Saturday 23th October 2021

Click HERE - At the Checkout enter Discount code RETRO10 

BOOK REVIEW  By Peter Baker 

CAMEL TROPHY: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY 

By using the word ‘definitive’ in a title, readers have every right to believe that this, folks, is the end, and there ain’t never going to be another Camel Trophy. In other words, collectively we are now saying goodbye to this outrageous forest-bashing adventure series that churned into life way back in 1980. And yet, even now, at this late stage there is a faint glimmer, call it no more than 40 watts, lighting up the ecologically correct horizon. Just when you thought it was all over.

Optimists should buy this book and, although a great read, skip the mud-splattered dialogue and turn directly to page 330. Revealed: Land Rover Classic, during 2021, is building 25 Defenders - the Land Rover Trophy Works V8 - complete with roll cage, roof rack, winch, underbody protection and powered by a 400 brake horse power V8 petrol engine. All painted in ‘desert rat’ Eastnor Yellow, one could be yours for a very modest (?) starting price of 195,000 English pounds. Except they’re all sold. I know what you’re thinking. Expensive. But relax, the company is including in the package, an off-road Eastnor driving experience with, wait for it, even a bonding camp fire get together. Long live Baden Powell.

Author Nick Dimbleby is passionate about Land Rovers, he works for the company and has been involved with Camel Trophy since forever. In this book he pays tribute to behind-the-scenes organising staff, past competitors, some sadly no longer with us, and those dedicated souls who travelled with the circus, whose purpose was to dig cars out of deep holes, build makeshift bridges and, in their spare time, make sure each event was faithfully recorded. They did well, as far as I can see, nothing has been left out.

Finally. As with all Porter Press books, the finished product is a class act, beautifully crafted and a pleasure to read. Well worth the cover price of £60. All you Land Rover enthusiasts out there, whether living in Gloucestershire or London W1, should form an orderly queue and buy a copy via Retro-Speed thus saving 10 per cent.

CAMEL TROPHY: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY
Written by Nick Dimbleby
ISBN 978-1-913089-37-5
Available from Porter Press International
Price £60.00