Dear Rovers North,
I own a ’92 Range Rover County with over 320,000 Rovers North miles on the clock. My wife is getting a complex about her entries to the Sightings contest. She won one without her address so it was not shipped. She has sent in several that were not “winners.” In the recent issue there is a name in the winner’s column that is very similar to hers, in the same town. Is she the winner of a mug? While we enjoy tormenting her that she cannot seem to win a mug, I think it would make life easier for all of us if she won one. Can you check on this please?
Allen Minner
Carnation, WA
[We hope that the mug arrived in time to assure marital bliss. –ed]

Dear Rovers North,
I bought my first Land Rover in about 1965. It was a 109” pickup truck that had been used in the building of the Oroville Dam in northern California. It was worn, but in good condition. (…)

Dear Editor
Louise Orlando’s “Born Free Redux” articles were very inspiring. My daughter, Jocelynn, the college student/writer is my major supporter of me getting my Land Rover and already shares in my passion for it. She bought me a subscription to the Overland Journal for Christmas. After she read up on their website and Louise’s article, she emailed me that we should take our 88 on a cross continent trip someday. It was pretty cool. Thanks for the great magazine, Jeff. It is really informative.

Jeff Pearl

Dear Rovers North,
A few weeks ago, I emailed regarding oil usage on a ’04 Discovery Series II. I was using 3.5 quarts every 6,000 miles without blue smoke, etc. I believe that I have finally found the issue. After looking inside the air intake with the butterfly flap open, I noticed dark oil residue on the inside of the intake where the passenger side valve cover vents into the intake. The other side was clean. After researching the design of the valve cover, it appears that Bosch removed the typical PCV valve. The small hole on the vent stack (where the rubber hose attaches on the valve cover) should serve like a PCV valve (by regulating the gasses into the intake). However, the continuous air flow through the intake draws air in from the value cover and thus oil vapor/mist with it.
After putting on a PCV valve downstream from the valve cover vent stack, oil consumption was zero in one day. It has been 1/8th quart or more every day over a hundred miles. (…)

Dear Rovers North,
Our 24th Birthday Party at Silver Lake, Ontario, was blessed with super weather, great attendance and enough mud to wear with pride.
We are writing on behalf of everyone who attended this year’s event to thank you for your generous donations and continued support. Having a successful fund raising auction is key to continuing our club’s annual traditional premier event. Jean-Leon Morin, President David Pell, Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Newell, Off Road Coordinator Ottawa Valley Land Rovers.
Carp, ON
Canada
[Rovers North congratulates you and your organization for another sterling event. It’s a highlight of the North American event calendar –ed.]
Dear Rovers North,
I have recently started to purchase all my parts needs from Rovers North and I wanted to let you know how pleased I am at the quality (second to none) and the timeliness of their arrival. They arrive well packed for protection and your pricing can’t be beat. (…)

Dear Mark,
On behalf of Rover-Landers BC and the 19th Annual Northwest Challenge Organizing Committee and entrants, I acknowledge the continued support from Rovers North of this unique event. Thank you for every donation of gift certificates for each vehicle entry. The Northwest Challenge was a great success with entrants from British Columbia, Alberta, Washington and Oregon, and all of them were challenged in ways that only a Land Rover owner could truly appreciate. These events and hosting organizations are only as successful as the support that is received. Thank you for your very generous support.
Donald MacDonald
Rover-Landers of British Columbia North Vancouver, BC Canada
[Rovers North really appreciates the hard work that clubs do to keep Land Rover marque values alive and well. Congratulations on a great event -ed]
Dear Rovers North,
I drive a Defender 90 daily, and as we all know they go through parts and I can usually find everything I need at Rovers North. (…)

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! (…)

Hi Folks,
Just had to tell you that I was very satisfied on my last visit to Rovers North. I was received by Steve Haskell and I really appreciated the way that he treated me during my stay. Steve is doing a very nice job; he really knows how to take care of a customer. I also really appreciated visiting your warehouse and shipping department – I was impressed! Congratulations to all of you for your professionalism. Land Rover has to be proud of a flawless Land Rover distributor like you. Thanks, Steve, and the entire Rovers North team, for your help with my Defender 110. With your help, I will keep it for a long time!
Mario Poulin
Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
[Rovers North’s home in Westford, VT, is within an hour of the border with Quebec. We enjoy working with many customers from Canada and always enjoy a visit from them. Bon chance with your Defender 110 – we love to see them used as they were intended! (…)

Dear Editor,
Mike Koch related his ordeal resulting from a dead slave cylinder. As he’s now undoubtedly aware (since he works at Rovers North and gets input from his co-workers), driving without a clutch is distressing, but entirely possible. One starts the vehicle in first or second gear and then shifts by synchronizing the engine rpm with the propshaft rpm at a given speed. It becomes easy to shift up or down in this fashion. When stopping the vehicle, one places the transmission in neutral, shuts down the engine, and restarts in first or second gear. I have done this with innumerable standard shift vehicles over the past 50 years, for short and long trips.
Using radial tires, different shocks, and parabolic springs will dramatically alter the handling of his MOD 109”, as it did mine, prior to its destruction by a huge oak tree during a storm. Perhaps one day I’ll own another. I’ve had three Series Land Rovers and loved every one of them. (…)

Dear Rovers North,
I’ve enclosed some pictures you don’t see too often. Two of my former students asked to use my 1962 Series II Land Rover as their getaway vehicle at their wedding this past month. It is parked in front of Lynn Memorial Church on the campus of Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. My wife took charge of the car’s decorations, but thanks to your organization for all your help in obtaining parts for my frame-over job the past few years.
Chuck Thompson
Heather Hill Farm
Fayette, MO
[The bride and groom certainly started marital bliss in the right way, aboard your Series II. Congratulations and best wishes to them –ed.]

Dear Mark,
This past summer I purchased a Mantec raised air intake and a skid plate for my G4 Discovery. Since I no longer am capable of doing the work myself on my vehicles, I use an off-road shop, National 4- Wheel Drive Center, in my hometown to do the work. (…)

Dear Rovers North,
The Spring 2006 issue of The Rovers North News was my first. I enjoyed the “Greetings from Iceland” article. I can’t wait to get home to my Land Rover
SFC Michael Lopez
Killeen, TX
(Currently residing in Baghdad, Iraq)
Dear Rovers North,
Thank you for publishing The Rovers North News! My wonderful wife forwards it out to me and I spend days reading every article and reviewing my wish list of replacement parts. I must confess to a fair amount of jealousy at my wife’s mug which she received last year for a Sighting. Her Rovers North mug is a prized possession during our morning coffee. She allows my use of her mug on special occasions.
Maj. Stephen M. Dickerson, USMC
(Currently residing in Al Taqaddum, Iraq)
Dear Mark,
I just wanted to give you a very big thank you for our recent order! I placed a large order for my fiancé, who is currently deployed overseas serving in the US Army, of Land Rover goodies for him to tinker with when he is home on R & R. (…)