Camel Trophy

[Scott Brady]

I assume that I am not alone in this, so a thread on the most famous of expedition events is due.

http://www.parque4x4.com.ar/recibidos/camel/c90.jpg

I have an original 1996 Camel Trophy Team USA application, which was never filled out due to my being full-time military at the time.

I also had the great pleasure of spending a few hours with Tom Collins last year. What a well traveled and gracious adventurer.

So, what are your Camel Trophy stories, links, images, books or thoughts?

Here are a few of mine:
http://www.camel-trophy-vehicles.com/
FAQ with years, vehicles and winners (http://www.lrfaq.org/FAQ.6.CamelTrophy.html)
http://www.cameltrophy.co.uk/

[Scott Brady]

http://www.parque4x4.com.ar/recibidos/camel/CAM.JPG

http://www.parque4x4.com.ar/recibidos/camel/CAMEL01.JPG

[Scott Brady]

Year Location Event Vehicle Support Vehicle
1980 Transamazonica Jeep -
1981 Sumatra Range Rover 2-dr. Range Rover 2-dr.
1982 Papua New Guinea Range Rover 2-dr. Range Rover 2-dr.
1983 Zaire Series III 88" Series III 109"
1984 Brazil Land Rover One-Ten Land Rover One-Ten
1985 Borneo Land Rover Ninety Land Rover One-Ten
1986 Australia Land Rover Ninety Land Rover One-Ten
1987 Madagascar Range Rover TD Range Rover TD
1988 Sulawesi Land Rover One-Ten Land Rover One-Ten
1989 The Amazon Land Rover One-Ten Land Rover One-Ten
1990 Siberia-USSR 200 tdi Discovery 3-dr. Land Rover One-Ten & 127
1991 Tanzania-Burundi 200 tdi Discovery 5-dr. Land Rover One-Ten
1992 Guyana 200 tdi Discovery 5-dr. 200 tdi Defender 110
1993 Sabah-Malaysia 200 tdi Discovery 5-dr. 200 tdi Defender 110
1994 Argentina Paraguay Chile 200 tdi Discovery 5-dr. 200 tdi Defender 110
1995 Mundo-Maya 300 tdi Discovery 5-dr. 300 tdi Defender 110
1996 Kalimantan 300 tdi Discovery 5-dr. 300 tdi Defender 110
1997 Mongolia 300 tdi Discovery 5-dr. 300 tdi Defender 110
1998 Tierra Del Fuego Freelander 300 tdi Defender 110
1999 No Event
2000 Tonga-Samoa Honda Honda & 110 Hi-Cap

[Jonathan Hanson]

What an event the Camel Tropy was in its early years! I still have magazines with articles about the Papua New Guinea event and the Madagascar event. The latter was written by Gary Wescott, who was overtly critical of the many Range Rover differential failures on that run. The trophy Rangies still had two-pinion diffs then and they were popping right and left under the (considerable) strain.

The early trophies were inspirational to those of us who dreamed about taking on genuine expedition challenges.

In the mid-nineties the focus began to change from vehicle-dependent tasks to adventure racing sorts of things - log-carrying and canoe races and such - and even though that ostensibly placed more emphasis on the human factor, I think it was when the trophy lost its uniqueness. Not to mention when they switched to Freelanders - I understand the publicity angle, but puullease!

I think there's a place for a new kind of vehicle-dependent event, one that would return to a challenging point-to-point style expedition, but with a conservation or community development goal towards the end.

Look here:

http://www.camel-trophy-vehicles.com/

[gjackson]

I applied for the trophy in 1992. Unforfortunately I did not qualify for either the US team or the UK team because I was a Brit living in the US. The UK team required residency and the US team required citizenship!

Had some long conversations with Tom Collins during the process, and he is a gracious and knowledgable guy!

cheers

[60seriesguy]

We replicated the '92 route in 1993 and took great pride in the fact that we pushed five LWB and two SWB Land Cruisers beyond the point where the Camel Trophy vehicles had to stop. It was a *wicked* trip, we had one guy go down with Malaria and four of us ended up with dengue fever on the way back. The trucks looked like they'd gone to hell and back, it was the first time I saw a broken birfield on a Land Cruiser with open diffs. Years later, when cutting the crunched-up rear quarter panels on my wagon, I was still finding remnants of the oily red clay that clogged up everything!

My club did it again in 1994 but I wasn't able to make it.

I agree, the Camel Trophy started out as a real 4x4 challenge, but it evolved into a PR event that got slowly diluted over time and ended up incarnating the G4...the early events, however, WOW!

I always dreamed of participating but there was no Venezuelan team and I couldn't represent the US as a non-citizen.

