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What or who is responsible for getting you into L/Rs


white90

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When I was at college in 1991/92 I worked for a pizza shop delivering pizzas in my own car. One of the other drivers (though he drove a Yugo van for deliveries!) had a S2a 88 pickup with which I was most impressed. One time when his LR was broken, although my experience was limited to going over a few grass banks in the passenger seat of the Landrover, we went green laneing in my 1983 Escort which was a real hoot - though at the time I was really very scared as it was quite an unsuitable car for the job and deep water nearly claimed my pride and joy.

After the experience with the Escort I bought a Honda XL125 - an off road bike - and used to take it in the back of my Cortina estate, park up and go green laneing on the bike - the least said the better! The bike was much more suited to green lanes than the car had been!

Some time soon after this early green lane experience my friend Matt bought a S3 88 and a few weeks later I heard of a 1964 S2a 109 diesel hardtop owned by the local scout master who I knew and which had recently been written off following an impact from a micro-van (Rascal type). I had known this vehicle a little for some time and was dumbfounded by it's ability to carry enormous loads of scouts while at the same time towing a huge trailer full of kit - albeit at 50mph max. - across the country to scout summer camp. It appeared to be a very capable vehicle.

The rear crossmember of the 109 had been bent till it touched the OSR wheel and the bodywork had followed it. Anyway, the insurance company had written the 109 off and the scout master wanted £150 for it. I managed to find £150 and bought it with no MOT, though the crossmember and attached bodywork had been roughly (in both senses of the word!) straightened. I managed to get an MOT with only minor work - brakes and so on - and I have never looked back.

Matt and I learned how to green lane legally and did some more of it and very soon after became founder members of a local informal 4x4 club. I met other people there and our interest in green laneing went on and developed into off-roading at sites, winch challenging and lots more besides. Since that first 109 I have not been without a Landrover for more than a few months during which time we had an SJ410 - which I swapped for another Landrover. :) I have owned Series diesels, petrols, a S2a V8, Range Rovers, a Discovery, a Freelander and two Defenders. I love them! :)

My relationship with Landrovers, or at least with vehicles of that type, is one which I can see lasting for a very long time to come, even though I hardly ever go off-road these days, and cannot do as much green laneing as I would like, I find the 110 to be a hugely practical vehicle. Despite being the most fiscally valuable vehicle in our household, should we ever fall on hard times it will be the last vehicle to go as it's practical value way exceeds anything else. As White90 said above, I too have met more people and made more really good friends through LR ownership than I would have imagined possible. Best thing I ever did was to be persuaded that it was a good idea to go laneing in that Escort, something which drove me on to seek out a better vehicle. :)

There must be some pictures somewhere, I will look them out this afternoon and fire up the scanner.

Chris

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I blame Paul Wightman!!! Indirectly, of course, but it's definitely his fault somewhere down the line!!

Our dad is a keen restorer of old vehicles (mainly buses) so it was only natural for us to get involved in spanner-slinging from a young age. Mark and I restored a Series IIa 109 to its former glory from the chassis up and I've had an interest in Land Rovers since then, but a marshalling experience at one of Paul's Slindon events was what pushed me over the edge!!

Seeing a bunch of nut-cases throwing their 90s etc into places that I deemed impossible to walk was a truely enlightening experience. I knew I'd fit right in....

I am really struggling to pin it down to one thing really.. Years of going to scout camps as a kid where there was always an old series truck of some description, in completely unroadworthy condition, providing sterling service meant that I was always aware of them. Then our dad started looking at discovery's in 89, when they first came out, and we took a dealer demo vehicle for a little ride around some of the lanes close to home... he started buying LRO and Off-Road and 4wd magazine so I started reading them and decided I needed one....

Dad then bought a Gold 5-Door Discovery on an H-plate, just after the 5-doors came out, and later a P-plate 300 Auto. Thus started my love affair with discoverys.

In 1996 (I was 16) a friend of our dads was clearing out an old shed of his, and there was a rather decrepit Series 2 buried in the corner. I managed to squeeze myself underneath (involved climbing over/round/through about 10 other cars) and convince him that the chassis was OK, and we should get it.

Turns out a 16 year old with a screwdriver who really wants a Land Rover isn't the ideal person to pass judgement on a chassis in the back of a dark shed... It was almost completely rotten. So we rebuilt it compeltely to close to original condition between my dad, my brother (Orange) and myself. It went for its first MoT in 2000 and passed. I still have it, although drive it rarely since I discovered Coils...

