Checking Your Vehicle
Before starting the course, Greg walked us around the LR3, discussing approach, departure and breakover angles, and how they relate to the vehicle's front bumper, rear bumper and undercarriage. He also explained some of the fine points of the LR3.
I quit working with Land Rovers just before the LR3 was introduced, so this was my first exposure to some of the differences between the LR3 and the Discovery series. One important difference is the LR3's adjustable suspension height, which can be raised to go offroad, lowered for easy entrance and exit, or set at a mid-range for regular driving.
We got back in the vehicle and started down a trail. Everything was pretty muddy from the heavy rains, so we focused on skills required to drive in those conditions. The school currently has use of 20+ acres of the Biltmore Estate, so there's a suitable course for every skill level and road condition. I'm sure we'll see demos of other skills taught at the school when we return to drive on dry trails.
