FRANK ELSON

Talking Frankly

“‘Never assume, always check’, was a mantra I lived by as a news reporter, and I should have taken heed”

Ido like to go to Land Rover shows. The first of the year for me was the Classic Show at Gaydon where the British Motor Museum is.

I parked up on the Friday on the camping site, which also doubles as a car park for workers at the JLR SVO building. It takes me next to no time to set up my teardrop camper, but it was even quicker with Ian Foster and Eric Reed, from the Lightweight Land Rover Club helping... nice brew from Sue Foster as well.

When I spotted a Lancashire flag flying over one caravan I had to go over to talk to the owners. I had a lovely chat with Peter and Pam Martland, from Southport. LRM readers and owners of a very nice Ninety.

Down in the arena I met up with Diana Tigwell, aka The Voice, and Dave Barker, plus David Mitchell. Diana, as usual, had some jobs for the rest of us.

The CVC club was there, with Roy Preston and his GWAC Discoverys, the Range Rover Register and a handful of other clubs.

The Saturday dawned cold and cloudy – maybe one reason why there were not so many people in attendance, which is a great shame as a show combined with free entry to the museum has a lot for visitors to see.

Can you say academician? Dave Barker can’t! I just got blank stares when I suggested they just call it a quiz ( you had to be there!)

Now then. David Mitchell and I have known each other for well over 30 years and it may be true to say that we have pulled the odd stroke on each other. David is well in front now. He and I were the so-called experts for said quiz and, as usual I wasn’t taking a lot of notice of what I should do. Consequently, when I was asked by one of the teams for an answer and David handed me the microphone to give the answer I did – aloud. This gave everyone a laugh as I was supposed to whisper it to them. David then proceeded to retell the story on more than one occasion over the next few days. Ahead for the moment Mr Mitchell, but watch your back as I plan on getting my own back now.

With my L322 parked on the Lightweightt stand we got quite used to people pointing out that it wasn’t, in fact, a Lightweight – but we got over it by explaining that the stand was doubling for the ALRC . In fact, Janet New, an ALRC Council member, was delighted to see it as she has one, a year newer, so we were able to discuss the chrome pack which we both have. Neither of us can find out if it was a dealer option, factory-fitted, or aftermarket. We’d be pleased if any of you lot can shed some light.

Up for the designation of busiest person at the show – next to Diana Tigwell, who never, ever has a rest – was a rep from the factory who stood by a new Velar just inside the museum. Attempting to sit in the motor and talk to the bloke was hard work as just about everyone who came through the gates wanted to do the same.

Okay, so I’m a V8 man, but the Velar is such a beautiful, wellproportioned vehicle that if I win the Lotto tonight I will be in a real quandary. And this, from probably the only Land Rover journalist in the country who hasn’t driven one.

The old days of the Land Rover Show at Gaydon were great times. The show used to be four times the size it is today. I don’t know if it’s lack of publicity, or possibly a bit early in the year, but the show is still great value for money. Those of you who missed it this year really must put it in your diary for next year; it’s as

good a Land Rover Show as you will get.

“Never assume, always check” was a mantra I lived by as a news reporter for over 40 years, and I should have taken heed. Some time ago I noticed that one of the reflectors fitted into the rear bumper of my L322 Range Rover Vogue had cracked and was badly discoloured by the water that had got inside it. Ha, I assumed, that’s going to cost an arm and a leg to replace and I’ll probably need to take the bumper off, so I’ll leave it.

Then, recently, while perusing Youtube looking at videos of Range Rovers (like you do), I came across a footage from those nice people at Powerful UK, who make all sorts of goodies for Range Rovers and other Land Rover vehicles and also, crucially, make how-to videos.

It transpired that the reflector is quite a simple push fit. So off to their website I went to check on the price – to my surprise there were really cheap and I bought two so they both look nice and new. They came through the letter box two days later and they’re on the back now, improving my rear end ( behave yourselves) tremendously.

So don’t assume everything to do with Range Rovers costs a lot of money and is too hard to do. It isn’t always as I learnt.