Scott PrestonIf “three’s a charm,” we lucked out last October when the Gulf Coast Land Rover Club partnered with ANARC to create the Gulf Area Rover Rally. Yes, New England autumns feature colorful foliage, but we yearned for one last blast of warm weather as we flew into Mobile, AL. We had been sent by Rovers North to lead the design, construction and management of the RTV Trials Course for this event.
New Orleans native Charles Bell, Jr., has adopted Mobile as a Mini-Me version of the Crescent City. The founder of the Gulf Coast club (and former Land Rover Master Technician), Charles and his family saw to it that we would receive hands-on experiences in the culinary and architectural arts of the charming waterfront city.
“Since I started the club back in 2005 (I can’t believe it’s been 20 years),” Charles told us, “I have wanted to bring a large weekend Land Rover off-road event to the Gulf Coast. For nearly 10 years, that role was filled by the Sand Rover Rally every April in Florida, but with its demise, I wanted to fill that void. With the help of ANARC, the sponsors, and our great members and volunteers, we were able to make it happen. It was an amazing (but very hot) weekend.”
Logistics dictated that the Gulf Coast Club sought out two nearby areas for the event; campers enjoyed the riverfront view of the Styx River RV Park while the Grand Rover Motorsports complex provided the land for off road trails and the RTV course. The Styx River grounds offered cabins, yurts, and primitive campsites.. Its large covered pavilion housed evening gatherings and a Saturday dinner. The site would also serve as rally control, check in and drivers’ meeting. The Grand River complex featured 600 acres of off-roading, with terrain ranging from mild to wild.
First we needed transportation. Ben Montgomery, Fairhope, AL, offered up his Series IIA 88” RHD as “our” vehicle for the event; sure enough, he delivered the topless IIA that very morning. At highway speeds, the rock-hard tires and gale-force winds made for a hair-raising ride to the Grand River site. As two Mainers, the Gulf Coast sunshine and resultant high temperatures left us looking and feeling like a pair of boiled Maine lobsters.
Charles chuckled at Scott’s pleas, but our next gift came in the form of a ’23 Defender 110, courtesy of Dr. Matt Busbee, Mobile, AL. Scott noted that he’s had the pleasure of participating in many Land Rover events over the years. “The kindness and graciousness of Land Rover owners always amazes me. Matt didn’t know me from Adam. I walked up, shook his hand and he tossed me the keys to his new Defender. This is just one of the many things that I love about the Land Rover community, its willingness to help, share and go above and beyond. Air conditioning, LHD, comfortable seats and a proper engine; I thought we had died and went to Land Rover heaven!
Equally impressive were the acts of kindness shown by enthusiasts towards each other. Jesse Jackson and Anthony and Alaina Poole had convoyed 355 miles from Birmingham, AL, when a coolant junction pipe on Jesse’s ’04 Discovery II fractured. Anthony, a British car specialist, fashioned a temporary fix and contacted Joshua Todd’s Royal Rehab, Daphne, AL, who had to part in stock and brought it to the campsite for a repair.
Jose and Ana Gonzalez, Chelsea, AL, drove a similar distance at night when a careless deer crossed the road before they could stop; the resultant crash damaged an auxiliary radiator. Ralf Sarek took the time to advise Anthony and Jose on a work-around so Jose could enjoy the weekend and the long drive home.
While Jeff and other volunteers helped lay out, pound stakes and test drive the five-section RTV course. Charles Bell led an evening trail ride. Scott jumped in with Ralf Sarek of Sarek Autowerke, Glen Allen, VA, in his ’23 Defender 90. “I’ve owned and off-roaded in Series, Discoverys, Range Rovers and Defender L316s,” Scott said, “And to say I was a little blown away was an understatement. The modern Defender 90 is an absolute dream to drive. I was totally blown away at how easy it felt to tackle a very technical tight off-road course in the dark. I can’t thank Ralf enough for letting me pilot his wonderful Defender.”
On Saturday we arrived back at the Grand River Park only to discover that maintenance excavators had torn into one section of the RTV course. Nothing like a little last-minute craziness to make a Land Rover event! As I’ve come to expect from the Rover community and its wonderful people , we had more volunteers than we needed. Everyone was graciously helping us reinstall the canes so we could be ready to go!
The Rovers North RTV course provided a new driving and/or viewing experience for virtually all the members of the Gulf Coast Club. Scott commented that “I know everyone had a little trepidation when they signed the Waiver Form, not really knowing what they were getting into, but all I saw were smiles and all I heard was laughter from the vehicles. Over 75% of the attendees drove the course at least once that day; many did it multiple times. I heard so many wonderful comments from participating drivers about really learning what their Land Rovers can do off-road.” It was really impressive to watch Joe and Ted Hesselman (hosts of the Lost Cause Ranch) in their ’66 IIA, which they trailered from their Dubuque, IA, home.
Jeff and I also created a very challenging RTV section for the ANARC Cup teams competition, with Ralf Sarek responsible for difficult driving tests. For sheer bravery, David and Phillip Carmichael, Zephyr Hill, FL, representing the Floria Land Rover Club, tackled the course in their ’68 Series IIA Lightweight!
Chuck Barnes, Managing Partner of the Grand River Park, said, “We really enjoyed having the Land Rover club here. I was amazed at their willingness to drive trails on which I wouldn’t take my side-by- side! Jewel and Ayla Colosanti, our Gatehouse staff, enjoyed meeting everyone and observing the RTV competition.”
The GARR closed with a terrific outdoor catered dinner and fund-raising auction. As Scott noted, “I’ve had the good fortune to travel to many Land Rover events throughout the country. This was certainly one that was not to be missed, and that I will do my best to get back in the future”.
[To watch The Lost Cause Ranch video of the event, scan this QR code on your mobile device.]