We always like to see new wheels on the market and the latest from 4x4tyres.com are these 20inch ‘Iridium’ alloys. The multi-spoke alloys are available in a choice of silver or black. Both wheels share a very unique feature… the rims are highly polished but with a rainbow ‘iridium’ finish. It’s one way of standing out from the crowd!
Fitments are available for Mitsubishi Outlander, Land Rover Freelander, and Jeep Cherokee Mk3. For more information visit www.4x4tyres.com or call 01677 428792.
We explain dampers in our “Understanding your suspension” feature in this issue, page 78. Well, this month GAZ has announced bespoke GT adjustable telescopic dampers for Land Rover Ninety, One Ten and early Discovery and Range Rover models. The bespoke nature means they can be made to suit a customer’s requirements, with lengths and damper rates to suit requirements. They are easily adjustable by a simple knob on the side of the damper, making them ideal for someone who has different demands depending on whether the vehicle is on or off-road.
The dampers retail at £64.21 (plus VAT) each. For more details go to www.gazshocks.com
Forge has released further enhancements for the TD V6 2.7-litre Land Rover Discovery 3. These new EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) blanking plates will improve the performance of all 5A or 6A chassis models (up to 2006). Machined from stainless steel billet, these precision-engineered components have been made in Forge’s Gloucestershire factory and are claimed to be a perfect fit without distortion or leakage.
October 2011 Issue of 4×4 Magazine
Back in 1948, at the Amsterdam Motor Show, the public were amazed at the new Land Rover, designed by Maurice Wilks (although perhaps ‘designed’ is the wrong term, ‘hand-built’ more appropriate). Fast forward 63 years to this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show and the world has been well, surprised, at Gerry McGovern’s design for the replacement to the Land Rover Defender. Initial promotional photographs of Land Rover’s concept DC100 (see News, page 12) released before the Show, have resulted in forums set ablaze with indignant Land Rover enthusiasts bemoaning the horror of what McGovern has dared to do with the world’s most beloved off-roader. How could they? Sacrilege! Think of the heritage!
Lost in these reactions are a couple of salient points, and to be honest, if you have been following the new models coming from Land Rover over the last few years, you have to be somewhat blinkered not to have been able to see this one coming. In today’s fi nancially restricted, global market, the present Land Rover Defender is an anachronism. You could hazard a guess that there is little, if any profit, building a present day Defender. Hoops have had to be driven through to meet the changing safety and emissions regulations, making it a basic requirement that any replacement Defender would have to be very different from the original. The present Defender is probably expensive to build, due to its ‘hand-built’ qualities. And you only have to look at the new Evoque to see that Land Rover are quite good at this. McGovern’s design team are not a bunch of crayon wielding vandals about to obliterate 60 plus years of heritage. The Evoque is undeniably Land Rover, but it’s like no other ever designed, and actually benefits from that fact.
Go along to Rallyday, at Castle Combe in Wiltshire on Saturday 17 September, and you could be a passenger in a Qt Services Wildcat 500 driven by Top Gear’s former ‘Stig’, Ben Collins. As well as a once-in-a-lifetime thrill you’ll be supporting the Race2Recovery campaign, which raises money for wounded and disabled British servicemen through three charities – Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and Combat Stress.
The campaign has set itself a challenging goal: to compete in, and finish, the 2013 Dakar Rally and in the process, raise £2m for wounded British servicemen and their families. The team will run a pair of Qt Wildcats on the event, one driven by amputee Captain Tony Harris and co-driven by Captain Matt O’Hare, while the second will be driven by Qt’s Dave Marsh and co-driven by triple amputee Corporal Tom Neathway.
Keeping on the subject of noises in vehicles, we have heard about a new insulation material that would be ideal for many older 4x4s, where the original insulation has probably rotted away. Under Carpet Lite (www.boommat.com) is a new lightweight sound deadening and thermal insulation that will prevent the transfer of noise, and keep you a lot warmer in the winter.
The multi-layer polyester/fibreglass composite material is available in a variety of sizes and you can purchase in the UK via www.nimbusmotorsport.com or www.demon-tweaks.co.uk
LARA (Land Access and Recreation Association) have informed us that the Government has published a new Issues Paper which states that motorsport events (sporting trials, moto-cross, etc.) give rise to ‘significant concerns’, and invites comments and views on changing the ‘14/28 Day Rule’ under which most off-road sport is organised. Under the 14/28 Day Rule an event organiser does not have to apply for planning permission for the ‘change of use’ of the land, on the day of the event, from agricultural to motorsport. Having to actually apply would, say LARA, be an “enormous burden on clubs, farmers and planning authorities for no real benefit”.
Back in 2002 there was a similar Government consultation on restricting or scrapping permitted development rights (the 14/28 Day Rule) for motorsport. In response, LARA carried out a survey of all motorsport events on one ‘sample weekend’ in that year, and found that the Government’s consultants were confusing ‘cowboy activity’ and practice tracks with properly organised events. Following LARA’s submission to the consultation the proposal was not taken further. It looks like the time is here for a similar survey and petition.
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