Tag Archives: muddy chef challenge

Register for the 2023 Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge

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The Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge is an event like no other.  Over three days participants will camp under beautiful Vermont skies, face a series of off-road challenges, participate in two world-class vehicle based cooking contests, learn to make craft cocktails, and test their culinary skills.  

The Muddy Chef Challenge is exclusively open to Land Rover owners.  You will see brand new Land Rovers alongside 50 year old Series trucks.  Join us for the 12th annual Muddy Chef Challenge in Poultney, Vermont. 
 

Registration is now open for the 2023 Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge in Vermont.

Planning an efficent route for the GBBR 50

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50 Breweries in a single day. 

Efficient planning is critical to your success in knocking off the maximum number of breweries in a single day.  The MCC staff likes to use https://www.routexl.com/  You can drop in up to 20 addresses at a time.  Other routing programs include Google Maps, and Garmin Basecamp.

 
Good luck!

 

 

Ellsworth Classics – NEW SPONSOR

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Want a classic Land Rover? Head over to Ellsworth Classics and check out their inventory.

2018 SPONSORS

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2016 SPONSORS

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LAND ROVER MUDDY CHEF SPONSOR LIST 2017

2014 SPONSORS

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The WINNERS of the 2020 Mudd-E Chef Challenge

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We are pleased to announce the winners of the first Mudd-e Chef Challenge!  Thank you to all of the teams that participated in this event.  I’ve included all the contestant’s videos below.  YOU CAN PICK YOUR FAVORITE!  Visit the Muddy Chef Facebook page. 

 

BANANA SHIRTS:

https://youtu.be/VqooS0bafHE

SEAFARI:

Seafari Rovers Flat Tire Eggs

603 ROVER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkpY19-CmB0

DEMON BREWER:

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FmSOqSXjOTeQ%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3Bjr37Q2QGSX2IAdKIqNCDUBW6LOjZk454VODfHB1iOpOHTXgTPcxHWZ4&h=AT2nJAySBDIOZmmDcBWTn-3wJlNy8WK29bjTW48yl-VQJSJG3ytvEvImLoL5ChYkyWIYdqrQt80fh-NTwj_kO85SgWgNS8fsDse_SljSIsLV9eDiHvzCZBj8w-y6JKCSpFpx

MAIN STREET KITCHENS:

Part 1 – Main Video

https://youtu.be/AAihvOqvc3Q

Part 2- Time Lapse of Prep

https://youtu.be/y4y-vtFHn-Q

Part 3- Eating of Dish

https://youtu.be/4SVtsyNWMmY

Part 4 – Land Rover Winter Haven FL- Jason

https://youtu.be/Loo_jKRWt50

Part 5- Last one- Land Rover Fun- Jason

https://youtu.be/GTcVRBiXimk

OSKI BEARS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(NOTE: The Oski Bears team is sheltering in place in the northwoods and do not have the capacity to upload a video.  Please take that into consideration if you choose to vote for them in the public “who do you want to win” competetion)

Crunchy Muddy Chef Single Cow Apple Wood Smoked Burgers!!

Start fire before preparing burgers. 

1 pound On the Edge Single  Cow beef

1/2 chopped onion

3 smooshed and chopped garlic cloves 

1/4 red bell pepper 

Fresh ground Salt & Pepper

Moosh it all together using gloves or baggies. Incorporate the above ingredients on  the inside of raw meat. 

Meanwhile prepare and watch  the apple wood fire. 

Above mixture Held together with Drizzle of Worchestshire sauce, salt & pepper 

3 tablespoons Panko Bread crumbs and 

2 Mudd-E eggs. 

Slice Cheddar, tomato, brioche bun. Butter buns and briefly smoke for 20 seconds on pan or foil. Fast.  

Toast bun on Fire while burgers smoke and sizzle.  

Put burgers on fire, flip once. Smoke and cover.  Add cheese. 

When cheese melts remove from smoker. 

Whole cooking process is less than 10 minutes. Not including fire prep. 

The egg panko mix makes the outer surface of burger crunchy. Like an egg bubble shell. The eggs do the work. 

Voila!! Delicious!!

 

 

 

Mudd-e Chef Challenge – Cook from HOME

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THE MUDD-e CHEF CHALLENGE

Win glory and prizes from the safety of your own home! 

REGISTER HERE

The Challenge:

Create a dish using two eggs and any other ingredients you choose. 

We need you to shoot a short video (no longer than three minutes) and upload it to your Facebook or YouTube page.  Then send the link to info@muddychef.com   Once received, I will distribute the videos to our judges.   Since the judges cannot taste your dish, you will be judged on the following criteria:

  1. Gratuitous Land Rover product placement.
  2. Creative use of the primary ingredient – eggs.
  3. Production value of your video (funny, high quality, entertaining, etc.).
  4. Difficulty of creating your dish.
  5. Is your dish so good that our judges would want to make it themselves.

Depending on the total number of entries we will pick a first, second and third place winner.  If we have more than 6 contestants, we will create a bracket-style leaderboard and the winners of each round will move on to the next round.   Winners will receive a special edition Muddy Chef Challenge Mug and whatever prizes I can scrounge up in the MCC garage.

Competition begins: 4/6/2020

Competition ends: 4/12/2020

Want to sign up?  Competition ended.

Want to know who won? Click HERE

The Muddy Chef Challenge Competition

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Mike Ladden of Drive the Globe shot this awesome video!

Off-Road Adventure at the 2019 Muddy Chef Challenge

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Thanks to Dive the Globe for this fantastic video.  

OFF-ROAD – The Land Rover Jubilee Challenge

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Fun free activities at the Muddy Chef Challenge!

Sign Up Today! Test your off-road driving skills on the Land Rover Jubilee Challenge course, located at the Land Rover Experience Center. You will be judged on accuracy and efficiency while driving the 2018 Land Rover Discovery. Prizes will be awarded to top three participants. 

FANTASTIC PRIZES FROM ORVIS ADVENTURES

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JUMP IN!

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The Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge

British Carburetors LLC – OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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MUDDY CHEF GARAGE – Discovery 2 HID light installation

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The “how to” video that accompanies the Spring 2018 Field Guide Magazine.  

The MCC on Drive the Globe!

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Land Rover – TITLE SPONSOR OF THE 2018 Muddy Chef Challenge

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Paul Odelson / PROFILE

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The Solihull Questionnaire

If Land Rover made an aircraft would you fly in it?   Why/Why Not?

No. Hell no. Don’t want to play the “what’s that noise” game at 5,000 feet 

Tell us a little about your background, your career, and where you live.

Born in New York City, Staten Island to be exact, aka the cousin Oliver of the boroughs. Grew up in Jersey. Went to college in New Hampshire fell in love with New England and never left. I practice real estate in Boston, but live about a 100 miles out of town in rural New Hampshire in a town with no post office and more dogs than people.


What’s your team name?

Team Blockheads. When you see my yellow labs it makes total sense


How many Land Rovers have you owned and which was your favorite?

A 73 Series 3 88, 96 Disco, 93 RRC, 95 RRC and currently a 60 109, 67? Lightweight and a 98 D1. By far the lightweight.  Actually has a little speed, for a Rover


What’s the best thing about owning a Land Rover?

They give you a sense of humor and patience and if they don’t, nothing will


What’s the worst thing about owning a Land Rover?

I’ve heard good things about something called “heat” inside vehicles. Hoping Land Rover decides to look into that one day.


Been on an adventure? – tell us about it

Are we talking a breakdown adventure? Because I don’t know how much room I have.


If you could ask Land Rover for a particular type of vehicle what would it be?

A lhd 130 would be nice but a vehicle from Rover chock full of lightweight parts would be nicer.  You know how tough it is to source lightweight parts in the States??

If you were on safari which three (living, dead, or fictional) people would you pick to bring along?

George Adamson


Denys Finch Hatton

Taylor Swift. I mean have you seen that video with her and the Rovers?

Whistle Pig Whiskey – OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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EVENT SCHEDULE

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Thursday, July 26

Event Registration and Campsite Setup
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  

Registration opens at 11:00 a.m. for all guests.  Campsite setup and meet and greet.  Campsite registration closes at 7:00 p.m.  You must be onsite by 7:00 p.m.
 
The Low Range Games – Bridge To Nowhere / Rat Cage
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Enjoy a challenge?  Join us for two great events.  The Rat Cage event will test your ability to handle your Land Rover and problem solve in tight confines.  Service Bay – build a simulated log bridge and navigate your vehicle over the abyss.  Minimum of three teammates required for this event. 

Fly-Casting and Private Tour at the Orvis Flagship Store
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Want to try your hand a fly fishing?  Join the Orvis Adventures staff at the Orvis casting pond at the Orvis flagship store in downtown Manchester.  The Orvis flagship store will open for a special private tour and sale – only for Muddy Chef attendees. 

6:00 p.m.  – 8:00 p.m. – Vendor Village Opens – Vendor Presentations

13th Street Cocktails
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Join Aaron and 13th Street Cocktails for an evening of legendary refreshments. 

Quiet Hours
11:00 p.m.

Friday, July 27

Late Event Registration and Campsite Setup
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  

NEW! HOT COFFEE AND BREAKFAST SANDWICHES AT THE RILEY RINK!  7:00 A.M – 11.:00 a.m

SHOWERS AT THE RILEY RINK 7:00 AM – 11:00 a.m

Beginner Off-Road Training
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  

Basic off-road skills and tactics.  Dorset Quarry tour after training.   
 
