Story by: Jeffrey Aronson / Photos by: John Robison and Jeffrey Aronson

In the 19 years of the British Invasion, Vermont’s premier British car event, Land Rovers have generally played the role of the “country cousin” in the family. The 500 vehicles and thousands of people who attend the September event celebrate British marques and models no longer in production – MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, Sunbeam - or rarely seen - Lotus, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce. Look in the back rows, that’s where you find the green oval.

Land Rovers get relegated to the status of clowns (the Rover Polo games in the early ‘90s), barbaric brutes (carrying a cheating Mini-Moke into the woods during a tug-of-war), pack horses (Rovers North’s hilly trail rides), or mud wrestling entertainment (Rovers North trials course). Regardless, a cheery group of Land Rover enthusiasts drive up every year to entertain the Jaguar XK-E and MG T-series owners. (…)

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. (…)

Story & Photos by Jim Edson

Land Rover Bluff City, Memphis, TN, will be hosting a guided trail ride for all Land Rover owners. Whether you’ve never been off-road, or you are an experienced rock crawler, this is your chance to experience what your Land Rover is truly capable of – we have a trail for you. If you don’t want to take your Rover “off-road,” come ride with one of the trained staff from Bluff City, we will have room for you along in one of our vehicles.

I had not been off-roading since SCARR last April (South Central Area Rover Rally in Texas –ed). So, right away I gave up my spot at the annual Texas Rovers trip to the Texas State Fair scheduled the same October weekend. With my ’04 Discovery II G4 running well, new tires on the Casita camper and my new camera I felt ready for this adventure. I had not been to the Superlift Off-Road Vehicle Park in Hot Springs, AR, in several years; all I could remember were some very rocky, long steep hills. (…)

WE ARE FAMILY

Story by Matt Martin & Aaron Williams / Photos by Matt Martin

[Matt Martin, Rovers North’s Marketing Director, selected himself again to attend the Solihull Society’s National Rally. No, we’re not jealous! –ed]

Welcome to Leadville, Colorado. 10,430 breath-taking feet above sea level. 310 days of sunshine every year. It is America’s highest incorporated city, and host of the 2009 Land Rover National Rally.

Since it began in 1989, the event has navigated some of the most thrilling terrain in Utah and Colorado. Now in its 20thyear, the event continues to promote and encourage responsible off-roading while attracting an ever-expanding variety of participants. In Leadville this year, the array of Land Rovers that lined up each morning to traverse the trails reflected the diversity of the marque: old Series, new Range Rovers and LR3’s traveling together, learning from one another and lending a hand when necessary. (…)

Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart,
for me Nobody but me…

Story by Jeffrey Aronson / Photos by Brenda Salmon & Jeffery Aronson

Ah, love, as crooned by Sam Cooke decades ago. Where does one find amour today?
Why, in the woods of Maine on Valentine’s Day weekend.

February 14, 2009, positively oozed romance. From a crisp morning temperature of 14 degrees F, the warmth in Unity, ME, rose to a balmy 27 degrees. The sun shone brightly, the winds died to gentle zephyrs, and the hum of heater blowers bathed the men and women present in the glow of Valentine’s Day.

Bruce Fowler, Unity, ME, a long-time Land Rover owner/enthusiast, once again organized this three day event. Avid winter campers could “enjoy” the outdoors on land surrounding his house; other less intrepid adventurers succumbed to charms of the “official host hotel,” the Holiday Inn in nearby Waterville. (…)

Jaguar Land Rover has been awarded ‘Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year’ at the 13th Annual Industry Awards, hosted by Bodyshop Magazine at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham. The awards recognise excellence in dealer bodyshops and repair centres.

Jaguar Land Rover triumphed over strong competition from other manufacturers to scoop the accolade. The award continues to reinforce the confidence held by the bodyshops, dealers and customers alike that Jaguar Land Rover is committed to being the best in vehicle repair and finish. The winners of the award were judged on criteria such as training, network development and customer satisfaction. The current and future strategies are also examined for soundness and to show the clarity of the direction the programme is heading towards.

Rob Harris, Jaguar Land Rover’s Business Development Manager said, “It is important that in the current climate such high standards within the business are recognised and rewarded. (…)

The new Discovery 4 has taken home two accolades at the Caravan Club’s Towcar of the Year Awards 2010, which took place at the Royal Automobile Club in London last week. These are the first awarded to the new Discovery 4, which went on-sale in UK dealerships earlier this month.

The Discovery 4 won the ‘Best Towcar Over £32,000′ class and the ‘All Wheel Drive Over 1800kg’ category, beating the likes of the Lexus RX450h, Mercedes Benz E and C class, Volvo XC70 and XC60 and the Isuzu Rodeo. The testing was carried out at Millbrook Proving Ground to determine the car’s towing ability, dynamics when hitched, acceleration and braking.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, driving judge, Barry Williams of The Caravan Club commented: “The Land Rover Discovery 4 stood out among an astonishingly good selection of cars in the two classes it entered. It will go anywhere and offers an impressive array of caravan-friendly features. (…)

Workhorse, tow car, law enforcer, status symbol, people carrier, mud plugger; few cars can claim to fulfil any of these duties with genuine conviction. Yet since 16 November 1989 – 20 years ago today – one car has consistently met all those challenges and more, earning itself iconic status as the ultimate all-purpose vehicle. That car is the Land Rover Discovery.

Designed originally to plug the gap between the utilitarian attributes of the iconic Land Rover Defender and the more luxurious characteristics of the flagship Range Rover, Discovery soon became the perfect niche vehicle for the growing demands of the family 4×4 market.

“The Discovery legend has been built on innovative design and advanced technology. From the introduction of high-efficiency direct-injection diesel technology into the 4×4 market in 1989, to pioneering occupant safety with the adoption of twin airbags in 1998, Discovery has led the way.” says Phil Popham, Managing Director. (…)

Land Rover has confirmed today that a production version of its exciting LRX concept car will be built. The new car will debut next year and join the Range Rover line-up in 2011.

Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s state of the art Gaydon facility, the new Range Rover will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced.

The new car will be built at the multi award-winning plant in Halewood, on Merseyside, subject to quality and productivity agreements and will be sold in over 100 countries around the world.

Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover said: “The production of a small Range Rover model is excellent news for our employees, dealers and customers. (…)

Land Rover completes its introduction of the acclaimed new line-up for 2010 at the IAA International Motor Show, Frankfurt. Topping the bill is a new Range Rover Sport Autobiography limited edition and for the first time, a luxurious reclining rear seat package for the Range Rover.

Land Rover’s latest line-up sees exciting developments across the range, including more powerful new engines offering greater fuel efficiency, dynamic upgrades and striking exterior and interior design improvements for the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4.

“With August sales up 11.6% against the same period last year, we are now starting to see early signs of stability in the UK market” said John Edwards, managing director Land Rover UK. “We’re therefore convinced that one of the best ways to help keep things moving is to excite potential customers with new and improved vehicles. (…)