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Issue 18 - February 1998

Geof Miller, ARC Press & Publicity
Brandlehow, Wolverton, Stratford-on-Avon CV37 0HF
Tel: (+44) 1789 73 1669

Circulation

We continue to get complaints about duplication on one hand, and a lack of two copies for two separate members at one address on the other, so Andrew Neaves explains some of the technicalities:-

We have had some correspondence recently regarding the distribution of ARC News and although Geof has printed the reason why we get duplicates, I would like to expand on this further and why also numerous members at one address may only get one copy.

How it works... The clubs that participate send me on disk a copy of their membership lists which I compile into one list and send to Land Rover who then print thousands of labels and stick them onto envelopes etc etc......

Simple eh! ..... Well not quite, the lists from the clubs are for the most part not membership lists but mailing lists. i.e. the same as used for the club's magazine. These include other clubs' magazine editors, Tom's repair shop down the road and a whole host of other people. Magazine editors would get thirty-plus copies.

So we have to sort this lot, - By name? .... no, too many names the same. By address? .... no, same problem as the name plus you get differences depending on how it was entered in the first place, extra spaces etc. So that leaves us with the postcode. It's not good but it is the best we can do at the moment. We check for duplicates on postcode then cross match for differing numbers in the address field (so we do not remove those living in the same road) and then remove the duplicates. You may think that solves the problem....well...no. Some postcodes have been entered with extra spaces or wrong characters, so we will get duplicates, please let us know so that the program that I have written can be modified to cope with any new anomalies.

As for the two members at one address, sorry I can't do much about this, we will over a period of time be able to standardize on the formats we receive from the clubs and then we may be able to introduce some specials. If this is a major problem please let your club know, on the other hand if you do not currently get your own, you may know someone who would be more than happy to give you one.

I would add to that, two comments:-

• Could clubs please supply update disks to Andrew on a regular basis - once every six months is not good enough.
• If you get more than one copy of ARC NEWS, please return both (or all ) labels to me, Andrew can then analyse them for discrepancies.

ARC Meetings

Dates for ARC meetings for 1998 will be as follows:-

Club officer changes

Please note that following their AGM the new officers for Staffs. & Shrops L.R.C. are:-

SOLIHULL HERITAGE RUN

Sunday April 26th.

Entries for the run are coming in steadily, my postman hasn't resigned yet, so keep them coming, don't forget the closing date of February 14th.

The Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon will be running a special Land Rover celebration and Rover Marque Day on the 26th, open from 10.00 am till 6.00 pm, with lots of attractions in the grounds and in the museum. Vehicles participating in the Run will be on display during their lunch stop, and all Land Rovers attending Gaydon during the day will be able to go on show in the arenas. If Clubs would like to set up a club display for the day, talk to Jane Roche on 01926 641188.

For those of you following the progress of the cavalcade throughout the day, there will be food available at the start at the NEC west car park, also at Gaydon, in the coffee shop and in the grounds (pig roast and beer tent), and at the tea stop at Baddesley Clinton, located slightly west of the B4100 road between Haseley and Chadwick End.

This latter stop is a superb medieval moated house dating back to the 13th century, and now operated by the National Trust. Entry prices are:-

50th ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL RALLY - EASTNOR

May 21-31st

• The Supplementary Regulation printed on the back of the booking form:-
  CCV Trial/Competitive Safari specification vehicles entered in both the CCV Trial and/or the Competitive Safari and the RTV Trial will not be eligible for annual awards in the RTV Trial
  is deleted.
• The "Rally Fee" of £10, quoted on the booking form is applicable to camping/caravanning units only.
• 'Day visitors' will be charged £5.00 per car at the gate - tickets need not be purchased in advance.
  If there are any members fluent in any foreign language(s), who would be prepared to assist in rally reception, even if only for an odd hour or two, please contact Harold Lowe on 01772 716956.
• Line Dancing demonstrations and classes will be available during the rally - bring your boots and stetsons - times and location to be announced.
• If there are any 'craft' workers or model makers willing to display their wares or skills (or both) please contact Bonny & Chris Savidge on 0115 926 7716
• Range Rover Register have offered to run their "Pride of Ownership" concours during the rally. This is a simple form of concours where a small team of judges select the vehicle they would most like to take home, without the depth of inspection and complication of a normal concours. More details at a later date.
• Plans are in hand for a Grand Raffle dedicated to the memory of Major Ben Hervey-Bathurst. First prize will be a Camel Trophy Freelander from Land Rover, with other desirable prizes such as a 9000lb winch from Superwinch, a set of tyres from Bronco Tyres, a year's vehicle insurance from NFU Mutual, and possibly others. Provisional plans are for the draw to take place at the rally closing ceremony on Saturday 30th May, drawn by Mrs. Anne Hervey-Bathurst. Proceeds of the raffle will go to the Eastnor church maintenance fund. More details and possibly an issue of tickets (at £1 each) with next ARC News.
• Don't forget to get your booking forms in by the end of March
• The provisional timetable for the rally is as follows:-

