Advertise on podcast: The Underpowered Hour

Steve Beres and Ike Goss open with news from the UK about a military Defender towing a trailer that swerves to avoid a car on the motorway, flips multiple times, scatters gear across the road, and injures two soldiers. They then check in live from the SCAR event in Texas with Tom Pickford and the Pollyanna crew, who completed a 2,850-mile trip across the southern United States with their main issue being a snapped fan belt at the Louisiana border; they discuss public reactions, route highlights including Mobile, New Orleans, Cajun country, and Galveston, and the Barbara Toy tribute run and its impact. The episode closes with a Bring a Trailer feature on a refurbished 1994 Defender 90 300Tdi loaded with accessories, heavy rope, and diamond plate, bidding around $12,000.

Steve hosts without Ike  at first and checks in with Tom Pickford, Greg Fitzgerald, Bill Cooper, and Laura Stacey as they drive Pollyanna—Barbara Toy’s famed Series I Land Rover—across the southern U.S. toward the Texas Rover Club’s SCAR event honoring Toy. They discuss how the trip came together after Jaguar Land Rover brought Pollyanna to Pebble Beach, the convoy support vehicles, early mechanical quirks from year-old fuel, recreating Toy’s Jacksonville Beach moment with the mayor, and efforts to preserve and expand Toy’s legacy through barbara-toy.com, surviving letters, and the book The Free Lives of Barbara Toy, plus challenges republishing her out-of-print books (only In Search of Sheba is currently reprinted). Back in studio, Steve and Ike note Tim Slessor’s death, a Tom Holland Series Land Rover ad, and a Liam Neeson horror-comedy featuring Land Rovers. 00:00 Ike Is Out Today 00:39 Hotel Internet Fixes 01:32 Naming The Expedition 02:19 Meet The Pollyanna Crew 03:59 Why Recreate The Journey 06:52 Picking Up Pollyanna 07:24 JFK Versus Newark 08:49 On The Road Glitches 12:10 Laura Joins The Ride 14:45 Club Shirts And Walmart 15:56 Bill And The Support Cars 17:40 Writing And Publishing Plans 19:22 Saving Barbara Toy History 22:51 Recreating Jacksonville Beach 23:38 Family Ties And Legacy 25:16 Rescuing Barbara’s Archive 26:08 Letters Become a Book 26:39 Hunting Global Ephemera 27:41 Reprinting the Travelogues 29:27 Pollyanna and Lost Vehicles 31:32 Why the Books Are Rare 33:18 Secondhand Shop Strategies 34:24 Farewell and Modern Contrast 36:38 Land Rover News Roundup 38:02 Tom Holland Series Ad 39:36 Tattoo Banter Detour 40:42 Pollyanna Trip Check-In 44:16 Liam Neeson Zombie Film 46:35 Wrap Up and Next Check-In

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss the newly revealed Freelander, debating whether the images show a real production vehicle or a concept pushed out after a crash-test leak, and they comment on its bold styling, screen-heavy interior, and unusual seating and door design. They cover Land Rover news including Tiger Woods rolling a Range Rover in an alleged DUI incident, a viral Sudbury car-park video featuring a machete-wielding motorbike theft and a Defender intervening, and a reported 61% jump in JLR sales alongside jokes about Jerry McGovern’s departure. Ike shares Pangolin4x4 shop updates on a repeatedly botched transmission rebuild and the importance of correct tolerances, plus progress on two Michigan Land Rovers bought sight unseen. They also preview Tom Pickford and Bill Cooper driving the famous Pollyanna to the SCARR rally and mention Steve’s new diode laser tool for marking parts. 00:00 Show Intro and Hosts 01:20 Freelander Reveal Buzz 01:52 Concept or Production 02:38 Wild Interior Tech 06:27 Design Stripe Debate 09:02 Can You Buy It 09:44 Tiger Woods Rollover 12:06 Defender Vigilante Video 15:33 JLR Sales Spike Talk 16:46 Pangolin Shop Updates 17:40 Gearbox Rebuild Autopsy 18:27 Bushing Failure Explained 19:29 Why Tolerances Matter 21:35 Customer Fallout and Fix 22:41 Dialed In Land Rovers 24:28 Michigan Barn Finds Update 28:16 Pollyanna Road Trip 30:08 New Diode Laser Tool 33:12 Wrap Up and Next Week

