By Jeffrey B. Aronson

Every fall in Peanuts Lucy Van Pelt entices Charlie Brown to kick the football she’s holding for him. For decades the end result has been the same – Charlie Brown kicks at the ball just as she yanks it away. I know the feeling.

You’d think that after last year’s humiliation I’d have learned a lesson. I still stare at the cover of the Rovers North News, the QE I with the headline, “They Chose Your Rover?” The faint taste of crow still lingers in my mouth as I remember the taunts of “nice photo of your windshield,” snark, snark.

No, I learned nothing. When L. L. Bean asked again if my Rover could be used in the 2010 Outdoor Gear Catalogue (they suggested “You could always entitle the article, ‘They Chose Your Rover, Again?”), I demonstrated my shameless quest for meaningless recognition and meekly asked, “When?”

It had been a year since the QE I’s last waxing; three months since its last wash. This was not going to be a quick job. (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson

Ahem, it’s time to eat crow. Rovers North generously put my article about the QE I serving as an appealing prop for an L.L. Bean catalogue shoot on the cover of the Winter 2009 issue. In addition, I found myself compelled to mention its appearance to most of the 1,200 people who live on this island, the several friends I have off island, and post the story on my website. At the Maine Winter Romp, members of the Southern New Hampshire Land Rover Club asked to have their photos taken with the “famous QE I.” With all the humility of a privileged celebrity, I granted their requests. Meanwhile, I waited for the catalogue to arrive in the mail.

I woke up one March morning to a strange sound coming over the ocean from the west. This frightening noise, sounding like a guffaw of derision, emanated from Rovers North the day the L.L. Bean Outdoor Gear and Clothing Catalogue arrived in Westford. (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson
While driving the QE I, my ’66 Series II-A 88” SW, down Vermont’s I- 91 late one winter, I noticed the power dropping off dramatically. Good fortune dictated that this would happen right near a rest area so I coasted in and opened the hood. Nothing looked amiss electrically so I pulled a spark plug, and then all four. Each plug resembled a licorice stick. A sooty, oily gunk covered up what should have been the electrode gap. I cleaned each plug in turn, screwed them back in, started up the car and continued on my way.

Two questions sprang to mind. How did the plugs get so coated, and how on earth did the car keep running? The latter question underscores one of the endearing qualities of Land Rovers. Unlike their owners, they don’t show their age.

This past week in Maine, over 145,000 homes lost power in a storm that began early Monday morning. Three days later, over 20,000 homes and businesses remain without electrical service. Regional power companies note that the high amount of snow, poor road conditions, and extreme weight of the moisture-laden snow all contributed to the slow restoration of power.
Am I the only one rethinking plug-in cars?
We lose power routinely enough in northern New England that we know to gas up the vehicles before the onset of a major storm. My 1966 Series II-A has a range of about 200 miles on its 12-gallon tank, and I can always fill additional gas cans should conditions become extreme. By the time I’ve travelled 200 miles, I can be reasonably certain that the power company has restored electrical power.
What if I had a plug-in car?
First off, I would be doing a lot of walking right now. (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson
Whenever I change the oil and filter on either Land Rover, I also check the fluid levels in the transmission, transfer case, overdrive, front and rear axles, swivel balls and steering box. It’s very telling that the latter items - professionally replaced on the QE I by East Coast Rover with Genuine Parts from Rovers North – don’t leak and don’t require topping up. On the other hand, the transmission that I rebuilt myself and the transfer case and axles that I’ve ignored, always require topping up. The Fairey overdrive does not leak, despite the fact I installed it myself.
Contemporary cars and trucks just don’t use the amount of hypoid as my Rovers; the local garagiste finally said “get your own,” when I asked to purchase 20-30 pumps from his depleted supply pail. So this Christmas Santa brought me my very own bucket and hand pump. (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson
A fisherman friend came up to me in our island’s village parking lot, a wharf on the edge of the main harbor. “You know, Jeff,” he said, “You can actually buy cars made after 1980.” He then touched the door handle on his family minivan and watched the door slide open electronically.
So what if his door moved automatically? Does his car provide him with health benefits? I don’t think so! Performing even the simplest maintenance on a Land Rover gives you a fitness workout usually accomplished only with the aid of those strange devices extolled by Chuck Norris and introduced by lovely blondes on late night infomercials.
The Land Rover exhaust is a series of bolted together pipes. Replacing them gives you the chance to get eaten alive by bugs while lying on the ground, chew on rust flakes, spit out dirt and search for nuts, bolts and washers that fall onto the ground. And it’s free! (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson
The required automobile inspection – an annual ritual in most states – invokes all the fear of your significant other telling you, “We need to talk.” When your Land Rover is 42 years old, the mechanic can always find something to discuss.
The requirements vary from state to state, and even within states, but generally speaking, 19 states require inspection for safety, and another 11 test for emissions levels in certain regions. In Maine, the testing is for required accessories [wipers, lights, directional signals, horn] and for safety [brakes, rust holes in floors or sills, front end, tire tread depth], and in one county, emission levels keyed to the date of manufacture. For Series Land Rovers and early Range Rovers Maine offers an exemption; if you register your car as an antique.
_______ ________
Richard Sammons is an architect in New York City who specializes in houses that do not look like glass pyramids or airline terminals, but like, well, houses. (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson
Oh the weather outside is frightful But my Rover’s so delightful When other cars won’t go Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow Oh, boy, it’s the beginning of December and this island has received its first substantial, it’s-going-to-stick snowstorm. The snow fell so hard and thick that the ferry service had to shut down when the radar systems couldn’t penetrate the snowfall. Then the winds picked up, the seas rose, and the ferry cancelled out for another day. Doom and gloom? Hardly! As a kid, I would have grabbed my Flexible Flyer and headed for a hill or slope. Now, I grab one of the Series II-A’s and head for any unplowed road or trail.
There’s something special about riding around in the snow. You do need to be careful that the several inches or feet of snow don’t hide something substantial, like a ditch, boulder or log, but all that does is force you to slow down – never a bad idea. (…)

By Jeffrey B. Aronson
There are two famous sites in Kennebunkport, ME. One is the summer waterfront home of the Bush family; the second is the home of Leyland British Auto Repair. Recently I made the 3 hour drive to Kennebunkport and passed by the former to visit the latter. Erik Van Sickle has been restoring, repairing and maintaining British cars in his barn for decades. The shop always has an air of autojumble about it, but Erik knows where everything is located. He’s quite knowledgeable, highly skilled and reasonably priced. At least I thought so, until I saw the Range Rover Classic in his drive.
The decal across the rear window proudly announced his shop’s name. I walked around the gold colored four-door Range Rover. How could he afford a Range Rover? What would happen to the “reasonable prices?” Apparently nothing, for he bought the 100,000 mile Range Rover for $500 from a customer. (…)

RN News editor Jeff Aronson and QE
Land Rover ownership is not for the bashful. Don’t become a Land Rover enthusiast if you crave anonymity. To quote Martha and the Vandellas, “nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.” A vehicle as distinctive as a Land Rover – any model will do – does not blend into the landscape; it stands up and testifies to your character.
In my case, the QE I, my ’66 Series II-A 88” SW, has drawn the attention of the family that owns and operates our local boatyard. For decades husband, wife and adult children have taken much glee in the condition of my Land Rover. Should one pass me in their truck while I am walking somewhere they will ask the same question. “Need a ride? Did it break down?” If I try and explain a simple repair to them, they will break down in gales of laughter to note they haven’t carried a tool in the family Ford Expedition since its purchase. (…)