A team from Yorkshire are aiming to ‘drive’ across the Bering Straits between Russia and Alaska.
Steve Burgess and partner Nicky Spinks, are about to leave their home in West Yorkshire on the first leg of an historic Land Rover journey. Steve is hoping to become the first person to ‘drive’ a vehicle across the Bering Strait, between Russia and Alaska. But first of all, he’s got to get there during the Russian winter; that’s where the de-mountable tracks come in.
Nicky will return home once they reach Moscow. Simon Dedman, an experienced overland adventurer, will take Nicky’s place for the mammoth drive through the interior.
The 56-mile Bering Strait crossing will be attempted in summer, by Steve and Dan Evans, from Protection and Performance. The two collaborated on the creation of the tracks and the floatation system that bolts onto the Defender.
Steve and Nicky have committed years of planning, research and testing to this superb expedition. LRO was the first magazine to report on it in the Spring 2004 issue, when Mark Saville ‘drove’ the amphibious prototype on Coniston Water.
Now, LRO is the first magazine to drive the tracked conversion during final testing. Watch this incredible vehicle in action on LRO TV. Before Mark Saville gets behind the wheel for a spin around the field, he takes a closer look at the Land Rover’s tracks, from underneath as it drives over him.
Read the full report on this amazing Defender in the April issue of LRO, on sale February 27. Keep tabs on the expedition’s progress at: www.capetocape.org.uk
(this article was taken from Land Rover Owner International)