For some reason that is quite unknown to me, Land Rovers are often viewed differently than other British cars and trucks. I have been surprised by the lack of Land Rovers at British car shows, and when you look through all sorts of resources these vehicles are grouped apart from MGs, Triumphs, Healeys, and even their corporate sibling Jaguars. Maybe it is because they aren’t sports cars or because they are such utilitarian vehicles, but they sure are fun and interesting. Regardless, I want to make sure they are included, and to that end, I would like to point out a couple of lesser-known resources for Land Rover owners – the CentreSteer Podcast and the new Alloy + Grit magazine.
The CentreSteer Podcast is produced monthly and, as far as we know, is the only podcast dedicated exclusively to Land Rovers. While not aimed strictly at North America, it is certainly produced here. The show is currently on its forty-seventh episode, having begun back in 2013. Each week the hosts of the show present news and commentary on the state of all things Land Rover – both old and new. From time to time there are history segments put together to let you know how these vehicles evolved over the years. They also produce full-length interviews with people of interest to Land Rover owners – everyone from explorers and overlanders to people in the actual business. The tone is informal and friendly, but most of all informative. Each show is an hour to 2-hours long, and it is time well spent. Even if you don’t own a Land Rover, give it a listen for the background and personalities. I think you will find both quite enjoyable.
Second on our list is the new Alloy+Grit magazine, billed as “North America’s Independent Land Rover Magazine”. While CentreSteer has been around for a while, Alloy+Grit is brand new – being only on their second issue. Below you can click through to get to a free preview of the Spring 2017 issue of Alloy+Grit. Not all content is visible in this free preview, but the full digital version is available with a print subscription. Feature stories in this issue include: Driven – 2017 Range Rover SVAutobiography Persona – Bob Burns Bespoke – Defender LS3 Restomod Classic – World-wise Series IIA Dormobile Special Adventure – The Inaugural Rebelle Rally Built – Longitude Expedition Discovery II Series Guide – Range Rover Classic Field Skills – Driving on Sand Technical – Dual Battery Installation Plus – Club reports, gear guide, recent development and more.
https://issuu.com/alloyandgrit/docs/ag-issue_002_isuu-preview?reader3=1
If you know of any other resources, we would love to hear about them in the comments below. And you can tell us about your Land Rover experiences too! Now to make room for of them at the next club events …
Michael Carnell is the editor and founder of the Just British Online Motoring Magazine. As a lifelong British car enthusiast, he has owned or driven British cars of all ages from Austins and MGs to Jaguars and Triumphs. He currently owns a 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 and a 1977 MGB. But there is always room for more - no matter what his wife says.
