We’ve had a couple of visits over to OEC since the last Blog entry; I went over last Friday and Rachel last Wednesday. things have progressed nicely and this week saw the pod go onto the base vehicle for the final time!

The Azalai pod is on!

My visit last week was with my Brother and his family so they could get a feel what we were about here. It was clear that much had gone on. The suspension airbags were all fitted and were being tested (plus a neat pressure dial fitted to the gear tunnel cowling). The plumbing was just about all there – essentially waiting for the main water tank to be fitted with the rest of its insulation before the last few bits could be completed. The seats were wired in, again with their switches neatly and conveniently sited on the transmission tunnel. The electrical essentials were all in place under the second-row of seats (in the redundant space boxed in by Land Rover) and both batteries were good to go.

The smaller steering wheel from QT was a great innovation, loads more room to accommodate the refitted hand-controls and no need to adapt the wiper stalk. Because it is a racing wheel, there was no cancel for the indicators. Paul had fixed this by inserting a small screw in-lieu – he wanted to paint it black, such is his attention to detail – I wouldn’t have even known it was there unless he’d pointed it out – it could have been pink for all I cared! To your credit Paul though – fair dues.

QT (smaller) Wheel - note the extra room adjacent to the door to accommodate hand controls

The chequer plate on the bonnet and wings makes the vehicle look very purposeful indeed, and should be a useful aid to getting stuff in and out of the roof-rack (for Rachel at least).

Black Chequer Plate makes 'Paula' look hard!

This week then, it was really fantastic for Rachel to be able to confirm that the pod was fitted on her visit. The end of the build really isn’t far off now and that is very good news indeed (both for us and those in the full order-book queue no doubt). However there is still a bit to do – not least the tail-lift. Paul confidently assured me that if what he had in his head “came-off, then we will be better off than we ever thought we would be”. There was an assuredness about his assertion and I look forward to seeing what he can contrive – but I am confident it will be more than fit for purpose. Engineering definitely matters at OEC, and all of the guys there clearly take personal pride in the successful outcome of their labour – something to bear in mind if you are looking to get any work done yourself (and I’m not even paid to say that).

Centre Console with Suspension Pressure Gauge and Seat Switches

Now the Azalai pod is on Paul is in a position to progress the lift. he had said he was hoping to build a template/prototype in wood to check that the levers are correct, before embarking on the fabrication in metal. Once the lift unit is built and in place, the trim can go on (which in itself is apparently a time consuming job).

Insert Tail-lift here!

(My) Current estimate remains the end of September then – which unfortunately will see the last of our planned summer shake-down opportunities pass. On an upbeat note regarding this though, Mrs H has joined the Royal Geographical Society and there are a few RGS events that are relevant throughout the winter. We are now building these into our plans (mainly in the areas of expedition medicine, driving techniques and expedition planning).

We have got a date to meet up with Simon Ward-Hastelow, the editor of Land Rover World Magazine towards the end of the month. I also got the first copy from our subscription this week, and a good read it is too. Hopefully we’ll have a story up to the calibre.

A couple of local Rotary branches have enquired whether I can do some talks here and there, so it’s a case of ‘have projector will travel’. I’m looking forward to sharing some of our learning to date as well as having a chance to explain what we are up to as well as the work of www.Motivation.org.uk

Andrew Hooper donates to Motivation

The Herald Express and Brixham News  articles seem to have caught the attention of a few people who have subsequently made contact to find out a bit more about what we are trying to achieve. We have had another fantastic donation for www.motivation.org.uk  from Andrew Hooper which amounts to another wheelchair and constructive re-engagement in society for a disabled person in the developing world. Thanks Andrew (and everyone else who has contributed to date) – we have now raised £655 (+ £180 gift aid) towards our preliminary charity target of £3k (which we’d love to smash!) . We’ve also had our first pledge towards the Expedition Budget too -  (thanks to Will Smith  – X ).

Planning for the fundraising Gourmet Fish Demo and Lunch at the Bickley Mill are at an advanced stage and several tables have already been sold. We’d love to see you there and please do get in touch if you’d like to attend.

