No Panic at this Disco
THERE is much to love about Land Rover Discoveries – in fact, so much that even units of the very first Disco 1 built way back in 1980 can still be found immortalized in some enthusiasts’ garages. Take for instance, ‘Rover Nut’ Atty. Leo G. Dominguez, who was more than happy to show us and tell us stories about ‘Jessie’ – his divine Disco 1 and frequent partner in rescue missions.
During our exclusive interview with Atty. Leo for this week’s episode of
Wheels on Cignal’s One News channel, he gave us some interesting insight into the world of Rover s. Here’s a few more beautiful anecdotes that he shared:
WHEELS: HOW DID YOU ACQUIRE THIS DISCO 1?
Leo: I purchased her around 2004 from an Englishman who lives in Pangasinan. He was referred to me by Robby Consunji – President of LRCP (Land Rover Club of the Philippines), and a former colleague at my old law firm.
WHEELS: WHAT REPAIRS/MODS HAVE YOU DONE TO IT?
When I bought the Disco from the Brit, he had already modified it moderately to become an extreme offroader – raised it two inches; installed a winch-bumper and winch; raised air intake, rock sliders, half-roof rack, and Camel Trophy-cut the hind wheel arches to accommodate the 235/85-16 tires of a Defender. These are 32 inches tall! Standard Disco 1 tires, like the Range Rover Classic’s, are only 29 inches tall.
I did nothing to it except to buy a set of steel rims. Apparently, the steel rims of the Disco 1 are sought after, even by Defender owners! They are supposed to be tougher than the standard steel rims of Defenders.
No significant mods over the years, except for a full roof rack (to carry relief goods and a rowboat for flood rescue), and auxiliary lights for trailing and driving in very dark.
I decided to replace the V8 about five years ago with a much more economical but equally competent Land Rover 300 TDI diesel engine. In long distance drive, the V8 delivered about 4 km/L while the 300 TDI could deliver more than double that.
Recently, when I had to replace rusted flooring (the Disco by then was 23 years old), I asked my friend Christoph Krauer to add a coat of Line-X to the new flooring, firewall as well as winch bumper and rocksliders. I don’t think these parts will ever see any rust from now on. The Line-X on the flooring and firewall reduced the sound of engine and road noise. It also lets me pull out the carpets (which could now be attached with Velcro) at a moment’s notice, to do a water crossing either in a river or when in a Manila flood.
WHEELS: DOES THIS DISCO HAVE A STORY?
As I have learned and confirmed over time, ALL... repeat, ALL... LR’s have a story. In this V8 Disco, I got to learn how to drive a 4x4 properly, particularly a Land Rover. Through club activities, I got exposed to driving in the mud; learned painfully and with bruised ego along the way, how to river-cross in Daraitan. On my first attempts in mud and river, my Disco stalled and I had to be winched out. Nothing to do with the vehicle – all to do with a driver who knew close to nothing about how to operate the difflock of a Rover and, more importantly, drive it. Lots of trial and error. But with experts from the club by my side, I gradually learned how to operate the Disco with confidence.
My big learning is that a Land Rover is unlike other vehicles that you simply point and shoot. With a Rover you learn how to communicate and stay in communication at all times with your vehicle, while operating it, especially the engine. You realize that the instruments are there to be observed at all times especially the temperature gauge. It’s almost like you plug your umbilical cord to the truck when you drive it. Hard to explain. It’s a challenge; it’s a must; it’s a culture.
WHEELS: HOW DOES JESSE HELP SAVE THE WORLD?
Jesse is my main vehicle for relief work with the LRCP’s Emergency Response Team. We have done a fair amount of relief work together through the years in Hagonoy, around Laguna de Bay and Manila. Jesse has a rowboat that mounts on its roof rack for emergency work in flood rescue.
WHEELS: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE?
My Disco is a pretty good swimmer, more so now that it uses a 300 TDI diesel engine. Driving it properly in flooded conditions, I would not worry about water levels that are almost hood-high. Key is driving it properly. But it has a natural ability to wade as with the Defenders.
The 300 TDI engine is one of my favorite things about my Disco. Difficult to explain. But once you understand it and learn to keep it running optimally, it can be “bulletproof.” But if you don’t know what you are doing around a 300 TDI you could be in deep doo-doo pretty quick. A Land Rover isn’t for everyone. Hard to explain but extremely easy to understand if you are a fellow enthusiast. It’s a Rover-thing.