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Issue 19 - March 1998

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

Club Officer Changes

Please note that Staffs & Shrops Membership Secretary Vanessa Johnson's telephone no. is 0121 580 1490, not the number quoted in Arc News 18. I just copied it from their circular letter!

Car Clubs Liaison Officer

At long last the ARC Council has a car clubs representative, in the form of Paul K. Williams of RSR. He is contactable at 41 Church Street, St. Georges, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9JZ, tel: 01952 419781

SOLIHULL HERITAGE RUN Sunday 26th April

Entries have now been sorted for the 50 years of production grouping, and approaching 40 of the "Specials" grouping. If you have something special like a fire engine, special body conversion, etc, and would still like to enter, get in touch urgently with Chris Savidge on 0115 926 7716. All drivers will be receiving an official invitation from the Company.

Official timings are as follows:-

NEC West Car Park	9.00 - 11.00 am
Land Rover (Damson Parkway)	10.05 - 11.20 am
Solihull Town Centre	10.30 - 11.40 am
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon	11.30am - 4.30 pm
Baddesley Clinton House	4.20 - 6.35 pm
NEC Pendigo Lake	6.20 - 9.30 pm

Please note the West Car Park access off the A45 Coventry - Birmingham road is not the main NEC exit, but the Birmingham Airport exit.

The Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon is open from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm for a special Anniversary and Marque Day, with club stands, trade stands, Land Rover displays, Land Rover cinema, Pig Roast, Jazz Band, and children's entertainment. During the cavalcade lunch break at the Centre, there will be a Guest Speakers Open Forum, with various past executives and engineers from the Company. Drivers of Land Rovers and Rover cars will gain free entry, their passengers get a £1 discount off normal prices.

We can fly Club flags at the NEC Pendigo Lake location throughout the evening celebrations, if you can provide a club flag, please contact Chris Savidge (Snr) - tel 0115 926 7716.

50th ANNIVERSARY INTERNATIONAL RALLY, EASTNOR May 21st - 31st

The 50th Anniversary Association of Rover Clubs' International Rally is drawing closer. The competitions are very well subscribed to with the 'spread-out' timetable proving to be popular. Land Rover Ltd. are being very supportive of the whole event and regular visitors to Eastnor Deer Park will see new roads and less muddy tracks than in the past. This is thanks to the Company. The camping and caravanning bookings are surprisingly balanced over the nine day period and at the end of January over 400 units were booked in for the whole 9 day period. In early February full 9 day bookings were averaging 6 per day, thus a bumper International is foreseen.

There will be a plethora of activities to keep everyone amused throughout each day in addition to the usual competitions. these attractions include:-

• Scenic Drives around Eastnor Estate in your own vehicle.
• Visits to the Motor Industries Heritage Centre at Gaydon
• Visits to the Land Rover factory at Lode Lane, Solihull (limited numbers will apply)
• An extensive Off-Road Scenic Drive on military land in the Brecon Beacons
• Concours competitions for both Rover Cars and Land Rover vehicles
• Special entry arrangements to Eastnor Castle

Further, there will be regular arena events including vehicle displays, vehicle building competitions, military vehicle demonstrations and much more.

The thoroughbred Rover P3 Saloon is similarly celebrating its 50th Birthday and enthusiasts of this vehicle will be at the event providing a comprehensive display.

The Trade stands will be at the event in force where enthusiasts of all Leaf Sprung and Coil Sprung Lode Lane marques will be able to order or buy their spares and add-ons. Dunsfold Land Rover will be bringing a huge range of Series One spares and Series Two and Series Three owners will see more of their models' spare parts than ever before. Simmonites 4 x 4 and DLS will each have large display units offering all parts and accessories. Famous Four will have their ever popular handling kits for sale and much, much more. Further , Superwinch are generously supporting the event and will have their full range of winches on display.

ARC have arranged an excellent deal on vehicle insurance for its members with NFU Mutual and they will have a presentation stand at the event. Similarly CLA, the Country Landowners Association, are invited. It is to their members that we look for land for our activities in the future. Therefore this is the opportunity for clubs to make their requirements known to landowners in their area.

You will find a booking form in this newsletter for both the official video and the exclusive 50th Anniversary clothing. The logos for the 50th have been specially designed for us by Pete Wilford. These are unique to ARC and will never be available again after this year so the clothing will be a collectors item as practical good quality wear.

The video can be pre-ordered thus saving £1.00, the production will include the cavalcade of fifty Land Rovers, one from each of the last fifty years of all models and types. It is good value, costing less than the official National video from the past four years.

There you have it, whether you are a competitor or an enthusiast, a 9 day break at Eastnor Castle is the place to be from 22nd to 31st May, if you miss it there will never be another chance, never be another fiftieth.

Day visitors are welcome and ample car parking awaits them.

Trade stands are still available from £100 for a 5m x 5m pitch - contact Steve Wells on 01472 398019 or 0976 510433.

A "Radio Amateur" member of the 101 FCC&R is planning to set up a 'licensed Radio station' at Eastnor for the event, if there are any other enthusiasts out there willing to help, please contact Chris Savidge.

Don't forget the craft displays, if you are 'into' any form of craft hobby and wish to demonstrate, display or sell your products, contact Chris or Bonny Savidge.

Please note that the Grand Raffle will not now be linked with the International Rally. Due to increased administration requirements dictated by the higher than normal (to ARC) prize values, the draw for this raffle will take place on Saturday 3rd October at the Major's Trial. Please note also that the main prize will be a Camel Discovery not a Camel Freelander.