[bootzilla]

There are so many great Camel Trophy shots

http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/features/2004/discovery-history/03-large/discohist-camel-main.jpg

That UK site with the Trophys for sale is awesome. When I had my Freelander, I'd contemplate how to get one over here - because if you look at the prices, they aren't all that bad.

There was another shot I loved that they had in the local LR dealership - not sure if it was Camel Trophy or G4 - but the team manuvered a Disco around an obstacle by tilting it up on two wheels, with a couple of guys keeping it from falling over by hanging onto a tow strap tied to the roof rack - that thing was leaning hard. Can't find the pic, though...

[FourByLand]

:Wow1:

[The Swiss]

I applied for the Camel Trophies for 1993, 1994 and 1995 for the Swiss Team. I made it to the selections each time, but unluckily never made the cut to the last 16. Needless to say I kept all the memorabilia from my 3 glorious days at Camel Trophy.

I then later on had the opportunity to hone my off road driving skills with one of the "journalists" sitting inn in the Swiss vehicle from '91 through '94. Needless to say he was more a coach for the Swiss Team than anything else. The Swiss won in '92 and scored 2nd in '91 and were 4th in '93, (do not remember '94). I also joined him on two trips, one on old, abandoned military roads through the Swiss, French and Italien Alps, one through the Pyreneese Mountains between France, Spain and Andorra.

What other story related to the Camel Trophy? In my cousin's wedding in '92, there was one guy really hitting on my sister-in-law and he really tried to impress her. I guess it was not all bs he told her as it was him who then represented Switzerland at the Camel Trophy 1993 in Malaysia.

[pskhaat]

It sure would be really cool to have another large corporate sponsored event like this. International logistics are huge and it seems to me the early Camel Trophy got it right in equating all teams by an underlying common vehicle (that part I think is key).

It was always my goal to apply for and do the Camel Trophy, I too am dissapointed it is no longer. I personally think an event that had the same tenets as the early CT would go over well, even if it was just North American based for the time being, leveraging primarily driving and natural vehicular obstacle skills (whilst treading lightly), incorporating teamwork, communication techniques, a maybe a little navigation.

With video media coverage, I think it'd be quite popular.

[Dmarchand]

QUOTE=bootzilla]There are so many great Camel Trophy shots

That UK site with the Trophys for sale is awesome. When I had my Freelander, I'd contemplate how to get one over here - because if you look at the prices, they aren't all that bad.

There was another shot I loved that they had in the local LR dealership - not sure if it was Camel Trophy or G4 - but the team manuvered a Disco around an obstacle by tilting it up on two wheels, with a couple of guys keeping it from falling over by hanging onto a tow strap tied to the roof rack - that thing was leaning hard. Can't find the pic, though...[/QUOTE]


Were you thinking of the Trek event with the Disco on its' side?

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2003/09/16/168822.1-lg.jpg

[pskhaat]

I've got a couple camel trophy questions that I've always wondered:

How many teams were there total?
What were the qualification criteria?
How many applicants vs. how many made it?
I remember there was a physical test (like running 2 miles in some timeframe), does anyone know the specifics?
How was scoring done? Regards,

[iguana4x4]

When I was a young boy I always saw the Camel Trophy coverage in the magazines, for me, it was the ultimate as far as 4 wheeling goes. After all the Camel was a great event, it's a shame it does not exist anymore.
One thing I will eventually do is a Series III Camel Trophy replica, they are just awsome, but don't have enough information on them yet. If you have any pictures of the Series III Camel vehicles, please post them.

2896

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[CLynn85]

Camel trophy clip courtesy of youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=802iDGKdc8w

[bootzilla]

Were you thinking of the Trek event with the Disco on its' side?




That's the one!! One of the Trek events - that makes sense, because I remember the Disco not being the right color for Camel Trophy.

That is a driver who trusts his spotters...and his tires...

[Redback]

My conrtibution to this thread, this is a copy of a thread from AULRO Australian LandRover Owners Forum that i'm a member of, the person who posted this is in Brisbane.

I think this should be a great event and i for one will be there.



As many will know the Camel Trophy for 1986 was held here in Australia.

Vital stats are:
http://camel-trophy.nl/assets/images/shieldweb1986.jpg


Quote:
AUSTRALIA

Cooktown to Darwin
(3,218 km / 2,000 miles)

vehicle: Land Rover 90

Winner: Jacques Mambre / Michel Courvalet (France)
Team Spirit Award: Glenn Jones / Ronn Begg (Australia)

Fast progress was made through the dry and dusty outback, averaging 247 km (154 miles) each day.

Raft building led to a 24-hour delay at one river crossing.[/b]


With a view to writing a brief history of the event (ie for a magazine article for the LROC and AULRO) I have also contacted the Camel Trophy vehicle owners club in the UK and a few other places.

