Dear Rovers North,
Thanks for reprinting the Land Rover Enthusiast article a couple of years ago [Summer 2005 article by Kevin Girling -ed] about Land Rover Centurion Adventures in South Africa. I was finally able to go this past week for a 7 day Ivory Route trip. It was absolutely fabulous and well done. Our guide, Gerard van Megaarden, was very professional and knowledgeable. I wrote a journal of the trip and took hundreds of pictures to remember it by. The Defender 110’s with the Tdi motor worked so well in the challenging off road environment. If anyone wants information, please have them contact me.

Paul Kiszely
Via Email

[You can contact Paul through pzkisz [at] hotmail.com. We’d love to share your experience with our readers, too –ed]

Dear Rovers North,

I have to say that Rovers North News keeps getting better. Erika, my daughter, and I thoroughly enjoy it! Erika is quite a Rover enthusiast and hopes to drive one of them to school when she gets her license. Our most epic trip to date was when she was 12 years old. She and I drove our Discovery across Canada to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and back. We slept outdoors on my specially designed roof platform for 31 of the 34 days of our 8,586 mile trip. Our last night was spent in the Rovers North back parking lot. I am so pleased that our Land Rover and Rovers North gave us this lifetime experience.

Stewart Olson
Leverett, MA

[So it was you! We wondered who was sleeping in the Discovery in the back lot! You’ll probably enjoy the story in this issue of the Western Canada family trip; we’d love to have yours, too. –ed]

Dear Editor,

A note to you regarding the “Loyalty to Rovers” Clan; I am one of them, however, taken into actual consideration of facts and frustration there comes a point in time when loyalty has its cost.

While living in Vermont I was advised by none other than Rovers North to purchase a 1989 Range Rover. Rather than deal with the cold, long winter driving 30 mountain miles to my dental office, the Series Land Rover was not a choice under those conditions. The Range Rover spent more time on the dealer’s flatbed than all my previous vehicles combined. Loyalty, well, yes, I still loved it except for the habit of doing 180 degree turns on the Middlesex [VT] mud and ice. I installed stabilizer bars and eliminated the fashionable Rover so-called articulation.

I drove the 1989 well into 1999 and my winter retirement in Taos, NM. The tailgate, gas lines and more rusted away and I traded it for a rust-free but tatty 1960 Series II 109” Station Wagon. At first, my wife thought I had lost my mind – I tended to agree. Behold, after a transmission rebuild, paint job and general work on the 109”, it won her over. It is the basis for real Land Rover loyalty. I then tried another Range Rover, a ’91 Classic. This is a dependable, relatively easy to maintain vehicle. Now comes my latest, a 1973 Series III 88”. I towed it to Nachitoches, LA, our fall/spring home, and over the past few weeks I’ve been putting the finishing touches on the vehicle, readying it to be my Louisiana driver. The Weber carb runs fine but the vacuum line is not hooked up because it runs poorly when it’s attached. Yes, home in New Mexico is a 7,000 ft; home in Louisiana is at 70 feet. Any suggestions?

Last but not least, I’ve replaced my Range Rover with a new Toyota FJ Cruiser – security, peace of mind and I think it will do anything or more than those new hi-tech Range Rovers. Loyalty to these cars is out the door!!

Dr. Ed Kollar
Taos, NM

[We will certainly forgive you your temporary indiscretion of identifying a replicar like the FJ with a Range Rover. They’re really quite different automobiles, and even Toyota has been struck with reliability problems on its range of automobiles. Maybe the new FJ is just the right car for you at this time. As for the Weber and the vacuum hose, check the Haynes manual for the emission controls of that vintage. Any advice would depend on what’s still on the engine right now. Let us know when you’re coming home to Vermont for a visit –ed.]

Dear Mark,

Just received a little box from Rovers North – a mug. What a great way to brighten up a day! The “Sightings” is a good way to keep us looking for what all of us that have Rover fever, are looking for anyway. The new format for the Rovers North News sure does look good. The Rovers North News keeps us informed, driving an old Rover can keep us humble. I think I can related to Mr. Aronson’s experience with his QE I than with Mr. Carvey and his beloved “Bessie” [see October 2006 issue –ed].

