Jeffrey AronsonIt’s useful for novice Sighters and veterans to review the rules of the contest:
- Rule #1 — All Sightings receive recognition and our appreciation, but not necessarily a mug. We reward only those Sightings that capture the unique qualities of Land Rovers and display them in a distinctive way.
- Rule #2 — If your Sighting doesn’t really surprise you, it won’t surprise us, either — thus, we can’t award you a mug. We’re delighted, but not surprised, that Land Rovers appear in British television programs, British publications, films with British themes, and shows about African safaris. These Sightings are appreciated, but not mug-worthy.
- Rule #3 — At an ever-changing date before publication, we close off the Sightings; for this issue, it was July 31, 2023. If we’ve mentioned the Sighting in an earlier issue, we might not mention it again. If you’re new to the family of Land Rover enthusiasts, you may not have seen your Sighting in an earlier issue.
- Rule #4 — If you qualify, one mug per Sighting per issue. No more than two Coveted Mugs will be awarded to the same person per year.
- Rule #5 — Sightings that are Land Rover references in books go to our Literary Land Rover Editor for the mention, but only when space permits.
- Rule #6 — Psst… email submissions — remember we can’t send a mug by email. To be considered for a Coveted Mug, send us your real name and shipping address too.
- Rule #7 — Snail mail sightings must be sent to: Editor, Rovers Magazine, P.O. Box 90, Vinalhaven, ME 04863.
- Rule #8 — Grudgingly, very grudgingly, the Editor admits he might have made an error. Let us know if you think you’ve been jobbed, but all decisions of the Editor are final.
Although actors and screenwriters are on strike as we go to press, there’s no denying that studios enjoy putting Land Rovers in their scripts. Mthunzi Dewa, Cottage Grove, MD, notes that the villain in the Jennifer Lopez film, The Mother, drives his Defender 110 into a tree when Lopez, playing a former Army sniper, shoots him. Rob Wollschlager, Colchester, CT, watched an episode of Ted Lasso in which his son Henry wears a t-shirt with a Series I on it. The show is set in the UK, but this episode was supposedly set in Kansas City. Will Hedrick, Wake Forest, NC, saw the same episode. The UK’s Daily Mail featured a photo shoot of Jessica Simpson. David Short, Sterling, VA, noted the presence of a L663 Defender in the latest Nick Fury “Secret Invasion” series. While the heroine drives a Defender, her antagonists drive Range Rovers. Dixon Kenner, Ottawa, ON, found the perfectly painted Series III that made its instantaneous appearance in the trailer for Hidden Strike. Kylene Johnson, Vinalhaven, ME, shared a photo of “Miley Cyrus promoting herself by sitting on a vintage Land Rover.” If you’re on strike, you find some other way to publicize yourself.
Advertisers and catalog art directors have always loved Land Rovers, and the recent Duck Head catalog, as reported by Sam Stanfield, Pensacola, FL, demonstrates. Adam Setliff, Flower Mound, TX, saw a Synchrony Car Care placard with a Defender displayed prominently. When GearJunkie wanted to show off its latest camping offerings, they chose to position all their gear around an LR4, noted Kraig Mackett, Perrys- burg, OH. John Hammer, Shelburne, VT, noted the Series Land Rover and Range Rover Classic in the UK-based Bennet and Winch catalog. Ray Romano, San Antonio, TX, spotted an article in Garden and Gun for Nashville’s Weiss watches, with the model seated in a Series ute! He also noted a Defender 110 pickup in a Withernot ad on Facebook. PT Schram, Churubusco, IN, noted the presence of a 110 on the DX Commander website, as well as a Defender 90. He also noted that Credit Karma has an ad with a young woman driving “a 110,” and in a scene from On Death Row, there’s a Discovery I. Congratulations to Bill Schimikowski, Westborough, MA, whose ’61 Series II served as the perfect prop for the Anatomie catalog. When Quad Lock wanted to promote its “security for overlanders,” it chose a Defender 110 for its Instagram ad, noted Jason Sheehy, Mt Sterling, OH. Sterling Card, Shawnee, KS, enjoyed seeing a Defender in an ad for Rowing
Blazers. Dan Duncan, American Fork, UT, found an ad for Chamma Chairs, staged with a Defender in the Bahamas. Matthew Martin, Medford, MA, found an online ad for DocuSign that featured a Defender 110 with a roof-top tent, “to highlight that even when there is no road, you can still work.” Ryan Lowe, Ellington, CT, spotted the Defender drawing attention to the TASC Performance sale. Jonathan Greene, Pikeville, NC, shared an online ad for backpacks: “Gear designed for the GoPro lifestyle. Will Wilson, Temecula, CA, sent in a mention of an Instagram ad, in which he noted “the painted galv ground my gears,” such that we never received the screenshot – submit the Sighting again, please? Lee Valcic, Toronto, ON, saw an online ad for Microsoft Start Autos, featuring a Puma Defender with a father and son seated on the hood and the caption, “Discover used cars for sale…” — I don’t think so. Corey Moore, Windham, NH, wants to know why Milemarker chose the image of a stuck Defender for an online ad; “It’s much more likely for a Jeep to get stuck.” Randy Katz, San Rafael, CA, noted the use of a Defender 110 pickup in a Crane stationary promotion. Land Rovers will always be eye candy for magazines; witness the Men’s Health issue with Jason Momoa and a Series III on the cover. Inside, David Ducat, Lebanon, CT, Saylor Schimikowski, Westborough, MA, and Carmin and Laura Kalorin, Raleigh, NC [See Rule #6] saw
that issue; David noted a photo caption discrepancy that identified the Rover as a 1948. Apple News had an article on rooftop tents, and its opening page featured a RHD Defender with an open tent, reported Robert Alley, Kennesaw, GA. John France [See Rule #6]
and Dixon Kenner, Ottawa, ON, spotted a Series Land Rover in the header for a CBS news article on Florida’s home insurance issues. James Hutchison, Cam- bridge, MA, enjoyed a feature in Classic & Sports Car about the “1948 Game Changers,” which of course included the first
Land Rover.
