Great Divide 25th anniversary

[aek50]

Just saw this announcement about Land Rover celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Great Divide Expedition.

http://www.interactivelandrover.com/lr/DisplayRelease.php?itemID=748

Thought it was a great tribute to the original event and the brand's history by recreating it with 2014 Range Rovers. What a neat follow up to the Silk Road and Trans-America Trail last summer.

However, then the article mentions that the vehicles will be covering "a portion of the original Great Divide route". What is this? Why not the whole thing just like 25 years ago? Is it a matter of the vehicles not being up for it? Besides lacking front bumper and winch I wouldn't think so from what has been said about their capability. Or, are many parts of the original routes closed to 4x4 travel? Which if the case, is very concerning and says much about the direction we have gone over the past 25 years too.

Just curious to see if anyone here has some insight?

 

[umbertob]

The 25th Anniversary Great Divide Expedition will cover nearly 1000 miles, the original one was 1100 and change, so a big portion - most of it - will apparently be covered. The new one will be an expensive and posh vacation for some (although a memorable one for sure), the original one was a more rugged affair for invited (and supposedly more prepared) journalists from around the world to introduce the Range Rover in North America, so a somewhat different animal. As a tribute to the original article, it sounds pretty cool and not very watered down to me. I wish I had the time and dough.

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

I'd just like the route maps...no need for a fancy pants hotel / catered meals thanks.

 

[crazysccrmd]

Can I show up with my Great Divide edition classic?

 

[roverandom]

Sign of times.
When the first great divide took place it was at the height of the Camel Trophy era and I remember thinking it was a little tame.

Fast forward to today and Land Rovers in the CT are no more the GD re-run in uber expensive Range Rovers sounds almost "extreme".

We hear all the time how Land Rover must make silly lux SUV's and cute utes to stay in business and so our standards for real adventure these days is much lower than it once was.

TATA motors needs to nut up and prove to the world that the LR brand is still able to cut it off road and not just on specially prepared tracks or high traction "trails".


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[pugslyyy]

Just saw this announcement about Land Rover celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Great Divide Expedition.

http://www.interactivelandrover.com/lr/DisplayRelease.php?itemID=748

Thought it was a great tribute to the original event and the brand's history by recreating it with 2014 Range Rovers. What a neat follow up to the Silk Road and Trans-America Trail last summer.

However, then the article mentions that the vehicles will be covering "a portion of the original Great Divide route". What is this? Why not the whole thing just like 25 years ago? Is it a matter of the vehicles not being up for it? Besides lacking front bumper and winch I wouldn't think so from what has been said about their capability. Or, are many parts of the original routes closed to 4x4 travel? Which if the case, is very concerning and says much about the direction we have gone over the past 25 years too.

Just curious to see if anyone here has some insight?

Good for Land Rover. It's a challenge to glance rearward while still moving forward.

I'm pretty sure that the present route is due to land access issues.

 

[Howski]

TATA motors needs to nut up and prove to the world that the LR brand is still able to cut it off road and not just on specially prepared tracks or high traction "trails".

I'm not sure where this line of thinking comes from considering they just ran the TAT and Silk Road in 2013. I'd feel comfortable saying the new Rovers are the most capable non-solid axle vehicles available in the N. American market - even with low profile tyres

 

[LR Max]

The newer trucks are extremely capable. Originally I was being an old man, complaining about them but they've really shown their capabilities on the trail.

Heck at Uwharrie Safari this year, some dude in a STOCK L322 (it was a facelift truck, so like, a 2010 or a 2011??). He aired those low profiles down and went. That say, he was his son's hero.

On the flipside some stupid LR3 with a computer lift and 32s out performed my 109 on 34 TSLs on Daniel. Stupid LR3 just walked up it no problem.

As long as you aren't going above a 32/33" tire, the newer rovers are extremely capable as stock or lightly modified. Nowadays, no one wants to trailer a specific off road rig. The "jack of all traits" trucks are back and the newer LR trucks do that well. You can do run Trail 2, 16, and 11 at Windrock then enjoy a 4 hour ride on the interstate back home. Then next weekend you can go be awesome during snowpacolypse in front of the news crews and get on national television BEING AWESOME while eating ice cream because its too hot from all the heated seats, floormats, steering wheels and whatever else that stupid truck has. They won't ever become rock crawler platforms but I'll take a LR4 with mud tires over a JK for general trail riding anyday. Or at least that is what I'd do...

It would be cool to run into them on the trail.

 

[roverandom]

I've got an LR3, with some mods and yeah, it's ok off road. Not fantastic. I've also done trail rides with newer LR and for every time a IFS/IRS unit has made a difficult obstacle look easy I must have seen them fail five easy obstacles and need recovery.
They are very nice multi purpose vehicles, they just weigh too much.

