Home//Land Rover Owner/January 2023
LRO is the world's biggest magazine dedicated entirely towards the Land and Range Rover enthusiast.Every issue you'll find our team of experts writing inspirational features on:- Adventure! Off-road adventures in some of the world's most spectacular countryside- Restoration! Inspiring tales of old Land and Range Rovers lovingly rescued and restored... - Maps! Tough tracks with OS maps for you to try- Rare models... find something unusual in every issue- Land Rovers and spare parts for sale... a fantastic range of parts & vehicles for sale, every monthPlus the latest club news and events from around the world.Love Land Rovers? Love LRO!
in this issue
Editorial‘We’ll be driving in a winter wonderland’Depending on which bit of meteorological data you look at, the UK is going to have a colder or warmer winter than normal this year – or it’ll be about the same as it always is. But whatever happens, there’s a story in it – I’ve already had to recover my son who forgot he wasn’t driving a Land Rover when he tackled a deep ford… ‘Adventure is never far away’ is a slogan we had on some of our wheel carriers in the past and it is still true now. Much of the time we just get on with what we’re doing – it’s only when we recount our tales to others that we realise just how much more enjoyment we can get from our Land Rovers than you…2 min
Land RoversLOVE AT FIRST SITEThe sight of a straight, clean early Discovery 1 is becoming increasingly rare, but that’s what’s standing in front of me this morning – areal treat. And Nik Hammond and his partner Leann Stratta’s 1993 3.9 V8 EFi is no ordinary Disco 1 – it’s been carefully kitted-out for overlanding and camping trips. All of the mods can be reversed in just a day or two to bring the vehicle back to almost standard, ex-factory condition. Unlike countless thousands of Tdi-powered Disco 1s that have been driven into the ground, this V8 has led a relatively quiet life. ‘We’re only the fourth owners. The third owner had it for 25 years of its life. Some of the MoTs are just five miles apart; it’s done just 5000 miles since the…8 min
Land RoversWORLD OF LAND ROVERS1st Making a splash through the ford at Malmsmead near the Lorna Doone Valley in Exmoor, this is GEORGE SAINSBURY’S Defender L663, which proved to be the ideal vehicle for enjoying a ‘smooth and surprisingly quiet ride through the beautiful scenery’. And a beautiful pic to capture the occasion too – nice one, George. The simple pleasures of life always raise a smile, as 16-month-old Flora proves as she perches on grandad Rob Denham’s Defender’s spare wheel, outside her parents’ house in south-east London. Definitely one for the family album. Thanks to Flora’s granny LORNA DENHAM for sending the pic. This is NORMAN McDONALD’S 2006 Discovery 3 in the Tongariro National Park on New Zealand’s North Island. Norman says he’s lavished a lot of care and cash on the…2 min
News and CommentBOWLER CHALLENGE WILL BE BACK!The dust hasn’t yet settled on this year’s Bowler Defender Challenge, but its return has already been announced for 2023. Like this year, there will be 12 vehicles available with identical spec – although for the first time they will be available in both left- and right-hand drive, reflecting the international pool of participants. This is, after all, intended to be a stepping stone for drivers hoping to progress to overseas rallyraid events. The cars will be based on the P300 Defender 90, remaining road legal but comprehensively upgraded by Bowler (which has been part of JLR’s Special Vehicles Operations division since 2019). Major strengthening underneath ranges from braced subframes to stronger engine and gearbox mounts, while the 2.0-litre petrol engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox have enhanced cooling and the…2 min
News and CommentNews in briefGrenadiers are here After various setbacks, production of the Defender-aping INEOS Grenadier has begun. Customer deliveries will begin in December, but ‘global supply chain issues continue to constrain output,’ the company says. Backlog hits 205,000 Jaguar Land Rover’s backlog of unfulfilled orders has grown to 205k vehicles. Sales grew in the three-month period to September 30, but factory lines are still having to be put on hold due to insufficient supplies of materials – especially semiconductors. Victors in the USA Land Rover’s second-ever North American Trophy – an off-road adventure in Vermont – has been awarded to Natasha Radwan and Jonathan Gunsur, who will now get to compete in the Classic Works V8 Trophy Experience as owners of a US Defender Trophy Edition. Brothers Charles and Patrick Miller won a…1 min
News and CommentSKILLS SHORTAGE – ADEEPENING PROBLEMMany Land Rover specialists are struggling to recruit and retain skilled staff – aproblem that appears to be getting worse, according to various business owners that LRO has spoken to. ‘Staff retention is painful,’ says Chris McCormack who runs Oak Ridge Engineering (ore4x4.co.uk) in Staffordshire. ‘Skilled people such as fabricators are earning about £35-38k as a basic wage, and they’re being offered joining bonuses by other companies to take up positions elsewhere... All my technical staff have to sign non-disclosure agreements – I’ve had to become much more cut-throat than I used to be.’ Others are changing career entirely, says Allen Walker, boss of Avenger 4x4 in Cambridgeshire (avenger4x4.com). ‘People are just pulling out of the trade. Why would you stay as a technician in a Land Rover workshop earning…1 min
recent issues
View All
- Land Rover Owner - May 2023May 2023
- Land Rover Owner - Spring 23Spring 23
- Land Rover Owner - April 2023April 2023
- Land Rover Owner - March 2023March 2023
- Land Rover Owner - February 2023February 2023
- Land Rover Owner - December 2022December 2022
- Land Rover Owner - November 2022November 2022
- Land Rover Owner - October 2022October 2022
- Land Rover Owner - September 2022September 2022
- Land Rover Owner - August 2022August 2022