Guided Off-Road Tour
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Join Logan/Gene/Peter for a guided off-road adventure.  You will be divided into three groups.  Make sure to speak with each group leader about your preference of off-road difficulty.  Please have your vehicle ready for an afternoon of off-road adventure.  Please make sure to have your vehicle fully fueled and ready to go.  Vehicles will assemble into groups and depart promptly at 10:00 a.m. 

Un-guided Off-Road (Maps will be provided in the field guide)
10:00 a.m.

Assorted Events (Falconry, Fly Fishing, Sporting Clay, etc.)
10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

Training – Using a spotter for challenging terrain. (new)

New for 2018.  Join Eric Yohe for a quick lesson in effective spotting.  Learn appropriate hand signals and how to use nonverbal communication to guide a vehicle through difficult terrain – without damage. 

12:00 p.m.  – Lunch on your own

RETURN TO CAMPSITE / PREP FOR CHOPPED / FANCY DRESS PARTY PREP
4:00 p.m.

Chopped at The Muddy Chef Challenge (BOORN BROOK FARM, 527 Benson Road, Manchester Center, VT)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

New location for 2018.  Boorn Brook Farm and the Green Mountain Falconry School.  Join the staff of the Boorn Brook Farm for a tour of this amazing estate, a chance to see an African Eagle and an assortment of birds of prey and cheer your favorite Chopped team! 

What is Chopped at the Muddy Chef Challenge?  It’s just like the Food Network TV show – without the kitchen!  Contestants must bring everything they need to prepare, cook, and serve a gourmet meal – all from a mystery box of ingredients.  Please note – there is an additional cost to register for this event.  CLICK HERE to register.  All Chopped contestants receive custom gifts available only to Chopped competitors.   If you like a challenge this is the event for you! 

7:00 p.m.  – 8:00 p.m. – Vendor Presentations

13th Street Cocktails
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Join Aaron and 13th Street Cocktails for an evening of legendary refreshments. 

Quiet Hours
11:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 28

NEW! HOT COFFEE AND BREAKFAST SANDWICHES AT THE RILEY RINK!  7:00 A.M – 11.:00 a.m.

SHOWERS AT THE RILEY RINK 7:00 AM – 11:00 a.m

Late Arrival Event Registration and Campsite Setup
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  

Final event registration and campsite set up.  After 10:00 a.m. registration is closed unless you have spoken to the organizer and made prior arrangements.  Have an emergency?  Send an e-mail to info@muddychef.com 

Beginner Off-Road Training
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  

Basic off-road skills and tactics.  Anyone who took part in the Friday training will be qualified for an advanced trail run on Saturday. 
 
Guided Off-Road Tour
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Join Logan/Gene/Peter for a guided off-road adventure.  You need to have your vehicle ready for an afternoon of off-road adventure.  Please make sure to have your vehicle fully fueled and ready to go.  Vehicles will assemble into groups and depart promptly at 10:00 a.m. 

Un-guided Off-Road (Maps will be provided in the field guide)
10:00 a.m.

Assorted Events (Falconry, Fly Fishing, Sporting Clay, etc.)
10:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.  – Lunch on your own

4:00 p.m.  Announcements ahead of the Muddy Chef Challenge

The Muddy Chef Challenge
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The MAIN EVENT!  Your team will create amazing dishes for our judges.  You need to prepare an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert.  Extra points are awarded for use of locally sourced ingredients.  Click here for a complete list of rules.

13th Street Cocktails
9:00 p.m. – whenever!

Join Aaron and 13th Street Cocktails for an evening of legendary refreshments. 

Sunday, July 29

Awards Ceremony
10:00 a.m.  

Awards and goodbyes.  

ROVERS MAGAZINE – covers the Muddy Chef

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Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

POSTED BY · NOVEMBER 8, 2016

 

On a damp July morning, a large convoy of Ferraris drove slowly in a circle around an encampment of Land Rovers. As Green Oval enthusiasts ogled the Ferraris, Prancing Horse aficionados stared at the Land Rovers. Weirder things have happened, but not many.

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

At first I attributed this alternative universe moment to the presence of the free beer from the Branford, CT, Stony Creek Brewery, free rum from the Newport, RI, Thomas Tew Distillery and free cocktails from the 13th St. Cocktail Catering. Even the restorative powers of the free Cide Road Switchel didn’t change the oddity of this moment.

This added to the sounds, sights and smells provided by the Muddy Chef Challenge, held July 28-31, in Lakeville, CT, the home of the famous Lime Rock sports car race track. Nestled in the stunning countryside of the state’s northwest corner, the track hosted the Ferrari Challenge race series that weekend. The howl of tightly wound-up engines mixed with the growl of Land Rover’s pushrod V-8’s and ticking pushrods of the venerable 2.25 L four cylinder to provide an aural symphony every morning; the noise also helped shake off the effects of the free drinks.

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Eric Yohe created this unique experience eight years ago, a heady cocktail mixing Land Rover models of all vintages with foodies, extreme grillers, campers and off-roaders. Eric and his team also brought in vendors with enticing products and services, and not surprisingly, you find something to please most everyone. A terrific group of volunteers, including Kristen Feeney, Gene Schubert and Peter Batenaro, among others, helped smooth out the bumps resulting from the rainy weather and large turnout. Raffle income would go to the designated charity, Autism Speaks.

Most everyone in attendance had come from CT or bordering states like NY and MA—and there were a lot of them. Registrations ran well over 100 and hundreds more enthusiasts formed some 90 culinary teams. Rovers North’s Rob Smith drove down from VT in his’ ‘94 Defender and enjoyed “the sports cars racing, meeting Rovers North customers, meeting new enthusiasts and the mix of vehicles.” Michael Ladden, Hampden, MA and Carrie Touchette erected a tent large enough for a circus and for unfurling an old “West Connecticut Land Rover Club” banner (with a Yorkie for a guard dog). John Vallerand, Greene, ME, made another one of his epic drives in his Series II-A 88”. This time he packed the Rover with the largest teepee tent I’d ever seen, as well as his mother and sister. Somehow he found room for his signature cooling utensil, a round griddle the size of a manhole cover.

In comparison, my tent was the size of a beach towel which barely covered my sleeping bag and slender air mattress, but only if I lay them out diagonally. My drive from my island town in Maine totaled 7.5 hours, which included a 1.5 hour ferry trip and the muggiest, hottest, most congested drive imaginable along the interstates in Massachusetts (#nomoresummertravel).

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

I arrived at the fabled race track on a Thursday night, found my assigned camp spot and erected my tiny L.L. Bean tent. I also set up my tiny, two burner camp stove, small cooler bag and diminutive water jug, my one fork and spoon, ready to show off my culinary talents. By that evening a steady stream of Range Rovers, Discoverys and Defenders had emptied out their contents of Tent Mahals, grills the size of kitchen stoves, coolers that rivaled dumpsters in size—and an assortment of tables, chairs, vases, cutlery and linens that accompanied their equipment. All this glamping made me feel like a desert nomad marveling at the encampment of a sheik and his entourage.

Mike Chioffe, Stamford, CT works in IT for a hedge fund, but his escape comes in the form of a ‘95 Range Rover Classic, into which he’s put a considerable amount of sweat equity and overseen some restorative work. Mike’s tent and camp kitchen made mine look like pet’s quarters, but could barely compare with the Big Box Store footprint of Keri and Kieran Dunn from Norwalk, CT. Keri, who works for Vineyard Vines, and Kieran, who works for Pitney-Bowes, have owned their ‘02 P38 Range Rover for just a year; Keri calls it “one classy car.” The daily driver disgorged a tent so large you could stand up in it, complete with an inflatable, full sized double bed. A folding table enabled them to set up their propane-fueled baking oven as well as serve drinks in a refined manner. Durbin Hunter and Haleigh Lipnick, also from Stamford, brought an enormous tent, several propane tanks to fuel their cookstove and with cookware of restaurant quality. For grins they brought along a Golden Retriever with a proper name of Wellington—but who only answered to Mr. Pickles—that entertained every kid in the encampment. Adam and Rebecca Check, Bolton, MA, former winners at the event, created a movie set field kitchen behind their Range Rover that simply dazzled; I slid over every so often to see if I could mooch additional samples of their cooking.

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

You could off-road during the day, with extreme trails a long ride away in MA. Across the hills lay Dutchess County, NY, with its own quaint villages, hillside gentleman farms and country roads. It’s also the home of the Orvis Sandanona Shooting School with its own off-road trails, and Crown Maple Farms, on whose property you could also go off-roading on forest trails. Both required about a 45-minute drive and some long waits on the trails, but in the beautiful landscape, whining about it seemed ridiculous. Besides, the Orvis lodge combined stunning rifles and gear with private club levels of leather chairs, drink and food, which Tim Smith, Norwalk, CT and I enjoyed enormously. Crown Maple Farms’ buildings hid their production inside handsome barns featuring tours, free samples and outdoor dining. Each day’s off-roading also featured an “Iron Chef” competition for those challenged to cook on the fly.

If you tired of the culinary world you could enjoy the Land Rovers surrounding you. Manny Backman, Warrington, PA, and his son, Kevin, Titusville, NJ, arrived in their ‘04 Discovery II. Kevin works for Major League Baseball and takes his ‘67 Series II-A to the train station. Nancy and Vincent Chong, Chappaqua, NY, found their ‘85 Land Rover 110 on Ebay and had it shipped from Florida to New York. They painted it themselves using a roller brush and treated it to a personalized plate that reads “CLIFF4D,” as in Big Red Dog. Professional race car driver Mark Hamilton Peters, Lakeville, CT and Sophie Purdy, Sharon, MA, enjoyed the day in a ‘64 Series II-A 109”, a former NATO Belgian military vehicle with a glorious patina. Bill Schimkowski, Westborough, MA, brought his restored Sage Green ‘61 Series II-A 88”; it reminded me how nice mine would look if I would stop using it for work. Bill let me drive his and demonstrate some of its off-road capabilities.

