September sees Britain's Adventure Overland show return. This is a bit like Overland Expo, though it lacks the formal training courses. Being this is Europe the make-up of vehicles is a bit different to the US. It was again held at the horse racing course at Stratford upon Avon.
Last year Sally didn't want to come, so I went on my own, but this year Sally decided to come along, as did our friends Paul and Deborah, who brought their Land Rover Discovery with Australian fold-out awning and attached tent.
Paul purchased a wood-fired heater to cook on and warm us in the cool September evenings:
We went for a quick walk around the show Friday evening to start looking at the other attendees vehicles:
The show hosts a number of very interesting talks from travellers - this was a talk from my friend Toby:
Saturday morning was good weather and more attendees had turned up late evening:
A few interesting ex-military trailers had been converted for camping with the addition of roof tents:
On a Land Rover chassis:
I guess this isn't removable, so is basically a class-c built on a compact pick-up truck:
Pinzgauers - would make an interesting overland camper:
Sally excited by finding ex-military clothing for sale:
A Swiss guy purchased this ex-military Land Rover ambulance, repainted it (to avoid the risk of looking military, which can cause problems travelling in some parts of the world) and was evolving the interior into a camper - trying it out, moving things about, trying it again:
This nice couple also had a Land Rover ambulance, but with a raised roof and more conversion work done inside. They had already travelled around the world in their previous Land Rover, and this was their new camper for their next adventure:
Sally talking to this lady who is planning to take her autistic daughter on a journey through Africa on a Ural motorbike and side car. These are pretty capable vehicles since both rear wheels are driven:
David and Jayne spent several years touring around the planet in their Land Rover and have just had a new Alucab aluminium roof fitted - the same type of roof we used on a Land Cruiser in South Africa earlier this year:
Nice European-built truck camper Chris and Rachel are admiring - looks pretty solid:
Has a little bathroom in it too:
Fiona and Adrian with their recently acquired VW Amorak pick-up truck and camper:
Some bought smaller campers than others:
and some bought larger:
and of course the old Camel Trophy Land Rovers turned up:
as did some old Russian trucks - many of these became available from Eastern Germany when the iron curtain came down:
A Tiger - a very rare beast over here:
A cold and clear evening:
Our entry permitted us to stay Friday to Monday, but Sally wanted a shower and some electric hookup so she could run the electric heater, so we moved onto a small campground closer to Birmingham
A very well appointed campground. Notice the drive-up dump station - though a closer look shows that you can still only dump grey water here - to dump black water you need to use a cassette toilet and carry the cassette around the back of the bathroom complex to dump - not reachable by vehicle:
And the reason for staying another night instead of going directly home? This year Land Rover finish production of the classic 'Defender' model - the real Land Rover - produced since 1948. It's hand-built, labour-intensive, riveted aluminium, separate chassis and body construction will be no more. In its place Land Rover will produce a modern vehicle that complies with modern safety and environmental rules, allowing it to once again be sold in the US.
In the mean time a few chances remained to tour the old production facilities and watch the last few Land Rovers being built in the same location in the same way as they have for 67 years.
Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos of the current production line. There won't be any trade secrets on this highly manual production line. I suspect this is more to do with health and safety and not disrupting employees. But we were allowed to take photos in a small museum area in the factory:
Sally has a go on a side-slope simulator:
The tour was very good and it will be very interesting to see what the replacement Land Rover finally looks like - so far all everyone has seen has been speculation. But it was very good to see the traditional Land Rover being built, and the manufacturing methods necessary for producing a vehicle based upon a 1940s design underlined the need for Land Rover to redesign the vehicle.
Steve.
Last year Sally didn't want to come, so I went on my own, but this year Sally decided to come along, as did our friends Paul and Deborah, who brought their Land Rover Discovery with Australian fold-out awning and attached tent.
Paul purchased a wood-fired heater to cook on and warm us in the cool September evenings:
We went for a quick walk around the show Friday evening to start looking at the other attendees vehicles:
The show hosts a number of very interesting talks from travellers - this was a talk from my friend Toby:
Saturday morning was good weather and more attendees had turned up late evening:
A few interesting ex-military trailers had been converted for camping with the addition of roof tents:
On a Land Rover chassis:
I guess this isn't removable, so is basically a class-c built on a compact pick-up truck:
Pinzgauers - would make an interesting overland camper:
Sally excited by finding ex-military clothing for sale:
A Swiss guy purchased this ex-military Land Rover ambulance, repainted it (to avoid the risk of looking military, which can cause problems travelling in some parts of the world) and was evolving the interior into a camper - trying it out, moving things about, trying it again:
This nice couple also had a Land Rover ambulance, but with a raised roof and more conversion work done inside. They had already travelled around the world in their previous Land Rover, and this was their new camper for their next adventure:
Sally talking to this lady who is planning to take her autistic daughter on a journey through Africa on a Ural motorbike and side car. These are pretty capable vehicles since both rear wheels are driven:
David and Jayne spent several years touring around the planet in their Land Rover and have just had a new Alucab aluminium roof fitted - the same type of roof we used on a Land Cruiser in South Africa earlier this year:
Nice European-built truck camper Chris and Rachel are admiring - looks pretty solid:
Has a little bathroom in it too:
Fiona and Adrian with their recently acquired VW Amorak pick-up truck and camper:
Some bought smaller campers than others:
and some bought larger:
and of course the old Camel Trophy Land Rovers turned up:
as did some old Russian trucks - many of these became available from Eastern Germany when the iron curtain came down:
A Tiger - a very rare beast over here:
A cold and clear evening:
Our entry permitted us to stay Friday to Monday, but Sally wanted a shower and some electric hookup so she could run the electric heater, so we moved onto a small campground closer to Birmingham
A very well appointed campground. Notice the drive-up dump station - though a closer look shows that you can still only dump grey water here - to dump black water you need to use a cassette toilet and carry the cassette around the back of the bathroom complex to dump - not reachable by vehicle:
And the reason for staying another night instead of going directly home? This year Land Rover finish production of the classic 'Defender' model - the real Land Rover - produced since 1948. It's hand-built, labour-intensive, riveted aluminium, separate chassis and body construction will be no more. In its place Land Rover will produce a modern vehicle that complies with modern safety and environmental rules, allowing it to once again be sold in the US.
In the mean time a few chances remained to tour the old production facilities and watch the last few Land Rovers being built in the same location in the same way as they have for 67 years.
Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos of the current production line. There won't be any trade secrets on this highly manual production line. I suspect this is more to do with health and safety and not disrupting employees. But we were allowed to take photos in a small museum area in the factory:
Sally has a go on a side-slope simulator:
The tour was very good and it will be very interesting to see what the replacement Land Rover finally looks like - so far all everyone has seen has been speculation. But it was very good to see the traditional Land Rover being built, and the manufacturing methods necessary for producing a vehicle based upon a 1940s design underlined the need for Land Rover to redesign the vehicle.
Steve.
Steve, that " ex Miltary Trailer" looks like a Patriot Camper Trailer from here. No they are normal RV Camper trailers