Talbot Rickard, Acton, ME, noted the Defender ute serving as a stage for old-timey musicians Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms in a YouTube video from the Floyd Radio Show. The British Invasion takes place annually in Stowe, VT. This celebration of British cars and lifestyle will honor Land Rover this year, so it’s only fitting that David Russ, Lyme, NH, noted that their website and mailing brochure feature Land Rovers. Lance Rutherford, Montgomery, TX, was looking for lodging in the Texas hill country — he found that Onera was using the front end of a Defender to draw eyeballs – it worked. Rob Modica, Tuscson, AZ, watched coverage of the Tour de France and spied a Defender 90 on the side of the road during Stage 6. And we have some more unusual Sightings; when Anthony Flood, Austin, TX, viewed houses with a real estate friend, he spotted a copy of Rovers Magazine on a coffee table in the “perfectly staged house” for sale. Anthony also noted that when he checked out the garage, there were no oil stains on the floor, “so there were no signs of Rover ownership.” [Perhaps the real estate company scrubbed the garage floor? -ed.] Our own Dave Sweetapple, Brattleboro, VT, noted that 3 Brothers Classic Land Rover, Paris, ON, posted their commentary on the ANARC 75th anniversary Diamond Jubilee. One of their photos included Rovers North’s Mark Letorney and Rovers Magazine’s Jeff Aronson. Stu Swanson, South Milwaukee, WI, travels extensively and in Le Meridien Hotel in Saigon, Vietnam, spotted a hotel company ad in the elevator, featuring a model seated on the spare tire of a Series I.
We’ve mentioned these before, but we want to commend Sighters who sent in their findings. Traylyta Miller [See Rule #6], Jesse Smith, Framingham, MA, and Don Flye, Petersham, MA, noted the AA Yellow Defender in Yankee Magazine. Joe Cole, Johnstown, OH, and Randy Katz [See Rule #6] enjoyed seeing Series and Defenders vehicles in the latest Vineyard Vines catalog. Stan Breon, Lawrenceville, GA, and Brent Lane, Saco, ME, enjoyed reading about the Jekyll Island Land Rover in a Wall St. Journal article. Hans Van Lancker, Milton, MA, enjoyed seeing Land Rovers in the Faherty online catalog. Michael Curtis, Yarker, ON, was happy to see a Yeti Tote Bag ad with the model entering a Defender. Leighton Dowdle, Marion, NC, was pleased to find a Defender in the Russell Moccasin ad. Allan Mulandi, Norway, ME, and enjoyed seeing Land Rovers in Black Mirror, Yankee Magazine, and the Craghoppers Outlet Store in North Conway, NH. Randy Katz, San Rafael, CA, spotted a Defender in an Aether ad.
We’ve mentioned these before, but we want to commend Sighters who sent in their findings. Traylyta Miller [See Rule #6], Jesse Smith, Framingham, MA and Don Flye, Pe- tersham, MA, noted the AA Yellow Defender in Yankee Magazine. Joe Cole, Johnstown, OH, and Randy Katz [See Rule #6] enjoyed seeing Series and Defenders vehicles in the latest Vineyard Vines catalogue. Stan Breon, Lawrenceville, GA and Brent Lane, Saco, ME, enjoyed reading about the Jekyll Island Land Rover in a Wall St. Journal article. Hans Van Lancker, Milton, MA, enjoyed seeing Land Rovers in the Faherty online catalogue. Michael Curtis, Yarker, ON, was happy to see a Yeti Tote Bag ad with the model entering a Defender. Leighton Dowdle, Marion, NC, was pleased to find a Defender in the Russell Moccasin ad. Allan Mulandi, Norway, ME, enjoyed seeing Land Rovers in Black Mirror, Yankee Magazine, and the Craghoppers Out- let Store in North Conway, NH. Randy Katz, San Rafael, CA, spotted a Defender in an Aether ad.