My RRC or Series One can run rings around any of them but (SI especially) they do require lots more driver input and effort to drive properly.

Anyone with at least one arm and a right foot can look like a hero in a new LR off road.....kinda.


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[roverandom]

I'm not sure where this line of thinking comes from considering they just ran the TAT and Silk Road in 2013. I'd feel comfortable saying the new Rovers are the most capable non-solid axle vehicles available in the N. American market - even with low profile tyres

Comparing either of those, essentially long drives on dusty roads to the Camel Trophy or the real Trans America that included the crossing of the Darien Gap is my point exactly.

The standards for what buyers of new LR are expecting are higher for the bling and gadgets and far, far lower for proper off road conditions. I could take a late 1970's Buick LeSabre over most of the stuff they have done lately.

What ever happened to "No Road Except For Land Rover"?

Ford Raced the Raptor in the Baja, Dodge took a stock Power Wagon over Hells Revenge in Moab. Toyota even ran the Rubicon in a stock 4Runner. All pukka off road routes.

Crossing the empty quarter at 100mph in a RRS doesn't cut it for me. Sorry.

Tata motors should bring back a version of the G4 at the very least.


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[brickpaul65]

Trail 16 at Windrock is now fairly difficult. It requires most rigs to use the bypass now due to the step growing fairly large and the exit being pretty difficult. I was upgraded to a difficult rating. However, 90% of the trail is doable and a blast! Trail 22 has been my favorite

The newer trucks are extremely capable. Originally I was being an old man, complaining about them but they've really shown their capabilities on the trail.

Heck at Uwharrie Safari this year, some dude in a STOCK L322 (it was a facelift truck, so like, a 2010 or a 2011??). He aired those low profiles down and went. That say, he was his son's hero.

On the flipside some stupid LR3 with a computer lift and 32s out performed my 109 on 34 TSLs on Daniel. Stupid LR3 just walked up it no problem.

As long as you aren't going above a 32/33" tire, the newer rovers are extremely capable as stock or lightly modified. Nowadays, no one wants to trailer a specific off road rig. The "jack of all traits" trucks are back and the newer LR trucks do that well. You can do run Trail 2, 16, and 11 at Windrock then enjoy a 4 hour ride on the interstate back home. Then next weekend you can go be awesome during snowpacolypse in front of the news crews and get on national television BEING AWESOME while eating ice cream because its too hot from all the heated seats, floormats, steering wheels and whatever else that stupid truck has. They won't ever become rock crawler platforms but I'll take a LR4 with mud tires over a JK for general trail riding anyday. Or at least that is what I'd do...

It would be cool to run into them on the trail.

 

[brickpaul65]

Couldn't an LR3 tackle the Rubicon in the same manner as the stock 4Runner trip? Given that the dimensions of the vehicles don't differ much (clearance wise). Obviously they likely had to be very selective on their lines etc. I would expect that the modern rovers could have tagged along just fine on that trip.

 

[roverandom]

I've never done the Rubicon but yes, I think a modern LR4 could handle it. But at a corporate level they have never done so. Better to photograph a new LR outside a fancy night club in NY or London.

My point is that in days of old LR would have looked for the most difficult 'natural' obstacles to overcome and sent a team to conquer it.


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[pugslyyy]

Just got emailed the skinny on the Great Divide Adventure

GREAT DIVIDE EXPEDITION
August 20 - 28, 2014 or September 3 - 12, 2014

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of our historic off-road crossing of the North American Great Divide, Land Rover is offering two chances to recreate the epic ride.

The journey begins at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver where you'll meet your Land Rover Driving Instructors. On day two you'll head towards Breckenridge and a relaxing evening at One Ski Place. Day three brings you to Aspen via the 13,188 ft Mosquito Pass before a night at the historic landmark, Hotel Jerome. Next a visit to Tincup, a once-thriving mining camp, before you head to a private ranch for gourmet dining and campfire entertainment.

The next days transport you to the Wild West through Old Cow Town, historic Ouray and Silverton. Routes between each will put your Land Rover vehicle to the test. The journey winds down over the final two days on the way to Telluride. Enjoy an evening at the luxurious Hotel Madeline and a farewell dinner at world-class restaurant Alpino Vino before being transported to the Telluride Airport to conclude the adventure.

Great Divide Adventure:
August 20 - 28, 2014
Price per single: $9,000
Price per couple: $13,000

September 3 - 12, 2014
Price per single: $9,800
Price per couple: $14,000

To plan your Land Rover Adventure, please contact the Land Rover Concierge at (828) 225-1541.

 

[morrisdl]

...On the flipside some stupid LR3 with a computer lift and 32s out performed my 109 on 34 TSLs on Daniel. Stupid LR3 just walked up it no problem. ...

Hey I'm that stupid LR3 driver with one arm and a right foot!