Britain certainly has talent

The trials and tribulations of three ground-up restorations

AYEAR ago we ran a full-page advert in the magazine titled ‘LRM’S Got Talent’. It was an appeal to readers, to tell us why their Land Rover should be on the cover of LRM. The response was overwhelming. No surprises there – who would not want to be on the cover of their favourite Land Rover magazine?

I have said this in the past and I will say it again: Land Rovers are not just the sum total of bits. They are a means to an end. That end might be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. They make people happy. They can also frustrate. For enthusiasts they are an important part of the family and life.

So, in the end we narrowed our selection down to just three owners. We wanted vehicles and stories that best represented what you drive. I just adore the story of Andy and Lesley Bacon’s Discovery 1. It’s a love story really as they literally found one another through their passion for Land Rover.

As for the story of Benjamin Edwards we have all been there before. Limited budget, buy it in the dark and then realise it might be a lemon on the drive home. Despite these formidable challenges young Benjamin has done a fine job in creating a Defender worthy of being a LRM cover model.

The final Land Rover in our feature is Alisdair Cusick’s Series I. Many of you have probably followed its restoration in the technical pages of LRM over the last year or two. Alisdair openly admits that he is no workshop wizard, yet he too has done something very special with his Series. Plus, he is a Land Rover man through and through.

The shoot was done at the impressive Carlton Towers in Yorkshire, the same site where we are once again offering you the unique opportunity to get your Land Rover dirty. LRM’S off-road day is November 17 and any Land Rover should tackle this brilliant course. Buy tickets at lrmevents.co.uk – see you there!