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"WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: I am a rover enthusiast simply because they
are the best and true 4wds avaliable. I love the extremely rugged
construction of the land rover. I looked under my discovery and my mom's
discovery series 2 and the frame is so huge and thick that what else could
a person want. With all that safety I wouldn't want to be in any thing
else. Plus the bodies of rover vehicles are light yet very strong like
that of old rigs. Plus the amount of luxury and convience is top notch and
off road nothing I mean nothing compares. Not hummers, land cruisers, and
definetly not jeeps. Plus nothing out there looks like a land rover. As
for safety rovers are know for being very rugged I was rear ended buy a
1997 ford expedition at almost 45mph The rover my discovery 1 only suffer
a dent in the rear bumper the Ford was crush like a beer can. BULIT FORD
TOUGH YEAH RIGHT. BULIT LAND ROVER TOUGH REAL DEAL that reason alone is
why i'm a rover enthusiast."
Jarell Ellis, Union City, California
"WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: I grew up watching Tarzan on TV and dreaming
of going to Africa in a Land Rover, of course! In '84 I had a wonderful
Toyota SR5 4WD truck with all the goodies - big tires, etc. Then I saw a
'67 109 SIIA 6 cyl. for sale in OKC. It was owned by a farmer and had 37K
orig. miles. Paint was falling off, no weatherstripping left, oil leaks
everywhere - I WAS IN LOVE! Sold the Toy, bought the old dog and put over
40K on it in the next 3 yrs. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I was in
LOVE! Last 6mos. I drove it I had to hand crank it because I was a poor
college student and couldn't afford a new starter - and the hand crank
worked just fine... Well, 20 years on and many cars down the road, I
still have the Rover. Now it's better than new after a complete
restoration w/every option ever offered and many that weren't. I swapped
the 6 for a 3.9 V8 (low comp. w/SU carbs), Ashcroft gears,GBR axles,
locker and truetrack,RR pwr steering, full exterior cage, A/C, dual heat,
dual spares and the list goes on... I think I'm way past hooked. But, I'm
in LOVE and true love is FOREVER..."
Steven Saunders, Norman, Oklahoma
"WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: No other 4WD vehicle has the history or
romance of the Land Rover (with the possible exception of the Willys
Jeep?)!. Land Rovers were the first vehicle seen by numerous people in
Africa, and is the vehicle of choice for the majority of expedition goers
who travel that country (and many of the safari companies who operate
there)...I grew up in Africa surrounded by Series IIAs and IIIs and have
memories of them toiling through the harsh African bush...without
faltering once. When old enough to drive I recall getting a SIII up to the
floor boards in deep, wet volcanic soil and the only only thing that would
move it was a large tractor. I have learnt to drive off-road somewhat
better since then. Since those younger days Series and Defenders have
been faithful companions through many trips in Africa, Australia, Europe
and the US and they remain one of the few vehicles out there that actually
still has some character."
Clive Bock, Vero Beach, Florida
"WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: I'm am sooo an enthusiast for Land Rover! A
little to much obsessed. Friends are always getting tired of me screaming
out when I see a new Range Rover or LR3 go by. They just aren't that
common in the big ole' town of Bowling Green. I currently own a 03 disco,
which is the second I have! Great vehicles all around minus cost for
repair! :-D"
Cody Burgett, Bowling Green, Kentucky
"WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: It all started back in 1964 - My dad liked to
explore the dirt roads of North Georgia with our old Ford station wagon.
There was always a point where we would have to turn around yet the "road"
continued. I always wanted to go farther up that road.
One day we were eating lunch outside at the Dairy Queen in Clayton and
this big boxy thing pulled in right next to our table. The badge on the
front said "Land Rover - Four Wheel Drive Station Wagon" and I was hooked.
The neat ads that Land Rover ran in the car magazines back then showed
that they were a company with a sense of humor and I just went nuts over
them. I bought my first Land Rover in 1971, a 1961 SII. I've had at least
one Land Rover in the driveway ever since then except for a six month
period in 1978 when I was negotiating with the owner of my 1966 109"
diesel station wagon. I've owned over twenty Land Rovers (I've lost
count) - currently own five Rovers and started the local Land Rover club
Solaros to help infect others with this disease.
As we like to say - Real men drive Series trucks."
Jack Walter, Roswell, Georgia
"From my 64 Series IIA to my 00 Range Rover Westminster, there is NOTHING like a Rover.
