My father was the early influence in my affection for British cars. I was initiated at a young age while attending British car shows and listening to stories about the MG TD he drove in his 20′s, or the pair of Mini Clubman's he bought shortly after starting his own business. The image I have of a lanky young GM employee sliding a Brit four cylinder into a muscle car town basement for a winter rebuild is characteristic of the character my father was. The car shows, the stories – these are good memories.
As kids, my brother and I benefited from hours working around a weathered red 1972 MGB. The paint was bubbling, the floors were rusty, the fuel pump stuck, and the suspension sagged; it was an incredible car. In our family garage supervision was often at a minimum and lessons were learned quickly. At age 10 I learned the importance of battery polarity after attaching charging cables to the wrong posts and blowing the top off the MG's battery. As early as 13 my brother and I often ventured out in the MG on local farm roads to experiment with heel-toeing. Later, inebriated nights in high school often ended stretched out in the MG's passenger seat until sobriety rose its ugly head. I finally blew the little B's head gasket the summer before University while managing a Drive-In theatre in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada ; I walked the rest of that summer and left the car at home when I departed in the fall.
Given this affection for Brit cars, it is understandable that a trip to England in 2011 required a visit to the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwikshire. Of particular interest to me, and the next generation of our family's British auto enthusiast, was two particular Land Rovers. The first was an unrestored Range Rover that drove from Alaska to the tip of Panama in 1971 – right through the impenetrable Darien Gap. In high school I had a magazine article that detailed the exploits of this trip, and I poured over every detail: dangerous snakes, Range Rover’s fording rivers on Avon inflatable rafts, dynamited routes, and resupply by de Havilland Beaver aircraft. Truly, an inspiring undertaking.
The second Land Rover on my list was a Series II “Pink Panther”. These Land Rover’s were used by the British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) whose exploits in World War II have also been an interest of mine. During the War, the group primarily utilized lightened Willy's Jeeps that were loaded with weapons, water, gear, and rations (in that order). These commandos would travel deep into the African desert to conduct reconnaissance missions or lightning raids. Details of the units formation, characters, and heroics are worth a read.
The LRDG group eventually adapted Land Rover vehicles for their purpose. The volume of kit carried on the 109" Rovers is a testimony to the tough nature of these vehicles. I confess I was somewhat disappointed that the vehicle displayed lacked much of the period gear and weaponry. Regardless, it was a treat to see one in person. Pink, by the way, proved to be an excellent camouflage for desert conditions.
The Heritage Motor Centre did not disappoint. In addition to the museum exhibits, the onsite playground was also a big hit with Astrid.
