Here in New England our colorful leaves now decorate our fields and roads instead of our trees. It won’t be long before snow obliterates our fields and roads. Then we’ll need lots of paper to get those woodstoves going. Fortunately, Sighters from the US and Canada have sent a bountiful supply of entries that warrant emptying out the crockery cupboards at Rovers North. As always it’s helpful for rookies - and useful as a reminder for the grizzled veterans as well - to review the rules for Sightings,

Rule # 1 - All Sightings receive recognition and our appreciation, but not necessarily a mug. We reward only those Sightings that capture the unique qualities of Land Rovers and their owners, and display them in a distinctive way.

Rule #2 - If your Sighting does not really surprise you, it won’t surprise us, either, and you won’t get a mug. We’re delighted, but not surprised, that Land Rovers appear in British television programmes, British publications, films with British themes, and shows about African safaris. You shouldn’t be surprised, either, and should consider looking for other ways to get a coffee mug.

Rule #3 - At an ever-changing date before publication we close off the Sightings. If we’ve mentioned the Sighting in an earlier issue, we won’t mention it again. If you’re new to the family of Land Rover enthusiasts, you may not have seen your Sighting in an earlier issue. Rule #4 - We’re not outfitting your kitchen. If you qualify, please remember - one mug per Sighting per issue.

Rule #5- Sightings that are Land Rover references in books go to our Literary Land Rover editor for mention, but only when space permits.

Rule #6 - Psst… if we can’t read you name and address because of atrocious penmanship, we can’t recognize your Sighting nor send you a mug. Psst…E-mail submissions - remember we can’t send a mug by e-mail. Send us your real name and shipping address, too.

Rule #7 - Grudgingly, very grudgingly, the Editor admits he might make an error. Let me know if you think you’ve been jobbed, but all decisions of the Editor are final.

Land Rover enthusiasts admire well-engineered, beautifully machined items of many sorts. So when Beretta chose to put a Series III soft top on the cover, we received a deluge of entries. As Sighter John McShane, Sudbury, VT, wrote, “it is always interesting to me that advertisers are convinced that the public is aware of the Land Rover legend and belieive that Land Rovers convey a positive and appealing image.” Nicely said, and congratulations, also, to Jeff Nichols, Fairhaven, MA, David Kolstad, Carlisle, MA, Michael Beckley, Sheridan, OR, Shawn Palmer, Cumming, GA, Chris Nestor, Michael Kermes and Larry Goldstock, [see Rule #6], Allen Padgett, Lafayette, GA, Kurt Krauss, Newark, NJ, Paul Hai, Newcomb, NY, William Mariano, Manchester Center, VT, Eric Stussy, Minneapolis, MN, Glenn Shriver, Chicago, IL, Pat Harris, Wilton, CT, Stephen Johnson, Johns Island, SC, Jared McNabb, Boston, MA, Bernard McMahon, Washington, DC and Roy Owens, Fairfax, VA,.

Insurance companies search out everything from cavemen to geckos to get attention, but the savvy ones use Land Rovers. Farmers Help Point Insurance put a Defender in its ads and that attracted the attention of Tim King, Tavernier, FL, Ben Buchanan, New Haven, OH, Bill Tanner, Dawsonville, GA, Greg Hollingsworth, Cocherster, CT, Matt Chelf, Wooster, OH, Chris Whybrew, Phoenix, AZ, Allen Minner, Carnation, WA, Vincent Coratello [see Rule #6] and Karen Sindir [see Rule #6].

Texaco applauds the Arizona Land Rover Club in a national ad campaign. Patricia Jansen, Leesburg, VA, Eric DeRochambeau, N. Kingston, RI, Eric Allen, Burtonville, MI, Milt Milner, Hendersonville, NC, Andrew Turner, El Paso, TX, and Sherry Block, Hadlyme, CT. Mobil 1 Oil uses a Land Rover to demonstrate its toughness. Debra Scialia, Marcellus, NY, Brian Ross, Cold Spring, KY, Kim Nichols, Kennesaw, GA, and Doug Shepard [see Rule #6].

Lots of advertisers need Land Rovers to enhance their products. Star Clipper Cruise Lines combines an open Defender 110 and beautiful indigenous women on its brochure for South Pacific tours, reports Robert Graves, Indianapolis, IN. Michael Lendvoyi, Washougal, WA, noted a Defender in a Chaps display at his local Kohl’s. LTC Paul Duray, Alamogordo, NM and Allen Padgett, Lafayette, GA both noted that Pelican put an early Range Rover into its ad for field lamp kits. Eric Stussy, Minneapolis, MN, noted that an American Express mailer enticed you with a 20% and a photo of a Land Rover. Cole Haan shoes wants you to believe that a slender woman wearing thick high heel shoes is tightening a lug nut on a Range Rover Sport, notes Sara Dominguez, Branford, CT. There’s a clothing ad in Shape Magazine that features the rear end of 109”, reports Nathan Purney, Atlanta, GA.