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Pediatrician Lin-Lin Remenar, her husband, David, and children Van, Jude and Sydney, arrived in their ’88 and ‘95 Range Rovers. She noted that the Land Rover people they’ve met come from “all walks of life.” “Land Rover owners love leads to passion, which we need more of!” She admitted to some nerves when first off-roading, but said it had become “amazingly addictive!”

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

During one afternoon event Will Hedrick gave a presentation on his efforts to help enthusiasts hold onto their imported Defenders. Throughout the event the UK firm Arkonik presented their refurbished Defenders to excite the gathering. Founder Andy Hayes has spent several years searching out 25-year-old Land Rovers for importation to the US. He calls them “pieces of history, designed brilliantly and refurbished as such.” He seeks to have them leave his shop “better than they were in the day.” Most are from Continental countries so they can be LHD for the American market. For legal importation, the 90/110’s and Defenders must leave with their original engines; for now, that means 3.5 V-8’s or 2.5 L petrol or diesels. The handsome paint jobs and custom seats (one of which would not lift to access the underseat battery) made them look even more striking and certainly added to the joy of the test drives/rides offered generously throughout the event. Client Communications Manager Jasmin Clinton spoke of the many efforts made to educate Americans unfamiliar with these models—and also enjoyed her first ever trip to the US. Prestige Motors of New Jersey works with Arkonik on US sales and became a sponsor of the event.

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

Muddy Chef Challenge 2016

The “Challenge” part of the Muddy Chef Challenge kept the judges exhausted. Jim and Robert Wollschlager, of Mystic, CT and Omaha, NE, respectively, won the Team Spirit Award with their twin Series Land Rovers. Lars Vigen, Madison, CT, won the Best Campsite award due to the weekend edition of a stuffed coyote [don’t ask]. The culinary competition categories included dessert, appetizers and entrees. You earned extra points for using locally-sourced ingredients (I learned that purchases made at a nearby grocery store didn’t count), in addition to numerous other considerations. Terry Jackson, Lewiston, ME, brought his winning ingredients in his ‘11 LR4. They combined to create “sashimi tuna with a soy, sesame oil and Hillrock Distillery Bourbon glaze, on a mango and roasted corn salsa bed.” Oh—no wonder my stuffed mushrooms failed to garner an award.

By Jeffrey Aronson
Photography: Jeffrey Aronson, Aimee Almstead

TAKING THE MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE | LAND ROVER GLOBAL

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TAKING THE MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE

10 AUGUST 2016

Since 2008, Land Rover enthusiasts in the North East have been having fun cooking and camping in the annual Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge.. This year’s challenge at Lime Rock Park, CT was a culinary overload, says Bill Gonyea, General Manager at Prestige Land Rover, the event’s title sponsor.

What is The Muddy Chef Challenge?

This is passionate, die-hard Land Rover enthusiasts getting together in the picturesque grounds of Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut for three days of cooking, camping and a lot of fun. It’s been going on since 2008 and this year there were around 110 Land Rover vehicles with owners, families and friends attended, over 350 attendees in total. They hold lots of off-road adventures, seminars, fancy-dress parties, vendor displays and plenty of sampling of adult beverages around the campfire. It really is a fun event. The organizers like to describe it as Top Gear meets Top Chef.

 

Why the big focus on cooking?

The guy who founded it, Eric Yohe, is a passionate Land Rover enthusiast and an equally passionate foodie. I think it started out as a few friends taking their Land Rover vehicles camping and having fun cooking out. It has grown from there. Now, over the Muddy Chef Challenge weekend, there are two major cooking competitions with teams having to prepare gourmet meals using only locally-sourced ingredients, and only using cooking equipment they can carry in their Land Rover vehicles. It was amazing how elaborate some of the kitchens were, with huge tents and grills.

Who takes part in the event?

Passionate Land Rover enthusiasts, first and foremost. These are mostly Heritage enthusiasts who brought along their Defender, their 110s and 90s, their Series II, their LR3 and Discovery vehicles. It also draws in owners with newer LR4 and Range Rover vehicles. They come along with their families and friends, set-up their tents and focus on having a great time.

Prestige Land Rover was the title sponsor. Why does the dealership get involved?

This was our first year as title sponsor. The main attraction for us is the opportunity it gives us to increase exposure for our new models. We trucked-in twelve new Land Rover vehicles – Discovery Sport, LR4, Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport. We also provided a few LR4 vehicles for the organizers to use as shuttle vehicles to move people around. We had test drive opportunities during the weekend and on the Thursday before the challenge, we held an off-roading event for customers at the nearby Orvis Sandanona clay-shooting grounds in Millbrook, New York.

You were also a judge in the cooking contest. How was the experience?

Both myself and Chris Turner, who is President of the Prestige Group and owner of a restored Land Rover Defender 110, were judges for the Saturday night contest. You have to remember that over 90 teams take part, that’s a lot of food to taste. Then there’s the added dimension that they pair most of the meals with a different beverage from some of the event sponsors, like Hillrock Estate bourbon or Thomas Tew rum. It was a long night.

Will you be back next year?

Most definitely. We’ve already had meetings with the organizers talking about ways the event might grow and how they might widen the appeal. I really do think it has the potential to be a much larger event in the future.

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An afternoon of Polo at the Fairfield Hunt Club, Westport, CT ~ Aug 28, 2016

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Join Arkonik and The Muddy Chef Challenge crew for an afternoon of Polo.   This is the sixth annual Gold’s Dragoons Polo Cup match.  Watch Gold’s Dragoons battle Squadron A.   Come early so we can park alongside each other and tailgate in style!  Pack your Yeti coolers and grab your pop-up canopy, lunch baskets, and head out for an amazing afternoon of polo.  

The match is held at the Fairfield Hunt Club.  Located at 174 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880.  Tailgating starts at 1:00 and match play begins at 3:00.  Prizes are awarded for the best ladies hat and the best tailgate.   As this is a Muddy Chef Challenge affiliated event, the price of admission is – FREE!

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Don’t want to pack a lunch or cooler?  No worries, you can buy drinks and a catered lunch at the club.  The lunch is $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for kids.  

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Land Rover stopped manufacturing the Defender on January 29, 2016.  After being produced in various forms for the past 68 years, the iconic Defender – the quintessential safari vehicle is no more.  What’s a US based enthusiast to do?  Have you seen the prices on e-bay?  Huge sums for Defenders in a wide variety of conditions – from rusted out hulks to “brand new” models of dubious legal status.   We’re talking serious risk and serious money.  What can a potential buyer do to find and purchase the Defender of their dreams?  Have one custom made.  Your color, your options, your ideas, your dreams.  Arkonik is dedicated to creating the finest Land Rover Defenders in the world.  100% legal for import to the United States.  

Visit with Tom Maxwell of Arkonik at the polo match to learn more (and perhaps take a test drive) in one of their bespoke Land Rover Defenders.  

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Spectro Oil / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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About Us

Spectro brand products are manufactured and marketed by Intercontinental Lubricants Corp. of Brookfield, Connecticut. ILC is one of the world’s foremost manufacturers and packagers of quality lubricants.

ILC was founded in 1966 by Robert H. Wehman, an engineer with decades of experience in the specialized field of two-cycle automotive lubricants. He capitalized on the knowledge gained by solving fuel/oil mixture problems for Saab of America at a time when Saab marketed 2-stroke automobiles in the USA.

Wehman translated this automobile industry knowledge into oil formulations for 2-stroke motorcycles that revolutionized the performance of this class of vehicles at the time, and from that moment forward the company has set the standard for specialty lubricants in high performance automotive, motorcycle, and other “powersports” vehicle applications.

Spectro entered the small but avid motorcycle market of the 1960s at a critical time — new makes and types of machines were coming into the market from both Europe and Asia, older manufacturers were starting to struggle with survival of their aged designs — but the immediate need for a top-performing, reliable 2-stroke racing oil was never so real. Spectro’s Golden 2 Cycle filled the bill and helped many a racer cross the finish line without problems, race after race.

Spectro simultaneously developed superior 4-stroke lubricants, focusing specially on its Golden Spectro 4, a blending of fine grade petroleum with true synthetic lubricants to ensure consistent performance over a wider operating range.

Spectro’s Golden products set new performance benchmarks for most machines and riders of that time, and probably more miles were racked up by Gold Wings running Spectro than any other brand name.

Today, Spectro products span the full range of fully-synthetic, semi-synthetic and petroleum lubricants for all classes of “powersports” engine and transmission applications.

The Spectro line also includes a wide range of suspension fluids, fork oils, brake fluids, coolant, chain lubes/waxes, filter cleaners and oils, and protection/appearance products.

In addition to the Spectro-branded line, ILC offers technical assistance, specialty blending and manufacturing services, and provides customized products for motorcycle and automobile engine, transmission, and drivetrain builders and racing teams.

Spectro products are sold exclusively through certified motorcycle and powersports retailers in the United States and in many international markets. Support of our retailers is the cornerstone of Spectro’s marketing and distribution system.

In many parts of the United States and other countries, retailers obtain their Spectro products through a network of Spectro Authorized Distributors. Contact information for these distributors can be found on our website.

Products

 

PROTIEDOWNS.COM / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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Professional Products for the Automotive Enthusiast.

