ISSUE 12

Editor's Comment . . .

It's finally shown its face to the public! the All new 2002 Range Rover has been eagerly awaited and probably one of the worst kept secrets in the motoring world. The new model - shall we call it a Series III? - represents a huge investment for Land Rover, started under the ownership of BMW and now part of the Ford Line-up, the world's most luxurious Off Roader goes on sale in February

Another event that is just as eagerly awaited each year is the Paris-Dakar Rally. Starting in Norther France and ending in Northern Africa this race is not for the feint hearted. Whether your preferred method of transport is a rally bike or a tricked up Pajero you can enter the rally, if you've got the funds and backup that is.

During November we took a rag-tag collection of vehicles across Wiltshire and Somerset for a whole weekend of Green Lane Driving. this was partly for fun and partly for research (well that's our excuse for putting it on the expenses!) From what we learned on this weekend we are planing to run a whole series of fully escorted Green Lane Trips all over the UK. Watch out for future announcements early next year!

The only sour note for November - other than the usual stream of technical glitches, Transport congestion and Post Office inneficiencies - was that our Project 110 failed its MOT. For those readers not used to this annual ritual, UK drivers have to submit their vehicle fot testing once a year by a Ministry of Transport approved workshop. Usually depending on the mood of the tester on the day you can either pass and carry on driving for another year or fail and have to get the items listed fixed or replaced. Why do I sound so bitter? basically because our 110 failed on such tiny things it was more of an aggravation than anything else: New windshield wipers required, cracked mirror, badly adjusted headlight and Power Steering belt slipping. That was it, nothing structural, nothing mechanical, nothing that would have caused an accident, just the tester having a bad hair day!

Keep Off Roading!

Best Regards
Simon Ward-Hastelow
simon@difflock.com

INTO THE DESERT NEW SERIES!
TOBY SAVAGE starts a new series recalling his various Desert exploits over the years. A freelance Photographer and Off Road Journalist his travels have taken him all over the world. Many of them in his rather unique Series II 'Carabungawagon'

TOOLBOX TALK NEW SERIES!
DAVID LOVEJOY: A ‘tool box’ talk is the frank discussion with the work force prior to a new contract taking place, in which all matters concerning the new site are discussed. That is what I want to make this column, a frank discussion about the hobby we all love.

DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TV ADVERT
DaimlerChrysler secured Hollywood director Roland Emmerich (Stargate & Independence Day) to film an unusual commercial entitled "Infinite Possibilities". This is the first time Emmerich has made a commercial for TV and cinema release.

WW2 JEEP PRICES SET TO SOAR
MARK ASKEW: Since the mid 1990’s the French government have been releasing surplus stocks of Hotchkiss Jeeps.This in effect had a knock on effect on the prices of war time Willys MB’s and Ford GPW’s, which were getting quite high in the 1990’s

4x4 GROUP DYNAMICS
RICHARD TOWELL: What factors exert a positive influence on the dynamics of a group of 4x4 nutters ? Discuss . . .

SOMERSET & WILTSHIRE GREENLANE TRIP
Take a group of like minded Off Road enthusiasts with their Suzukis, Land Rovers, Range Rovers Discoverys and an Auverland A3. Throw in a few OS maps of Wiltshire, a B&B, pick up a few extra drivers on the way and you've got the recipe for a great Green Laning Weekend!

MOTORSPORT
2002 Paris-Dakar Preview, Route information and Stage Updates

PRODUCT REVIEWS:

• QT Rock Sliders
• Trailertek Air Springs
• Track Finders Green Lane Guides

OFF-ROAD DRIVING

This month we are very pleased to welcome David Bowyer to the Difflock Team. A veritable 'Old Hat' in the off road world. What he does no know about Off Road driving and Winches is not worth knowing!

EVENTS:

• Indoor 4x4 Show 2002

NEXT MONTH:

• Toby Savage continues his 'Into the Desert series'
• More words of Off-Road Wisdom from David Lovejoy and David Bowyer
• Our Project 110 finally gets a CB and Radio fitted!
• During the Paris -Dakar Rally - from 28th December - we will be publkishing regular stage updates including all the best of the action and leaderboard positions. Keep Watching!