So firstly, if anyone has any information on the event could they please PM me, or email me with the stuff (photos too) so that I can string it all together. It will all end up on this site in due course, I promise.


Secondly, and here's the brainstormy bit:

While we've missed a chance this year (the 20th anniversary) we do have time up our sleeve if we were to run a celebratory event in say 2011 (the 25th anniversary).

What sort of celebration :?:

Well if possible I was thinking a journey of LR vehicles (i.e. an Aussie wide LROC and AULRO get together) retracing as closely as possible the trophy route. So 2011 MIGHT give us enough time to get organised.

Obviously this idea is contingent upon MANY factors, but the research is the first thing required in the planning.

So any information that is forthcoming would be appreciated.

Also if anyone happens to know there whereabouts of any people involved in the event (especially the competitors who won the team spirit award) that would of course be very helpful.

I elect myself President, chief cook, and bottle washer of the 'event' committee.


Email address for all correspondence for this trip etc:
cameltrek@optusnet.com.au

http://www.expedition.btinternet.co.uk/Expeditions/AusMap2.jpg

Some video

This is Guy (chairman of the Camel club) He is abit of a nutter in his 110 please download Vids, i haven't seen these as yet i can't watch video at work:mad:


http://www.reads4x4.com/MVI_0259.avi


http://www.reads4x4.com/MVI_3858.avi

and some pictures for you to look at


http://www.shirelrc.co.uk/main.php?cmd=image&var1=2005%2F05_09_18_Romsey%2Fimg_126.jpg&var2=500_85

http://www.shirelrc.co.uk/main.php?cmd=image&var1=2005%2F05_09_18_Romsey%2Fimg_133.jpg&var2=500_85



Baz.

[Jonathan Hanson]

That would be fun to do!

I still have an article about the Australian Camel Trophy. At one point it describes several of the participants getting lost, and a blue-haired Aussie grandmother appears in a Land Cruiser and shows them the way.

The two video clips are hilarious (but the photo link didn't work for me).

[Scott Brady]

:hehe:

Those videos are the best! HA!

[Redback]

Those links didn't work for me either, ill see if i can get them to work.

OK they should work now

[cameltrophy3]

Hey guys. I am a newbie to this list, but not so new to the off road and expedition community. I have worked off and on for Land Rover since 1996and had the chance to drive some of the Camels that were here in the States. Tom Collins was a figure that early on, even before I was involved with Land Rover, gave me the vision and the drive to accomplish some of the things I was able to do. The Great Divide Expedition, the 9 Camel Trophy events he was a part of, etc. Surprisingly enough, I had never met him until I went to a 'Range Rover' event as an owner in Mahwah NJ in 2004 to get a sneak peak at the LR3. They had a prototype LR3 there but the focus was Range Rovers. I was able to off road in a Rangie with Tom and chat briefly about his influence on the focus of my life. We discussed that he had bought one of the Great Divide vehicles and kept it for many years, using it in the Land Rover school that he had in Co. I mentioned that I had owned 14 Rovers and he asked which was my favorite. Princess; the Eco Challenge Discovery, I answered. 1996 quazi-prototype for the XD that was used on the Eco Challenge in British Columbia. Rover was a sponsor and had supplied 28 of these 1996 vehicles all decked out in yellow with roof racks and brush bars to look like a Camel Trophy vehicle. (Pics at my website and on http://www.discoweb.org/hermanwilliams/index.htm)
Anyhow, I am rambling. Meeting Tom was very cool and working with and around Rover proved to be quite an experience with many and varied people.
Rover on...
(Today I drive a Jeep :O)

[Scott Brady]

Welcome!

I also have had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Tom. What a gentleman and great story teller. I stood wide-eyed listening to him recount several adventures, including a run-in with the Chilean special forces.

Awesome guy...

[DL4PLM]

Hi Michael,

interesting that you applied for CT events :-) I never made it either!

However..... I do own a piece of Swiss team history and was actually wondering if you know either of the drivers of my history item :-)

Would be great if you do know them - I have a big box of history along with the car but so far not able to trace either Alwin or Urs!

Anyway - J426ROP is still being looked after :-)

Kindest regards

Simon
CT92 - Swiss Team 200TDI Camel Discovery




I applied for the Camel Trophies for 1993, 1994 and 1995 for the Swiss Team. I made it to the selections each time, but unluckily never made the cut to the last 16. Needless to say I kept all the memorabilia from my 3 glorious days at Camel Trophy.

I then later on had the opportunity to hone my off road driving skills with one of the "journalists" sitting inn in the Swiss vehicle from '91 through '94. Needless to say he was more a coach for the Swiss Team than anything else. The Swiss won in '92 and scored 2nd in '91 and were 4th in '93, (do not remember '94). I also joined him on two trips, one on old, abandoned military roads through the Swiss, French and Italien Alps, one through the Pyreneese Mountains between France, Spain and Andorra.