While very different from each other, there is no equal to each of these in their respective
class!"
Aaron M. Ausland, Grants Pass, Oregon
"There is no better vehicle for the terain of
the desert south west or the U.S. Rocky Mountains than a Rover. Moab,
Navajo Mountain and the Rocky's have been traversed by my Discovery. We
have been places that most Rover enthusiasts dream about."
Troy Vance, Edmond, OK
"Temp displaced to RAF Mildenhall, UK. Bought a SIII as a daily driver. Discovered the
Real meaning of Land Rover on a trip to Africa. Caught the bug 'cause it is an inexpensive
hobby here. Found my new love. Will never go back to a Jeep!"
Steven Taylor, Guymon, OK
"I became a Land Rover enthusiast a few years
back when my wife kept getting upset with me for getting her new SE7
completely muddy inside and out. She wouldn't let me get it muddy anymore
and "made me" get my own discovery. People wondered why I didn't wait to
get the window sticker off from the dealer before trashing it deep in the
Appalacian mountains.
We are now missionaries learning Spanish here in San Jose, Costa Rica.
This is Land Rover paradise, and when I saw a 1980 diesel series III, I
bought it that day. It was one of the last 5 Land Rovers built in a now
defunct assembly plant right here in San Jose. They cleaned out the parts
warehouse to build these last Rovers so mine has parts ranging from the
60's to the 80's. We've been all over Costa Rica. We've been to 3 active
volcanos, rain forrest, the beaches, and high in the mountains to places I
would not attempt to go in anything other than a Land Rover. We are
moving to Caracas, Venezuela in two months and I must tearfully part with
my Rover. She's too new to feasably import into the United States and the
paperwork getting into Venezuela is too questionable. My only condolence
is that they have lots of Rovers in Caracas!"
Bruce DeVoe, San Jose, Costa Rica
"I've just bought a 1997 Land Rover Discovery,
but I've been an enthusiast since watching Land Rovers on safari on TV.
I've been an off-road vehicle nut all my life and finally own THE off-road
vehicle."
Chuck Asher, Salem, MO
"I just wanted to say why I am a Land Rover
ENTHUSIAST... I fell in love with Land Rovers when I was a kid. It happened during an expedition
in the Amazon forest of Venezuela. Since that trip I realized that Rovers were something
completely different from other 4x4 vehicles...something that I could not describe until several
years later ...After some time I started to learn and to appreciate the beauty of ecoturism and
other activities that would involve LR. One of the best examples of all is the great Camel
Trophy which was one of the most important and well known 4x4 competitions in the world. This is
one of the many things that make LRs so special, and certainly what makes me drive them.:)"
Gustavo Moreno, Tulsa, Oklahoma
WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: "I had been intrested in Rovers for a couple
of years before I knew the first thing about them. I would occasionaly see
this boxy short wheel base little thing here and there that I knew was a
Land Rover, and thought it looked like a real off highway vehicle. After
finally seeing one up close I knew this was what I had to have some day, it
was a Defender 90.
I have driven off road for years in full size 4x4 pickups but I always
had turn around or back up before getting to the end of the trail.
Well now that I have one (D 90) I have never regretted the purchase and I
think I have become an enthusiast. I get a big grin when I see another
Rover on the trail and just last week I saw a Series II in Wyoming for
sale. I would make a great project car I thought...well maybe someday."
Randy Black, (club member)
WHY I'M A ROVER ENTHUSIAST: "Purchased as a work truck for my wife our 96
Disco had 52k miles and the most solid feel I had ever experienced. Two
years of breaking and fixing a full size, lifted & locked, Bronco with 33"
tires (my son's daily driver) had not really turned me into an offroad
enthusiast....the drive home from the dealer in the Disco did. I knew the
"bone stock" Disco would be incredible in the bush and it didn't disappoint
me. It's the only vehicle I can imagine taking in to extreme terrain
alone...no winch, no recovery vehicle, no cell phone (NOT recommended).
After testing it's and my abilities and judgement everywhere from West
Tulsa to the Alpine Loop in Southwestern Colorado, from Grand Lake below
the dam to the wilderness areas of Southeastern Oklahoma I am very
"enthusiastic" about Land Rovers. It now has 125k miles and is still my
wife's daily work truck. It is not an SUV, it's an offroad vehicle. A
tractor with air conditioning and leather.
To those who continuosly ask "How can you treat such an expensive vehicle
like that?" the only answer that comes to me is "How could you not...."
If you want an SUV with Land Rover on the front of the hood, buy a
Freelander.
Remember....'drive it like you're mad at it.'"
Jim Royall, (club member)
"My first LR experience was in 1972 when I
accompanied a friend in his 109 Dormobile to an event put on by Atlantic
British in up-state New York. At the time I had the typical Jeep CJ5 and
after the event, was totally hooked on LR. We took that Dormie on trails I
never would have considered with the CJ5. It took until Spring 1996 when
a new '95 D90 hardtop appeared at the dealership for the LR bug to bite
real hard. The dealer didn't even have time to "prep" it before I bought
it. The D90 went on trails that the locals thought were almost impossible.
Next was a LWB RR as the D90 wasn't that great for longer trips with 2
dogs and camping gear. Then the RR needed to be modified as it was going on
trails almost as hard as the D90. Then the Series bug bit and an
opportunity arose to custom build a NADA 109. The longer you are with the
LR marque, the harder that bug bites. Then one day you realize you have a
disdain for driving on pavement. Tire tread patterns and sizes become
important. Protection from rocks you are encountering on the trails has
become important. Knowing how to perform field repairs and having the
necessary tools has become important. Maintenance has gone way beyond what
LR recommends, as now having the highest reliability possible for the
remote areas you're going has become important. Your "Favorites" section on your browser
lists every LR related parts, club, etc. on the web. Yep, you now have
gone from just being an owner to being a LR enthusiast."
Jim Thompson, (club member)
"It started in 1998. I wanted to buy a Toyota 4-runner, but my sons insisted I look at a
Disco. Well four years later, 75k miles and countless camping trips with my 98 Disco, I now own
two. A '98 disco I & '02 disco II. I've never had a problem, at least one I couldn't handle.
I've been in "MAJOR" storms, deep in the Appalachian Mountains and always made it back. There
were many times I was glad I had a Land Rover. So how does the transformation to a Rover
enthusiast happen? It starts when you cross that stream you think you couldn't. You begin to
appreciate & understand the design of the Disco. So when you see another Land Rover go by you
know its not a social statement. If the driver waves back, you know they have been out there
too"
Peter Clemares, Atlanta, GA
"I'm a Rover enthusiast 'cause I've driven all kind of 4x4's and believe that my "90 RR will
do more than any other stock Jeep, SUV, or 4x4 Truck, and it will do without knocking your teeth
out!"
Chris Jackson, Little Rock, AR
"Purity and simplicity of function over form. I make a point of saying I drive a UV, there's
no "Sport" about my 109."
Tom Steinauer (club member)
Solihull Super Hero - Defender of Rovers
"I have to say I was a Land Rover enthusiast from 1994-2000. That all ended
on June 19th, 2000 when I took delivery of my first Land Rover, a
previously wrecked and now restored 1993 Range Rover LWB. I am not sure if
I am a Rover enthusiast any longer. Maybe I consider myself a Rover
defender now. Not defender as in a Defender 90 but as in a defender of Rovers.
For I am often called to "defend" Land Rovers and my choice there of.
I am constantly defending my vehicle from the sharp jabs of my co-workers,
who collectively own 2 pickups (domestic), a GMC Jimmy, and a Ford
Explorer. The only documentable off-roading is when the Jimmy, with it's
prominent titanium hitch, pulled the GMC pickup out of a ditch. To which we
nicknamed the GMC pickup "The Ditch-Finder".
Every time my Rover is down due to failure of a part or a problem it is
open season to tease the Rover guy. I average about 2 jabs a day with more
when I report repairs. My problems with the torque converter that ate my
rear seal made for a rough week at work. Vindication was mine recently when
the GMC pickup had to be "rebooted" to get his transmission out of "limp mode".
My best friend bought a 1991 Rangie this year. He called me last week and
said the honeymoon was over, his Rover left him at the side of the road.
Alternator died, new bushings and he's back on the road. My Rover has never
left me on the side of the road, (knock on Mediteranean Poplar) and I hope
if it does it is when my wife is out of town. Because if it leaves "us" on
the side of the road I will have to put on my Rover Defender cape once
again to protect and defend Solihull's honor."
Eric Stephens (club member)
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