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, Build, O.T., OEC, Press, Specification, Sponsorship, Transmission, Vehicle, www.motivation.org.uk

Thanks to……

HI. WE’RE PEDRO AND VERA AND WE’RE LAND ROVER ADDICTS…

World of Land Rover is a our personal little blog where we bring you news, articles, photos and videos of interest of Land Rover fans like us. But we don’t want to be the only ones writing here. You too canwrite a post about Land Rovers, your Land Rover club, mechanics or whatever you want, or just comment the posts. You can also just send us a message..

Check out this link: World of Land Rover.

Indlovu Drive 2011 Trans-Africa Expedition

Article by World of Land Rover, words and photos from harris.gb.net

DISABLED VENTURER, RICHARD HARRIS, HAS USED A WHEELCHAIR AND ELBOW CRUTCHES TO GET AROUND FOLLOWING A RUGBY ACCIDENT IN 1986. TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE RACHEL, HE IS PLANNING TO UNDERTAKE A MAMMOTH OVERLAND DRIVE, FROM ZULULAND IN SOUTH AFRICA, ALL THE WAY BACK TO BRITAIN.

This is the kind of article I really enjoy. When you see on TV our on a magazine an article about someone that’s going to do something great for charity it almost feel like they live in another World, without the hardships and worries of “normal people”. Of course they have to find money for the trip as well as raising the funds for the charities they chose to support, but it almost seams effortless…

I read on in their blog, where Richard writes about their plans and the Defender preparation but also about bank loans and how they are going to pay for it all. These are normal people, like you and me, with jobs and mortgages and bills like the ones we pay. The difference is we’re sitting down reading about it on our computers but they are actually doing something worth mentioning.

What’s the story?

Richard has been living with the effects of a spinal cord injury since, as a rather clumsy 19 year-old rugby player; he single-handedly managed to break his neck. Since then he has trained and practised as an Occupational Therapist and through his love of rugby, wildlife and photography, has been drawn to visit South Africa many times. Luckily these are passions that Rachel shares too. The couple have self-driven many miles of photographic safari in that beautiful country, but are now desperate to explore more of the continent.

Richard explains, “We first visited South Africa in ’96 on a rugby tour. It was supposed to be ‘the’ trip of a lifetime – but we found, as have many others, that Africa grabs you – it gets under your skin – and so we have been back many times since. The challenges that people face given the fates of history and politics are incredible and inspiring. Every time we go back it’s different. You cannot fail to be moved by peoples’ spirit and resilience.”

Richard, Rachel and the Azalai Defender

So why the long trek?

“On our second visit, I distinctly remember seeing a French badged Land Rover Discovery in Hluhluwe game reserve. I thought ‘Wow, it’s possible to drive here from Europe!’ – Now that really is special. We looked into it but at the time there wasn’t a vehicle that could do the trip and let me stay independent in my self-care regimen. Things have moved on, and with buying and adapting the Azalai, we are now in touching distance of realising a very special ambition.

Both cite the personal development that comes from taking on such a venture. “It’s like doing another degree” Richard says, “The planning, research and reading is eating up the hours. It’s great fun though and it’s already a fulfilling experience before we’ve even driven a mile.” Rachel has her work cut out too, “I have somelessons in vehicle mechanics and maintenance booked, it’s essential that we can at least service the Land Rover as we go. This is certainly a new area for me but I am relishing the challenge and the experience.”

“The other children include me now. I can easily visit my friends and get to school. My wheelchair can cope with the rough ground here. It's good to have a chair that fits me, an adult's wheelchair would be too difficult to push.”

Land mines are a constant threat to children

Motivation – The charity
The Harris’ are proudly supporting the Bristol based charity ‘Motivation’. Their aim is to raise the profile of disabled people throughout the world and they have several projects in the countries to be traversed. Motivation’s work is categorised by three key issues: mobility, empowerment and inclusion. Their activities include the design and provision of low-cost appropriate wheelchairs, vocational training programmes to help disabled people access and lobby for their rights in society, and they work with other organisations to include disabled people into their work and programmes. By focusing in these areas they aim to positively impact on the physical, social and economic situation of people with mobility disabilities.

There is a clear synergy given Richard’s history and his career in Occupational Therapy. “I am really thrilled that Motivation are letting us support them and their work. Most people will be shocked to know that the U.N. Statistical Office estimates there are 20 million people in the world who need a wheelchair but don’t have one – so anything to help is welcome.”