  Thurs 21st May	Rally site opens	12.00 noon
  	Rally reception closes	00.00 midnight
  Friday 22nd	Reception open	07.00 - 00.00
  	Scrutineering open	13.00 - 20.00
  Saturday 23rd	Reception open	07.00 - 00.00
  	Scrutineering open	08.00 - 21.00
  	Official Opening Ceremony	12.00 noon
  	Showroom Vehicle Test	14.00 - 17.00
  	Children's bike trial scrutineering starts	17.00
  	Children's Bike Trial starts	18.00
  Sunday 24th	Reception open	07.00 - 00.00
  	Scrutineering open	06.00 - 08.00
  	CCV Trial Marshals briefing	08.00
  	CCV Trial starts	08.30
  	Car Concours	T.B.D.
  Monday 25th	Scrutineering open	06.00 - 08.00
  	Comp Safari Marshals briefing	08.00
  	Comp Safari	08.30 - 16.00
  	Prize-giving	18.00
  Tuesday 26th	Scrutineering open	08.00 - 09.30
  	Team Recovery	10.00 - 16.00
  	Land Rover Concours	T.B.D.
  Wednesday 27th	Scrutineering open	08.00 - 09.30 & 18.00 - 20.00
  	Inter-club Challenge	10.00 - 18.00
  	Land Rover Concours	T.B.D.
  Thurs 28th	Scrutineering open	08.00 - 10.00
  	Timed Trial	10.00 - 16.00
  Friday 29th	Scrutineering open	08.00 - 09.30 & 12.00 - 20.00
  	Winch Recovery	10.00 - 16.00
  Saturday 30th	Scrutineering open	06.00 - 08.00
  	RTV Trial starts	08.30
  	Prize Giving & Closing Ceremony	18.00
  Sunday 31st	Rest day and site closure

  
  The bar is open every day and closes at 23.00 each night.

SHUGBOROUGH

27th/28th June

Whilst the Solihull Heritage Run and the International Rally at Eastnor are going to be prestigious celebration events, surely one of the most impressive sights of 1998 will be the assembly of several hundred Series I's at Shugborough.

Two thoughts spring to mind:-

• has someone approached the Guinness Records people?
• has someone laid on some aerial photography?

We have all seen the impressive (or depressing?) sight of hundreds of new cars 'stored' on docksides and airfields awaiting customers, but can you imagine several hundred 45 - 50 year old Landies lined up at a stately home? - it's mind boggling! - will it ever happen again?

In ARC News 17 I stated that the late John Parker's collection of models would be on display, this is not correct, they now reside at Dunsfold. The display at Shugborough will be that of Mike Hardiman and others - sorry!

Day visitors will park in the Shugborough Hall general car park (parking fee approx. 2) and then admission to the rally site is free.

For more information contact Peter Hughes, 332 Priory Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 1BQ Tel. 0121 430 4712.

THE ALL-ROVER WEEKEND 1998

from Chris Savidge, Non-Competitive Clubs Co-Ordinator

Arrangements are in hand to hold this year's "All-Rover Weekend" within the Motoring Festival section of the Town & Country Festival, to be held on 29th - 31st August at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. The prime reason for doing this, as opposed to the usual event at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, was to meet the need which has been identified by the ARC Non-Competitive Clubs Sub-committee, for there to be more at the event to interest "the rest of the family".

With so much else happening in the 50th year of The Land Rover, it would not be possible to arrange our own, independent event which would satisfy this identified need. The idea of "attaching" our All-Rover Weekend to an existing, suitable, event began to look attractive! We investigated several such events, even visiting some, and the Town & Country Festival came out well in the lead.