Having been firmly in the restoration/preservation camp, given my background, I had no real knowledge of off roading at all... just of building them. After starting my first job after uni I discovered the old LRE forum, and eventually moved to West sussex in 2001 and met up with Chris (GBMUD), Paul (Wightman), Simon (simonr) and the rest of the collective known as the Horsham Posse. They introduced me to green laning one night (where I nearly rolled my pristine IIa :o ) and I was hooked....

I have had a few series trucks, and now some discoverys and freelanders... I don't really ever plan to not have one - I am far too attached to the IIa to ever sell it... so I guess there really is no hope for me...

That is not to say I am blinkered to the one brand... I quite fancy a g-wagen or a pinz or a c303... but only to supplement my LR addiction...

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When I was 16 I got hold of a load of old custom car magazines and there was a series of articles by the mags photographer about building a V8 S1 and that was it I didn't want a custom car anymore. Took me 5 years to get my first Land Rover (20 years ago) and haven't been without one since. The photographers name was Pete Robain, does anybody else blame him?

This one by any chance?

post-1119-1235395780_thumb.jpgpost-1119-1235395816_thumb.jpg

Pete Robain is leaning against the S1.

Pete's freind whom I bought it off very kindly gave me the magazines as he still had them, apparently it was used for an AWDC Christmass Card but he does not have a copy.

My Avatar is what it looks like now.

When I bought it years ago I had two sets of friends into LR. I bought it off one friiend the night before going to work in Germany.

When I got back I drove to another friends house where the other group were having a BBQ, as I drove down the road they heard the motor and came out. One friend immediately ran back in and came out with the pictures from his wall. That was the first I knew about its history.

Marc.

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I spent the first six years of my life on a farm and there were a couple of Series 3's used by the farmer for his various businesses, however, I was usually more interested (as a lot of 6 year olds are) in riding in tractors and combined harvesters. All my life though, there have been Land Rovers around due to my mum owning horses since before I was born. Getting dragged along to horse shows and other people's yards exposed me to a number of Land Rovers.

By the time I got to college, I got it into my head that my first car should be a Series 3 swb station wagon. Even a couple of people who had Series 3's couldn't put me off with tales of rust and water ingress! As I was a poor student though, I had to resolve myself to the fact that I would have to drive my dad's Zastava. When I got a job after college, I could only afford a Fiesta. Which was fine. To a point. I was then introduced to bank loans :ph34r: .

In about 1992/93 I bought a 1976 Series 3 swb hard top. 13mpg, top speed about 50 (otherwise strange things started to happen). I loved it. Didn't get off-raoad. Crashed it, took another loan, repaired it. Part-ex'd it when it started using more oil than petrol. Vowed to own another Land Rover.

2004-ish, I really wanted a Defender 90 so I part-ex'd a Corsa for a 1995 Discovery 300 tdi. Joined SLRC again, and this time got off-road...a lot. SLRC got me into Land Rovers big time - I mainly blame Dan (V8bertha) and Mike (Miketomcat) - they live way too close to me :lol: . I still really wanted a Defender 90 SW, so last year I bought Pux's nice Defender 110 hard top. And, because Dan and Mike live way to close to me, I was persuaded (or was that bullied?) into supporting them as they drive around a lake in Russia this year.

I think I'm well and truely hooked, but I wouldn't have it any other way :P

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Difficult one really, the reason for buying my LR was the price of insuring anything else capable of carrying a load of guitars, amps and drums and 5 people. Then, of course, if you've got a Land Rover you've got to get it muddy so I joined SLRC and it all went downhill from there :lol:

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This one by any chance?

Wow, its great to see that car is still doing the rounds. Inspired me too, along with the other nicely tricked Series 1s that were in the AWDC at the same time. Anyone remember "Thumper" (Barry Redman?) or "Flopper"(Colin Cowley)?

Pete must have had one of the first sets of BFG Muds in the country, I reckon, they were only available in 15" at the time, hence the eight spokes.

I have to blame my dad too. He was trialing (Ser 1 in CCV and SerII/Ltwts in RTV or expert trials and non-damaging trials as they were known respectively) when I was small and some of my earliest memories are from AWDC events at Slab, Weavers Down, Hungry Hill, Broxhead Common and the like, and Anglian ROC events at Double Arches Quarry and Sundon Pit.

Latterly my dad did some speed events in a RR classic and then a 110 Hi-cap - I got the speed bug early and it was straight into speed events for me!

BTW - Those photos of the Series 1 were taken at another long lost and missed AWDC venue, Peter's Pit near Gravesend.

