There is a reason the North West Overland Rally or NWOR (and cousin event, the British Columbia Overland Rally, BCOR) is considered one of North America’s premier overland events. Unlike the larger, ever-popular, and more commercially driven Overland Expo events, the NWOR is more focused on bringing together the overland tribe, whoever they may be and however they choose to travel. As always, this year’s event was held in the blissful mountainous setting of Plain, Washington, and not even the cool, windy evenings could put a damper on the festivities.
Organizers Ray Hyland, Marianne Hyland, and title sponsor AT Overland (Mario Donovan) can be rightly proud of hosting a well-planned, organized, entertaining, and safe event where friends and families can blissfully enjoy an adventurous weekend together.
As with all overland events, it is the camping area where the real magic of an event can be found, with travelers arriving in every shape, size, and value of the vehicle. As the Hylands are very well known and loved in the Land Rover community, there is always a herd of Land Rovers at the NWOR. Battered but loved Series and Range Rover Classics rub shoulders with immaculately restored Classic Defenders and fresh-out-of-the-box new Defenders. All other iconic brands are also represented, and the Toyotas are sure to let the Land Rovers know that they don’t drip oil and you don’t have to be beautiful to stretch a spring. American vehicles are naturally the kings of the event and hover over the little, expensive foreigners, sporting living quarters worthy of royalty.
For off-road enthusiasts, the rally offers a moderate but thrilling 4WD trail drive led by dedicated and skilled volunteers who help drivers navigate the easy scenic routes and the more challenging obstacles. Daily, a queue of vehicles snakes into the campsite, waiting their turn to engage low-range and diff locks. The following is an eclectic list of five vehicles that caught our eye at the event.
Owen Mesdag’s 1962 Series 2A Land Rover
Owen’s famous little Land Rover is called Sarge, and he can often be seen doing the rounds at overland shows and rallies. Sarge is an ex-MOD (British Ministry of Defense) Land Rover with the 2.25 gas engine, which Owen bought for a song sight unseen a few years ago and has since lovingly restored. The Series 2A is Owen’s daily driver and features dual fuel tanks, a Warn winch, a one-ton rear axle, and a Salisbury differential, to name a few of Sarge’s many discreet but well-considered features;
JDM Offroad’s Mitsubishi Fuso Canter 4WD
JDM Offroad’s fire-red ex-fire truck caught our eye on the first walk around the camp, and we stopped for a minute to discuss the build with Brian Cox, the Alaskan-born, Everett-based talent behind JDM Offroad. The build focuses on functionality, off-road capability, and load-carrying capacity. Fitted with a custom bed (6×8-foot) and canopy (6×6-foot) by Summit Expedition Trucks, the little truck can serve many functions but would naturally be best used as an overlander with the addition of a rooftop tent. The Canter features a 4D35 4.6-literI4 diesel engine, 5-speed manual transmission, double-cab, chunky 37-inch Maxxis RAZRs, 17-inch Super Singles wheels, a 2.5-inch leaf spring lift, KYB Monomax extended shocks. We can see why the Canter is described as a nimble, highly-capable vehicle due to its short wheelbase, structural strength, and light weight.
Winchester, The Land Rover 101 Forward Control
This blue Land Rover (yes, this is a Land Rover) was once military green and stationed in Berlin as a MOD reserve vehicle and had a low 37,000 miles on the odometer when owner Ben Gott bought the vehicle a few years ago. Starting in 2020, the vehicle underwent a complete nuts-and-bolts rebuild with no expense spared. One look at the incredible suspension setup is proof enough that this is no ordinary old Land Rover. With a new set of 37-inch tires sitting beside a stretched Raptor-coated frame, the old V8 motor was removed and replaced with a Tdi motor mated to a sparkling clean transmission. A custom-made body was mounted on the frame, and the ultimate 101 Forward Control camper was born. We can’t wait to see where she will be going.
Overland-Ready Rivian R1T
As this list will be heavy with old-school vehicles, we thought it only right to include a vehicle from the future. The Rivian R1T is a mid-size electric light-duty luxury pickup, and we were happy to see the vehicle not only sporting a Roofnest rooftop tent but also standing in line to take on the NWOR off-road trail, where it is said to have performed very well. While we understand the current limitations and restrictions of electric vehicles, we also look forward to a time when we are not dependent on costly fuel to travel long distances. With a claimed range of 314 miles, the AC Permanent Magnet electric motor in the Rivian R1T produces a whopping 835 horsepower.
Maddy, the Land Rover Defender 110
Maddy belongs to Doug and Lynda, a Canadian couple who are obsessed with the 110 and her sister, a Discovery 1. Maddy is a 1998 Spanish Defender imported to Canada before undergoing a series of significant upgrades and improvements. Sitting snug in the Scheel-Mann seats, I enjoyed a drive around the off-road course with Doug at the wheel, the vehicle proving to be far too capable of being challenged. The 110 sports a 300 Tdi motor mated to an R380 gearbox, a custom interior, Alu-Cab Icarus pop-top roof, an ARB bumper, and an obligatory Canadian canoe lying on the roof.
This year, the BCOR will be held in Merritt, British Columbia, from July 20 to the 23. If you have the opportunity, we highly recommend attending or marking your calendar for either of next year’s events.
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Read more: Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
