Print

[Wittsend]

The Bentley Owners Club had a similar register - leather bound.

How times have changed.

Even if members agreed there would still be privacy problems, even with just a name, phone number and location.
Once such a list/register gets out into the wild you have no control over it 
What happens when someone leaves the club and wants their details removed ?
It has happened in the past in the club and on this forum.
There are stroppy people out there who try to protect their privacy (and cause trouble just because they can) and can decide at any moment they no longer wish to take part.

....

I think modern technology has taken over the role of the old leather bound register.

We recently had a case of a foreign visitor travelling in Wales and had a breakdown.
Through this forum, mobile phones etc. "we" got the stranded vehicle going again in quick time.

In this day-&-age you'd be nuts to travel without breakdown recovery. Help is just a few hours away.
We didn't have that in the old days. It was a (long) walk to the next village or AA phone box.

 

If we are talking about garages and services which could help more in the restoration/re-build category - e.g. who is best to do a chassis swap, an engine re-build or a re-wire then personal recommendation is the best method for answering the question.

A garage that was good a year ago may have been excellent, but then they loose the old guy with all his knowledge, or they close down. Or a new business could start up.
Local intelligence should be upto date - and asking the question here on the forum can usually get an answer with suggestions back within hours.

The other resource we have for members is the Traders/Discount page on the website and in the back of each B2L.
Whilst not a comprehensive listing they give details of "reliable" traders.
And although not recommendations as such - we don't list "dodgy" outlets.

It's down to the members to report in their experiences.

[Genem]

^^^^ Indeed, the visitor was the son of a member in Switzerland who broke down while on holiday in West Wales. The initial plan was just to ask local members for advice on a good garage in the area, a few phone-calls to members with appropriate post-codes and I'm glad to say the response was wonderful, people very keen to "lean in" and help.

GDPR and people's security concerns would mean that a published list of members and anything more than a very generalised location would be a non-starter. ( Does it turn over, have you got a spark at the plugs ?)   

 

[Betsy1969]

Would it be an idea to set up a What’s App group for club members to use for finding help and or suitable garages ?

If not please feel free to ignore me 😀

[diffwhine]

Reading back through this, it seems to me that the general consensus is that current data protection issues knocks any thought of supporting club members for this on the head.

I still think there is mileage in drawing up a general list of garages who know these vehicles and are prepared to do a proper job for those people who can't or don't want to do their own maintenance and repairs.

Having run multiple garages over the years, I'm not in favour of discounting labour as an incentive as it just undervalues the time charged. There is also the issue that parts prices from the main suppliers are publicly available on line and most of the big players aren't great at trade discounts - mainly because they are so close to cost anyway. As per the original post on the Military Lightweight Forum, I think I'm just thinking of a list of workshops where people have had good positive experiences and just see how it looks.

The original post on the Military Lightweight Forum didn't actually generate much response, but that's probably because its a very niche vehicle, not many about and most do their own work.. That doesn't seem to be the case for wider Series ownership.

[crumbly65]

It might be more appropriate, for any specialist (or even Main Dealer!) garages having Series Land Rover knowledge and experience, to be invited to advertise in our Club magazine?

I don't know if it will generate any income for the club, but a page dedicated to such garages, (who would be self-policing, as if they went out of business they'd stop advertising), could provide a useful resource for members.

Such garages would hopefully be aware that they are likely to be used by any LR Club members, that should concentrate their minds, and provide us (and other Series LR owners) with the opportunity to comment about them on this forum.

Given the high standards of moderation on here, obviously a public slagging off won't be allowed, and any problems should be referred to the garage concerned, who would be aware that the Club policy is to advise the member to take up any issue with the garage.

But members who have had a good experience, and publicise it on here, as many already do, are benefitting such garages and us........

[Wittsend]

Thing is most of the club members don't use the forum and of those the old fogeys have no idea what a What's App is (including me) 

So, forget the local help when/if someone breaks down.

A directory of garage services might work.

We (I) can do a pin map.
It needs the name of the business, postcode & phone number and their specialities, inc. MoT.

You may have seen in another place that our Advertising Manager is standing down and we are looking for a new person to take over.
I'm not sure inviting businesses to pay for an advert and get in our listing is a good way forward.
Recommendation by word of mouth.

A garage services list would have no problems with privacy or GDPR as it would just be an online version of the Yellow Pages customised to suit Series 2s.

We (I) can easily set up a section to take suggestions - and, as mentioned the project needs some co-ordinations.
It might have legs.

I still think the best intel comes from the local pub meeting groups.

 

[diffwhine]

Agreed Alan,
I'm happy to help collate if need be.

[Sheepman]

to the point, I am  looking for a specialist welder to replace a couple of out riggers and door pillar repairs, if anyone can recommend such, I am on the border Herefordshire/Shropshire  - Thanks

[Tom]

to the point, I am  looking for a specialist welder to replace a couple of out riggers and door pillar repairs, if anyone can recommend such, I am on the border Herefordshire/Shropshire  - Thanks

Try Phill at Southworks 4x4 in Knighton on Teme. He did my bulkhead repairs for me and did a superb job with pillars, footwells and feet. It aligned perfectly with my new chassis when I came to fit it. Would be happy to highly recommend him. He is a small independent restorer specialising in series land rovers so doesn’t have a website or anything, last time I spoke to him he had lots of work on with full restorations but worth a try. He is on the forum as mrfixit72, or PM me if you want his mobile number