Steve Beres and Ike Goss cover a bleak week of Land Rover news, including JLR temporarily halting production at the Solihull plant for two weeks due to a supplier dispute affecting Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. They discuss leaked crash-test photos of the new Freelander (developed with Chery), noting its larger SUV proportions, bold Freelander branding, and a stripped, modern JLR-like interior, along with reports of a $58,000 entry price and plans for the UK rather than the US. They revisit the confusing status of design chief Gerry McGovern, with new reports saying he will step down at the end of March. The hosts also note the British Army retiring its iconic Land Rover fleet with replacement expected by 2030, speculate about surplus sales, debut a “Would You Rather” segment, and mention a new Anaconda film opening with a classic Defender scene. 00:00 Show Intro and Hosts 01:31 JLR Halts Solihull Production 02:37 Freelander Crash Leak 04:32 Freelander Design Breakdown 08:17 Pricing and Market Plans 09:19 Jerry McGovern Exit Saga 12:10 British Army Retires Land Rovers 15:17 Defender Import Dreams 15:44 Would You Rather Begins 16:55 Heater Core Nightmare 18:32 Creepy Seat vs Enya Loop 21:59 Viewer Submissions Call 22:24 Defender Spotting in Anaconda 25:13 Project Hail Mary Rovers 25:40 Where Is Jerry McGovern 26:25 See You Next Week https://classiclandrover.com/2026/03/20/british-army-to-retire-iconic-land-rover-fleet/ https://www.autonews.com/jaguar-land-rover/ane-jaguar-design-boss-mcgovern-starts-consultancy-0320/ https://www.autoblog.com/news/new-land-rover-freelander-leaked-after-crash-test https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3931xz101do

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss JLR’s new international Defender Awards and how they differ from the existing Defender Service Awards, including the judging-panel process and some winners. They review spy-photo news suggesting the Range Rover Velar is becoming a more wagon-like, road-focused vehicle, and debate why the newer Range Rover logo appears inconsistently on vehicles and the website. They cover controversy around a Chinese company’s Range Rover-like vehicle and ad copy. Steve then interviews Joe Hesselman of Lost Cause Ranch about his new car-wash-based shop with three-phase power and expanded CNC capabilities, plus his Land Rover projects including a six-wheel Discovery 2 and a Discovery 4 chopped into a tray-back “El Camino”-style pickup with custom aluminum flatbed and toolboxes. The episode ends with a brief film recommendation, "Sorcerer" (1978). 00:00 Show Intro and Hosts 01:20 Defender Awards Explained 03:53 Winners and Weird Highlights 04:57 Velar Update Wagon Talk 06:40 Range Rover Logo Mystery 08:27 China Copycat Ad Drama 11:02 Defender Lookalike SUVs 17:51 Interview Joe Lost Cause 19:15 New Ranch CNC Upgrades 24:35 Fleet Updates and 6x6 Disco 27:43 Chopping a Discovery Tease 28:13 El Camino Dreaming 29:38 Why Cut the LR4 30:37 Sourcing the Rear Cap 31:31 Slicing It in Half 33:53 Designing the Flatbed 36:28 All Aluminum Fabrication 39:58 Underbed Box Mastery 42:09 CNC Press Brake Talk 45:57 Future Ranch Projects 49:54 Utes and Car Culture 52:08 Sorcerer Movie Pick 54:23 Wrap and Next Week

Steve Beres and Ike Goss open the Underpowered Hour noting a planned interview with Land Rover drivetrain expert Matt Jackson was lost due to a failed new “internet interview machine.” They cover Land Rover news, including the UK-only Range Rover Sport SVR Ultimate Edition with a 3.7-second 0–60 time, VIP handover, 500 units, and a £145,995 price. They discuss Chelsea Tractor Company expanding its signature body kits to vehicles like the Grenadier and Jeep, plus a line of pedal-equipped electric bikes and a heavily vented Defender build with an awkward fuel-filler tunnel. They preview the new Defender Trophy selection process in British Columbia, with 190 North American competitors and Jennifer Fibble competing for a finals spot in the UK. Ike also shares acquiring a recognizable 1950 Series I and a 1955 pickup from a Michigan estate sale and updates on a 109 wagon build with disc brakes and upgrades. 00:00 Show Intro and Hosts 01:19 Guest Interview Fails 02:02 Range Rover SVR Ultimate 03:28 VIP Perks and Tech 05:36 Wheels Seats and Pricing 06:49 Chelsea Tractor Body Kits 08:13 Chelsea Electric Bikes 12:28 Defender Guana Widebody 14:46 Design Details and Fuel Door 16:23 Chelsea Tractor Swell Kit 17:21 Defender Trophy Returns 18:37 Instagram Stage Training 20:42 Estate Sale Rover Haul 22:23 The Blue Series One 25:21 Shop Build 109 Wagon 25:54 Michelin XZL Tire Talk 27:04 Tractor Tangents and Tips 28:18 Busy Shop and UK Plans 29:56 Next Episode Tease