Because there are no two identical applications, ProTieDowns.com was founded to help automotive enthusiasts find precisely the right set up for their application.  Whether your transporting your race car, farm tractor, show car or recovering your overland rig we have the right options for you. We offer only the highest quality professional grade products built specifically for you.  Our expert customer service representative will help you choose the right set up for your application. Our goal is to help you create a safer work and play environment.  If you have any questions about our products or would like to discuss your specific needs please feel free to contact us at protiedowns@gmail.com  or call (860) 942 4379

Overland Experts / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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Overland Experts – 4×4 Off Road Mobility Experts

  • Military, civilian & NGOs

  • Expedition Consulting

  • On-location filming logistics

  • Vehicle-based overland adventure travel

For over 35 years, OEX Founder Bruce Elfström has perfected the science of off road driving. His team now prepare the best of the best of our military, civilians, industrial utility & mining employees as well as aid workers and NGO employees to drive well, go further and as a result – get home safely.

In our 3-5 day training sessions at one of our sites in Connecticut, Virginia or North Carolina, you won’t find any power point presentations, but a thorough, linear and methodical curriculum delivered on purpose designed and natural terrains in our unmatched vehicle fleet. Just take a look at a few of our reviews.

Training and travel for recreational drivers: 4×4 driving, off roading and vehicle-dependent expeditions all start with a core of 1-3 day advanced driving skills. Ask about upcoming expeditions to:

Our Military and Tactical training is hands on combining our advanced curriculum with highly experienced trainers and our extensive fleet of vehicles, which together make OEX’s training and reputation simply untouchable. Check out more photographs on Flickr

For NGOs, Humanitarian Aid, Disaster/Relief Agencies, Utilities, Geological Survey Companies, or On-Location Filming, we can help with driver training, outfitting, unbiased vehicle acquisition consultation. Our World-Wide Mobility Team can come to you when training your staff in one of our locations is not possible. Wherever that training takes place, our extensive fleet means that your staff will be trained in the types of vehicles they are likely to find on location or in the field – it’s not all about fully fitted-out 4x4s.

Overland Experts also sponsors a range of environmental/humanitarian non-profits and research projects including Clean Water projects in Uganda and the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project.

Schedule of Events

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WEDNESDAY July 27, 2016

Activity:

Staff arrives, headquarters tents are setup, banners, flags and signage erected, assorted pre-event activities (vehicle placement, radio setup, media room setup, welcome bags, computer technology, registration, fire pits, etc.). All vehicles should be on site on this day. Vendor Village spots assigned and marked.

THURSDAY July 28, 2016

Activity:

10:00 – Gates open, registration begins, participants arrive. All staff will already be on site. Campers and vendors’ setup – this will take most of the day.

1:00 – 3:00 Driver Training and Technical Sessions (not presentations)
3:00 – 4:00 Tour of Lime Rock Park and Track Laps (Land Rover SVR and Jaguars)

5:00 – 6:00 Arkonik presentation in Orange Tent

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6:00 – 7:00 Complimentary BBQ in Green Tent
7:00 – close Vendor Village opens

8:00 – 9:00 Will Hedrick “Defender of Defenders” presentation Orange Tent

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9:00 – 13th Street Cocktails will open the bar, bonfires, cigars, etc.

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FRIDAY July 29, 2016

Activity:

6:00 – Expert off-road trip departure – Ma Bell, Northampton, MA
7:00 – Coffee with Staff
9:00 – Duct Tape Genius Contest.  Participants divide into teams
10:00 – Depart for Orvis Sandanona and other off-road destinations
2:00 – 3:00 All groups back at LRP to change into cocktail attire
3:00 – Depart for Hillrock Estate and The IRON Muddy Chef Challenge

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4:00 – Contestants setup for the IRON Muddy Chef, attendees tour distillery,
5:00 – 6:00 IRON Muddy Chef Challenge begins
6:00 – Judging and Prizes
7:00 – Depart for LRP (dinner is on you own)
9:00 – 13th Street Cocktails – open bar, cigars, bonfires

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SATURDAY July 30, 2016

Activity:

6:00 – Expert off-road trip departure – Old Florida Road, North Adams, MA
7:00 – Coffee with Staff
9:30- Depart for Crown Maple/Madava Estate for Off-Roading

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12:00 – Lunch on your own or can be bought at Crown Maple
3:00 – Return to Lime Rock Park
4:00 – 7:00 Muddy Chef Challenge begins
8:00 – Charity raffle ends 
8:01 – 13th Street Cocktails – open bar, cigars, bonfires

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July 31, 2016

Activity:

9:00 – “Recovery” – Coffee with Staff

10:00 – Muddy Chef Awards and Prizes and Raffle Winner Announcement

11:00 –  The famous parade lap around Lime Rock Park!

12:00 – Departures

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M. LaHart & Company / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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About M. LaHart

M.LaHart & Co is offering an assortment of official Muddy Chef products – click here to view and purchase.

Since 1996, M.LaHart & Company has been committed to offering students, graduates, alumni and their families with the finest quality products to honor their proud university affiliations. The driving force of the company has been the belief that only gifts of the highest integrity can faithfully uphold the traditions of America’s finest institutions. This commitment, matched with white-glove service, has made M.LaHart & Company one of the fastest growing and most respected businesses in the collegiate market.

In Spring 2006 M.LaHart & Company established an exciting partnership with world-renowned brand TAG Heuer to create TAG Heuer University watches, custom-crafted for each institution and exclusively available at M.LaHart.

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M.LaHart & Company first became known for reviving the lost art of commemorative timepieces. Based on the success of the watches, the M.LaHart Collection now includes accessories for both men and women in gold, sterling silver and pewter, created specifically to accommodate a wide range of gift-giving occasions.

As the product line has expanded, so has the M.LaHart roster of schools, which now includes all of the Ivy League schools, the United States’ service academies and a selection of prominent universities from across the USA. M.LaHart & Company regularly adds new schools to its roster and would be pleased to notify you when the Collection is available for your institution of choice. (info@mlahart.com)

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At M.LaHart & Company we pride ourselves on personalized customer service. We offer custom engraving on all our products, and our representatives are more than happy to assist you with selecting exactly the right gift for your needs.

Michael LaHart

M.LaHart & Company relocated in 2007 from New York City’s Flatiron building to the picturesque countryside of historic Litchfield, Connecticut. M.LaHart & Company is now housed in the oldest commercial building in the entire state of Connecticut, Dr. Reuben Smith’s Apothecary dating back to 1740.

Company founder Michael LaHart graduated from Duke University and received his MBA from Insead, Europe’s premier business school. He began his career on Wall Street, then spent 8 years working in Europe. While there, he developed relationships with some of the finest jewelry designers and manufacturers in the world. These influences are reflected in the company’s high-end product offerings and devotion to exceptional customer service.

Click here to read the article written in The Litchfield County Times.

Crown Maple/Madava Estate / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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About Madava Farms

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Madava Farms is the majestic home of Crown Maple® Syrup, quite possibly the purest syrup on earth. Located in Dutchess County, New York, Madava Farms is owned and sustainably managed by Robb and Lydia Turner and is named for the Turner’s daughters, Maddie and Ava.
  logo Madava Farms is perfectly situated in the historic Hudson River Valley where its 800 acres of century-old sugar and red maples enjoy perfect soil and ideal seasonal weather conditions to produce a superior sap for maple sugaring. Our maple syrup farm is also home to the most advanced maple syrup productionfacility in the country. Our ‘sugarhouse’ is the place where the pristine sap collected from our sustainably managed maple groves meets the latest in green, organic production techniques to produce a distinct, pure maple syrup with superior flavor and exceptional quality. LEARN HOW WE CRAFT CROWN MAPLE SYRUP

Robb’s Story:

I grew up spending summers exploring the woods and groves of my family’s farm in Illinois, so finding a place my wife and daughters could enjoy and call their own was important to me. We scoured the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions for just the right place. From my days at West Point, I was familiar with the Dutchess County area so we focused our search there.

When I first saw this property and it’s wide range of geography, incredible trout streams, forests and fields, and that phenomenal view at the top of the mountain, I knew we had found that place. We had found Madava Farm.

Read More

Field Guide / MUDDY CHEF MAGAZINE

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Every year we e-mail PDF files that include directions, event times, event locations, maps, etc.  We also include an event schedule in everyone’s welcome gift bag.   Somehow these seem to disappear or folks forget to print the directions, maps, etc.  This year we are creating a full color, high quality magazine.  The Field Guide will contain interviews, maps, the schedule of events, advertisements and coupons, and an assortment of great articles.

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Want to advertise in the Field Guide?

NOTE – THE ORDER FORM SAYS “GET TICKETS” THAT’S INCORRECT.  YOU ARE ACTUALLY BUYING SPACE IN THE FIELD GUIDE. 

Overland Journal / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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Visit http://www.rowdygentleman.com/

 

2016 Judging Revisions

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2016 Muddy Chef Challenge Judging Revisions

Housewife cooking on the kitchen with big fire

To put it mildly, the judging at the MCC4 was “challenging”.  Too many judges, judges that wandered off during the contest and my personal favorite – a smartphone app that we tested extensively prior to the event, stopped working half way though the judging.

It seemed that every time we tried to correct the course of the judging we encountered more and more problems.

So, to that end we are implementing the following changes in advance of the event.  We believe these changes will address the majority of issues. As always, your comments and ideas are welcome.

Judges Routes through the Campsite during the MCC:

The judges will follow a pre-defined route through the campsite.  They will not deviate from that route.  That way participants will always know the approximate location and timing of the judges.  This will hopefully eliminate problems with locating the judges and assist competitors with timing their food.