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Always wanted one from a very young age , dont know why as there is

no history of mental illness in the family . For one reason or another it

never happened although I drove series 109s at different times through

work . I eventually got "the one that I want" with retirement on the horizon

and have been from the sands of the Sahara tothe mud of the Baltic in it .

Was a long time coming but Ive never enjoyed anything more .

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My dad and my cousin.

My dad had an old 2.25diesel 110 hicap since i was born and my cousin has had a couple of most landrovers having been into trialing for many years (he owned 'ogdenair').

I used to go watch at trials and was allowed to drive the 110 around out smallholding from the age of 8 or 9 after learning on and old dumper. After this i was totally hooked, started buying lro then at the age of about 13 i found forums (my god was that a learning curve!)

I saved up and bout my 90 on my 15th birthday blew the gearbox up sixth months later so that summer I put a disco 200 in with some help of another mate who likes tinkering (was also 15). I started on playdays from the age of 16 and now two years later theres not much left of the original 90, and my fleet consists of the 90, a 300 tdi disco, a RR hybrid and nearly a complete 90 in kit form.

I'm absolutely hooked and cant imagine life without landrovers, being the teenage type i drove my fathers 300 130 for 9 months until it went through a drystonewall upsidedown in november :( but the 8 months i had driving that were some of the best of my life and I soon got know around the local villages, especially when i was learning to drive and people saw a 130 with L plates parked in tescos :lol: The way you can do ANYTHING in a landrover is fantastic and being without one on the road for a few months has been a real eyeopener!

Will.

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My brother. he bought a series 3 and used it for work.

Got a tap in the back when he stopped for a pedestrian crossing and the chap in his re car didn't.

He got paid out, I replaced the rear x member and instead of paying me what he owed me a got the series.

HATED it...but had the bug for going where my previous and first love a golf gti would not go. My sig used to say never had so much fun going this slow!

Sold the series on ebay...bought a RRC 3.9 v8 off ebay...then a 2.5 td TC, then a 200 tdi 90, now a td5...this ones a keeper.

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Wow, its great to see that car is still doing the rounds. Inspired me too, along with the other nicely tricked Series 1s that were in the AWDC at the same time. Anyone remember "Thumper" (Barry Redman?) or "Flopper"(Colin Cowley)?

Pete must have had one of the first sets of BFG Muds in the country, I reckon, they were only available in 15" at the time, hence the eight spokes.

I have to blame my dad too. He was trialing (Ser 1 in CCV and SerII/Ltwts in RTV or expert trials and non-damaging trials as they were known respectively) when I was small and some of my earliest memories are from AWDC events at Slab, Weavers Down, Hungry Hill, Broxhead Common and the like, and Anglian ROC events at Double Arches Quarry and Sundon Pit.

Latterly my dad did some speed events in a RR classic and then a 110 Hi-cap - I got the speed bug early and it was straight into speed events for me!

BTW - Those photos of the Series 1 were taken at another long lost and missed AWDC venue, Peter's Pit near Gravesend.

Hi,

I am glad that I am not the only one then.

Pete's Series1 (named Missing Sid due to a permanent misfire on one cylinder) was built as a result of watching Barry in Thumper, I bought Missing Sid from Barry after Pete had sold it to him. Amazingly Barry lent me Thumper when we went to France as he had just bought a 90. When in rush hour traffic in Beyou a French gentleman joined the road without stopping as it his right of way. Barry told me that he Mildly miffed himself laughing as I swerved (in his motor) and all the traffic tried to avoid me.

My fist trial was as a passenger at Double Arches, my favourites were Weavers and Arena Essex as that was the first place me and a mate raced.

Marc.

PS.

Thumper is also still around as Barry's daughter now owns it.

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It was my Grandfathers S3 Truck cab that first inspired me , From a very early age I worked the farm with him in Taunton ,Driving Tractors from about 6 years old in the open fields and around the yard , Then he bought a shiney new Pea green S3 truck cab with a canvas back the reg is a distant memory but it was something like PYB ***V , I was 9 years old and can clearly remember being out ditching by hand and the S3 parked in the gateway of the field , I got bored with ditching and chasing eels through the grass so i went and sat in the S3 whilst the rest of the workforce carried on around the field until they were out of site , So after going through all the controls I bravely started it up and after a couple of attempts I was off around the fields in it ,

Took a right bollocking from Grandfather for driving unsupervised but within a few days I was back in it and doing all the driving (Off the road I might add) and supervised , I loved it and the way it got to places we couldnt reach in the tractors.

