letters to the editor

does look and sound quite used up. That
might explain the email I received from
“Queen Elizabeth’s the II Foundation,”
located on Woodlands Road, Leatherhead
Court, Leatherhead, Surrey, UK.
The “importance notice” came to me
from Mrs. Rainor Neske, who parsimoniously
uses a Yahoo account for all the foundation’s
business. While the Foundation was created
by the Queen herself, the European Union
and the Economic Community for West
African States now seem to support and fund
the organization.
I hate to brag but the Board of Trustees
has selected me as a “final recipient” of a
cash grant/donation for my own “personal,
educational and business development.” I
was quite chuffed – she must have read my
columns – until I read that my selection came
about as “a result of the random selection
exercise of internet websites and millions of
supermarket cash invoices worldwide.” Well,
at any rate, one million pounds awaits me as
soon as I send in my personal information.
I think I’ll just have them send the check
to my account at Rovers North. I’ll start on the
complete restoration of the car shortly; I’m
sure that Rovers North will call as soon as the
check arrives.
_______ ________
Chevrolet has some dealerships in Great
Britain and their market research people
have been busy. According to a survey, 72% of
respondents used their car as a status symbol
but 95% of them have no idea what they look
like behind the wheel of their car. Well, GM
cares about you so they got right on it.
Now a dealership in Wimbledon has set up a
bank of huge mirrors that let you drive your
new Chevy up to them and reflect on your
splendor; “Mirror, mirror, on the wall,” and
all that sort of thing. Chevrolet thinks so
highly of this that they’ve created a television
ad showing male and female twits doing just
that while the Fine Young Cannibals “Good
Thing” plays in the background.
Land Rover dealers know that you look good
in a Rover because it’s a great car, not a hall
of mirrors.
_______ ________
2008 marks the 15th year that I’ve edited The
Rovers North News. With the completion of
this latest issue, I’ve now written over 100
columns and articles for the magazine, and
have easily edited another 200 written by
correspondents. What started for me as
quarterly newsletter has grown into a
handsome magazine.
I grew up with automotive mags,
courtesy of my father, who would get them for
free at his business. It staggered me that
people could get paid to drive new cars, write
about them, and have fun with them for a
living. But in those dark old days, it seemed
that you had to move to Michigan, New York
or California to work for an automotive
magazine. Yuck!
In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, I worked
as a free lance writer for newspapers and had
a few automotive articles published, but I
could not break into enthusiast publications
outside of club newsletters. The more I drove
British vehicles the more I wanted to write
about the experience.
I finally achieved my dream of Land
Rover ownership in
1991 with the
purchase of the QE I.
By 1993, it had
racked up a lot of
miles and the engine
sounded like I
had downloaded the
ringtone for “Jingle
Bells.” Not good. It
sounded terrible
when I gave a talk in
Peacham, Vermont,
so I called Rovers
North, at the other
end of the state and
asked for advice.
“Drive slowly and if
the noises get worse,
call a tow truck.” The
Rover made it. A ring
job also replaced the
pistons and emptied
my bank account. I
went up to the firm’s
president, Mark
Letorney, and asked
RoversNorth
Absorbs Remaining LRCP Inventory
The Coolest
Place on Earth
A SeriesIII
RunsWith the Deere
First Impressions
The All New1967 LandRover 109”
“do you need a writer for your newsletter”
By good fortune, he did. So I wrote my first
articles and a year later, when the editor left
the company, I took over that post.
It was a leap of faith for Rovers North
and a heaven-sent opportunity for me. I’ve
gone from camera-ready photos and copy to
the internet and have benefited from the
professionalism of the Rovers North staff.
Equally satisfying are the connections I’ve
made with Land Rover enthusiasts in the US
and around the world. We’ve published
articles from all corners of the US, introduced
new writers and columnists of all ages and
Land Rover experiences. What we share in
common are the experiences that Land Rover
automobiles make possible for us; let’s
continue as Land Rover celebrates its 60th
birthday this year.
_______ ________
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