Also, we are reducing the judges significantly.  We are keeping each category to five judges in total for each course.  Wherever possible we are seeking highly qualified food experts to anchor each judges panel.

Appetizer:

Five Judges

Main Course:

Five Judges

Desert:

Five Judges

 Judging Categories:

  • Presentation
  • Taste
  • Aroma
  • Creativity
  • Locally Sourced Ingredients
  • Pairing

 Local Ingredient Use:

One judge will verify this information.   This judge will go from campsite to campsite to verity your use of local ingredients.  Participants should post receipts in an easy to verify location.

Those are the changes we see making for 2016.  If you have ideas let us know.  We look forward to seeing you at the Muddy Chef Challenge and our other regional events next year!

 

The Muddy Chef Challenge gets a cameo on Car and Driver

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Eating a plain can of tuna for dinner tonight (don’t ask, #dietssuck) I came across this article on Road and Track.  Crazily, the article was originally found on the Car and Driver website.  Wow is that the work of a serious slacker.  “Hey, let’s post content from the competitors website”.  Anyway, as I read the post, the vehicle seemed familiar.  After scrolling through a few pictures – lo and behold – it’s a Muddy Chef car!  Great photos too.  Here’s the article and a link to the e-bay listing.

Buy This Vintage Land Rover From When 4x4s Actually Went Off-Road
No nav, no heated seats. This stalwart comes from the days when a 4×4 was a working machine.
BY NICHOLAS WALLACE / CAR AND DRIVER (ORIGINAL LINK HERE)

Land Rovers have an undeniable charm. In America, we often think of them as little more than status symbols, cars practical only for those who can afford the high running costs. Elsewhere, however, the Land Rover name is synonymous with off-road capability and durability. No model exemplifies that better than the Land Rover Series II.

The Land Rover’s birth, much like that of the Willys Jeep, came right after the end of World War II. At the time, Rover’s car sales were struggling, so the British company explored the option of building a roadgoing truck that had the off-road capabilities of a tractor. The resulting vehicle was the Land Rover Series I. Initially, the truck was supposed to have a short production cycle, one just long enough to provide working capital for Rover’s other projects. Sales boomed, however, and the Land Rover brand was born.

In the late ’50s, the model saw several improvements, such as short- and long-wheelbase variants, revised exterior styling, and a new 2.25-liter gasoline engine that produced 72 horsepower. These models were called the Series II and Series IIa.​

This particular example, which is currently for sale on eBay, is a short-wheelbase 1966 Series IIa. The owner doesn’t state its mileage but does claim that it’s nearly rust-free and has been daily driven for the past six months (!). That’s the kind of commitment we love to see. And while a Series II Land Rover can go a lot farther afield, you could also take it to Whole Foods if you wanted.​​

Via ​Car and Driver

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!  For a tasty $17,350.00!  Here’s the old ebay listing.   Hopefully that $$$ will go into another Land Rover.

SOLD! ~ NOS Land Rover G4 Challenge Trango 4 Tent

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SOLD!  AND TO AN ACTUAL G4 CHALLENGE COMPETITOR!  

I have a NOS (new-old-stock) Land Rover G4 tent for sale.  This is the ultra rare Land Rover G4 Challenge Trango 4 Mountain Hardware tent.  Virtually all of the G4 Challenge tents were 2 person, this tent is the 4 person model.  Search Google or E-Bay, you won’t find another one anywhere.  This tent is complete with the ground cover, rain fly, vestibule, etc.  These tents are built like a tank.  If you want something amazing to complete your Land Rover collection – this is it.  From what I can tell the tent has never been used and except for a few tiny spots on the rain fly it’s completely perfect and complete.  The G4 Trango 4 comes in two orange G4 tent bags.  NOTE – if the tent looks a little wrinkled that’s because I did not fully setup all the clips and fasteners.  Also, the Land Rover G4 logos are not faded.  Rather they were printed on the INSIDE of the rain fly to preserve the waterproof coating.  Lastly, I did not pull out the rear vestibule because I just wanted to set it up and take a few photos.

$600.00 plus shipping.  Paypal (as a gift) is fine.   Regular Trango 4’s sell for $850.00  The price is firm.  E-mail me for more photos and info @ info@muddychef.com

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Trango™ 4

First introduced in 1995, Trangos have become standard issue for mountaineering expeditions year-round. Teardrop-shaped front and rear doors conveniently tuck away, welded loops for securing the fly and a bathtub-style floor for better weather protection

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Features & Specs

  •  WEIGHT: –12 LB. 14 OZ. / 5.83 KG. –
  •  REVIEWERS RATED THIS PRODUCT: –FITS SLIGHTLY SMALL –
  •  TENT CAPACITY: –4 –
  •  GOOD FOR: –ALPINE CLIMBING –
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Details

  • Industry leading DAC Featherlight™ NSL poles
  • Direct Connection point secures tent body, frame and fly at each guy out point for a solid connection between all three components
  • Large dry entry vestibules with brow pole provide ample headroom and room for gear storage
  • 2 dual canopy and mesh doors
  • Snow flaps on front vestibule seal out spindrift
  • Guaranteed watertight construction with fully taped fly, taped ‘bathtub floor’ construction, welded corners and welded guy clip anchors. Rain room tested.
  • Internal Tension Shelves provides strength, support for vestibule pole, and 3-D storage
  • Mesh and canopy zippered thru-vent allows ventilation and view through the fly window
  • SVX windows for a brighter interior and visibility of exterior conditions
  • Bartacks color code webbing at stake out points for easy pole set up
  • Gear can be stored off the floor using internal mesh pockets or an accessory gear loft (sold separately)
  • Multiple guy out points with self-equalizing guy out anchors on side walls
  • Loops for internal guy system
  • Reflective color coded starter tab on the rainfly and canopy make pitching easy
  • Reflective guy-out loops and zipper pulls are easy to see at night
  • Pitch Light configuration allows user to set up a superlight shelter using only the tent fly, poles and footprint (sold separately) REWORD
  • Optional rectangular or triangular gear loft stows gear off the floor (sold separately)
  • Optional floor footprint available
  • Guy out line and line tensioners included
  • Imported

Materials

  • Pole Type: Paleria ‘DAC Featherlight™ NSL
  • Fabric Fly: 70D Nylon Taffeta 1500mm PU/SIL
  • Fabric Canopy: 40D Nylon 238T Ripstop FR DWR (Tent)
  • Fabric Tent Floor: 70D Nylon 190T Taffeta 10000mm Ether Type PU FR (Tent)

Measurements

  • Apparel Fit: Equipment
  • Weight Packed: 12 lb. 14 oz. / 5.83 kg.
  • Weight Minimum: 11 lb. 12 oz. / 5.31 kg.
  • Weight Pitch Light: 8 lb. 4 oz. / 3.73 kg.
  • Tent Capacity: 4
  • Number of Poles: 5
  • Number of Doors: 2
  • Number of Vestibules: 2
  • Height Interior: 50″ / 127 cm
  • Length Packed: 28 in / 71 cm
  • Diameter Packed: 9 in / 23 cm
  • Tent Floor Area: 57 sq. ft. / 5.3 m2
  • Tent Vestibule Area: 16 sq. ft. 1.5 m2 / 7 sq. ft. 0.6 m2

Tent Pitching Instructions

Cool old advertisement from Land Rover

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DAP Enterprises & Performance Unlimited / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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DAPINC PERFORMUNLI

 

 

 

 

ABOUT PERFORMANCE UNLIMITED

What does the term Automobile Performance really mean?  Is that term reserved for people who want their cars to go fast, or to race in some way? In a really short answer: NO! For a true automobile enthusiast, performance can mean almost anything. Whether you want to make your car go faster, achieve better fuel mileage, look cooler through personalization of its looks, make it fit bigger tires for the rough roads ahead, or just want it to perform at the best that its designers intended it, these are all forms of automobile performance.

So whether you are an off-roader, a racer, enjoy car shows, are a hyper-miler, or just need a tune-up, you are at the right place! The professionals at Performance Unlimited are truly automobile enthusiasts, and speak your language. We pride ourselves on understanding what our customer needs from your visit, and making that happen to your satisfaction and beyond.  

You want to be involved with the modifications so that you can tell your friends you did it? Sure, no problem! You want to drop off your restoration project on a flat bed and pick it up when its done? No problem! Know exactly what you want? Have just a vague idea how you want your custom to look? We are happy to work with you for whatever your needs are.

D.A.P JOINS PERFORMANCE UNLIMITED

We are very proud to announce the merger of D.A.P. ENTERPRISES, INC. with PERFORMANCE UNLIMITED.  Rodney Brooks, owner and operator of Performance Unlimited is a long time associate of D.A.P. By joining forces, D.A.P. and Performance Unlimited are now able to offer a complete range of services all under one roof. From Land Rover restoration to off road modifications on all types of vehicles – the sky’s the limit!

  • Performance Unlimited brings to the table a superb, innovative staff providing in-house painting and body work together with mechanical and fabricating capabilities.
  • D.A.P. will continue to offer competitive parts pricing and our experienced expert staff are available to assist you with your Rover needs.

Rodney Brooks, Owner
A.W. Tocci Jr., Retired
P.H. Allen, Managing Director

PERFORMUNLI

DAPINC

Land Rover Farmington Valley News – The Muddy Chef Challenge

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LAND ROVER FARMINGTON VALLEY

 

Join Us for the Muddy Chef Challenge

We are thrilled to be a title sponsor for the 4th annual “Muddy Chef Challenge” which is a three-day off-roading, gourmet cooking competition, Land Rover enthusiast gathering and much, much more. (Think “The Great Race” meets “Top Chef”!) Don’t miss the fun from July 30 – August 2.