What other story related to the Camel Trophy? In my cousin's wedding in '92, there was one guy really hitting on my sister-in-law and he really tried to impress her. I guess it was not all bs he told her as it was him who then represented Switzerland at the Camel Trophy 1993 in Malaysia.

[Scott Brady]

Simon,

Welcome to Expedition Portal!

The next issue of Overland Journal is going to have an awesome story about the 1994 Camel Trophy pre-scout in South America.

[BajaTaco]

Simon, welcome to ExPo. You are so lucky to have that Discovery! Congratulations and good luck finding those guys.

[Andrew Walcker]

Simon-

:drool: :drool: :drool: This may be a coincidence, but if that is your garage in the second photo, that is where most of my dreams occur! :drool: :drool: :drool:

Welcome, and please post up more of your CT items!!!!

[stevenmd]

I borrowed the Camel Trophy video that they sell on Dweb from a friend of mine. I must have watched it a billion times before I finally gave it back to him... a year later!:shakin:

[DL4PLM]

Andrew

alas no.....

And I had to be dragged kicking screaming and drooling from that place...!

But not before my cheque book had signed myself up to a yellow truck!

:wings:

:smiley_drive:

A very dangerous place to visit :)

OK sure Ill dig some more pics out at the weekend :-)




Simon-

:drool: :drool: :drool: This may be a coincidence, but if that is your garage in the second photo, that is where most of my dreams occur! :drool: :drool: :drool:

Welcome, and please post up more of your CT items!!!!

[DL4PLM]

by the way ... i saw your sig file!

this is my other truck :-)






Simon-

:drool: :drool: :drool: This may be a coincidence, but if that is your garage in the second photo, that is where most of my dreams occur! :drool: :drool: :drool:

Welcome, and please post up more of your CT items!!!!

[Andrew Walcker]

Very nice! I knew you had impeccable taste in vehicles:) What year and what mods have you done to her? Looking forward to more pics of both vehicles!

[DL4PLM]

ahhh .... yes indeed! I love my defender too!

2003 - mods . numerous!

Apart from the obvious 5 spoke steels and BFG MTs - my kleiner Grüner Panzer I also fitted rock sliders, under body protection front back and middle, winch and winch bumper, snorky etc - Took out the seats in the back as there is only me who drives so space for tool boxes, ropes n recovery kit, strops etc.

Im not a heavy off roader so no crazy 2" lifts and all the trouble they bring - just std running chassis

For comfort factor she has a becker CD multi changer and amp /spkrs extra!

Have not got round to the chip and intercooler mod yet but thats coming.

Shes fast - even for a 90 and have had 100mph out of her on the autobahn!

Ahh for my other hobby (amateur radio) she now sports an IC706MK2G HF/VHF/UHF transceiver - A Kenwood DM707 dual bander - 2 whips - dual band VHF/UHF and a High Sierra HF autotune whip!

my friend has a Ford Mustang and his GF peed him off the other day cos he was preening him self over how good it looked...... she laughed and said "now simons Landrover.... thats a REAL mans car!!!" BWHAHAHA he was not happy!

BUt she turns some heads in the city when I plod about :-)

:gunt:

[bootzilla]

Camel Trophy Disco AND a Defender??

:bowdown: :26_7_2:

[Andrew Walcker]

my friend has a Ford Mustang and his GF peed him off the other day cos he was preening him self over how good it looked...... she laughed and said "now simons Landrover.... thats a REAL mans car!!!" BWHAHAHA he was not happy!

:gunt:
:jump: That is too funny! Great looking Defender!

[DL4PLM]

:safari-rig: :wings:


Ohhh I am landie mad!

My first landie was a Discovery in the early 90s - I was driving them in the navy and thought them fun so I bought my own - of course soon I wanted to off road and the Discovery was too shiney - I bought a second car - an old TD90 with a 19J diesel in it :jumping:

One day I went to buy an exhaust gasket from our local dealer and came back with a very nice 300TDI 110 !!!!!

My wife never forgave me!

We split 4 years ago and I moved to Germany where I now run amok in Düsseldorf :oops:

Now I am free to buy the Landies I like ..... :shakin:

My new fiance humours me ..... she talks about the green tank ..... and my finds the Camel funny .... but actually I think she likes them!

So yep .... 2 Landies and to be honest its good I dont have more space .....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a hankering for a lightweight for the summer days here ..... with a V8

:violent-smiley-031:

So you see I am not a normal guy - I am totally Landie mad and cannot find it in myself to drive a normal car!

But then whats normal :-)

:exclaim:

regards

Simon





Camel Trophy Disco AND a Defender??

:bowdown: :26_7_2: