Howdy Y’All!
I thought you might enjoy this description of a photo I found in the December 2006 issue of Vanity Fair. I’m not sure what the accompanying article was about as most of the magazine had been destroyed by the rainstorm and subsequent flooding of our Hardened Aircraft Shelter [HAD]. Never thought I’d have to deal with a monsoon in the desert. The photo is of Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother waving to a crowd during the royal tour of New Zealand and Australia in 1958. Of course, they’re standing in the back of a Royal Series II. The photo caption reads, “‘I see no point at all in being poor,’” the late Queen Mother is supposed to have said.” I thank you for your time and a great magazine.

Paul Thornburg, Sgt
LSA Anaconda, Iraq
Austin, TX

[Yes, Sir, I find that caption very funny, too, Sir! Enjoy your return to Texas –ed]

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Dear Editor,
I am the proud owner of a 2003 Discovery II who has unfortunately been kept apart from it while assigned in Korea for the past three years (My Disco has been lovingly maintained by my retired Air Force colonel father-in-law in the dry desert of New Mexico). A happy reunion will occur upon my final return to the US on 11 July, coupled with a long reacquaintance drive across the country. As a homecoming gift for me, I have purchased a new Brownchurch roof rack from Rovers North – just to make sure I can get my family and all our stuff back East to our next duty station in Rhode Island.

Paul Duray, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
Alamogordo, NM

[Sir, if you want someone to expose your Discovery to New England winters, I volunteer to drive it for you – Sir! –ed.]

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Thank you Rob!
I run the e-commerce site of a large windsurf/ surf website and wanted to send a big “Thank You” to your staff there. Not only were these parts easy to find on the site, they were also the best prices around, and the gentleman I spoke with quickly on the phone to confirm that I’d ordered the right parts was VERY helpful.

As a first time owner of a 1990 Range Rover Classic, I look forward to doing much more business with Rovers North down the road.

Thanks again,
Greg Pearson
Newport, RI

[The Range Rover is an extraordinary engineering marvel in its first iteration of 1970 – 1996]. You have one of the early-to-the- US Range Rovers, the one that a lot of enthusiasts covet! Thanks to Land Rover Genuine Parts, you’ll be able to keep it in great condition for a long time. We appreciate your professional compliments on our web site, too –ed.]

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Dear Mark,
Another Land Rover magazine just arrived yesterday. It is not the magazine I was hoping for. Alas, the stories are all about the new generation of Land Rover owners. The market dictates what people are looking for, so now a trip to the mall is more in demand that a trip over the mountains….

I would agree with John Robison’s lament, “where have all the simple, rugged Land Rovers gone?” It would appear that their owners are finding their way to Rovers North. They, like me, want to keep “the old guard” on duty. Thanks to you and your staff for being there when we need you.

Leighton Ogg
Houston, TX

[At Rovers North we adore and support all Land Rover models. Over the decades we’ve noticed that the market is abetted by government regulations that mandate against “simple cars.” Fortunately, Land Rover continues to make them “rugged.” –ed]

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Dear Rovers North,
We are still immensely enjoying our 1973 NAS Series III with about 21,000 miles (which resides in Manchester, VT), thanks to the help of Rovers North. I really love the magazine and particularly Jeff’s musings on Land Rover ownership. Sadly, Julie and I can’t make it to the British Invasion for the second year in a row thanks to school starting for our 6 year old. We always enjoy chatting with Jeff there and the camaraderie of other British vehicle enthusiasts – Land Rover owners in particular.

Kurt Krauss
Newark, NJ

[We missed you and your handsome Series III at this year’s event. Next year, let your son play hooky from school –we’ll provide him with a note. Glad you enjoy the magazine –ed].

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Hello,
I hope you are all enjoying a grand summer – been a lot of fun over here across Lake Champlain from you. Though to be honest I’ve spent far more time indoors at my desk than I’d like. That said, I’ve put in my fair share of Rovering to get to out-of-the-way places to enjoy the good weather here in the Adirondacks.

Paul Hai
Roosevelt Wildlife Station
Newcomb, NY

[Couldn’t you just claim that driving your Land Rover through the Adirondacks counts as “work?” You could search out wildlife as you drive –ed.]

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Dear Editor,
I’m a long time Land Rover owner, going back to my 1970 Series II-A with the spare tire on the bonnet. I sold it in 1994 when I moved to Palm Beach – had to for creature comfort. My current Discovery Series I has 122,500 miles. The only repair I’ve made so far is to install a new fuel pump back in 2000. I can’t wait for more to happen as I love ordering parts from Rovers North. Now I’m sure the Lord will get me for being so “cocky.” I have exciting news. I intend to be the first Discovery owner to mount a spare tire on the hood – what a sight that will be! It’s being done at this writing. It shows how much I miss my II-A.