First, a little history…

In 2008, a large group of like minded Land Rover owners got together in Stowe, Vermont for the first Muddy Chef Challenge. A three day event that combines off-roading and a vehicle based gourmet cooking challenge (think Top Gear meets Top Chef).

In 2014, the event was moved to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT. The new location offered a perfect combination of space – the event has grown significantly, beautiful scenery (the northwest corner of Connecticut is breathtaking), access to sporting events (sporting clay shooting and fly fishing at Orvis, etc.) and challenging off-road driving – all while surrounded by Lime Rock Park’s 53 year history of automotive culture. In short – if you like off-road driving, cooking, expedition style camping, motor sports, shooting, vintage cars, fine cigars, craft spirits, and Land Rover – this is the perfect place to be.

For 2015, The Muddy Chef Challenge will return to Lime Rock. We had such a great time last year it made sense to come back for more fun. Lime Rock has undergone several million dollars in infrastructure upgrades including new paddock bathrooms and showers. Also, sections of the grounds have been reconfigured. This should make for an excellent camping experience. This year there will be a Land Rover only parade lap around the track and like last year MCC competitors will be offered rides in high performance racing vehicles on the road course. We will have a dedicated vendor village and even a whiskey and cigar lounge courtesy of WhistlePig Rye.

Also new this year is the IRON MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE. This competition will be held on Friday July 31, 2015 in the afternoon. The IMCC brings back the original focus on the Muddy Chef by having participants cook in the field, away from base camp, and using only what they can carry in their Land Rover. In the style of the Food Network’s “Chopped TV show, participants will be presented with a mystery basket of food (sourced locally at the Sharon Farm Market). As on Chopped, there will be a community pantry of basic food ingredients to pick from. It is up to the skill and creativity of the chef to create an amazing dish. Contestants will be given 50 minutes for this task!

For more information on this fun event, please visit http://muddychef.com/

SPONSOR PROFILE / Crown Maple Syrup

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5 Questions for Crown Maple


(This question is for Annette Cantilli – CFO, Crown Maple) Tell me about your experience as a Judge during last year’s Muddy Chef Challenge and what you are looking forward to this year

I have never eaten so much in one sitting in my entire life.  And the variety of food, the creativity, the comedy, and the pride universally displayed made for a fantastic event, one that all should experience at least once in a lifetime.

What am I looking forward to this year?  – bringing the Jeep Wrangler


(This question is for Kerri Travis – General MGR, Crown Maple) We hear you had quite a time engraving the Crown Maple Muddy Chef Trophy last year.

The engraver (a local Spirits shop) had a very difficult time with the size of the gallon as she was accustomed to engraving wine bottles and wine & champagne glasses.  Thankfully the front of the gallon was successfully engraved.  Rather than chance a mishap we have come up with another plan to add the 2014 winners ‘Two Guys and a Rover’ to the side of the gallon.


(This question is for Tyge Rugenstein – COO, Crown Maple) You have a PhD, a Masters, an MS in Applied Mathematics, and a BS in Civil Engineering.  How are you able to use those skills in a Maple Forest?


My background is in engineering and mathematics. Establishing a productive and efficient sap collection network and processing facility requires good design and technical knowledge, so my previous experiences translate well even though very different from maple production. Just as important is my experience working with soldiers during my 29-year career in the U.S. Army. The similarities between soldiers and those on the Crown Maple woods crew are many. They don’t shy away from hard work, they frequently work in inclement weather, and they must work as a team. They are key to the organization’s success.

 

Crown Maple is an amazing facility can you tell us more about it?


Construction on the Crown Maple sugarhouse began in 2011 and was completed in 2012. The facility can store approximately 50,000 gallons of raw sap and can process over 180 gallons of syrup per hour during peak production days. With 50,000 taps, the sugarhouse will make more than eighteen 55-gallon drums of maple syrup on a good day during sap season.


The reverse osmosis machine, which takes out over 80% of the water from the sap, will process nearly 9000 gallons of sap per hour. The building is capable of expansion with the capacity to accommodate 400,000 taps. In addition to the processing facility, the building is home to Crown Maple’s cafe, tasting room, retail space and corporate offices.

 

What’s the difference between “fake” and real maple syrup?

GOOD: Natural maple syrup is made by boiling the sap of maple trees in the early spring. It is commonly made from sugar maple, as well as red maple, and black maple trees. It takes 40 to 50 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup.  After the maple sap is collected, it is boiled to evaporate the water until a specific temperature is reached. The resulting syrup will be two-thirds sugar and one-third water. The primary sugar is sucrose with lesser amounts of fructose and glucose. Real maple syrup is healthier than fake syrup. It contains nutritionally significant amounts of manganese and zinc, minerals that can boost immune and reproductive health, as well as potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and riboflavin.

 


NOT SO GOOD: Imitation maple syrup, also known as fake syrup, is typically made from high fructose corn syrup with caramel food coloring, artificial flavors, cellulose gum, and food preservatives added.  Imitation syrup is mainly composed of sugars with no vitamins or minerals.


Be sure to visit the tasting room, cafe and gift shop when you visit Crown Maple during The Muddy Chef Challenge!  It’s an amazing facility!

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Whistle Pig Rye Whiskey Review from Mouth.com

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STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY

MADE BY WHISTLEPIG IN SHOREHAM, VERMONT

MOUTH SAYS…

100% rye. 100 proof. Aged for 10 years in New American oak barrels. Oh yeah, WhistlePig is a seriously strong, seriously good rye.

It’s full-bodied with great hints of wintery spice wrapped around a black pepper center. The long aging tames some of the heat and brings along the vanilla and a touch of dark chocolate.

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It’s got a pretty good story, too: Dave Pickerell, longtime Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark, believed that rye was going to be the next big thing, so he went on a quest to find the best rye possible. He fell in love with an unusual 100% rye (rumor has it, it was made by our neighbors to the North, but he’s not telling). He teamed up with WhistlePig founder Raj Bhakta, who bought a 200-year-old working dairy farm in Shoreham where they began hand-bottling the whiskey. Today, they’ve built a distillery, are growing their own organic rye and are working towards distilling and aging their own rye whiskey.

Until then, we’ll just have to settle for drinking this powerfully delicious spirit of top-secret origin that has garnered rave reviews since it hit the market. How’s that for American pluck?

TIP OF THE TONGUE

While whiskey at this price is usually too precious to mix, we love this rye splashed into warm apple cider for a restorative winter warmer.

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THE RULES

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The spirit of the event is that you cook and prepare what you can carry in your Land Rover. We don’t want to kill creativity or fun by creating a huge list of rules. At the same time, we don’t want cheating or shortcutting of the cooking process.

Woman opening a burning oven

Official Rules for 2023:

No store-bought already made items (example – Pillsbury dough, an angel food cake with canned strawberries, etc.) If it’s already made – you can’t use it. If you are not sure – ask.  If you use pre-made items (Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream) for example, your team will be disqualified from ALL events. 

No pre-prepared food (for example – meat marinated at home, or purchased, pre-chopped ingredients, anything made for the event at home or store-bought and brought to the event).

Support vehicles are not allowed to carry extra supplies, cookware, grills, etc.

If you tow a camper with your Land Rover you may use it during the Challenge.

You may not utilize a camper towed by a support vehicle.

No external power (generators or electric power). Vehicle-powered inverters are allowed.

We encourage you to purchase locally sourced ingredients wherever possible (please keep proof of purchase) as this will add to your overall score.

PORTION SIZE:

Portions should be prepared for 5 judges. Please prepare small bite-size portions. Remember they are sampling more than 50 entries (times THREE courses!).

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JUDGING:
Each course (app, main, dessert) will have a team of five judges.  The judges will stick to a predetermined route through the campsite.  Your arrivals package will contain a copy of the judge’s map.  We hope this will instill order and allow for teams to observe the judges progress through the campsite and fire their dishes accordingly. Judges are limited to a 2-minute stay for each presentation.  If your dish is not complete the judges will return for a second visit after a complete route through the campsite. 

Judging Categories:

  • Presentation
  • Taste
  • Aroma
  • Creativity
  • Locally Sourced Ingredients (Please post your receipts in an easy to read location)
  • Pairing

SPONSORED INGREDIENTS:

Prizes will be judged and awarded by select sponsors:

COLLAGE

 

Yeti Cooler / Brisket Recipe

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If you are looking for cooking ideas for your entry in The Muddy Chef Challenge, swing on over to the Yeti Coolers website.  Yeti BBQ ambassadors Justin and Diane Fourton know something about Brisket.  Check out their recipe here.  From the Yeti Cooler website.

TEXAS STYLE SMOKED BRISKET

Written by Justin and Diane Fourton on May 22

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Pecan Lodge was recently ranked one of the top four BBQ joints in the world. Founders Justin and Diane Fourton have perfected smoking a brisket and have decided to share their secrets with the world. Try their tips this holiday weekend and reap the rewards of a mouthwatering, Texas – style brisket.

Step 1– Create your rub Basic Rub 1 cup Kosher Salt 2 cups Course Black Pepper Modified RubStart with the basic rub of 2 parts coarse ground pepper to 1 part kosher salt. Add any combination of the following ingredients to give the rub your own twist. Start by adding the spices in 1 tablespoon increments (tasting as you go), until you get a flavor profile that you like. Garlic Powder Paprika Onion Powder Ground Mustard

Step 2: Trim the brisket With the fat cap facing up, use a sharp knife to carefully trim the fat down to about 1/4 inch. Leaving a little fat on the brisket will help the meat retain its moisture while cooking, and is necessary for developing a distinctive bark/crust on the outside of the brisket.