Leighton Ogg
Houston, TX

[Thanks for the compliments and enjoy your coffee in the Sightings mug. I have owned the QE I for only 17 [not 50, like Mr. Carvey] years, and yes, it has broken down. –ed]
Dear Rovers North,

In November 2006 I started calling your company for parts to rebuild a 1967 Series II-A. I have worked with Les, Steve and Mike. I have found each of these gentlemen to be extremely knowledgeable, very patient with someone who doesn’t know much about this vehicle, and always willing to help answer my questions and provide me with the parts and advice I need. All too often, the management of any company hears only about those things that go wrong. I wanted to be one who shared with you a continual story of success and appreciation for the quality of people you have staffing your parts/sales department. They all have done an outstanding job for me and I wanted you to know that. Thank you and your staff for being there when I need you!

Gerald Ray
Via email

[Les, Steve and Mike have developed a lot of patience because I’ve called in before you each time – after a question from me, nothing sounds ridiculous to them! Thanks for taking the time to let us know when things go well, too. Send us photos of your II-A; we’d love to share your success with our readers –ed.]

Dear Rovers North,

Thanks so much for the wonderful and helpful support for parts and advice on the Discovery. Arthur is always helpful, frequently answers the phone after hours, and is there with advice and assistance during installation. Great job, Arthur! Hold onto Arthur – he is what we as customers look for in every vendor we use from A to Z.

John McDaniel
Dallas, TX

[Oh no, not another fan of Arthur! He’s not the famous aardvark, you know! Did his mother make you write this? –ed]

Hi Guys,

I just had to email you and tell you how much I enjoy looking at the pics on your website. I envy you. I am rebuilding a 1969 Series Land Rover but it will never see the country you guys have over there in the USA.
I have enclosed a picture of my Land Rover’s last trek before the complete re-build. I went off roading at 01:00 am with one headlamp and no jacket in the middle of winter, (stupid, I know). I straddled something under the water and there she stood until the next day before a friend pulled her out. I had to break the ice before I could open the door. Hey, the course was there and it had to be done!

All the best,

Colin Bull
Pitsford, Northamptonshire
England

[We stare in admiration at the cropped greenery of Jolly Olde England, but we do appreciate the vast tracts of land we have for off-roading here in North America. Of course, we’ve never gotten our Rovers stuck [yeah, right!] – ed.

Dear Rovers North,

Just want to thank your parts guys from really outstanding service. It is very refreshing to deal with people who practice what they preach, i.e., real customer service. Our local Land Rover dealer suffers from the “we’re much better than you” mindset. As long as I own a Land rover, I’ll be coming to you for my parts.

Brian Sylvester
Goochland, VA

[Then we certainly hope you own a Land Rover for a long, long time! –ed.]

My Dear Editor,

Best wishes for a happy holiday season and may it be a most prosperous one. And, by the way, I very much like your emerging new website. When done, it will be a joy to use; which, the old one was decidedly not.

Rex B. Stratton
Vashon Island, WA

[See our article on the revised website in this issue, and thanks to Thompson Smith, our webmaster at Rovers North –ed.]

Dear Editor,

Thanks for the great catalog and the Rovers North News!

James Douglas
Dallas, OR

[Your welcome, James. Keep up your enjoyment of your Discovery –ed]

Dear Editor,

Each edition of the Rovers North News gets better and better and I drop whatever I’m doing to read it when it arrives. I especially enjoy the Rover travelogues and adventures. Keep ‘em coming! Best wishes for a healthy Happy Holiday season – go forth and prosper!

Henry Gould
Deerfield Beach, FL

[Then you’ll enjoy the latest travelogue through western Canada in this issue –ed.]

Dear Rovers North,

Here’s a photo of my Rover hard at work delivering a new appliance. The location is Great Comanol, British Virgin Islands. This island of 27 houses has at least 12 Land Rovers in use.

Tom Gall
Southbury, CT

[Well, that answers the question of why you have a rectangular spare tire you mounted on the hood –ed]

•