Land Rover North Point Wins Entry into Land Rover TReK '99 Finals
25 May 1999
Land Rover North Point Wins Entry into Land Rover TReK '99 Finals
BODEGA BAY, Calif., May 24 -- A three-member team
representing Land Rover North Point 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 sixth 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.
Brian Adams, David Croot, and Paul Zeman represented the Alpharetta,
Georgia-area Land Rover store in the grueling competition, which began when
competitors were rousted from their tents by a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call. Under
cool skies, the teams worked hard to remain enthusiastic as the day wore on.
Zeman, a sales guide, said, "Our previous TReK experience was a big help,
but there was still a lot of pressure on us. A lot of other Centres were
calling us saying, 'We're gunning for you guys.' Everyone was looking for us
to win." Adams, Centre operations specialist, added, "In training for this
year's event, we did a lot of cardio-vascular work to get ready, but the
mental preparation was the most important. Because of the kind of people we
are, we knew we couldn't just come out here and compete for fun. We were
competing to win -- and luckily today, we did just that."
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. Upfront, 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 roof-mounted 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.