Steve Beres and Ike Goss skip the news to interview Helen and Marcella (“The Gazelles”) about their debut run in the Dakar Classic in a self-built classic Land Rover. Helen explains how her first desert rally idea began with Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles in 2019, how she and Marcella—friends for over 21 years—became teammates, and why in-car chemistry matters under stress. They describe building their Dakar vehicle “Purdy” from the ground up after an outside build effort failed, using a pre-inspection for peace of mind before shipping the car, and arriving surprised to see big teams still wrenching in the bivouac. They share standout moments, including meeting top competitors, encouragement from Saudi spectators, and a last-day crisis where hitting a rock caused two flats and required help from another team. They discuss on-course assistance rules, helping others in dunes, lessons learned, and hint at future adventures. Intro and Hosts 01:18 Why This Dakar Interview 02:49 Meet the Gazelles 03:30 How the Idea Started 05:30 Finding the Right Teammate 06:30 Team Chemistry in the Car 08:26 From Gazelles to Dakar Timeline 09:15 Building Purdy from Scratch 10:45 Skills and the YouTube Build Series 12:54 Logistics and Pre Inspection 16:49 Arriving in Saudi Race Bubble 18:49 Meeting Legends and Local Moments 21:05 Was Dakar a Success 22:22 Racing Under Cameras 23:58 Finish Line Tire Crisis 25:48 On Course Support Rules 27:29 Helping in the Dunes 28:50 Whats Next Adventure 30:10 Lessons From Dakar 33:57 Lightning Round 36:21 Shoutouts and Motivation 38:48 Hosts Wrap Up

Steve and Ike welcome Olympian and cross-country skier Ben Ogden, calling in from Sweden as his race season continues after the Olympics. Ben explains how he got into the sport in Vermont, describes winning silver in the men’s individual sprint and again in the team sprint with Gus Schumacher, and breaks down sprint race format, tactics, and the major role of ski selection and waxing support. The conversation shifts to Ben’s 1973 Series III Land Rover restoration bought from Vermont restorer Lanny Clark: an 18,000-mile but heavily rusted, long-nonrunning “derelict” that became his off-season outlet. Ben details progress—bodywork, welding aluminum, marine blue paint challenges after a PPG discontinuation, rebuilt drivetrain, brakes, and remaining wiring and interior bits—plus other vehicles, motorcycles, knitting, and a quick lightning round. 00:00 Show Intro and Hosts 01:22 Meet Olympian Ben Ogden 02:13 Why Cross Country Skiing 04:16 Olympic Silver Medal Story 06:54 Ski Wax and Prep Secrets 11:50 Land Rover and Olympic Skiing 14:14 Ben’s Series III Project Begins 19:04 Restoration Progress and Paint Drama 21:54 What’s Left to Finish 22:31 Dash Trim Hunt 23:17 Care Package Offer 23:45 Oregon Off Road Plans 24:10 Other Rigs Garage Tour 26:14 Volvo Trucks And Military Oddities 27:53 Motorcycles And Learning Wrenching 29:00 Knitting As A Project Fix 30:20 Sweater Reveal And Restoration Mindset 33:21 Lightning Round Q And A 34:38 Thanks And Sign Off

Steve Beres hosts an episode of The Underpowered Hour from John Masters’ podcast studio in the English countryside while Ike Goss is traveling. Steve is joined by John Masters, Camel Trophy legend Bob Ives, Land Rover mechanic Dan Ives, and Nick Dimbleby after a day driving two matching GAC Camel Trophy vehicles, including one Masters restored and another recently acquired vehicle associated with Ian Chapman/Bob Ives. They discuss the history of the four Moscow/Red Square GAC Discoverys (560–563), the unknown whereabouts of 560 and 561, and details of Masters’ restorations, originality and patina, and how hard the vehicles were used in Camel Trophy selections and training (including water “tide marks,” mud inside chassis rails, and stories about A-bars/ropes used to link vehicles). The group also talks about current Land Rover topics including the Defender Trophy, Dakar coverage and logistics, the appeal of recognizable vehicles in rallying, and hopes for more manufacturers competing in Land Rover’s Dakar class. Nick shares updates on his Freelander trip in India (about 2,000–2,500 miles, up to roughly 14,000 feet, with three Freelanders and two cracked expansion tanks) and a Freelander incident involving an animal nest fire. Masters mentions his next restoration project: a 1985 Camel Trophy Ninety Dutch team vehicle currently in Spain with a raised roof and other modifications. Nick also recounts driving a Range Rover “Popemobile” with a fake pope during a 1995 Rover France project celebrating the end of classic Range Rover production. The episode closes with plans to have Nick and Lisa on to discuss the India adventure, and joking updates about trying to get proof of life from Land Rover’s Jerry McGovern.