John Bradbury is organising a cavalcade of 50 Land Rovers to run from Anglesey on Saturday 23rd May to arrive at Eastnor during the opening ceremony of the International Rally. If you are interested in taking part, please let John know asap. If you also applied for the Solihull Heritage Run, advise him of that fact, he can then liaise with Chris Savidge for photos and vehicle details etc. John's address etc are on the back page of this ARC News.

SHUGBOROUGH - 27th/28th June

The biggest ever Series I Club and 1947/51 Register event at Shugborough Hall just a few miles east of Stafford. For more information, contact Peter Hughes, 332 Priory Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 1BQ, tel: 0121 430 4712

ALL ROVER WEEKEND 1998

National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire 29th - 31st August

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, Chris Savidge needs an indication of camping / caravanning numbers by mid-May, please complete the booking form and return it to him.

1998 CLUB EVENTS

CLASSIC VEHICLE EVENTS

For details of all these events contact:

Start 2 Finish, High View,
Rock Place,
Coedpoeth,
Wrexham,
North Wales LL11 3RS

Tel: 01978 750150

RAC MSA NEWS from Harold Carman

Over the past twelve months I have reported from the RAC MSA Off Road Committee some concern regarding A.F.F.F. fire extinguishers:- it had been reported that some did not work correctly. Tests were carried out at a number of events to try to eliminate the possible causes of the problem. Unfortunately they could not come to any conclusion, the manufacturers were consulted and they agreed to look at the problem.

I reported back to the ARC that yes, mud could block the jets and jam the swivel nozzle, a simple shroud could be fitted (loose fitting) to eliminate the problem and all fire extinguishers should be checked by an expert. Tell the supplier what you are doing with it and if you are fitting it correctly, lying down, fastened to a roll bar, standing upright, you name it we do it!

All this advice is still good but a new development has come to light. Some supplies of the plastic nozzle could have been fitted without the required hole in the nozzle. Do check yours if you have one and do let me know, it would help if we could identify a 'batch' of these nozzles as the RAC MSA could then go back to the manufacturers with some evidence.

The ARC council and Scrutineering committee do take this problem seriously and have been following developments, they ask all club scrutineers to check all fire extinguishers and at this year's International Rally '98 L&C will also check fire extinguishers. As a matter of course this is an ongoing investigation and when further information comes to light I will report back to the ARC.

LARA NEWS from Tony Kempster

We have now heard what conclusions the Government has drawn from the consultation exercise on managing vehicles on byways conducted jointly by the Departments of the Environment and Transport in 1996.

In answer to a question in Parliament, Michael Meacher, Minister for the Environment, said:

Motor vehicles on byways can cause considerable localised damage. There may be a need for better management of byways at local level. We therefore:

• acknowledge that there may be a case for changes to the road traffic regulation powers of highway authorities. We intend to consider whether the scope of the circumstances for making traffic regulation orders should be widened to include nature and landscape conservation. We also intend to look at the scope for streamlining the procedures surrounding traffic regulation orders.
• are publishing today a practical guide to managing vehicles on byways "Making the Best of Byways". Copies are being distributed to highway authorities and others with an interest; and
• wish to encourage the promotion of codes of conduct for members of vehicle groups.

However, we have found no compelling evidence of widespread problems being caused by recreational use of motor vehicles on byways and have concluded that there is no case for a general ban.

You can obtain a copy of the booklet by ringing 0117 987 8879 - highly recommended.

SPECIAL OFFER

LAND ROVER OWNER INTERNATIONAL are making a special subscription offer:-

Any club member ordering LRO magazine in advance for a year (13 issues) will save 50p on each issue, paying just £31.85 instead of the usual price of £38.35. They will then receive:

• a new issue every 4 weeks, delivered to their door
• a key ring
• a sticker
• a personalised membership card
• 10% off all LRO Bookshop purchases
• a year's free membership to the LRO Club

Membership to the LRO Club will give members the opportunity to try their Land Rover at a different venue for off-roading and training days. Why not make it a club outing?

Anyone wishing to take advantage of the offer can 'phone on 01379 890056 with their credit card details or write to

LRO Mail Order,
Anglian House,
Chapel Lane,
Botesdale,
Diss,
Norfolk IP22 1DT

with a cheque for £31.85. In either case please quote SO91/GO75 to get the discount.

VEHICLE THEFT - in Bakewell, Derbyshire

Red Rose member D.A. Tootill had his Land Rover 90 stolen on 20th January 1998. Reg no. M48 THG, red with white roof, etched windows, County trim, B J Acoustics sound deadening kit, Sony CD player, metallic grey Mangol steel wheels with Goodrich Trac Edge 235 x 85 x 16's, chassis no. SALLDVAF7MA957146, engine no. 16L15141A.

If any of the above rings a bell, contact local police or Tony Tootill on e-mail tonyt@mcmail.com.

CONTACTS

Midlands area members looking for V8 engine servicing, tuning, overhaul, blue printing etc., and new or second-hand spares, have a local specialist Dave Ellis at Attleborough Field Industrial Estate, Nuneaton, tel: 01203 352888. Dave (and his father) have been Rover enthusiasts for many years starting with a Rover 10 hp and currently 'the fleet' includes an ex Group A SD1 Race car.

An Austrian Defender enthusiast Schmutzer Josef is coming to the UK from August 10th to September 11th, and would like to see some UK club Land Rovering. If you would like to show him how it's done in God's Country drop him a line at Hillebrandgasse 9, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.

Phil Golding is planning an overland trip to Capetown by Land Rover. If anyone out there has any advice for him (other than don't do it!!) contact him at 67a Greenford Avenue, Hanwell, London W7 1LL

(up, back to issue 18, on to issue 20)

Disclaimer, June 1998