A few weeks ago, myself and Neil Watterson – editor of LRM’s sister title Land Rover Life – popped along to the York Land Rover Show in our Series Land Rovers. It was a great event with a chilled-out atmosphere and loads of great motors in attendance.
The weather was perfect, too, and as I took a break from our bustling stand and wandered around, I realised that none of the Land Rovers I’d been poring over had been trailered to the event, no matter their age. No doubt the sunshine and dry roads coaxed them out. But these days it’s not uncommon to see Land Rovers get trailered to shows and events, and I’ve always wondered why.
After their first owners didn’t trailer them around when they were brand new, so why do it now? Land Rovers (in fact, all vehicles) were designed to be driven, and in my experience, they actually improve with regular use.
With the colder months now on the horizon, I wonder how many Land Rovers will be tucked away in garages away from the wind, rain and maybe even snow; conditions our four-wheel drives thrive in. I get that there’s an enjoyment from looking at a fresh rebuild or immaculate survivor car, but there’s so much more fun to be had from driving them.
Thankfully, one man who’s not scared to use a vehicle properly is the owner of the stunning Defender on the cover of this magazine issue. From grafting hard through any evening and weekend he could find, he’s turned a tired 110 into a showstopper in under six months, and less than a week after tightening the last bolt, he’s driving it straight to Morocco.
Maybe that’s an extreme example, but don’t be afraid to get out and use your Land Rover. Simply owning one is brilliant.
But driving it, exploring in it and enjoying it, is even better – whatever the weather

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• Literary Review of Canada – October 2023
• Cycle Canada – Volume 52 Issue 7 – September 2023