The Town & Country Festival is actually made up of four 'Festivals': Motoring - Live Entertainment - Leisure and Shopping - The Countryside. The venue, at the Royal Agricultural Society of England's headquarters, is superbly laid out with permanent infrastructure. Camping and caravanning are available (by pre-booking) adjacent to the showground - toilets and showers available, and I need to know approximate numbers in order to reserve adjacent sections of the camping and caravanning areas for our members. Price for those exhibiting vehicles is £20 per unit for the weekend (max 4 nights), and this fee also includes 2 adult entry tickets to all three days of the Show. Additional adult (over 15 years) and children's (5-15 years, under 5's are free) tickets can be bought in advance for the three days of the show at discounted rates. Caravanning for those not exhibiting vehicles is £35, and advance entry tickets available at discount. Day visitors may also purchase 'advance' tickets.

If you are interested in attending this event, either camping or caravanning, please get in touch with Bonny or Chris Savidge (Snr) on 0115 926 7716 as soon as possible, before 15th May 1998.

1998 CLUB EVENTS

• Lincolnshire Land Rover Club are running a 3 day open event on Manby Showground near Louth over May Day Bank Holiday weekend May 1st - 4th. RTV Trial, CCV Trial, Comp Safari, Ladies Event and Bike Trial are all featured. Camping/ caravanning is available with water and toilets on site, and within walking distance of a pub! For more details phone Vince on 01673 885115.
• For those of you more supportive of the Classic Car scene, and within reasonable distance of Bolton, there is a half-day Classic Rally in aid of Bolton Hospice on Sunday 7th June. A route of approx 60 miles is covered including the West Pennine Moors, and the rally winds up with a buffet lunch for all, and presentation of finishers plaques. For further information contact Mrs Brenda Thornley, Ardoyne, 86 Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton BL7 9NE, tel. 01204 310544.
• Yorkshire Rover Owners Club are again running the Langley Farm 4 x 4 event, this year over the weekend 11-13th September. This is an open event, open to all 4 x 4 owners. There will be trade stands, Club stands, an off-road course, a vehicle display area (with prizes), and a prize draw based on a completed questionnaire. For more information contact Mick Moses c/o 26 White Rose Way, Garfoth, Leeds LS25 2EF, tel. 0113 286 0586 (evenings only).

CONTACTS

• If you are an ex-military vehicle fanatic, are you aware of MVS Ltd at Units 14/15 Fradley Park, Gorse Lane, Fradley, Lichfield, Staffs WS13 8EN, tel. 01543 417733? They sell ex-military vehicles, spares and ancillary equipment, and are currently disposing of 3000 Series III Land Rovers. Talk to Tony Trowell and mention ARC News.
• If you are a Classic Car fanatic and have a trauma, involving accident damage to your 'pride and joy', you might have difficulty getting a repair estimate acceptable to your insurance company. Robert T Lee & Associates might help, they specialise in this field, they can be contacted at 18 Lichfield Street, Walsall, West Midlands WS1 1UB, tel. 01922 610001, tell them you came from ARC News.
• What state is your V8 engine in? If it's in need of a bit of TLC, talk to RPI Engineering and ask for their superb brochure. It's full of good advice and spares to give you anything from a standard rebuild to a full-blown 4.6 litre competition engine. They have exhaust, transmission and trim goodies too. If you are into the electronic age, you can obtain this info from their web-site, or contact Chris Crane at Wayside Garage, Holt Road, Horsford, Norwich NR10 3EE, tel. 01603 891209 and mention ARC News.
• Do you have any relatives in Australia - who hasn't! - or if you are planning a visit to Oz in the near future, you could go outback trekking in a fully equipped 110 camper, fully equipped meaning that you get off the plane, hand over your dollars, and drive away - there's even food packed for you.
• If this sounds too good to miss, contact Aussie Trax Outback Expeditions, 56 Boat Harbour Drive, Pialba, Queensland 4650 Australia, tel (61) 07 4124 4433, or contact me for more detail initially.

VEHICLE THEFT..........PARTS FOR SALE

At regular intervals we read about members vehicles being stolen, and appeals in club newsletters for observations for such vehicles. Recent cases in the Peak & Dukeries and Red Rose areas prompted P. & D. newsletter editor Dave Banner to write the following article in "Trialling Times".

Dave is an expert on the subject of vehicle related crime (on the right side of the law!), and I am grateful to him and to P&D LRC for their permission to reproduce the article here.

Is It Nicked? .........Do You Care?

Once again one of our members has fallen victim to vehicle theft. He is the fourth member of our club, to my knowledge, to have had their motors stolen in the last few years.

