Discovery of 3,000 Kilometers

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Rovers North,
Thanks for reprinting the Land Rover
Enthusiast article a couple of years ago
[Summer 2005 article by Kevin Girling -ed]
about Land Rover Centurion Adventures in
South Africa. I was finally able to go this past
week for a 7 day Ivory Route trip. It was
absolutely fabulous and well done. Our guide,
Gerard van Megaarden, was very professional
and knowledgeable. I wrote a journal of the
trip and took hundreds of pictures to remember
it by. The Defender 110’s with the Tdi
motor worked so well in the challenging off
road environment. If anyone wants information,
please have them contact me.
Paul Kiszely
Via Email
[You can contact Paul through
pzkisz@hotmail.com. We’d love to share
your experience with our readers, too –ed]
Dear Rovers North,
I have to say that Rovers North News keeps
getting better. Erika, my daughter, and I thoroughly
enjoy it! Erika is quite a Rover enthusiast
and hopes to drive one of them to school
when she gets her license. Our most epic trip
to date was when she was 12 years old. She
and I drove our Discovery across Canada to
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and
back. We slept outdoors on my specially
designed roof platform for 31 of the 34 days
of our 8,586 mile trip. Our last night was
spent in the Rovers North back parking lot. I
am so pleased that our Land Rover and
Rovers North gave us this lifetime experience.
Stewart Olson
Leverett, MA
[So it was you! We wondered who was
sleeping in the Discovery in the back lot!
You’ll probably enjoy the story in this issue
of the Western Canada family trip; we’d
love to have yours, too. –ed]
Dear Editor,
A note to you regarding the “Loyalty to
Rovers” Clan; I am one of them, however,
taken into actual consideration of facts and
frustration there comes a point in time when
loyalty has its cost.
While living in Vermont I was advised by
none other than Rovers North to purchase a
1989 Range Rover. Rather than deal with the
cold, long winter driving 30 mountain miles
to my dental office, the Series Land Rover was
not a choice under those conditions. The
Range Rover spent more time on the dealer’s
flatbed than all my previous vehicles combined.
Loyalty, well, yes, I still loved it except
for the habit of doing 180 degree turns on the
Middlesex [VT] mud and ice. I installed stabilizer
bars and eliminated the fashionable
Rover so-called articulation.
I drove the 1989 well into 1999 and my
winter retirement in Taos, NM. The tailgate,
gas lines and more rusted away and I traded
it for a rust-free but tatty 1960 Series II 109”
Station Wagon. At first, my wife thought I had
lost my mind – I tended to agree. Behold,
after a transmission rebuild, paint job and
general work on the 109”, it won her over. It
is the basis for real Land Rover loyalty.
I then tried another Range Rover, a ’91
Classic. This is a dependable, relatively easy
to maintain vehicle. Now comes my latest, a
1973 Series III 88”. I towed it to Nachitoches,
LA, our fall/spring home, and over the past
few weeks I’ve been putting the finishing
touches on the vehicle, readying it to be my
Louisiana driver. The Weber carb runs fine
but the vacuum line is not hooked up because
it runs poorly when it’s attached. Yes, home in
New Mexico is a 7,000 ft; home in Louisiana
is at 70 feet. Any suggestions?
Last but not least, I’ve replaced my Range
Rover with a new Toyota FJ Cruiser – security,
peace of mind and I think it will do anything
or more than those new hi-tech Range
Rovers. Loyalty to these cars is out the door!!
Dr. Ed Kollar
Taos, NM
[We will certainly forgive you your temporary
indiscretion of identifying a replicar
like the FJ with a Range Rover. They’re really
quite different automobiles, and even
Toyota has been struck with reliability
problems on its range of automobiles.
Maybe the new FJ is just the right car for
you at this time. As for the Weber and the
vacuum hose, check the Haynes manual for
the emission controls of that vintage. Any
advice would depend on what’s still on the
engine right now. Let us know when you’re
coming home to Vermont for a visit –ed.]
Dear Mark,
Just received a little box from Rovers North –
a mug. What a great way to brighten up a day!
The “Sightings” is a good way to keep us
looking for what all of us that have Rover
fever, are looking for anyway.
The new format for the Rovers North
News sure does look good. The Rovers North
News keeps us informed, driving an old Rover
can keep us humble. I think I can related to
Mr. Aronson’s experience with his QE I than
with Mr. Carvey and his beloved “Bessie” [see
October 2006 issue –ed].
Leighton Ogg
Houston, TX
[Thanks for the compliments and enjoy
your coffee in the Sightings mug. I have
owned the QE I for only 17 [not 50, like Mr.
Carvey] years, and yes, it has broken down.
–ed]
Dear Rovers North,
In November 2006 I started calling your company
for parts to rebuild a 1967 Series II-A. I
have worked with Les, Steve and Mike. I have
found each of these gentlemen to be extremely
knowledgeable, very patient with someone
who doesn’t know much about this vehicle,
and always willing to help answer my questions
and provide me with the parts and
advice I need. All too often, the management
of any company hears only about those things
that go wrong. I wanted to be one who shared
with you a continual story of success and
appreciation for the quality of people you
have staffing your parts/sales department.
They all have done an outstanding job for me
and I wanted you to know that. Thank you and
your staff for being there when I need you!
Gerald Ray
Via email
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