Land Rover Global 1998 - Part 4

22nd Mar 1998

Equipment arrives in Wales

A week later, the two Land Rover Defenders, one a military 'Wolf' version, the LRPC and all our other spares and provisions were flown out to Wales in a chartered C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The equipment's journey had taken it from the UK to Seattle by ship and then by truck to Anchorage before being loaded onto the aircraft.

At the same time as our arrival, Dmitry and his sons made a second attempt to cross on foot from Russia to join us. Although they entered US territory, contrary ice drift carried them back across the international border where they were again rescued. Two dunkings in the Straits and severe frostbite dictated their early return to Moscow.

Unloading the gear

We soon settled into our new surroundings that would be our home for the next 10 weeks. While the 3 mechanics set about testing the vehicles in the extreme conditions, I made the Base Camp as comfortable as I possibly could, utilising anything that came to hand.

Once established, we set about building the LRPC, which came in kit form like a giant Meccano set. Soon after, both Gordon and Ran joined the rest of the team - we were now ready to test the feasibility of this whole project.

Team meeting with Ran at base camp

Our intended mission in Alaska was to drive the round trip from Wales to Barrow, Alaska's most northerly point, with the Defenders. In addition, we planned to launch the LRPC in the Bering Strait to determine its capabilities in an environment more hostile than Barnstable Bay. To accommodate the journey over tundra, the Land Rovers were equipped with Mattracks (a Minnesota, USA product).

Each wheel was replaced by a single rubber track so that conventional steering could take place. The system consisted of a driving cog that bolted onto the standard hub, with small 'jockey' wheels along the base, so allowing the brakes and suspension to work as normal. To prevent the track turning into a 'triangular' wheel, a torsion bar was fitted which had to be exceptionally short on the front hubs.