Step 3: Season Brisket Flip the brisket over so that the fat side is down, resting on your counter. Season the top of the brisket with a heavy layer of rub, using about a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of rub. Pat it into the brisket so it sticks and then flip the meat over, seasoning the other side (now the fat side is facing up), with another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of rub. Place brisket in refrigerator.

Step 4: Prepare your smoker and start cooking While the meat is resting in the refrigerator, light the fire in your pit and let it develop a good base of coals before putting the meat on. Add a couple pieces of wood and set the dampers on your pit so that it is maintaining an even cooking temperature of between 225 and 250 degrees. Once the fire is stabilized, place the brisket on the pit (fat side up) with the point (the thickest part of the brisket) on the part of the pit that is closest to the firebox. Maintain a consistent cooking temperature during the cook, plan on it taking about 1-1.5 hours per pound. You will need a good instant read digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat during the cooking process. Typically you won’t need to check the temperature of the meat until it’s been on the pit for at least 5-6 hours, when doing so, check the temp in both the lean (flat) and fatty (point) of the brisket to gauge how far along the brisket is in its cooking cycle. The internal temperature of the brisket will rise at a regular rate until reaches about 160 degrees, at which point it will appear to “stall” and may remain around 160 – 175 degrees for several hours. It will typically enter this range after having been on the pit for about 4-5 hours and may stay within this range for another 3 hours, before exiting this stalling period. After which the internal temperature will again start to rise steadily until it reaches approximately 190-195 degrees. At this point, the brisket can be removed from the pit. Wrap it in foil or butcher paper and place it in your YETI (fat side up)…it will hold safely in the cooler for several hours until you’re ready to serve. After removing the brisket from the cooler, drain any drippings from that have accumulated in the foil and whisk them into your favorite bbq sauce. Put the sauce in a pan and bring to a boil on the stove, then remove from the heat.

Step 5: Slicing Place brisket on a large cutting board, with the fat side up. Start slicing from the flat (the thinnest part of the brisket). When you have sliced about 1/2 through the brisket , rotate it 180 degrees and continuing slicing until complete.

Photography from Robert Lerma

 

JUSTIN AND DIANE FOURTON

ambassador imageIt all started when Justin and Diane Fourton ditched their corporate jobs to pursue their dream and spend more time as a family. To be honest, they weren’t out to set the world on fire – just some mesquite wood, plus a little oak. But one mouthwatering bite of brisket led to another, and before they knew it, the juicy secret about Pecan Lodge was out. Food Network filmed an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and folks began to serve up heaping portions of praise for what Texas Monthly called one of the Top 4 BBQ joints in the world and Southern Living Magazine named the best pulled pork in the South.

It’s not easy work, but they love what they’re doing. And there are no shortcuts to doing it right. Their BBQ pits burn 24 hours a day, fueled by nothing but wood and passion. If it can be made from scratch, they do it that way- from grinding and stuffing their own sausage to making the custard for Aunt Polly’s banana pudding.

 

HARDING LANE / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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OUR STORY

how it all started

As sister and brother growing up in Massachusetts, we always dreamed about not only working together but also working for ourselves. In the spring of 2009, after one of us had spent a few years working in New York and the other had just graduated from college, we came up with an idea: Steve was perpetually in search for the perfect fitting baseball cap (something he could never seem to find) and one that didn’t have brand names or team logos on it. Sarah had grown up needlepointing belts and pillows for family and friends, and we thought about how cool it would be to put needlepoint stitching on a baseball hat (something we had never seen before) and to give profits back to environmental organizations.

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We went searching for over a year to find a manufacturer that could not only meet our high standards creatively, but also environmentally and socially. For us, knowing where, how, and by whom our products are made is paramount. Our manufacturer is FLA (Fair Labor), WRAP (Worker’s Rights) and SA8000 (Social Accountability) certified, and is known for meeting the goals of eco-friendly brands from around the world.

We give a percentage of our annual profits back to The Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts based organization committed to protecting nearly 27,000 acres of land in the state. For more information, please check out GIVING BACK.

Our mission is to create unique products that look great and give back.

VISIT THE WEBSITE

PRESS

“all the news that’s fit to print”

Nashville Lifestyle Weddings, Winter/Spring 2014

The Boston Globe, June 2013

Town & Country, April 2013

Nylon, September 2012

Women’s Wear Daily, July 2012

Town & Country, June/July 2012

Rhode Island Monthly, June 2012

Glamour, May 2012

Yachting Magazine, March 2012

The Boston Globe, February 9, 2012

Cape Cod Magazine, August 2011

 

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SPONSOR PROFILE / Alex Josefson, President of Spectro Oils

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5 Questions for Alex Josefson, President of Spectro Oils

 

Tell us about yourself, your history with the company and about Spectro.

About me? I’m an outdoorsman, I enjoy cooking (and eating), and I love anything with a motor, I am basically the embodiment of the Muddy Chef! Ha-ha.

My history with Spectro Oils is rather intertwined as it is my family’s business. It was my grandfather, Robert Wehman who started Spectro Oils in 1966 right here in Connecticut, where we have been now for almost 50 years! We have been family owned and operated since day 1, with the goal to make high performance, and quality lubricants.

It’s funny, but I never know how to respond to people who ask me how long I have been working here. I have been a full time employee for around 4 years now, but I have always been with the company in some regard. Even when it was sweeping the floors during the summers in High School to help out. It was amazing how I always got called in when there were weird odd jobs, or long time consuming ones, but it never mattered to me because I have always loved being around, and being a part of this company. My proof in that is whenever we package gear oils, every employee complains due to the smell, the additives in gear oils tend to be rather, shall we say….pungent. But to me it’s a great smell, it brings me back to when I would visit my dad, uncle, grandfather, and grandmother when I was young, to me it’s a nostalgic smell.

Most of the vehicles at The Muddy Chef Challenge use the ancient Buick designed flat-tappet V8. What’s a good Spectro oil and why?

Spectro makes a number of oils that would fit a wide variety of Land Rovers. But the ones that would best fit that Buick motor would have to be our Motor-Guard 20w50. We carry it in two forms, a straight petroleum, as well as a semi-synthetic.

 

The reason that Spectro’s Motor-Guard line is a great fit for these motors is that they are high in an additive called ZDDP, or if you prefer the long name Zinc DiakylDithioPhosphates. ZDDP is a must have in any race cars, and classic cars/trucks, especially pre-catalytic converter, or that have flat tappet motors. The most important part off ZDDP is the zinc, because it is what we call an anti-wear agent. In short zinc bonds to the metal surfaces inside of your motor, and acts as a sacrificial barrier to prevent engine wear. It helps reduce the internal damage in the motor that can lead to major repairs.

What was your favorite moment from last year’s Muddy Chef Challenge?

Do I have to pick one moment? I honestly enjoyed the MCC from the second I got to the Falls Village Inn for the pre-weekend festivities to the closing awards ceremony. The biggest thing I enjoyed about this event though is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s FUN!!! That’s what the whole adventure is about, and it shows from every aspect. From allowing contestants to bribe judges (Feel free to contact me ahead of time this year for a list of my likes, and dislikes), to the comradery, and the genuine feeling that everyone is there to have a good time, it’s an exceptional event through and through.

But when all is said and done the one thing that impressed me more than anything else at the event was how everyone helped each other out. I saw people helping to fix other Rovers that went down, people sharing spices and other supplies during the cook-off, and some who went out of their way to make sure everyone got a chance to go out on the trails and have an adventure.

I really cannot say enough about the MCC staff, the contestants, and the event itself, it was truly a special event to be a part of.

You had a unique perspective as a judge. What was it like tasting all those courses?

Divine. Filling. Hilarious. Let there be no question I was the least proper judge at the table. Other judges were using words I barely understood to describe the flavors, and textures (I’m fairly certain they made a few of them up just to mess with me). But I started to get the hang of it, and have pretty much had Food Network on every day since then to prepare myself for this year.

Now the problem is going to be stretching out my stomach before the event. I am a larger individual who has been known to eat large quantities in one sitting before, but I have never been as full as I was after the MCC3 judging. I beg all of you that are participating this year, please bring us smaller portion sizes. You put amazing food in front of me last year, and with every bite I got larger and larger. But who am I kidding, I loved every second of it!

What to you plan to display/sell/offer at this year’s event?

I plan on setting up a nice little retail operation at the track this year. I will make sure to have a number of different oils to make sure that I have exactly what you need. I will also have with me a few of our cleaning products so you can make that Rover nice and clean for the next day out on the trail!

 

I will also have a number of giveaways of hats, stickers, t-shirts, and other things of that nature.

Be prepared for awards for things like;

  • Most outlandish campsite
  • Biggest Off-road Smile
  • Weirdest food Pairing
  • Best Location/Use of a Spectro Sticker
  • 3rd Best Dressed (Behind MHP and Eric of course)

 

I would also just like to take a moment to thank everyone involved in the MCC.  I have seen only a fraction of what Eric and Kristen do to make sure the event is as fun as possible and even that fraction was immense. Along with them are a number of instructors, photographers, other sponsors, and the Lime Rock Park office, all of whom don’t get enough credit for what they do to make this happen. I am lucky that I am able to do a lot of traveling for my job, and everywhere I went I was telling people about the Muddy Chef. I can honestly say that from Daytona to Milan, from Cologne to Chicago, there are many people out there who are jealous of this event. Please make sure that while we are there to really give credit, and thanks to the people that make the Muddy Chef possible.

