b'Dec 2021 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 128/11/20215:31 pmPage 23Why I drive a Series 1!Actually, itwas Ian Malkins fault.Fred de Gooyer had asked for volun-teers to run the 4WD adventure circuitat Lardner Park for the Farmworldexhibition a couple of years ago. Ihad my Defender and Ian hadbrought along a Series 3 long wheelbase ute with a tray back. At the endof the day I was chatting with Ianabout his car and how I had ownedone as my first car many years ago. Ihad bought it from Don who ownedthe car yard beside the old 4x4 shopin Middleborough Rd. Ian said whynot jump in and take it for a drive! Assoon as I got in I smelt the familiarpetrol odour that permeates thesemachines and as we drove aroundthe circuit I found my handinstinctively positioning itself oddlybehind the gear stick. Then Iremembered that I had learnt to dothis with my old Series 3 as it used tojump out of second gear sometimes!That little drive sparked an interest in Farmworld and my interest was back. me. I liked the feeling that membersowning another Series vehicle some- There was still something appealing look after each other as they areday. about the old world charm of these joined by a common love of theI know I had always liked the look of cars and preserving the driving marque. Joel happily took me for athe cars. Something about the boxy heritage of an iconic vehicle. I started test drive with the canvas tarp off, theshape was appealing. I had travelled looking at Car Sales and noted the windscreen down and driving gogglesin a few on cadet camps, where they sad sight of so many unloved and on. What a blast! Around that time Ibroke down on us of course, but dilapidated Series vehicles on farms. acquired my first Perentie, so fundswhen I finally had my license I had I hoped I would never see my old car were tight and I couldnt purchasebeen determined to buy one of my in that condition in one of those ads. that lovely car. A year or so later avery own. The one I bought was an I test drove a few cars. I had never nice looking Series 3 popped up forex-army long wheel base GS. I drove had a short wheel base. They looked sale. I noticed the club sticker in theit to Uni every day and for long trips fun, so I focussed on locating one of photos immediately and looked it up.into Alpine areas for bushwalks with those. An old Series 2 Recon short The owner was none other than Rogerfriends. Driving that car was my first wheel base was interesting, but Purser! experience of the Land Rover wave needed lots of work. Another club I visited Roger in Healesville and weDon had told me about. Its carrying member, Joel, had a nicely restored had a long and most pleasurable chatcapacity was legendary and still is. Series 1 for sale. It had been restored about the club and I test drove LarryOn one occasion I had been super- by yet another club member Joel told the Larrikin. Larry was just what I wasvising a cricket team and the bus totake the players home had left early!So the whole team piled into the backand I drove them home. One day Iwas on a wet road and the stock bartreads on the rear. With the brakesapplied the car just slid on the roadwith no control. The next day I was ina tyre shop buying new tyres!Ultimately, as a family came along Isold that car and people thought, ohyes he is over his Land Rover fetishFast forward over twenty years toTRACKWATCHDECEMBER 2021 21'