Land Rover Newport Beach’s off-road experience

Marco Ray

While many automotive dealerships like to tie-in the term

“experience” to the ownership of their vehicles, Land Rover Newport

Beach, perhaps, is one of the few automotive retailers that truly

lends credence to the word. Driving through the Anza Borrego Desert

in 116-degree heat on dusty, rocky trails might sound like a recipe

for serious trouble. But it is precisely this setting that offers,

through the dealership’s off-road events, the canvas for Land Rover

owners and enthusiasts to experience the legendary capability of the

company’s vehicles.

Organized by Land Rover Newport Beach sales veteran Richard

Nelson, director of off-road events, the dealership’s Wheels Off-road

Events take place on average every three months in a variety of areas

in Southern California. The most recent event took place at Anza

Borrego Desert State Park on the weekend of August 7 and 8.

Only a few hours drive from most Orange County cities,

approximately 20 Land Rover owners and enthusiasts arrived Saturday

afternoon to the sleepy desert town of Borrego Springs, itself

surrounded by the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Land Rover Newport

Beach, sparing no detail, arranged for an all-inclusive overnight

stay at the luxurious resort of La Casa del Zorro. Included were

accommodations for the night and dinner, as well as breakfast the

following morning. With the sun setting on Saturday, dinner welcoming

the guests was served followed by a narrated evening of stargazing.

The sky filled with stars was something to behold, especially for

those used to the less than clear air and lights of a city setting.

The next morning, a full breakfast to fortify the off-road

adventurers was served and then it was off to the desert trails.

Once the vehicles were equipped with radios and bottled water,

fluids were checked by the group. Led and flanked by Land Rover

staff, we departed for Borrego Springs on a hot Sunday morning. It’s

worth noting, Land Rover Newport Beach encourages owners to drive

their own vehicles, however, company vehicles are provided for those

who wish to leave their Land Rovers to street duty. Heading down the

two-lane black top towards the day’s first off-road trail, with

climate control whirring away in response to the desert heat, the

anticipation and excitement of the group, including first timers and

more veteran drivers, was quite apparent.

A mile marker and dusty turn off is all that marked the entrance

to the first stop, Truckhaven trail. With the mix of Land Rover

Discoverys and Range Rovers off the highway, the group stopped to

“stage” before officially setting off on the trail. The Land Rover

staff called out instructions to the drivers over hand-held radios

including the appropriate gear or gears to stay in on the trail. They

advised drivers to select their four-wheel drive system’s low range

-- the reduction in transfer case gear ratios aiding the vehicle’s

ability to traverse difficult terrain.

This particular trail took the group through, what at one time,

appeared to have been an old riverbed. Walls of earth extended above

the vehicles and the stark beauty of the desert was marked by unique

rock formations and sparse vegetation. Small trees with long, wispy

finger-like branches dotted the landscape, almost defying convention

with their ability to survive such a harsh environment.

Soon, the drive became more challenging with the vehicles having

to negotiate an ever more uneven and rock-strewn path. How the Land

Rovers remain composed over such terrain with their suspensions

articulating was impressive. These vehicles were truly in their

element. A little less than two hours later, the group rejoins the

highway headed for the next trail to conquer. The Calcite Mine trail,

as it’s known, is not only more challenging than Truckhaven but has

some historical significance as well. At the top of the trail is an

area where the mineral Calcite was collected. This mineral was mined

during World War II, for its use in among other things, gun sights,

until 1945 when a synthetic substitute was invented.

The trail was much steeper than the morning’s excursion and quite

narrow in some places. All the better to showcase the capability of

these Land Rovers. At a few points where the terrain became

particularly rocky and steep, the Land Rover staff exited their

vehicles and helped direct the other drivers through these most

challenging spots. The Discovery and Range Rover ambled up the rocks

with ease. The Range Rover in particular was most impressive,

clamoring up the terrain without a fuss, keeping its occupants

sheltered from the desert heat in its cool, climate-controlled cabin

replete with elegant leather seating.

Once at the top of the road, the Calcite Mine area rewarded the

group with a fantastic view of the desert, mountains and the Salton

Sea -- California’s largest internal body of water. After taking some

time to explore and snap pictures, it was back into the

air-conditioned comfort of the vehicles for the start down the steep,

winding rocky road.

The Land Rover Hill Descent Control (HDC) system worked marvels to

maintain a disciplined descent. For those who have never experienced

this feature, the HDC engages with the push of a button, selecting

the transmission’s lowest gear, without using the brake pedal, the

vehicle’s forward progress down the hill is limited to a few miles

per hour. Approximately four hours later, after tackling two of Anza

Borrego Desert’s many off-road trails, the group is back on the

highway. Land Rovers and Range Rovers now covered in a proud suit of

dust and dirt, with drivers a bit weary but elated, make their way

back to the resort for a late check out.

The off-road weekend adventure all too quickly came to a close.

But not without instilling into the drivers a sense of appreciation

and pride from experiencing a Land Rover product in its element. For

those who came out for the weekend without a Land Rover of their own,

this experience off-road was perhaps the ultimate presentation of the

Land Rover brand. For those who drove their own vehicles, such

weekends help to bring about a satisfaction of knowing the character

and philosophy of the brand so frequently heard or read about is very

much alive and present in their Land Rover.

For more information on the Land Rover Newport Beach Wheels

Off-road Events, please contact Richard Nelson at (949) 640-6445.