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[February 2010 Winner]

February 2010 Winner
Tony U. - 86tincan

[Blue Monday]

Hi All,

Am happy there appears to be an active off roading fraternity in Edmonton. Just been looking at the Safari Company site.

Bit about me, I am moving over in October 2010. I am a huge car fan and was worrying how I was going to get my motoring fix. In the UK I am a track day and twisty road fan with with a history of performance cars (GTI's, Impreza WRX's etc), but things are different in AB, i.e has no race circuits or twisty tarmac country roads. Fear not though as I have enjoyed off roading in my time with the military and I have always wanted an SUV so im thinking out with the speed adrenalin rush and in with the off roading adrenalin rush.

What will i be driving, well, i have my heart set on getting a Lan'Rover LR2/Freelander. (the best selling SUV in Europe incidentally). I do also like the looks of the Escape XLT but i don't think it has the off road ability for weekend fun 4x4ing!

[Bent Bolt]

C'mon over ! There are race tracks around, mostly circle tracks and one drag race http://www.castrolraceway.com/ . Of course there is a sizable offroad community here as well. Buy or build pretty much what you want, just a matter of money or ingenuity. Only catch is the only legal places to off road are at least an hour away and the best places are 3 hours away but no fear, we go there quite often. Of course there is Lee's , The Safari Company.

[Blue Monday]

LoL castrol raceway, when ever i mention circuits to Albertans they always say castrol raceway, you know us Europeans, an Oval is far from our idea of a track, this is where i have done most of my track days: http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/oulton-park/circuits/oulton-park.asp a good few mile of undulating twists and turns.

However, we don't have the spectacular scenery of the rockie's and the vastness of Canadian outdoor's. So i want to combine seeing the outdoors with SUVing. Might need to do a refresher at Lee's though as its been a while since i went off road with the military.

[Bent Bolt]

More like this then

http://www.stratotech.ca/

This is in Ft Saskatchewan , not far from Edmonton. Mostly carts and motorcycles but sometimes auto's too.

[Bent Bolt]

Or this too

http://www.edmontonindy.com/

[P.L.A.N. - A.]

And just a word of advice...  choosing between the LR2 and an Escape is kinda like choosing between Swedish massage and a swift kick in the balls.  The LR2 is an amazing rig built with a purpose.  The Escape is a car cleverly disguised to look like an SUV.  It's the Chevy Cavalier of the SUV world...cheap and throw away.

[Blue Monday]

Or this too

http://www.edmontonindy.com/

Shame ill miss the Indy cars, believe there shutting Edmonton municipal. Anyhow off roading is the way ahead now 

And just a word of advice...  choosing between the LR2 and an Escape is kinda like choosing between Swedish massage and a swift kick in the balls.  The LR2 is an amazing rig built with a purpose.  The Escape is a car cleverly disguised to look like an SUV.  It's the Chevy Cavalier of the SUV world...cheap and throw away.

The Freelander/LR2 is the SUV I want, I have always liked em since day 1. What alternatives are there if the freelander/LR2 is out of reach, I was thinking of maybe an older Discovery/LR3, the defender is a bit too basic. I want a V6 ideally but I have also had thought of the Grand Cherokee V8's? Ill be restricted to $13,000 max but am not adverse to getting something for $4500-$5000

[Toy Jeep]

Welcome o the Zoo. As for track racing there are Is the NASCC www.nascc.ab.ca there is a rally club in town www.edmontonrallyclub.ca In calcary there is the CSCC www.cscc.ab.ca Calgary may still have a track next summer the city is looking to close the track. Apparently if you sports car and tuner car enthusiast a legal place to get there speed fix it leads to more street racing so if out close the track the street racing will go away.

If you are Working with a limited budget for wheeling I would recommend a jeep TJ not to expensive lots of aftermarket support they have a tried and true inline 6       

[Stinky Bear]

Welcome to the forums!!

[T-LAV MRV]

which regiment where you with in the Military?  I'm a Vehicle Tech in the Canadian Army.  welcome to the show and hope to see you out on the trails once u get over here and settled in.

mike

[Waytec]

I would second the TJ or a XJ Cherokee. I was looking at LR but the issue was sourcing aftermarket parts, they are not cheap and most of the time they have to come from the UK, If you have a trail worthy SUV now I believe you can import it because you owned it there. You would have to look into it.
What part of the UK are you coming from? 

[Blue Monday]

Welcome o the Zoo. As for track racing there are Is the NASCC www.nascc.ab.ca there is a rally club in town www.edmontonrallyclub.ca In calcary there is the CSCC www.cscc.ab.ca Calgary may still have a track next summer the city is looking to close the track. Apparently if you sports car and tuner car enthusiast a legal place to get there speed fix it leads to more street racing so if out close the track the street racing will go away.

      

Thats backwards thinking by the Government, if there's a track to play on then surely you'll get your fix there as opposed to the road?? Works here. Love my rallying too so should be able to catch one round a year at least

which regiment where you with in the Military?  I'm a Vehicle Tech in the Canadian Army.  welcome to the show and hope to see you out on the trails once u get over here and settled in.

mike

I was in the Royal Air Force so no regiment for me, i spent my ime watching fast jets.

I would second the TJ or a XJ Cherokee. I was looking at LR but the issue was sourcing aftermarket parts, they are not cheap and most of the time they have to come from the UK, If you have a trail worthy SUV now I believe you can import it because you owned it there. You would have to look into it.
What part of the UK are you coming from?  

Im coming from Manchester. BTW what is a TJ?  Im very knowledgeable with my hot hatches and saloons but no so hot on off roaders?

[Toy Jeep]

A TJ is know as a Wrangler in the USA. Similar in size to a defender 90.

[Canadian Moose]

I second the Jeep TJ or XJ (Cherokee- not Grand).  There is the greatest support for these models.   


The best and cheapest way to get an idea of what is for sale here is kijiji.com/edmonton.
There are quite a few Freelanders around.  Defenders are few and far between so it probably would be cheaper to bring one of those over with you.

Here are some examples
http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-SUVs-trucks-vans-minivans-vans-2002-Land-Rover-Freelander-W0QQAdIdZ184654187#

A decent discovery, notice the TJ beside it 
http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-SUVs-trucks-vans-SUV-crossover-2001-Land-Rover-Discovery-W0QQAdIdZ180856131

[Piet]

I second the Jeep TJ or XJ (Cherokee- not Grand). 

I third that.



If it where an option, I would love a LandRover 110 double cab. but support for defenders is lacking here. We have the odd Land Rover dealer... but they are expensive to operate here.


Jeeps are quite cheap to wheel in North America.

and ... No we don't have any race tracks (based on what you are thinking)