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4th<br />
Annual<br />
All-Metal<br />
Dash<br />
Rover<br />
Meet<br />
Story & Photos by: Don Flye<br />
PETERSHAM, MA, September 22-23 - The weather was ideal<br />
for the 4th Annual ALL-Metal Dash Rover Meet weekend in<br />
Petersham. Many showed up Friday afternoon from as far away<br />
as Michigan.<br />
A large number vendors did well with their used parts,<br />
too. George Maattala brought in a 109” with a six-cylinder<br />
Chevrolet engine for sale plus a truckload of parts. Garrett<br />
Bourgue came in with a 109” lengthened to 140” (wheelbase)<br />
with a Ford drivetrain, loaded with Land Rover parts.<br />
On Saturday morning, the first tech session was by Les<br />
Parker of Rovers North on the electrical system of the Series<br />
Land Rovers, followed by Alan Richer on overhauling the<br />
windshield wiper motor units. These units are loaded with<br />
small springs, washers and other small parts that have to go<br />
in exactly to the right place with special grease that cost<br />
$150.00 a tube.<br />
The third session was by Tom Bache on solid button head<br />
aluminum rivets. These were hammered in with an air gun<br />
tooled with special mandrel, which conforms to the rivet head.<br />
Late in the afternoon, an adventurous Mike Flye led a<br />
group of Rovers green laning (off-roading). His first attempt<br />
had a gate across at the far end. This could have been easily<br />
bypassed, except Garrett’s 140” was not designed for sharp<br />
maneuvers. Upon returning to the start, another route was<br />
selected. This, once again, was very good for some distance<br />
until they approached a very low place that the beavers had<br />
flooded. Due to the Land Rovers not being equipped<br />
with snorkels or drivers’ courage, they again returned to<br />
the highway.<br />
Mike, still determined to green lane to a restaurant, led a<br />
third attempt. This one got them through, but after dark.<br />
The remainder of the evening was spent back at the site around<br />
a campfire.<br />
On Sunday there was a short breakfast run, then back for<br />
more socializing and trading of parts.<br />
_______ ________<br />
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