letters to the editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Rovers North,
Our 24th Birthday Party at Silver Lake,
Ontario, was blessed with super weather,
great attendance and enough mud to wear
with pride.
We are writing on behalf of everyone
who attended this year’s event to thank you
for your generous donations and continued
support. Having a successful fund raising
auction is key to continuing our club’s
annual traditional premier event.
Jean-Leon Morin, President
David Pell, Secretary/Treasurer
Kevin Newell, Off Road Coordinator
Ottawa Valley Land Rovers
Carp, ON
Canada
[Rovers North congratulates you and your
organization for another sterling event. It’s
a highlight of the North American event
calendar –ed.]
Dear Sirs:
I have always loved Land Rovers. I guess it is
foremost the design of the older series that
got me interested many years ago. Around
2000 I bought my first Land Rover, a 1996
Discovery. I only kept it for 3 years as I found
maintaining it through the local dealership
expensive. However, I knew deep down
I would never be content until I owned
another Rover.
About 3 years ago a fellow resident
opened up a restaurant, where I would see
his Series Rover, sometimes pulling a small
trailer filled with restaurant equipment or
picking up supplies. I was impressed that he
drove it daily; the dents and the general
condition only added to its character.
For several years my wife continued to
say “no” to my pleas to purchase another
Rover. My first wish was a Defender 90 but all
the vehicles I priced were out of my range.
Then one day a friend and I drove to
Snohomish to see the cars at Black Cat
Antiques. Imagine my surprise and delight to
when I saw a 1971 late IIA sitting in their
store. It was exactly what I had been looking
for, mostly original with many restored
features, a solid runner with a lot of
character. Well, I immediately called my wife.
She could hear the excitement in my voice as
I described it to her.
After purchasing the car, the owner made
certain that I had a copy of The Rovers North
News. I immediately ordered a jump seat for
the back as well as other items. Within a week
I had taken possession of the Series IIA and
I’ve spent many hours tinkering, cleaning and
driving it.
I feel that the older models embody
the original spirit, rugged design and
functionality of what I was looking for in a
Land Rover. Thanks for your terrific service
and friendly staff at Rovers North.
4
Ben Harrison
Duvall, WA
[Yes, we admire the Series I – III models,
too. Enthusiasts with Discovery I-II vehicles
have found that many of the expensive
repairs once required at dealerships can be
accomplished with the right parts, tools,
and expert assistance. We’re always happy
to help –ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
If, on these cold winter evenings, after a long
day out in the garage under your favorite Land
Rover, you’re ready for a bit of “armchair
Rovering,” peck out www.imcdb.org/vehicles
into your computer and before your eyes
will be displayed a listing of nearly every
automotive conveyance that has ever
appeared in a movie or on television. Find
“Land Rover” in the listing and you’ll find
some 1,187 different titles listed. Besides the
usual Solihull Land Rovers, there are also
listings for the more esoteric models such as
the Cuthbertson tracked Land Rover, the
Minerva, the Santana as well as the interesting
Tempo.
Sorry to say that in this snowy season my
baby (’64 IIA 88”) is at the Cooper Technica
shop for the installation of a set of LED
running/brake/turn signal lights as well as
delving into a box of gears to see why 4WD is
being particularly reluctant and troublesome
of late. Can’t complain really, as it’s been
several years since anything’s gone wrong
with my daily driver.
Glenn Shriver
Chicago, IL
[Good luck with the new lamp installation.
Let us know how they work out for you –
ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the
Rovers North News. I really enjoyed Mike
Koch’s article “Simply Irresistible.” The only
thing, I was very sad that there were 5 pictures
(including the cover) of his white RRC.
My Dad has owned a ’91 RRC for about 10
years and I have a ’93 LWB, and never get
tired of seeing pictures of them. Mike talked
about his leather seats but we never got to see
any cabin shots.
D. Aaron Conway
St. Louis Park, MN
[Range Rover owners tend to become
Range Rover enthusiasts and Mike’s article
help detail just why that happens. Glad you
enjoyed the article. Why not send us some
photos of your Range Rover? –ed]
Hello Rovers North,
We’ve been receiving the Rovers North News
ever since my husband got his beloved
Defender 90. Two Christmas’ ago, he got me
a ’94 Range Rover Classic, and I was delighted
to read “Simply Irresistible” in the Winter
2008 issue. Mike Koch’s love for his Classic is
exactly the love I have for mine (which also
has only 3 working windows). I fell in love
with Range Rovers 10 years ago when my
husband and I were driving behind one just
like my current car. We were expecting our
first boy and times were tough. I remember
telling my mother that Christmas how much I
wish I owned a Range Rover. She smiled and
said, “one day, dear, you’ll see, one day.”
Which is why, that this Christmas, after many
beautiful and hard moments in our life, and
all the hard work of my adored husband
(who deserves every part he owns of the
Defender), I could not stop crying when I
realized my dream came true. My Range
Rover is not brand new nor the most
economical or most luxurious car but it is my
dream come true. In his Defender or in mine
together with our two boys, we feel – like
Mike said – “imperial.”
Alejandra Ortiz-Jimenez
Santa Ana, CA
[Mike appreciates your comments and yes,
still loves his Range Rover Classic as much
as you like yours –ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
This note is to let you know we are still alive
and functioning even though we haven’t
ordered anything recently. We to keep you
apprised of our progress in renovating our
1963 Carawagon but sadly there has been
none. The “inland hurricane” of August 2007
laid a heavy hand on us as it passed directly
over the ranch. We narrowly avoided the loss
of house and shop and Land Rover, but
damage to the canyon has been widespread
and severe. Since that first storm we have had
three others of less magnitude but all
furthered the damage to the “big one.”
We look forward to each issue of The
Rovers North News and use it to window shop
endlessly.
As an aside, my first Land Rover experience
goes back to 1965 during the erection of
a petroleum production facility in the Trucial
States, particularly the sheikdom of Abu
Dhabi. I had two company cars assigned for
my use, both 109” station wagons of a ’62-’64
vintage, all new and shiny to begin with and
with large low pressure desert tires. At that
time, the old desert hands told me only two
types of vehicles could survive a year’s service
in the Rub-al-Khali (southern desert); they
were the Land Rover and the Dodge Type D
light truck. I still enjoy looking through some
old slides and seeing my Rover and the
Trucial-Oman Scouts military Rovers at work.
Thanks again for The Rovers North
News, and you will be hearing from us when
we progress on our project.
Robert and Irene Pugh
Loafers Glory Ranch