Camel Trophy Legends Ian Chapman & Tom Collins: Knife Fights, Hurricanes, and the Stories Behind the MudSteve Beres and Ike Goss host an episode of The Underpowered Hour recorded during extreme storm conditions at the Camel Trophy 45 event at Eastnor Castle. They interview longtime Camel Trophy organizer Ian Chapman and Camel Trophy and Land Rover legend Tom Collins, covering stories from past events including a confrontation involving journalist Robert Pelton Young, memories from Madagascar 1987, and how former competitors became key support staff. Chapman and Collins discuss Land Rover’s limited role in organizing Camel Trophy, how vehicles were chosen based on availability and marketing launches (including Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, and Freelander), and why the event ultimately worked because of the people and the selection process. The conversation includes notable incidents such as a famous windscreen-penetrating log accident, helicopter crash survivals, a minefield navigation story during a pre-scout, and reflections on the lasting camaraderie of Camel Trophy reunions. The episode ends with thanks to the Camel Trophy Owners Club and event organizers, and a promise of future Land Rover podcast episodes.

Hosts Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss a range of topics including Land Rover's impending $520 million tariff hit in the U.S., the introduction of new electric models like the electric Velar replacement and Evoke, and a deep dive into the acquisition of a vintage 1951 Land Rover Series I. They also delve into skiing accidents affecting Land Rover influencers, their upcoming travels, and future plans for vehicle restorations.

In this episode of The Underpowered Hour, Steve Beres and Ike Goss dive into exciting news about Jaguar Land Rover’s potential plans to produce Chinese cars in the UK. They discuss the implications and speculate on new vehicle models like the Cherry Freelander. The hosts also talk about Canadian automotive tariffs and the challenges of electric vehicles in cold weather. Meanwhile, in the Pangolin 4x4 workshop, Ike updates on recent Land Rover projects, including a 1951 80-inch, a 1956 Series I, and a unique ‘Dormobile’ conversion. The episode wraps up with a fun chat about Jeremy Clarkson's vehicles on 'Clarkson's Farm' and some geeky insights into laser maintenance and its uses. Don’t miss out on the laugh-filled Land Rover discussions and farm talk!

Join hosts Steve Beres and Ike Goss in this episode of Underpowered Hour as they discuss Land Rover's surprising performance in the Dakar Rally, dissect the complexities of automotive paint, and share their thoughts on Range Rover's newest London-inspired editions. Whether you're a Land Rover enthusiast or keen on learning about vehicle paint processes, this episode is packed with insights and humor. Tune in as Steve and Ike navigate through a range of topics, from vintage restorations to modern luxury. Visit theberescollection.com and follow them on Instagram @theberescollection or @pangolin4x4 to stay updated on their adventures. 00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Background 01:19 Land Rover's Victory at Dakar Rally 04:30 Discussion on Stock Class Racing 07:22 Special Edition Range Rovers 13:09 Land Rover's Custom Shop and Paint Innovations 19:02 Introduction to Land Rover Paint 19:40 Understanding Paint Preferences 20:31 Challenges of Painting Vintage Land Rovers 21:25 Restoration Shops and Reproduction Panels 22:56 Aluminum and Paint Adhesion 25:55 Matching and Maintaining Paint 30:31 Paint Quality Over the Decades 34:07 Evaluating Paint When Buying a Car 42:10 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Join Stephen Beres and Ike Goss on this week's episode of 'The Underpowered Hour' as they give an update on the Dakar Rally progress, including Land Rover's standing in various classes and the tough competition they face. They also discuss the UK's GDP improvement, partially credited to Jaguar Land Rover, and delve into Ike's New Year's off-roading adventure in the Pacific Northwest featuring an array of Land Rovers tackling challenging trails. Tune in for an exciting mix of racing updates, economic insights, and off-roading tales.

Join hosts Steve Beres and Ike Goss as they discuss their latest projects and share updates from the Land Rover community. This week, they delve into the story of a Norwegian enthusiast struggling with bureaucracy to register his restored Series III, and they provide insights into the Land Rover Defender's significant presence in the Dakar Rally. From factory-supported teams to privateer efforts, and the standout performances in the Dakar Classic, this episode covers the highs and lows of Land Rover's latest adventures. Plus, stay tuned for a humorous and in-depth discussion on navigating the challenges of international vehicle registration.