Mike White is a tree surgeon from Keynsham.  He bought his Camel Trophy Defender 110 Station Wagon, in 2005.

Mikey's vehicle is another unique specimen.  H652 JRW was built as a communications unit for the 1991 Tanzania - Burundi event.  Powered by Land Rovers indestructible 2.5 Tdi 200, it was fitted with a satellite dish on the roof and a pneumatic aerial mast.  The vehicle had its interior seating removed as it was crammed full of radio and telecommunications equipment.

The Land Rover was rolled on the 1991 event.  The nearside doors and panels were twisted and bent and the roof rack seriously damaged.  Startling pictures of it feature in Chris Bennett's 1992 Land Rover book.  "One careful owner," reads the caption, "There aren't many vehicles that would be capable of driving after collecting this sort of heavy duty damage but for the reliable Land Rover it is a walk in the park."

Land Rover rebuilt the vehicle and it returned to provide communications support for Camel Trophy 1992 in Guyana.

After the Camel Trophy the vehicle passed through the hands of a number of owners, including an off road driving school, until it reached its previous owner in Yorkshire.  A complete rebuild followed, unusual for a 22,000km vehicle!

 

	The communications unit in use on the 1991 Camel Trophy		Looking a sorry state on its return to the UK
	The Land Rover after restoration in 2004		Mikey navigating across Salisbury Plain, Christmas 2005
	Defender negotiating deep ruts		Dundry play day, January 2006.  Some holes you can get out of ...
	... Some you can't		Roof tent replaced satellite dish in 2006
	Ideal vehicle to support Mikey's tree surgery whilst maintaining a site at Churchill, April 2006		Leading out a convoy at Land Rover Experience, Eastnor, June 2006
	First vehicle to drive the off road course at the LRW Show, Eastnor		LRE's Tony guides Mikey through a section of the "extreme" course that had not been driven for years
	Mikey and his Defender at a 4x4 Fun Day at Dundry, November 2006		A quick pit stop with Skinny Chippie, Ben and Dan Wallace, the face of Draper tools, Christmas 2006
	Mikey's "bow wave" on Salisbury Plain, New Year's Day 2007		Mikey at the wheel near Copehill Down
	Despite previous torrential rain, the weather was glorious		Mickey skilfully negotiates a tight green lane in North East Somerset, May 2007

More pictures are available from the "out and about" page

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