Safari photos with Land Rover usually fall under Rule #2 but this safari sighting is an ad for a laser eye surgery office in Indianapolis, notes Robert Graves of Indianapolis. Free People puts out a catalogue that used a green Defender with a roof rack “along with some model person,” reports Sean Harmon, Hampden, ME. Pete Novak, Barrington, IL, noted that Emerson used two Defender 110’s to showcase their services. Steve Fireash, Hernando, MS, found a Defender 90 in use in an English scene as part of a UPS ad. Catherine Inoa, Yonkers, NY, found an American Express ad using a topless Defender on safari for its trip insurance program. Working for NATO in central Norway, Hampton Huckins, Chelmsford, MA, watched a Jack Nicholson film called “Profession: Reporter” set in North Africa. Sure enough, there’s a Rover stuck in the desert sand. The new movie “National Treasure II” will feature a Series II 109”, according to Mark Kellgren, Charlotte, NC. The new movie “Kingdom” has its heroes riding around in a Range Rover Classic, notes Chris Whybrew, Phoenix, AZ. Dan Rao, Great Mills, MD, noted a Range Rover Classic being blown up in a movie shoot at Eastern Market. In “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Danny DeVito drives a late ‘80’s Range Rover, according to Oolson Delancy, Guilford, CT.

Jonathan Sabata, Columbia Heights, MN, notes that National Geographic Adventure magazine ran an article on the best places to live and play. They included an LR3 in the article. Chris Whybrew, Phoenix, AZ noted a Range Rover used in a Wolf Appliances TV commercial. Departures Magazine had a brief commentary on conservation efforts for the Siberian tiger. What vehicle do they have releasing a tiger in the snow? A Defender 110 crew cab with a canvas tilt, of course, noted Michael Williams, St. James, NY. Two readers, Jim Ingarra, Cheshire, CT and Lance Anderson, Uxbridge, MA, both noted that an artist for Reader’s Digest used a Discovery Series II in back cover artwork in a recent issue. Design News ran a story lauding Consumer Reports for their product testing [very debatable on automobiles], which features artwork of an LR3 navigating traffic cones, notes Dennis Yard, San Diego, CA.

Brim Crow, Carrollton, TX, noted a positive review of the supercharged Range Rover in the Dallas Morning News. Cooper Tires features a new Range Rover wearing its fancy shoes in a sales brochure, notes Dave Bowman, Orange, VA. Jason Sheehy, Mt. Sterling, OH, saw a Range Rover Classic in a new episode of Rules of Engagement.

Michael Giovannozzi, Boynton Beach, FL, noted a Series II-A on the Telemondo network series “Madre Luna.” Kim Groenendyk, Peterborough, ON, Canada, noted that a Land Rover was seized as evidence on a recent episode of Law and Order. Andrew Teal, Ollala, WA, visited Times Square in New York City and saw the LR2 electronic billboard at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Sheila Simmons, Austin, TX, notes that Allure magazine wants you to know what to wear this fall. You need to wear it while leaning against the bumper of a II-A. If you travel with your pet, Healthy Pet magazine wants you to do so in a topless RHD Series II-A, noted Dana Leslie, North Bend, WA. Dale Shaffer, York, PA, noted that a Series Rover “in need of a few parts from Rovers North” appeared in a Casual Male XL catalogue. Thinking of going to Costa Rica? Adventure magazine wants you to see it from the rear of a topless II-A SW, according to the photo sent in by Brian Riley, Minneapolis, MN.

Leighton Ogg, Houston, TX, reads the Kangaroo comic strip and found a Land Rover in one panel. The Bryan Adams CD So Far So Good has a Defender 90 on the rear cover, noted Chris Whybrew, Phoenix, AZ. Adams has appeared in Land Rover publicity, too. Delta Airlines’ website features the rear of a Land Rover on one page, reports Steve Ingram, Gainesville, FL. If you need another toy for Christmas, Eric DeRochambeau, N. Kingston, RI saw a tricked out Discovery model in a Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue. Volvo “borrowed” the hill descent system from Land Rover and incorporated it into the X70 and even uses the same term. Tom Proctor, and Steve Ingram, Gainesville, FL, both noted the irony.

Sightings Winners:
Dale Shaffer: York, PA
Dana Leslie: North Bend, WA
Sheila Simmons: Austin, TX
Michael Williams: St. James, NY
Sean Harmon: Hampden, ME
Nathan Purney: Atlanta, GA
Sara Dominguez: Branford, CT
LTC Paul H. Duray, Jr.:Alamogordo, NM
Michael Lendvoyi: Washougal, WA
Robert Graves: Indianapolis, IN
Kim Nichols: Kennesaw, GA
Debra Scialia: Marcellus, NY
Brian Ross: Cold Spring, KY
Sherry Block: Hadlyme, CT
Patricia Jansen: Leesburg, VA
Andrew Turner: El Paso, TX
Eric Allen: Burtonville, MI
Milt Milner: Hendersonville, NC
Eric DeRochambeau: N. Kingston, RI
Chris Whybrew: Phoenix, AZ
Allen Minner: Carnation. WA
Matt Chelf: Wooster, OH
Greg Collingsworth: Colchester, CT
Ben Buchanan: New Haven, OH
Tim King: Tavernier, FL
Roy Owens: Fairfax, VA
Jared McNabb: Boston, MA
Bernard McMahon: Washington, DC
Pat Harris: Wilton, CT
Stephen Johnson: Johns Island, SC
John McShane: Sudbury, VT
Glenn Shriver: Chicago, IL
Eric Stussy: Minneapolis, MN
William Mariano: Manchester Center, VT
Paul Hai: Newcomb, NY
Kurt Krauss: Newark, NJ
Allen Padgett: Lafayette, GA
Jeff Nichols: Fairhaven, MA
David Kolstad: Carlisle, MA
Michael Beckley:Sheridan, OR 97378
Shawn Palmer: Cumming, GA
Bill Tanner: Dawsonville, GA
Do we have addresses for these winners:
Vincent Coratello, Elizabethtown, PA
Karen Sindir, Woodland Hills, CA Sight