The people you meet driving a series truck,,

[cedryck]

Not technically related, but some might find it interesting. I have been driving my beloved series 2a for 15 years now and meet the most interesting people along the way. For example, while at my local package store buying suds for the next repair job on my 2a, I was approached by a man who talked about driving series trucks in Africa for the Peace Corp. in the 1960's. He talked about surviving the 2 years in Africa, teaching job skills to locals, repairing bicycles, repairing the Rover they had, and surviving Malaria. We spoke for about 45 minutes and then I drove away with a sense of wonder once more, talking with total strangers, who recognize an Iconic vehicle,,, What are your stories?

[mearstrae]

I've told this story before, but... I was driving along a less than busy road in Penna. when my S3 109 started bucking and coughing. I just had time to get it off the road before it quit. Along came a white haired Englishman in a Jaguar sedan, seeing my bonnet up, he stopped and inquired as to the problem. I told him what happened and he nodded, heading back to his boot and getting a wooden mallet out of his tool roll. he handed it to me and said, "You've got as Facett fuel pump don't you? Well, get under and hit it." So, I did and it started right up after that. As I handed the mallet back, i noticed it had a Land Rover logo on it. Noting my look he said, "Specialist equipment that." We talked for a while, a very interesting fellow, and he went off on his way.

[lumpydog]

At a stop light I had a kid opened my passenger side door. He was breathless - had been running after me. No shirt on. He could barely get the words out he was so out of breath and excited: "oh my god, this is just like my father's truck that I had in college". I pulled over and he kept talking a million miles an hour about how much he missed his old Rover, etc. My favorite line "I used to get so much tail because of this truck!" And so on... pretty funny. Nice kid

[cedryck]

Lumpydog, and Mearstrae, great stories!! I met a Vietnam era vet, (I believe the New Zealanders used series rovers in Vietnam), he told me a story that left me speechless. He said, I remember driving these trucks in Vietnam, we were on base with the New Zealand military, and we often took the Landrover into the jungle because "they went places our Jeeps would not go"!. Then with tears in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks he said " I saved my buddies with these trucks they had no arms or no legs after an attack from the enemy, we returned them to base in a series landrover"!!
There are not many times in my life that I do not have anything to say, but this was one of those times, I was speechless,,he shared some other stories of his tour in Nam, and then left. (My 2a is ex-mod).

[SalemRover]

Lumpydog, and Mearstrae, great stories!! I met a Vietnam era vet, (I believe the New Zealanders used series rovers in Vietnam), he told me a story that left me speechless. He said, I remember driving these trucks in Vietnam, we were on base with the New Zealand military, and we often took the Landrover into the jungle because "they went places our Jeeps would not go"!. Then with tears in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks he said " I saved my buddies with these trucks they had no arms or no legs after an attack from the enemy, we returned them to base in a series landrover"!!
There are not many times in my life that I do not have anything to say, but this was one of those times, I was speechless,,he shared some other stories of his tour in Nam, and then left. (My 2a is ex-mod).

There is a Vietnam vet at the local lumberyard that loves the 109, but doesn't want it to linger too long for similar reasons. Couple weekends ago there is a strawberry festival/car show in the next town over. I drove by with no soft top, windshield down and had to be detoured around the the event. There were some beautiful vehicles but I couldnt stop. On my way back I park on the side as I had to see some of the cars. The event organizer ran up to me and thanked me for coming back as they really wanted to put the rover in the show when they first saw it drive by. I laughed saying it's a daily driver, it's dirty, but sure why not. They put a placard on it after parking next to a 62 GTO and handed me a no touching sign which I also laughed at and put in the rover. It was alot of fun talking with the other gear heads and looking at some beautifully restored vehicles.