 

The Azalai Camper – Land Rover 130 Conversion

The Azalai promises accessible living and sleeping space, masses of equipment storage, catering facilities suitable for long hauls and crucially, to meet Richard’s care needs, even an onboard toilet & shower. This is a truly special vehicle that makes the adventure a reality for Richard and Rachel. All they need now is just a little help and support, some more hard work and the best of luck ….

A ‘grafted living pod’ fitted by OEC Ltd, utilizes the very latest, lightweight but strong, insulating, vacuum moulded composite materials. Extra fuel and water tanks are under the floor, storage is all below window height. This preserves stability and agility. “We’ve invested more than our life savings to cover the £70k gross cost” confesses Richard, “But there really is no other vehicle as suitable or as adaptable for this trip.” (Because of his disability Richard had to spend an extra £10k fitting an Ashcroft automatic gearbox, hand-controls, and a lift to access the pod.) But what about eight months sharing a 2.5×1.8m living space come rain or shine? Over to Rachel, “Based upon our photo-safari experience to date, it turns out we do remain compatible.” A good job too!

Know more about the Richard and Rachel’s adventure, the Azalai camper and Motivation’s work and how you can help.

Tags: adaptation, Africa, Azalai, biography, Build, Charity, disability, Ethics, finance, funding, money, motivation, Overland, philosophy, Press, Resources, Sponsorship, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

Well typically enough, after much vain listening out over the last few weeks, we missed the Radio Devon interview that apparently went out last week. A work colleague informed us that her husband had heard it. I just hope that it was OK and managed to communicate the gist to those aurally assailed. If we can find it on i-player we’ll try and put it on the site – but I’m not optimistic (luckily for you dear reader).

BBC Radio Devon

The Brixham News also published an article a few weeks ago, but again we missed it as we are outside of their catchment area. The same goes here – that we hope it was of some interest to anyone who read it. (If anyone should have a copy then we’d love to see it.)

The Herald Express are coming to get a picture to accompany Alex’s interview from a couple of weeks ago – ultimately that will go out on a Tuesday under the impressive sounding  ‘Big Interview’ banner.

If anyone wants any more details subsequent to reading or hearing any of these pieces then of course feel free to get in touch.

On a different matter we have taken some advice on (expedition) fundraising tax, and our accountant is clear that if donations are treated as such, under a clearly defined statement of intent, then they should not attract a tax burden. As we have said elsewhere, any donations made will be entirely directed to the expedition costs. Any profit (unlikely!) or surplus (eg if the expedition should not go ahead for any unforeseen circumstance) will be passed to our adopted charity Motivation. To be fair to any potential donors we will prioritise any monies raised towards ‘fixed, unambiguous, and unequivocal’ expenses eg  fuel, shipping, insurances etc (rather than food and accommodation in the first instance – I guess the level of the latter could possibly be contentious, with the best will in the World!). Of course you can also donate directly to Motivation via our JustGiving page too – and for business’ that can be tax deductable.

On that note thanks to Denise Walker for a great donation to www.motivation.org.uk – as a fellow Africaphile she can be reassured that it will help Motivation in working with TATCOT and the Pan Africa Wheelchair Association (PAWA) to provide technical and capacity building support to wheelchair services and to promote the professionalisation of services. Visits are made to wheelchair service partners across Africa to evaluate progress and provide input. Motivation are also involved in initiating Wheelchair Stakeholders’ Meetings to bring together government, DPOs, wheelchair producers, rehabilitation centres, donor organisations and international organisations to plan collaborative national strategies to address wheelchair needs.

Denise & David Walker

We will soon be offering donors a chance to get their logos stickered on the van, which you will see, when finished, provides an unmissable mobile canvas! There are not many Azalai’s (less than 80 worldwide) and they do seem to attract much attention from the curious and the interested.

We have set up a bank account in the expedition’s name courtesy of Barclays.

With that settled we really feel we can proceed with some gusto (so again see details of our next event below! Please come along if you can) .

Cookery Demonstration & Fish Lunch
at the

by Nigel Ward

Wednesday 24th November 2010
Tickets £22.50 in tables of 10 – Please put the date in your diaries! This is sure to be a popular event – contact us now to book your place

We just need OEC to finish the vehicle now! From correspondence yesterday, it seems that little has advanced on the pod cutting from last time, but there has been work on fitting the plumbing and other sundries (makes sense as these need to happen before the pod can finally be rested onto the chassis). Hopefully we will have a more complete update later this week/early next.

