Land Rover – not just for gringos

Our Gang Racing is an outfit whose volunteers organize ice races on Georgetown Lake six weekends out of January and February annually. All it takes to join in is a four wheel or all wheel drive vehicle, a valid driver’s license and a small fee. They even provide classes for all levels of ice drivers – what better way to learn how to manage your vehicle on slick conditions than on a frozen lake? With nothing to run into except the shoreline, you can learn the dynamics of slick surface maneuvering safely. Besides, here’s a fun way to play with your 4X4 during the winter and it’s only a short drive away.

Last weekend, Land Rover Flatirons joined in the fun with their own races for owners of Land Rovers and Range Rovers and a couple members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Having never even sat in a Land Rover before, we had to see what these vehicles were all about – not to mention what it’s like to drive about on a frozen lake. Many of our friends seem to think Land Rovers are purely a gringo vehicle. Seems to us Latino dollars are just as green as anyone else’s and these are extremely comfortable, technology laden, go-anywhere vehicles that start at $36,100 for the LR2. Mountains, deserts, offroading, river fording – they are well suited for diverse terrain and all sorts of conditions.

This is just what you need if you want to drive down to see abuelita Lupe in Juarez or down to San José del Cabo. It makes no difference to this vehicle if you’re heading north to Alaska. Few SUVs actually have electronic suspension settings for normal driving, climbing, snow and ice, desert or traversing an incline like the Range Rover does. ...