2004 Saturn VUE Red Line - 2004 Saturn VUE Related Links Get Pricing Get E-mail Updates Consumer Ratings Vehicle Reviews Send a Letter Talk About It 2004 Saturn VUE. Both FWD and AWD systems are offered, each responding to the fully-independent suspension. 2004 Saturn VUE…
Part Two: Belgian F16 Fighter Pilot Gets Keys to New Range Rover After Winning Inaugural Land Rover G4 Challenge; American Chris Perry Finishes Second
Writer's Notes
Mud, rain, snow, intense heat. Dry deserts, ancient mountains, vast plains, canyon lands and white sand beaches. On road, off road, urban and remote. British SUV manufacturer, Land Rover, stabled under the Ford global umbrella, would tell you that its lineup of 4 x 4 models is designed to conquer all. And, as its latest vehicle-based adventure competition came to a close this weekend in Moab, Utah, the outdoor pursuits capital of the USA, the 16 multi-sport athletes hailing from 23 countries around the globe, would tell you that their Land Rover vehicles, in fact, got them through it all. Go to Part One...
The U.S. entrant, 29-year old Nancy Olson of Arlington, VA, one of only two females in the event, finished 15th having encountered a number of setbacks over the course of the competition. In the finale, she was twice pitched out of her small kayak while navigating the swift currents of the Colorado River, which cost her 2 places in the final results.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
xxx
Mud, rain, snow, intense heat. Dry deserts, ancient mountains, vast plains, canyon lands and white sand beaches. On road, off road, urban and remote. British SUV manufacturer, Land Rover, stabled under the Ford global umbrella, would tell you that its lineup of 4 x 4 models is designed to conquer all. And, as its latest vehicle-based adventure competition came to a close this weekend in Moab, Utah, the outdoor pursuits capital of the USA, the 16 multi-sport athletes hailing from 23 countries around the globe, would tell you that their Land Rover vehicles, in fact, got them through it all. The cars weren't the only stars, however. In this case, the international competitors of Land Rover's inaugural G4 Challenge, who motored in Discoverys, Defenders, Range Rovers and Freelanders over a wide variety of terrain across three continents during a month-long competition, were truly the stars. Contending to achieve their personal best in a diverse group of activities that included mountain biking, abseiling, running, kayaking, orienteering and four wheeling, along with skiing, snowboarding, swimming, rock climbing and bungee jumping, the competitors were also challenged to be international team players, as they paired each week with a sportsman of a different culture, collecting both individual and team points. The final event, dubbed the Separator, separated Rudi Thoelen, 31, an F16 fighter pilot from the rest of the multi-talented and high-spirited pack. The unique Separator course was deliberately designed to incorporate a range of different disciplines, and was made even more challenging by the dust storm which was whipped up by the strong wind during the morning. It could easily have been described as a 'mini Land Rover G4 Challenge', as competitors rappelled, mountain biked, kayaked, navigated and drove a difficult off-road course to ultimately claim the grand prize--a $71,200 Range Rover. The victory was narrow as Thoelen edged out the four top finalists from France, Arabia and Turkey. American Chris Perry, who works as a water park manager in Dubai represented Arabia and missed winning the grueling event by seconds. Reacting to the win, Thoelen said, "We got to drive four Land Rover vehicles over 4,000 miles, in four weeks, on three continents. This is an experience of a lifetime, and since it's the only adventure competition I've ever entered, I'm extremely excited and proud to have represented my country."
The U.S. entrant, 29-year old Nancy Olson of Arlington, VA, one of only two females in the event, finished 15th having encountered a number of setbacks over the course of the competition. In the finale, she was twice pitched out of her small kayak while navigating the swift currents of the Colorado River, which cost her 2 places in the final results. Canada's Kitt Stringer, 26, placed 13 in his substitute role after primary competitor, JimKuhn, was injured in South Africa and had to withdraw.
