughts were, “ Doesn’t Andy have a ‘soft stuff ’ button?” I guess not. Up the path we traveled, past the mine shafts, the signs that read “Bridge Out, Do Not Pass” and all the beautiful mountain signs with the past week’s remaining snow. Such an exciting day it had been, and we were heading for food, or so we thought. We hear, “Hey, there’s a mine shaft in the middle of the trail up ahead. Do we go over it or around it?” John quickly fired back, “Better not try over as we will tumble down the hill as the trails are too far gone.” It seems those darn buggies had worn it away and made the regular path unsafe. So up goes Jeff in his Range Rover. “Rather difficult,” we all heard him say. Could the next truck do it? No way – it’s time to pull out the straps. We got it up halfway and tried to pull it the rest. This sounded fine, except for one problem – the top of the hill turned hard right, and that made the truck want to flip. So, out with the winches. The next two hours were spent pulling one Rover after the next up the hill, around a mine shaft, which, as we discovered by dropping a few rocks in, was deep and filled with water at the bottom. I was certain by now all the buttons in the LR3’s had been utilized. “What is next?” I ask. “Not much, just a little more trail until we are back to the curve at The Squeeze then we’re headed home.” “What curve?” I ask. “Oh, it won’t be bad,” I’m told. “Oh yeah, we’ll see!” An hour later and with the utilization of every coaching skill from the crew, every Rover was through the 180 degree turn and headed down the trail we had come up that morning. It was now 5:00 p.m.; the barbecue was over by now and surely no surprises were waiting on us. I’d already put this trail to memory when what came over the radio? “Folks, there are two sheriffs on four wheel vehicles up ahead – be careful passing them.” In my mind I could see all 20 of us spending the night in the county jail for something. Just what was needed for a climax to a perfect day! Instead, we got a smile and a “have a nice day, fellows.” On the drive home, Tate called his wife, Norma, to check in. She asked how was it. “Let me just say it was epic.” That pretty well summed it up. Tate turned to me and said, “Well, Dad, isn’t this more fun than stamp collecting?” My response was, “Without a doubt it was fun; however, with stamp collecting, I don’t need an adrenaline rush to make it through the day.” Thanks for the experience, and keep those Rovers moving.
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
2010 National Rally Sponsors
Contact Mike Pomponio for sponsorship info. mike.pomponio@solihullsociety.org
Platinum Platinum Sponsorships are still available.
Gold
Silver
BRITISH4X4LTD. Aurora, Colorado 303-345-3866
Four Color CMYK File Name: equipt_logo_cmyk.eps
Two Color PMS186 / 100K File Name: equipt_logo_2c.eps
One Color PMS186 File Name: equipt_logo_1c.eps
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Summer 2010
Grayscale 100K File Name: equipt_logo_bw.eps
www.SolihullSociety.org
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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.
“Though I have driven off road many times before, I learned some great driving techniques from the class. It was fun to learn more about trail prep, recovery and trail fixes. Bill, I appreciated the mix of serious instruction with fun days on the trail and a good dose of patience for my slightly reluctant Disco.” Sam W., ‘07 “Being new to the sport, I was a little intimidated going into this class. But, thanks to Bill’s easygoing teaching style, I felt right at home. Not only did I learn a lot about the mechanics of my truck and the importance of being prepared, but we tackled some terrain that I wouldn’t have thought possible on my own.” Linda P., ‘08
www.bb4wa.com We hold BLM & USFS permits to operate on public lands.
“A few of us had the chance to spend the weekend wheeling with Bill here in the Northeast…. I have to say it's time well spent and one of the best investments you can make for your wheeling experience and knowledge.” David M., ‘03
●Private Instruction One-on-one with Bill Burke.
●Group Training Comprehensive training programs that include all you need to know about going into the remote back country safety.
●Industrial & Government Training Programs
DVDs by Bill Burke ●Getting UNStuck
●Getting PREpared
Safe recovery techniques. Real life situations!
Watch this DVD before you head out! Includes 8page booklet!
Custom safety programs for organizations that use 4WD vehicles in their operations.
●Trail Leader Training Trail leading is serious business not to be taken lightly. It is also fun if you are prepared for all situations. Learn skills needed to safely lead clubs, friends, and other groups.
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A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
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Summer 2010
www.SolihullSociety.org
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MembershipInformation
Application for Membership/Renewal Please print all information clearly. Name:_________________________________________________________Email:____________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________State_____________________________Zip:_________________________ Home Phone:_______________________________________________Cell Phone:____________________________________________________ Occupation:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Present Land Rovers:______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Past Land Rovers: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May we share the above information with other club members? Type of Application: New member Renewal
Yes
No
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
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Email to member Roster Member card # Welcome packet
A Newsletter for Land Rover Aficionados
DealershipDISCOUNTS
Our members receive exclusive discounts at Denver area Land Rover dealerships
The Colorado Denver East Dealership offers:
15%
DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABOR
Includes courtesy vehicle. Will install customer parts. Contact dealer for details.
The Colorado Flatirons Dealership offers: Flatirons
15%
DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABOR
Superior, Colorado
The Colorado Springs Dealership offers:
15%
DISCOUNT ON PARTS & LABOR
JC’s Rover offers:
10%
DISCOUNT ON LABOR
Parts typically 10%-20% cheaper than list
Green Diamond Tires offers:
10%
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OFF TIRE ORDERS
Summer 2010
www.SolihullSociety.org
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Solihull Society PO Box 480864 Denver, CO 80248-0864