Richard Gerhardt
North Palm Beach, FL

[You might want to take the hood support 45 bar off your II-A to help the springs on the Discovery’s hood once you mount that spare tire. It will look quite impressive –ed.]

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Hi Guys,
Here’s a photo of my semi-finished project, a 300 Tdi Hi-Cap Pickup. It took 3 years and many phone calls and parts from Rovers North. Thanks!

Bob Wisner

[Congratulations on a stunning Land Rover! We’re delighted to work with you and hope you’ll visit us in person some day so we can see your Rover –ed].

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Hi Rovers North,
I took these pictures in Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania last June. The well worn Defender Safari Land Rover was driven into a small ditch. It was finally removed by stacking up both spare wheels in the ditch, jacking it up and driving it back onto the road. We (me and Louie Breytenbach, the really big Afrikaner in the photo) were in another Land Rover when we came upon the stuck one. Hope you like them.

Greg Warchol
Univeristy of New Mexico

[Those are recovery techniques I have used when, ahem, I have found myself stuck in a ditch. –ed]

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Dear Rovers North,
Here are a few photos of a trip we just took across Alaska in our ’62 109” Dormobile. We did a lot of fishing and had a great time. We would love to see our Rover in your magazine. Thanks,

Clint, Barb, Keegan and Kelley Ragan
Northstar, AK

[We also love to see your Dormobile in our magazine and we hope you’ll share more photos with us in the future –ed.]

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Sir,
I recently purchased a Brentwood Home Video “Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom: The African Wild” 10 episode, 3 DVD set. There is an open cab, short wheelbase bronze green Series II with an interesting looking (read – funny) roll cage used in a zebra/giraffe capture segment in Rhodesia, and a light blue, long wheelbase, also open cab, Series II used in an elephant capture segment in the Republic of South Africa. I mention this as many US Land Rover fans’ first encounter with these mythical vehicles was via these early Wild Kingdom episodes, and folks may want to check these DVDs out to see historic rugged Land Rovers used in a seemingly appropriate and beautiful setting. Thanks for a wonderful magazine that keeps improving. Keep up the good work, Rovers North!

Dr. Lee Smith
Hastings, NE

[You’re absolutely right. For many Americans their first sightings of a Land Rover were through these television programs. We’re delighted that you enjoy the magazine; we’re always looking to upgrade it every issue –ed.]

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Dear Rovers North,
This Series Rover looks like it’s used up its nine lives and was finally retired from the road, but not from productive service. Looks like a great way to extend the usefulness of any ol’ Rover (instead of the scrap heap). It’s located in the Tivoli Amusement Park in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thanks for being such a great supplier of parts and advice!

Ken Porter
Amherst, MA

[We love the photo. Thanks for being such a great customer and enthusiast –ed.]

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Hi Guys,
My bro and I were up past the Arctic drainage of Canada last summer and came across an old Rover. It was in rather sad shape but was complete except for the gearboxes. We were about 8 days out on a 9 day canoe trip when we discovered it. What caught our attention was the corner of a roof through the trees. The Rover was behind the cabin, which in turn was on an island in a long lake. I’m sure the Rover was driven over the ice which was probably its principal use, as the island was very small, maybe 10 acres at the most. I think the foot pedals were also out of the floor rather than hanging.

Will Moffitt
Anacortes, WA

[Pedals moving through the floor would mean it’s a Series I. What a remarkable find! If you can send some photos, please do so –ed.]

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Dear Rovers North,
To my surprise while on Cape Cod I came across two rare 1997 Special Edition Defenders of which there were only 300 for the US market – all decked out in Khaki and White. I did not go there in my Defender, but took the Discovery instead. It was a pleasure to see two of the Special Edition Defenders and a lot of other Land Rovers there. The owner of one of the Defenders will be up to see you – he’s heading up to Maine and then Vermont.

Wayne Bishop
Ste-Anne-des-Lacs
Quebec, CANADA

[Land Rover has always been small enough to create small runs of special models of their vehicles. The Defender 90 Station Wagons will always be special, too –ed.]

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Hi Guys,
I once belonged to the Bay State Rover Owners Association in Massachusetts and did a bit of off-roading with a Discovery I in your neck of the woods (MA, VT, ME). In fact, I was in one of your publications with a picture and caption that read “the recovery of a Discovery in action.” I have since moved to the Florida Keys. I was at the Palomino event that was written up in your Spring issue. It’s ironic that I camped in New England from May through October every year and never had to wear so much winter clothing until we attended this event in Florida.

I want to thank you for you technical advice over the years and I always look forward to your next publication.

Tim King
Mangrove Marina
Tavernier, FL

[If you ever need a Land Rover owner to transport a boat from New England to the Florida Keys, preferably in the winter, please let me know –ed.]