The victory was narrow as Thoelen edged out the four top finalists from France, Arabia and Turkey. American Chris Perry, who works as a water park manager in Dubai represented Arabia and missed winning the grueling event by seconds. Reacting to the win, Thoelen said, "We got to drive four Land Rover vehicles over 4,000 miles, in four weeks, on three continents. This is an experience of a lifetime, and since it's the only adventure competition I've ever entered, I'm extremely excited and proud to have represented my country." --Rudi Thoelen, Land Rover G4 Challenge winner
"I've had the time of my life over the past month," enthused Olson at the finish. "Now I want a week off and then to start it all over again. The biggest prize was the 15 best friends that we've gained in the last month." Stringer, a wilderness guide and team building facilitator from British Columbia, was praised for stopping to help Olson, a Marine Corps. Information Officer, when she capsized during the intensity of the final competition. "The inaugural Land Rover G4 Challenge which combines urban and rural locales was the most ambitious undertaking of its type in Land Rover history. We congratulate all the competitors for their outstanding efforts," said Matthew Taylor, Land Rover Managing Director, at the close of the event. "The event has exceeded all our expectations and epitomizes everything that Land Rover is about: adventure, authenticity and guts. But above all else, the brand is about having an experience. We're interested in inclusivity, not exclusivity." Known worldwide for its association with Camel Trophy, Land Rover was the official vehicle supplier from 1981 through 1998 of this event considered the world's most grueling 4WD challenge. At that time the event evolved, and because vehicles were not included, Land Rover dropped its involvement. The inaugural and unique Challenge began March 30 in New York City with a novel, four-wheel drive course set up on a six-block stretch of Broadway. It then spent a week traversing snowy New England with the competitors using a variety of adventure skills to accumulate points at widely spread remote locations. From the US, the crew, upward of 120 persons in total, moved to South Africa where over five days, the competitors drove from Cape Town southeast to Cape Agulhas, the southern most tip of the African continent, then on to the spectacular coast of Kranshoek. From Africa it was off to the remote North West Australian outback where they spent the third week of the event, finishing with a kayak across Sydney Harbor, before driving Range Rovers on a specially constructed track built upon the world's largest ocean barge. The sixteen competitors returned to American soil for the final cross country trek starting in Las Vegas and moving eastward through the incredible scenery of southern Utah. "The Land Rover G4 Challenge was an outstanding example of people from different cultures working together in a spirit of friendly cooperation and competition," said Bill Baker, Director of Special Projects for LRNA. "It was the spirit of adventure on a global basis; a unique blending of personal skills, driving and navigating, and applying them over four weeks and on three continents."
The ambitious Land Rover G4 Challenge will be featured in two, one-hour television specials to be seen this autumn on the Outdoor Life Network. From the start, the event can be followed daily on
--Story by Sue Mead Sue Mead works as a photojournalist and features writer for more than two dozen publications. She has written for Parade, Popular Science, Open Road, the Road & Track Buyers Guide, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics and Diversion and she has worked as an auto editor for CNN/fn. Sue has co-driven in two of the world's toughest off-road races, the Baja 1000 and the Paris-Dakar Raid. She attended four Camel Trophy adventures for Land Rover North America and has participated in several long-distance adventure drives. She recently completed her first book, "Monster Trucks and Tractors" published by Chelsea House. Sue lives in New England.
Similar news:
Land Rover Sees Sales Up 15 Pct in '05 - Ford Motor Co.'s luxury brand Land Roverexpects to boost unit sales around 15 percent this year andturn a profit, while its Jaguar brand sees flat sales and aloss, a senior executive told Reuters on Wednesday.
Jaguar and Land Rover plunge to '200m loss - Ford's three upmarket UK brands - Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin - have racked up losses of more than £200m, sending the US carmaker's European operations crashing into deficit.
MG Rover sells parts business to US - Loss-making MG Rover is to sell its worldwide parts business for more than £100 million. The Longbridge-based car maker will hand over the business to American-owned Caterpillar Logistics Services (UK) Ltd.
566 ( -69 -12.19% )