What Has The Defender Community Done For You?

[javelinadave]

What has the Defender community done for me? I have made lots of friends across the globe and have also made a few foes. As some of you know I fly for a major US air carrier. I have met many of you for lunch or dinner on my overnights, took a LR trip thru Israel with Jeff Briggs, drove parts of the AlCan with some of you and have always been a proponent of my employer and have tried to get other pilots to come work for us. Several years ago I helped @Atpick get hired. He took leave from the company when Covid hit and just came back to work. Part of my job is to evaluate and train new first officers and captains. After Andy finished his ground and sim training we got to fly a three day, international trip together. The picture below was taken in Cancun this afternoon.
I have owned dozens of vehicles over the years and I can tell you all with no uncertainty that the Defender community is the best, most friendliest community out there.

 

[evilfij]

I have rover friends.

 

[Atpick]

Great trip Dave!

 

[rover4x4]

Saved me many thousands of dollars and made great memories

 

[jymmiejamz]

Some of my closest friends I’ve met through the forums

 

[Shearpin]

I’ve found that even an introvert, like myself, can make and travel with good friends found in the Land Rover community.

I have also been amazed by the help and generosity extended to strangers who share a suffering with the same choice of vehicle. Most recently. in 2019 we developed a diesel tank leak while southbound from Toronto, Canada. Trevor, from Rovahfarm, answered my call from a Land Rover event and had the required part waiting at Ian’s British Unlimited in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ian and his crew had us repaired and running in 1 afternoon and was beyond generous with his and his crews time and shop space.

On this same trip I met Will Croy and his family of C & C Classic Rovers and New World Safari in Antigua, Guatemala. They spent the day entertaining us with a shop tour, local knowledge, Land Rover stories, dogs for my daughter to play with and 20W 50 for “Brighty” our 110.

With over 30 years moving around and laying under Land Rovers - I’ve yet to meet a Land Rover owner unwilling to lend a helping hand or lacking great stories to share…

 

[rocky]

Being a mentor to others, regardless of the role being mentored, is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding things we can do.

Much respect, Captain.
PS Like the ‘Tash. I grew a beard since you saw me last.

 

[pmatusov]

Besides many friends and thousands of miles of trips to the middle nowhere I wouldn't have gone by myself...
Rockware Matt gave me spare bushings for the rear shocks one time in Colorado.

 

[xplorutah]

Fed my addiction...thankfully kicked now.

 

[hillstrubl]

Honestly, my current (great) job is a result of a member of the Defender community taking a chance on me ~8 years ago. I have nothing but good things to say about this community, from constant help on technical things to just overall friendships, I know I can count on and be counted on.

 

[Napalm00]

I actually got my current gig through rovers too!

 

[Tarheeld]

I have rover (defender) friends and ROW friends. Rover frens never disappoint.