Land Rover Lake Bluff Wins Entry Into Land Rover TReK '99 Finals
19 May 1999
Land Rover Lake Bluff Wins Entry Into Land Rover TReK '99 Finals BODEGA BAY, Calif., May 18 -- A three-member team
representing Land Rover Lake Bluff qualified to compete in the final round of
Land Rover TReK '99, the annual inter-retailer competition. Land Rover TReK,
launched in 1996, is a unique challenge designed to test the spirit and
enthusiasm of all Land Rover retail employees. Teams representing individual
retail outlets from around the country compete against one another in a
friendly -- but still highly competitive -- contest of skill and endurance.
The day-long competition involves numerous physically and mentally rigorous
tasks, including written logic quizzes, orienteering, rally-type navigation,
running, canoe racing, bike racing, and precision off-road driving.
Eight teams competed in the third of six TReK regional trials, held at a
600-acre ranch north of San Francisco. In all, 48 Land Rover retailers will
take part in TReK '99 -- the maximum number event organizers could
accommodate. The winning team from each of the six regional trials will return
for the finals of TReK '99, to be held on Thursday, May 27th.
Peter Donnelly, Dan Matthews, and Anton Koenigsmann represented the Lake
Bluff, Illinois-area Land Rover store in the grueling competition, which began
when competitors were rousted from their tents by a 4:30 am wake-up call.
Under clear and sunny skies, the teams worked hard to remain enthusiastic as
the day wore on. In preparing for the event, Donnelly, projects manager,
credited their winning seven out of eight events to the Land Rover Bluff
Centre, saying, "We have a great Centre -- located on a lake with a wonderful
off-road demonstration course. We were there every Sunday morning for the past
three months -- driving, winching, etc. Also, we did our homework. We used the
'How to TReK' information provided by LRNA's Web site, watched past TReK
videos, and spoke with Camel Trophy guys and former TReK participants about
the past events. From there, we were able to focus on the toughest parts of
the event and strengthen our skills accordingly."
In this unique competition, a premium is placed on the team's four-wheel
drive skill. Competitors are required to negotiate an autocross loop, complete
an off-road TSD rally and battle head-to-head through an obstacle course that
includes precarious log bridges, deep ditches and the challenge of recovering
a submerged vehicle. The vehicles used by the teams are identically prepared
1999 Discovery Series IIs.
The special TReK-edition Series II features a number of upgrades designed
to support the Discovery Series II's off-road prowess. The vehicle rides on
245/75R-16 BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires mounted on 16-inch Lightning alloy
wheels. Up front, there's a unique grille and bumper treatment, featuring an
integrated Warn 9000i winch.
For added protection and capability, the special-edition Series II
features Safari Gard rock sliders mounted along the doorsills and a
rear-mounted Hi-Lift Jack for use in extreme conditions. There is a
full-length, aluminum roof rack with mesh flooring, integrated bike racks,
four roofmounted Hella FF100 driving lights and rear-mounted work lights.
Inside the vehicle, the door panels and seats are covered with two-ply supplex
waterproof fabric. The carpets have been replaced with more durable and easier
to clean rubber matting.
Support for Land Rover TReK '99 was provided by Bauer Vehicle Gear, Inc.,
BF Goodrich, Giant bicycles, Hella, Hi-Lift, Inc., Safari Gard, Safety
Devices, Warn and Land Rover Special Vehicles.
Land Rover North America, Inc., established in 1986, imports Range Rovers
and Discoverys manufactured in Solihull, England, for sale in North America
and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The BMW Group, Munich, Germany.