Tags: OEC, Press, Vehicle

Rachel and Richard contrive a pose with the Pod, note the lack of windows!

This week’s visit to OEC was definitely a benchmark of sorts – 30th July 2010 was the first day that the Azalai pod was mated with the base vehicle. Certainly this was good to see, as it must mean we are getting near that elusive and tantalising completion date – but tempered in that the next step is to take it off again! The pod is offered up to mark the remaining cuts that need to be made e.g. through to the cab, the second fuel filler etc. The lifting jig utilises the window and roof openings – so the windows have been removed until the pod finds its permanent home on the chassis. The water tank had also been removed for this exercise (to avoid damage and promote access to help with the marking-up). There is minimal finishing trim in place (obviously) and so it certainly could be said that ‘Paula’ looked a little bit rough around the edges. However, once these final cuts are done, it clearly can’t be too much more time and work to add or reapply the few remaining disenfranchised parts.

Poly-bag in place, rear suspension

This would then allow efforts to switch to designing, sourcing and fitting the tail-lift. The uprated suspension is going in, with the rear offside at least sporting the uprated shock, spring and poly-air bag – but the other wheels’ adornments are work in progress, as is the air system for the bags – again though, these can’t be too far off completion.

The rear end - quite a drop for the tbd lift to cover, especially on raised suspension

In the cab the Exmoor Elites are in, and the post testing consensus is very comfy indeed. The extended runners demonstrably give much more leg room, which will help with the  final set-up of the hand-controls. We agreed that a smaller steering wheel will help here too and we will be fitting one from  QT in black.

The naked cubby box was in for our approval, and although unorthodox, it will be substantial, practical and in keeping with the decor when powder coated and upholstered.

Sharon, Penny and Rachel - the Tombola Queens!

The weekend of firsts continued on Saturday, as we had our first fundraising and awareness event courtesy of the absolutely rammed Marldon Apple Pie Fair. We had a tombola stand and it was a great platform to raise awareness of the trip and Motivation. As a consequence we have now managed to breach the £400 mark, raised to date for Motivation. A special mention to Sharon Rylance and Penny Jones for helping out all day – as well as Rachel. Thanks must also go to Mandy Lewis (the Avon Queen), Jane Nicholls, Dee Burton, Tricia Smith, Dan Tisdall and Shaz for donating many of the fabulous prizes. I’m not really sure I’m cut out for the circus life, whereas I’m comfortable talking to people in depth about the project and answering their questions (in fact I quite enjoy it) – I’m not so good at collecting their donations. I’ve been musing about this since. I wonder (albeit at a psycho-dynamic level) if it’s a reaction to having to re-establish my independence post accident, and now finding myself (well ourselves strictly speaking) asking others for help. It may just be another skill to (re)learn as part of the project. Certainly people were on the whole genuinely interested and happy to contribute. (The trekinetic wheelchair generating a fair bit of interest too.) As the seasoned tombola experts say, “Every One’s a Winner!”

Anyway, we have the next one in our sights, a Fish Cookery Demonstration and Lunch at the Bickley Mill with Nigel Ward. Tickets will be just £22.50 and the date is Wednesday 24th November lunchtime (12:30 start). Please do contact us for more details. We’d love to see you there and think it will be great fun.

Nigel was one of the founders of Channel Fisheries 1981. Based in Brixham the company grew its reputation by sourcing the majority of their fresh fish from the early morning market on the quayside. Most of the produce is purchased from small inshore day fishing boats affording absolute control over quality and traceablity. Channel Fisheries committment to sourcing and delivering the finest quality fresh fish culminated in association with the Royal Household and a reputation as one of Britains leading suppliers of fresh fish and seafood. So this really will be a special and unique event. Nigel is a very entertaining speaker and is an expert in the field.

Rachel looks like I felt!

So whereas things do seem to be progressing in the right direction, the nagging doubt about how much more there is to do (build/train/save/fundraise) before May 2011 inevitably remains. We continue to miss proving and training events through what’s left of the summer, and the time and availability to do this in the winter/spring recedes proportionately. We must be at least a month away from completion – with the lift remaining an unknown, although Paul at OEC feels this can now be progressed with some gusto. Fingers crossed, as only after spending some shake-down time with the vehicle can we really reach a decision about committing to 2011 or deferring to 2012. At the moment it must be 55:45.

