JACK DOBSON

HAVING recently got back into surf boat rowing (infinitely more exciting than flatwater rowing – you row out through the break and catch a wave back in) I am now regularly travelling up to the Sunshine Coast for training sessions and volunteering as a surf lifesaver.

We are generally on the water by 4.30 am which means I have to leave home a little after 3 am. It really is an insane time to be getting up and just to make things that little bit more interesting, I make the trip in either my 88 in or 109 in Series IIA. On today’s drive up I was wondering how many other people use theirs as daily drives.

Last year I covered over 15,000 miles in each of mine. Now, I could use our Defender for the longer trips but if I am travelling solo I will almost always opt for the older ones. What is the appeal? It is down to a long list of things but number one would be the fun factor. Modern cars have so much technology, you tend to feel quite detached from the experience of driving. With the simplicity of an old Landy the drive is much more immersive and subsequently fun – you also feel a great sense of satisfaction when you arrive at your destination. Modern vehicles seldom evoke that feeling (I very nearly used ‘Evoque’ but I am told I need to rein in my dad jokes).

One of my favourite parts of driving a Series I or II is mastering the gear change. It was not until the Series III that synchromesh was introduced on first and second gears. When you nail the perfect double-declutch there comes a great degree of satisfaction. Someone recently asked if I would fit a Series III gearbox to their IIA. I think that would be sacrilege! I am kidding, not everyone finds enjoyment grappling with gears as they precariously freewheel downhill (I learnt to drive in my SIIA and there were many terrifying moments like that).

Talking of gearboxes, I smile because the SIIA versus SIII gearbox seems to be one of those common Facebook debates. People will swear blind that the Series III variant is weaker than the SIIA. Has anyone ever really tested this? Sure, someone may have had a Series III gearbox fail, but was it in good condition to begin with?

What do you make of the Land Rover Facebook pages? I gave up contributing when the last person told me there was no way I could run a Rover V8 in my Series without blowing up the axles and gearbox. I would not be surprised if some of the ‘experts’ did not even own a Land Rover.

Whilst the UK battles the second coming of the Beast from the East, we continue to bask in sunshine Down Under. It might sound nice having daily sunshine, but it does come with its own set of problems. The other day I eagerly jumped in my 109 after it had been sat out in the sun all morning and rapidly discovered that the vinyl seats were like hot coals! I had to leap out. Another negative with all this sunshine is sunburn. If you head out for the day without any sort of sun protection you will get hideously burnt. Trust me I know. So as well as engine oil, coolant and duct tape, I always pack sunscreen, a hat and a towel (to put over the seat and reduce the risk of third degree burns on the back of my legs).

Now back onto the new Defender, which seems to get a mention in my column most months. Can you believe that Land Rover Australia is still yet to confirm whether they will sell the hard top variant over here? Whilst a filing in the Road Vehicle Certification Scheme shows that Land Rover has undertaken the necessary steps to get it certified, the official line is that the decision to sell them remains under evaluation. Is that not madness?

The Defender was always the utility vehicle in the JLR line up. How can they possibly turn their back entirely on that part of the business? I feel positive there is a market for a utility vehicle within the JLR line-up (though they would need to get the pricing right). People will tell me I am trying too hard to hang onto the past and commercial / utility vehicles no longer have a place in JLR’S portfolio, but is that really correct? Other manufacturers like Volkswagen, Toyota and Nissan seem to manage it perfectly well. Who is making the decisions at JLR?

Anyway it is time for me to head to my workshop. Today I am working on a 1961 Series IIA which has just been plucked from a farmers’ barn in Far North Queensland. It is covered in red dust and likely some creepy crawlies, so before I start doing anything to it I will be pressure washing it to expel all visitors. What did I say, not everything in Australia is always welcome!

“With the simplicity of an old Landy the drive is much more immersive and fun – you also get a great deal of satisfaction when you arrive at your destination”