LAND ROVER CLUB GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
With more than 1,300 members throughout the UK, this family-orientated Land Rover club is a 4x4 force to be reckoned with, discovers Paul Guinness
Twenty years ago, Land Rover enthusiast Frank King gave himself a little project. As the proud owner of a Series III model, he noticed there were clubs catering for owners of Series I and II Land Rovers, but nothing that welcomed him and his SIII. So he hit upon the idea of starting one himself, expecting just a handful of like-minded enthusiasts to contact him.
‘I hoped we might eventually get twenty or thirty members on board and be able to stage a few local meetings,’ recalls Frank. ‘I knew I wasn’t the only Series III enthusiast out there. But little did I know that, two decades later, we’d have 1,300-plus members all over the country – with 40 or more new members joining us every month these days.’
It’s a tribute to Frank and his fellow enthusiasts that the Series III Owners’ Club has become so popular, something that he puts down to the family atmosphere it fosters: ‘We really are like a big family,’ he tells us. ‘We don’t run any competitions in the club, for instance – we’re all about enjoying ourselves rather than competing, which is why we’ll organise fun days with off-road courses but there won’t be any winners. Just a lot of enthusiastic owners taking part.’
The club certainly boasts an active social scene, with a number of regional areas organising regular get-togethers throughout the country. And there are national events too, one of this year’s biggest being the club’s National Rally, which took place at Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, at the end of May. As always, it attracted a big crowd, with Land Rovers of all types taking advantage of the off-road course as well as enjoying the vehicle displays.
Unlike some Land Rover organisations, the Series III Club’s emphasis isn’t on creating formidable off-road machines, attracting instead a real cross-section of enthusiasts – from owners who carry out the most painstaking of restorations to enthusiasts who believe in working their vehicles hard. And that means a fascinating array of Land Rovers at every event the club organises – and not just SIIIs.
‘These days, we cater for the 90-110 as well – the models that came after the Series III,’ confirms Frank King. ‘Basically, if you’re into Land Rovers, you’re welcome to come on board.’ And that sounds like a good message to us.
GETTING IN TOUCH
If you’re a fan of the Series III and 90-110 Land Rovers and are tempted to join the club, the best first step is to log on to www.thelandroverclub.co.uk and click the ‘Join Online’ tab. One year’s membership costs £25, with no joining fee. If you have any queries regarding membership, simply send an email to: membership@thelandroverclub.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can ask for a membership application form by calling 01543 424821 or by sending an SAE to: Land Rover Series III Owners’ Club, 16 Holly Street, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 5RU. Don’t forget to mention 4x4 Mart when getting in touch.