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, biography, Build, Charity, Equipment, Gear, money, motivation, OEC, Specification, Vehicle, wheelchair, www.motivation.org.uk

Water Tank in Place

Richard and I had another jaunt to OEC today, we were asked not to go too early as the boys had been away at the Landrover show in Billing all weekend and had a bit of tidying to do before we would be able to get to the vehicle. Paul was again on hand to advise of the new additions to the Landy (Paula), the frame for the Azalai is in the process of being mounted, the water tanks are in situ as is the pipework which takes the warm water from the engine’s cooling system and around the water tanks to ensure the water stays above freezing. Once the frame has been fixed it will be possible to attach the Pod, I certainly look forward to taking that picture!

Uprated Front Nearside Spring (polybags to follow)

The uprated front suspension springs are in and the back ones will be fitted next – once there’s room on the ramp in the workshop! The suspension airbags will be going in soon too of course.

A couple of weeks ago we ordered the new front seats from Exmoor Trim, these being the very excellent Defender Elite Seats in Outlast trim. We were advised that we needed to get cracking with the order as there was likely to be a 4-5 week lead time on these, however these have arrived and can now be fitted – once in we can contact GM Coachworks to look at the hand controls/left foot accelerator options.

Exmoor Trim Defender Elite

The Pod is coming along nicely, the toilet is in along with the cupboard and the shelving behind. The bench seats are all finished as are  the load bearing supports for the upper and lower bunks. The hobs and blower lid have arrived although not fitted yet – they look very neat. The seats for the benches were not at OEC (they are finished but take up alot of room and so are being stored elsewhere) so it will still be a surprise regarding the colour/pattern, hopefully will hide the dirt and dust nicely.

Galley Area (Wallas hob not yet in)

Toilet and Shower

Paul with the Wallas Hob

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, Build, disability, Equipment, GM Coachworks, OEC, Rachie, Specification, Vehicle

We haven’t visited OEC again this week, but there has been much contact as the outstanding issues reach a resolution.

After market copy of the console as used in the automatic Defender 50th anniversary and NAS spec vehicles.

After fitting the centre console that came with the 2.4 TDCi Defender Ashcroft Auto Kit OEC decided that it wasn’t quite right. (This NAS copy as stated on Ashcroft’s website has no lock on the cubby-box.) Consequently they are going to chop it in two and use the fore section to shroud the levers. They are also going to fabricate a metal cubby box, powder-coat it and trim it with upholstery to match that of the Azalai. It will have a lock matching the other lockers on the Azalai, all as part of the overall job. Whereas this might add some extra time to the project, it is exactly this attention to detail that mean OEC are such great people to deal with.

After a staff meeting this week it looks like the tail-lift will be bespoke and hydraulic with an electrically powered actuator. OEC are meeting a tail-lift supplier this week to see whether there is an off the shelf platform available to form the basis for this.

The order has gone in for a pair of Exmoor Trim Elite’s in Outlast Canvas. They will sit on raisers to increase available leg-room.

GM Coachworks are on board with making the disabled driving adaptations work (will need to happen after the seats are in so everything can be properly ‘tailored’)

My current guestimate – August

Tags: adaptation, Ashcroft, Azalai, Build, disability, Equipment, Gear, GM Coachworks, O.T., OEC, Specification, Transmission, Vehicle

The 'bathroom' area - the toilet will be fitted here - the shower will be to the right (from where it can reach outside the entrance), there will be a screen that can be opened to give the throne a modicum of privacy

Well we had another site visit last week, ostensibly to check how hand-controls might fit. Defenders have never had the most room for drivers, especially between the driver and the door. The Puma model is no different in that, plus the dash is slightly closer to the driver too. What was immediately apparent  (at least for someone with long legs) was that there is no room to reach behind the wheel to grasp a hand control. (The space being taken up by steering wheel rim and knee.) The windscreen wiper stalk also invades  space that would need to be utilised by a hand control kit.

