Land Rover 50th.

ARC PRESS RELEASE

The biggest event in the 50 years of the Land Rover's production is well under way. As you will all know by now the nine day extravaganza to celebrate the 50th is to be held at Eastnor Castle, UK from 22-31 May 1998. We have already secured sponsorship for some of the Rally. Besides Land Rover Ltd., we have NFU Mutual Insurance as another main sponsor, Superwinch is sponsoring the winch recovery and also some on-site activities. Famous Four Products are generously supplying all the marshals' waistcoats, which incidentally will be given to the marshals as a thank you for marshalling at the event. We also have Quick Call Tyres sponsoring the new Timed Trial. International Off-Roader Magazine are sponsoring all pre-International press releases. There are many companies already making enquiries regarding trade stands and sponsorship. As soon as we have signed deals we will be letting you know who is supporting what.

Among the many attractions for the nine days there will be an on-site Safari drive around the Eastnor Estate organised by the Nottingham Land-Rover Club, an evening is being planned where it is hoped that members will attend in traditional 1948 dress to be entertained by a 1940's Big Band.

It is hoped to arrange visits to the Solihull factory from Eastnor, probably to see Freelander production line. There will be plenty for the non-competing members to do, the committee are encouraging a full variety of trade stands to attend, a creche is being organised, and a large number of Rover cars as well as Land Rovers are expected for the Concours d'Elegance which will be held in front of the Castle itself. Novelty driving competitions will be active all week.

The usual Trials and Competitive Safari etc. will be, as usual hard fought for. The Trials will be limited to 240 entries and the Safari to 150, the Timed Trial will have a limii of 72 entries for the six sections. The Team and Winch recovery competitions will also take place. The Gymkhana and Trailer reversing will take place daily. It is hoped to present the thorpies for all competitions the following evening after the discipline has taken place, this will give time for the scores to be tabulated correctly instead of having to rush them through. The scores will be sent to each club who will have nominated member to look after a notice boeard for their members. The board will also have a daily newsletter displayed upon it, if a club has a very large contingent at the Rally then that club may have the need to have two notice boards.

The nominated representative will also act as that club's caravan officer seeing that all camping rules are obeyed throughout the week, this will help to make everyone's stay a pleasant one. Each club, it is hoped, will have their club flag displayed around the arena as well as flying on their camping area.

Entry forms for the Land Rover 50th Celebration in the UK are availbale your nearest ARC membership Land-Rover club or the follwing address:

LR50 Rally 1998, 65 Longmead Avenue, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5PJ, England

via Ari Myllyla

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