Time went on and I passed my driving test and went through the Ford Escort stage and on to more sensible cars and then back in 1995 I swapped my speedboat for a S3 truck cab , and it felt brilliant , The pure basics of it all was great and then the mods came , Really extreme 750 SAG tyes and a high lift :lol:

To be honest those were great times just going out on a sunday afternoon up the Fosseway with another mate in his 109 , No pressure, No worries ,

I had about three other Series land rovers after that and even did something realy stupid and bought a SJ 410 , But it wasnt long after that The first 90 came along , And I still have it . ;)

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My parents had a 300Tdi Discovery, bought new because my mother had a bad back and the seats suited her, but it was really when I borrowed a LRG4Challenge Range Rover for the weekend (I worked for an agency that did a lot of work for LR at the time). It was hugely impressive on the road, wonderfully relaxing and cruised over everything I got the chance to throw it at (which wasn't more than a few hummocks in a field, so no surprise there!).

Not long afterwards, with my little Skoda showing it's mileage a bit too much for the daily 50 mile round trip I gave in to insanity and bought a late V8 classic - a Vogue with leather memory seats, air suspension and all the other bits that go wrongtoys and a decent LPG conversion. Figured I might as well take the chance to run a big V8 before it got too expensive (little did I know...). I loved how relaxing it was to drive, and it's ability to go anywhere and carry anything. It didn't handle anywhere near as well as the MkIII on the road, but it was still a hoot to throw around.

Not long after I got the Range Rover, Fi Swann (who used to be on here as VeryDisco) invited me on a laning trip in wales. I was hooked, and anyway, once the paint was scratched, not much point being precious about it...

The wretched truck took over my life, which became a constant battle to fix it enough to get to work. Then the gearbox on my parents Discovery gave out and they gave it to me, so I ran that for a while until the clutch went as well, then put the Range Rover back on the road and fixed the Discovery, planing to sell it on. Reality bit, and once the Discovery was fixed I realised I just didn't have time to sort the Range Rover out and sold it. I still have the Discovery - it's more practical, more reliable, but I think it will always be Range Rovers that really draw me. Something about their ability to do just about anything, from long distance cruising to climbing mountains, I think :)

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Always liked Land Rovers as most kids do growing up, but in 2003 my father bought a Freelander for towing the caravan and then this happened...

accident.jpg

Ever since then I've loved Land Rovers even more (I was stunned that all four of us walked out of that without a scratch on us), and it was only a matter of time until I had one of my own. Last summer I bought a Defender 90 200Tdi, which lives at home while I'm at university (where I drive the much more comfortable Ford Focus), but gets put to good use during the holidays.

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Paul Baldwin

PCB Motor services

Armour Road

Tilehurst

Reading, RG

Berkshire,

01189 417 547

I think he should be personally held responsible for my constant spending addiction!!!!!

I worked for him in my early years 1986ish when he was on Tilehurst roundabout and he took me off roading in his RRC that we had fitted a Small block Chevy into.

Then in his new 90 V8 Van. Hooked!!!!!

I blame him :lol::lol:

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I was asked by a friend to see if I could get her motorcycle started, into bikes in a big way at the time, still have one now but the Land Rover have taken over. Well I was struggling to keep the dam thing going once I got it started so she asked a neighbour who was a mechanic who trundled up in his battered but well equipped 90 full of tools. We got to talking and discovered he was off to Morocco in a couple of months. Well that was six years ago since then I have owned a 90 and four Range Rovers.

Met loads of great people been to some amazing places and generally had a load of fun. Funny how things can change over a simple meeting.

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When I was about 6 my Dad got a 109 S2 hard top with a camping conversion in the back. I loved it straight away. I loved it even more when he used it to push a works truck that was stuck and the all the builders together couldn't push out the way. It was even better when a Ford Capri over took and cut in too early and caught the front bumper. The end of the bumper bent a bit as it ripped the whole side of the Capri off.

I loved the smell and sound of the Diesel engine and the way the lights were in the grille and the spare wheel was on the bonnet.

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My mate Drizz is to blame.

I was getting bored spending all my money on a road car that never seemed to get finished, and even though it was built for speed, would never go near a race circuit, and the points on my licence meant it would not get ragged on public roads.... :D

Then I went out greenlaning with Drizz one evening last year and 2 weeks later I had my own Discovery :D

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Well as said by Jules and me . Our dad was the one that got us into Landys

Here is an old pic of Jules (on the left as you look at the pic) and me with our Dad and his new (at the time) beloved 110 ( one of the many he owned) . With my 1971 Range Rover 200 Tdi in the back ground

Most pictures we have as kids were taken with a land rover in the background or at least somewhere in the picture :rolleyes:

2.jpg

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