letters to the editor

EMPLOYEE PROFILE:
Koch on Koch
Where did you grow up and what brought you to Vermont?
I grew up about twenty miles north of New York City and moved to
Burlington, Vermont to attend the University of Vermont. During my
senior year, something clicked and I felt like I needed to stay in
Vermont. I really appreciate
the pace of life and
landscape of Vermont in
comparison to the New
York metro area.
How would you
describe what you do
at Rovers North?
I have been working in
the Sales Department
since October of 2002,
especially enjoying helping
customers who
depend on their old
Rovers as daily drivers. I
can empathize when your
one and only vehicle
requires unexpected service and your life momentarily grinds to a
halt, while all your friends and family look on in complete
bewilderment as to why you insist on driving an old Rover.
In addition, I proof and write articles for the Rovers North News.
Working at Rovers North is great, because it allows me to meld my
favorite hobby with a fun work environment.
Describe your most interesting Land Rover experience:
Having the dashboard of my 90 catch fire on the way home from
swimming in Lake Champlain one hot summer evening, was rather
“interesting” at the time. Armed with a fire extinguisher and a wet
bathing suit, I managed to keep the carnage of melted wires and
plastic to a minimum. Then there was the time I was stripping the
paint off my 90, using Aircraft Stripper, and ended up in the
Emergency Room…
What Land Rovers have you owned?
The first Land Rover I owned was a bit of a project…an old hardtop
90, in which I installed a 200 Tdi. Here was this worn-out Land
Rover, sans engine, and I made it my project to rehabilitate it for daily
use. Up until that time, this was my most involved automotive technical
experience, both equally frustrating and rewarded along the way.
Once it was on the road, it was my only vehicle. That summer, I drove
it just about every weekend to Land George, NY (about a 2-hour drive
from Burlington, VT), down backcountry roads, to go boating with
my friends from UVM. One late summer afternoon, a camo 1978
Series III 109” military pulled in to Rovers North and within a few
days, I was its new owner and my 90 was instantly sold. I still regret
selling that 90, but at the time I had this overwhelming urge to own a
Series Rover. The 109” was fun to drive because every time I got
behind the wheel, it felt like an adventure; however, it was my only
vehicle and I found myself renting cars to attend a series of weddings
scattered throughout New England. I sold it soon after acquiring my
1993 Range Rover SWB this past autumn, which I utilize as a daily
driver today. I just wasn’t using the 109” as much anymore and felt
that it deserved a better
home. My Range Rover
Classic puts a smile on my
face whenever I turn the
key, because there’s
something that makes
you feel special when
you’re driving a Range
Rover Classic.
Which one of them
was your favorite and
why?
I appreciate them all for
different reasons. I’ve
had many fond memories
driving and living with all
three of them. If I had to
pick one, it would be my old 90. It was one of the most reliable
vehicles I’ve owned. Being a diesel, it sounded like a real truck. At
the time I owned it, I lived about an hour from work in North
Ferrisburg, VT and fuel efficiency was paramount. Unlike my 109” it
could keep up with modern traffic on the highway, yet still had a
vintage feel with its spare tyre mounted on the bonnet. During
the summer, I’d remove door tops for the entire season and
occasionally had to deal with sitting in a damp seat when it rained.
Prior to liquidating it, I installed a cab top, which made the interior
more comfortable during winter. All my friends loved it and to this
day confirm that I was crazy to part with it.
What activities do you do when you’re not at Rovers North?
I am fanatical about owning and maintaining older European cars.
From vintage souped-up Alfa Romeos to air-cooled Volkswagens,
there have been about sixteen cars that I have employed as fun,
quirky daily drivers. I enjoy hiking, snow shoeing, snowboarding,
working on my historic condo, music, photography, cooking and
wine.
How have Land Rovers influenced your life?
After buying my first Land Rover, I’ve always had to have one in “the
stable.” They have incorporated themselves into my life in so many
ways. For instance, I solely used my 109” to move the entire contents
of my apartment when I bought my condo last summer. It took many
trips to get the job done and I had to take extra measures to ensure
nothing got cracked or scratched, given the rough ride of
three-decade-old military leaf springs.
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