There is also a letter from a Red Rose member whose 90" has suffered a similar fate. These stolen motors have ranged from Discovery to Series Two to a purpose built lightweight special. None of these vehicles has ever been recovered. This just goes to show that all vehicles are at risk so don't think it's not going to happen to you!.

Why do these vehicles get stolen?

Criminal A decides to make a nice little earner. He obtains the identity of a Land Rover, either by getting the log book and VIN plates from an unscrupulous car breaker, by getting a copy of a log book from the DVLA, or most crudely by getting some number plates made up copying a vehicle of the same make and colour. He then sends out his feelers and steals or gets a third party to steal your vehicle, which he then "rings" and gives it another identity, the Meccano-type construction making it very easy. After all, to most people a Land Rover is a Land Rover, they can't distinguish between the various models and specifications. This vehicle is then quickly sold on to an unsuspecting punter. Thousands of pounds are made this way.

Criminal B also wants to make some easy money, so again has your motor stolen. He then sells it to an unscrupulous car breaker (who may even have instructed B to steal a specific model) or breaks it up himself and sells off the bits in small ads etc. When you think how much a Tdi engine or 4-speed auto gearbox can fetch, this crime is well worth committing.

The people that steal your car will probably have a list of certain models to steal and will travel distances to steal the right car. Where better place to look for a Land Rover than at a club event? Conveniently advertised in national magazines such as LRO, LRW and IOR. Prospective thieves can then follow the owners home after maybe having a good look round the vehicle to check its spec, and then steal it at their leisure. They will also just drive around looking out for the right motor to steal. Easy isn't it?

Of course there are no victims, are there? All these vehicles are insured so nobody loses out. This is a popular misconception. Tell anyone who has suffered that it's a victimless crime and I'm sure you'll get a choice answer.

What can you do to prevent yourself becoming involved in these thefts?

Last year I wrote an article in the Trialling Times entitled "Is it Nicked?" and it's probably worth noting some of the points raised when buying a car or parts.

Remember that every Land Rover is a target and take reasonable steps to protect it. A good quality alarm/immobiliser will protect the car whilst outside your own home at least, as you will react to the sound of it even if nobody else does! Also a good quality mechanical locking device should be fitted. The best sort are the ones made out of steel that completely encase the steering wheel or the foot pedals. Also of note are those that fit inside the transmission tunnel safe from attack and lock the car in gear. For the older motor you may just want to disconnect a few wires or simply chain it up! If you park on an open driveway, consider a removable steel barrier post on the drive to prevent thefts. Also think about these to protect your caravans and trailers.

We create the market for these thefts by wanting to upgrade our motors with newer engines, gearboxes, trim, and to build our coil-sprung specials. I wonder just how many of those specials out there are unknowingly or uncaringly put together with stolen bits? I know one local builder of such vehicles who now refuses to use second hand parts due to the vast number of stolen ones on the market.

When you buy second hand parts take time to ask a few questions

1. Where have the parts come from?
2. Are you happy with the vendor?
3. Will the vendor give a full receipt with his name and address?
4. Does the vendor have a log book for the vehicle that the parts are allegedly from? This is particularly important with engines and chassis.
5. Have any identifying marks i.e. serial numbers been removed or ground off? If so, walk away. I can think of no legitimate reason for the removal of such marks (other than chassis frames from legitimate insurance breakers)
6. Remember "Buyer Beware". Don't get caught out with stolen parts that could cost you dear.

Preferably get your parts from a reputable dealer who can offer you assurance where they have come from and a receipt. Many people are caught with stolen parts on their motors at routine Police/Ministry checks and end up being the subject of protracted police enquiries during which time the vehicle is impounded!

In law the rights of the original owner remain paramount and if you get caught out with stolen parts you may lose the lot to their original owner with no compensation. If, however, you know who you purchased them from you can at least have some recourse from them.

It's easy for me to take the moral high ground. I know we all like a bargain and to get our parts at the right price, myself included. But next time you're buying second hand bits take a few moments to remember the hard work that members may have put into making their motors with new parts, and think "Do I want to be parts of these thefts?" If you honestly care and put your hand on your heart and say you are happy with everything after asking a few questions then go ahead. If you've any doubts then walk away, inform the Police of your suspicions and don't create a market for stolen parts.

By being more cautious in your approach to buying spare parts you can help turn the tide on the thieves. Or are you prepared to turn a blind eye when the price is right?

Remember: NO MARKET = NO THEFT .... THINK ON

Dave Banner

(up, back to issue 17, on to issue 19)

Disclaimer, March 1998