Defender Jeff Gosling Hand Controls

We then iphoned the Jeff Gosling website. You recall that we were looking at their hand controls as their site has a picture of a Puma Defender fitted with their kit (as above). It was Paul [OEC] who now spotted that they had fitted a smaller diameter steering wheel. Paul explained that if we were to go down this route then we would need to make sure that we got one that was up to the job. Many it seems, will simply bend if used to e.g. lever one into or out from the cab. OEC recommended QT services (of ‘the Wildcat’ fame). It turned out that his was exactly the same wheel that Jeff Gosling have in their picture!

OEC then called Jeff Gosling Ltd to get some more detail. Anton was surprised when they insisted, in  no uncertain terms, that they would need to oversee such a fitting, as it was ‘special’ in the case of a Land Rover Defender. This was an entirely different message from the week before, when the same company had advised that the hand controls could be ordered and fitted as a kit “no problem”. [Of course the compromise here is to check with GM Coachworks who are agents for Jeff Gosling, and OEC work with them quite often.]

So the job gets a little bigger – as is the way of these things…..  Which caused me to (re)think about the viability of a left foot accelerator as an option. It would certainly save any need to replace the steering wheel and trim the wiper-stalk. Key would be the adjust-ability of the pedals (either of the accelerator unit or the brake).

Left foot accelerator as sold by Jeff Gosling

We decided to get GM to advise with me ‘in-situ’ as it were – at least then we can make the plan and get cracking. OEC are looking to pull out all the stops  to complete by the end of July (which will undoubtedly be tight). Both options will work for me I’m sure – but of course all involved want to be sure of the detail before committing both time and expense!

Regardless we should have more room in the cockpit, once the vinyl seats are replaced with Exmoor Elites on extended runners. We thought a lot about seats but inevitably they are so important that we decided not to compromise (although the rear row will remain in the OEM pragmatic vinyl).

We also agreed the colour of the pod’s upholstery (‘something drab, neutral that won’t show the dirt for us! OEC do advise that anything is possible though.).

Azalai pod towards the kitchen area

The pod is really starting to take shape. Much plumbing and wiring is in, the taps and filters are about to go in, and in general it is now starting to look like a finished Azalai.

Anton also advised that the OEC crew were meeting early this week to agree a strategy for the tail-lift. We confirmed that the design priority is to get me in and out easily and reliably – any load carrying ability would be a bonus.

It was a very worthwhile meeting as the build moves towards the beginning of its end.

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, Build, disability, Equipment, GM Coachworks, O.T., OEC, Specification, Vehicle, wheelchair

Not much to report, current completion estimate is 5-6 weeks (August in essence). Work is continuing on the pod (probably an understatement). Martin (OEC) has liaised with Gosling regarding the hand-controls and current thinking is to get them fitted at OEC. The tail-lift/access is still to be cracked – but we are all in the same ball-park regarding the sort of thing we need.

Inside the cut-out Azalai pod

We had a second fund-raising and logistics meet, and a few events are firming-up in concept. Of course we’ll be circulating details of those on the site (and any other means possible!) as they come to fruition.

Both Rachel and I have advised work (Torbay Care Trust) of our plans [to take a career break] and found them to be very supportive. To be fair in the current climate we are probably doing the country a favour as we’ll be saving the public purse the salary outlay for the duration; plus we are spending loads in the private sector in the meantime! (Albeit that a large proportion is borrowed money.) Of course there is a risk, as despite whatever policy is in place, we are, strictly speaking, leaving our jobs.

Rachel and Paul check out the finished Ashcroft conversion

Rob Cooksley also made a fantastic donation to www.motivation.org.uk via our just giving page. Money donated this way goes straight to Motivation. Obviously anything and everything is welcome as it all counts (from pennies upwards). Plus if you are a tax payer there’s something perversely satisfying about seeing the gift-aid element clawed back from the Revenue, right in front of your eyes! Try it, trust me it works….

Tags: adaptation, Azalai, Build, Charity, disability, Equipment, motivation, OEC, Vehicle, www.motivation.org.uk

Early last week,  I’d tapped Anton as to whether he could give a revised guestimate on completion (essentially for the purposes of our own planning). The gist of the reply was, “The auto box has just been completed… hoorah
It took Martin 15 days… however that said it is very good… rest assured.  At the end of the process we sent Mr Ashcroft [David of Ashcroft Transmissions] a list of things to consider for the future! Paul is working on your Azalai [pod] at the same time.  We have made some cute improvements for which I hope you don’t mind… For example including an outside light for underneath the awning, a new console / electronics system. Redesigned water and waste tanks with all copper hose tails, aluminium finish on the roof etc etc… little details I hope improves the Azalai no end. To be honest it would take a wee while to wander around and show you all the improvements and extras. Admittedly I haven’t decided on the rear tail lift system… Justin compiled a complete list for me and to be honest we haven’t decided…..
Timescales… I shall consult the boys … at the moment I have someone working full time on yours when ever possible….”

So clearly a lot to take in – so last Friday we popped in again unannounced (over lunchtime) to see progress for ourselves and grab a few pictures. Paul was at lunch but still came in to talk us through the work and challenges to date (sorry Paul for disturbing your lunch but thanks for the in-depth breakdown – it was appreciated and insightful).

The Gear Selector Lever evidences the auto gear-box conversion, the cowling is still removed. The 'mode' button is a legacy from the Range Rover donor vehicle and is redundant in the Defender.

As Anton had advised the auto-box conversion was now in and ‘plumbed’. But no one expected it to take fifteen days! (Even accounting for the first one having been written off by the courier putting a fork-lift through the pallet.) OEC explained that the kit arrived with no instruction, and that several connections and junctures did not mate with the Puma engined Defender out of the box (nor with some post out of the box mods either!) Notably:

• the connections to the transmission oil cooler had been completely re-engineered by OEC,
• Ashcroft subsequently sent a modified connector fork for the Gear Selector lever as that wouldn’t fit (too wide)
• and some work was needed to re-jig the hi-low selector mechanism to stop that lever being impeded by the dash console.

A neat reversing camera has been fitted to the pod

The oil cooler connectors sounded the most spectacular, as on ‘take one’, when the engine was fired up, oil was sprayed all over the garage! (The evidence of that could still be seen in the immediate vicinity, despite the clear-up.)

All said and done though, the unit looks the part, and as Paul said, “It’s like it is meant to be there” – which is a tribute to Ashcroft Tramsmission’s work in developing this mod – which of course is essential for me, with regards to adapting the vehicle so I can actually drive it. Now it’s in we can look at sorting the hand-controls’ fitting – we think via GM Coachworks in conjunction and cooperation with OEC.

It seems (with my reading between the lines) that the kit might not have been fitted to many Puma engined Defenders to date, outside of Ashcroft’s own workshops. I think OEC enjoyed the learning, and were certainlty  pleased with the finished job, but they did indeed have some feedback for Ashcroft Transmissions that might yet improve the experience for future fitters! All that’s left (and again testament to the diligence and attention to detail of OEC) is to fit a light to the gear selector array, as this was omitted from the kit.

Bull Elephant (Indlovu) blowing his nose, Imfolozi April 2009

We also found out that Anton worked, “….In Hluhluwe Umfolozi [park in KwaZuluNatal], Kruger National Park and all over… another tale for another day”. We didn’t get a chance to catch-up on that yet – but we would be interested in hearing of what he was doing whilst at Hluhluwe Umfolozi – it really is a special place and worth spending some time getting to know if you are ever in KZN. We have certainly accrued a fair few weeks there over the years – and we intend it to be the official start-line of the Indlovu Trans-Africa Drive.

Tags: adaptation, Ashcroft, Azalai, Build, disability, Equipment, GM Coachworks, OEC, Specification, Transmission, Vehicle

We popped into OEC as we were in the area. Despite being unannounced they were as helpful as ever. They put RR02 HAR up on the inspection ramp so we could see the now fitted Ashcroft conversion from above and below. It is still to be ‘plumbed’ – all the controls and wiring – but the heavy part is done, and a very neat job it looks too.

The pod has been pretty much cut-out, and is now sporting windows and a door. Not much more else to report re the vehicle but hopefully these photos will be illustrative of the work to date.

The autobox, cab view, transmission tunnel and seats removed

The autobox, cab view, transmission tunnel and seats removed

Richard inspects the now redundant clutch cable - soon to be removed

Paul of OEC

The Ashcroft autobox conversion from below

The interior of our pod showing the newly fitted door

The exterior of the pod showing fitted window

Tags: adaptation, Ashcroft, Azalai, Build, OEC, Transmission, Vehicle