PROFILE / Robert Nimkoff

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THE LAND ROVER MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE

 

Proust/Solihull Questionnaire

1.      If Land Rover made an aircraft would you fly in it?   Why/Why Not?

Yes, but it would have to be a glider.

2.      Tell us a little about your background, your career and where you live.

Ex Seafood industry exec from Westport, CT currently living in Weston, CT. Punted the corp arena in 2008 to professionally pursue auto racing career and that’s how I’m depleting my retirement funds now!

3.      How many Land Rovers have you owned and which was your favorite?

My 1982 Stage One SIII is the first Land Rover for me. Ever since my Uncle bought a SII back in the 70’s (named Ralph) I’ve wanted one. Still want an 88 as well.

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4.      What’s the best thing about owning a Land Rover?

Just being different and not having a carefree easy to drive car. It’s also very utilitarian for camping and farm work.

5.      What’s the worst thing about owning a Land Rover?

Not being able to smoke, drink and text at the same time because I’ve got to watch the road at all times!!!

6.      Been on an adventure? – tell us about it

Since it’s a new acquisition the Muddy Chef 3 was my first foray off road. Needless to say I had an adventure at Orvis when she rolled on the side in the articulation section. See photo!!

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7.      How do you plan to beat the competition this year at the Muddy Chef Challenge?

     Mario Batali is my co camper this year so I don’t need to say much more than that.

8.      If you could ask Land Rover for a particular type of vehicle what would it be?

Probably another gnarly basic off Series like vehicle. Jeep have taken this segment. Take it back.

9.      What upgrades/modifications does your Land Rover have?

Pretty stock. US trailer hitch.

10.  If you were on safari which three people would you pick to bring along?

Richard Leakey,  Jim Carrey (most recently in Dumb and Dumber to),  and my son.

Richard Leakey is Kenyan politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist.

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LIME ROCK PARK / Track Improvements

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Last week I visited Lime Rock Park to check on the upgrades and changes to the track.  Perhaps the most interesting change for Muddy Chef participants can be seen on the map below and highlighted in yellow.  If you were with us last year, you may remember the hospitality tents were setup on a hillside.  That hill is no longer there.  The new paddock showers and bathrooms should be fantastic!  I’ll post photos shortly.

Checkout the press release from Lime Rock below for more information.

 

Lime Rock Park

Lime Rock spending millions as it builds a better competitor and sanctioning-body experience

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (April 16) – Lime Rock Park Track President Skip Barber recently committed more than $3 million to a wide variety of projects to significantly rebuild Lime Rock’s infrastructure, with a primary goal of providing vastly improved facilities to specifically benefit competitors and sanctioning bodies.

Lime Rock Park

“We’re changing Lime Rock’s competitor-supporting infrastructure from pre-historic to near state of the art. And it will all be beautiful,” Barber said.

By early summer, the project will result in acres of trackside pavement significantly larger than at any time in Lime Rock’s history. The A- and B-Paddocks will be perfectly smooth asphalt and combined, there are 7 acres of paddock pavement. Both paddocks will also be attractively landscaped.

Lime Rock Park

Not since Lime Rock Park’s race track surface itself was re-built in 2008 has a construction project of this magnitude been greenlighted at the famous 1.5-mile automotive and motorsports venue in Connecticut’s Northwest Corner. Some of these projects will be complete in time for Lime Rock’s season-opener – the Memorial Day Weekend Trans Am Series, and Royals Sunday Car Show, May 22-24 – and the rest in time for the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar weekend July 24-25.

“In 2008, the track itself had to get done – it was exceedingly bumpy, it needed more guardrail, better run-off areas. Now we’ve addressed the paddocks in a significant, competitor-centric way,” Barber said.

“We’re doing what we need to do – what we want to do – to ensure the track’s professional racing future,” Barber says. “Major sports car races have defined Lime Rock since the day it opened, and I’m making sure that continues well into the future.

“It’s important to note that everything we’re doing, all the changes, all the improvements… all will make Lime Rock more useful, easier to navigate, more sensible – but all with an eye to making Lime Rock even more beautiful than it already is. I have no doubt that, just in the case of our paddocks, Lime Rock’s will be the most useful and attractive in the U.S.”

Of the multitude of Road to 60 projects underway, the highlights are…

A-Paddock
To be completely re-done and much larger, plus: laser-graded-and-paved to eliminate standing water; it will be landscaped; there’ll be defined spectator walkways and cobblestone curbing; and the roadways through the paddock will be much wider. The new A-Paddock is specifically designed to allow two complete race rigs, tractors included, to park in-line – with a walkway in between – from inside Big Bend up to Victory Circle. Additionally, it will provide large and extremely efficient driving exercise and hospitality acreage for automakers as well as other ride-and-drive, press day and driver-training clients.

April 2015: A-Paddock will have an attractive retention pond behind the all-new Big Bend inside guardrail

Lime Rock Park

B-Paddock
To be completely re-done: Paved in its entirety (and also laser-graded to eliminate standing water), there’ll be much more usable space.

Hospitality Acreage
Manufacturers and teams now have choice of three large areas of Lime Rock property dedicated to corporate, race team and VIP hospitality. The popular Outfield hospitality acreage remains essentially the same but the existing hospitality area in the Infield (between the Chalets) has been significantly increased in size and laser-graded. The third is an exciting new hospitality area that overlooks the Righthander and No Name Straight. “The locations of our hospitality facilities will be second to none,” Barber says. Lime Rock also has three chalets, and multiple (and recently refurbished) trackside meeting rooms.

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Infield Spectator Hillside
Completely re-done: Close to 100,000 square yards of earth was moved, re-contoured, re-sloped and/or removed to dramatically improve and expand the sightlines as well as make Lime Rock’s famous “picnic-blanket-and-lawn-chair” experience even more enjoyable. Thanks to the re-working of the hill, close to 45 percent of the track can now be seen from this Hillside – with just a turn of the head.

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Additionally, the Infield Spectator Hillside has been extended all the way through the inside curve of the Righthander, creating an entirely new and exciting viewing area of No Name Straight and the Uphill. The Hillside reconfiguration has also allowed the spectator fencing to be moved even closer to the circuit in many locations.

A-Paddock Rest Rooms
The Men’s Room will be completely rebuilt – designed by Sam Posey and David Moore – and the Ladies Room totally refreshed.

Handicap Access
It will be improved and/or added throughout much of the facility.

Also: There’ll be a new PA system; expanded and robust wi-fi; improved cellular service; and improvements and expansions to the other spectator areas

 

 

PROFILE / Max Simmons

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THE LAND ROVER MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE

This week we interview attorney, new father, style icon and sunroof-less Discovery owner Max Simmons.

Proust/Solihull Questionnaire


 

1. If Land Rover made an aircraft would you fly in it? Why/Why Not?

 

I’d always trust a Land Rover to get me to the remotest location. I’d want an aircraft carrier there waiting for me in the event that it assumed the British position when I went to start it the next morning.

 

2. Tell us a little about your background, your career and where you live.

 

Blue-eyed blond welfare baby born to a teen single-mother in small-town central Illinois. After working my way through college (and I do mean working — ask me sometime about some of those jobs!) I spent nearly a decade working for non-profits and politicians in Wisconsin till opting for law-school. I now live in New Haven with my perfect wife, Abigail, and our perfect children, Emma-Marguerite and Francesco. My eyes are still blue but the hair is gray.

 

3. How many Land Rovers have you owned and which was your favorite?

 

My ’97 Discovery is my first. It’s perfect for me. Stepped roof, alpine windows, and super-robust frame and drivetrain echo the original safari-mobiles while the ABS, airbags, A/C and side-impact beams update it just enough (my friends say it’s perfect for me because it’s a little bit redneck and a little bit elitist). After a long region-wide search (I wanted one without sunroofs) I found it hibernating mostly rust-free in an East Haven garage. The owner bought it as a project that he never got around to starting.

 

4. What’s the best thing about owning a Land Rover?

 

Two things: (1) Seeing it waiting for me in the parking lot: It promises adventure and escape, even if only once in a while, and (2) the friendship with my mechanic.


5. What’s the worst thing about owning a Land Rover?

 

The friendship with my mechanic.

 

6. Been on an adventure? – tell us about it

 

Besides the Muddy Chef? So far the adventures have been the steep learning curve in roadside repairs using bubblegum and duct tape.

 

7. How do you plan to beat the competition this year at the Muddy Chef Challenge?

Lock Eric Archer and Chris Copeland in the basement till August 3rd.


 


8. If you could ask Land Rover for a particular type of vehicle what would it be?

 

An updated NAS Defender 110 (or a 130!). I’m a family guy, and I’d love to have a suitably sized Rover for hauling the whole herd into some more remote locations.

 

9.    What upgrades/modifications does your Land Rover have?

TrueTrac diffs, front diff guard, JATE rings, and . . . new headliner!


 


10. If you were on safari what three people (living or dead) would you pick to bring along?

I probably should say Selous, Stanley and Schweitzer, but more likely I’d prefer Groucho Marx, Julia Child and Ansel Adams.



PROFILE / Keenan Langlois

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THE LAND ROVER MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE

This week we are interviewing Keenan Langlois – Muddy Chef competitor, professional Chef, LR4 owner,  and the man with one of the coolest campsites at last year’s Muddy Chef Challenge.

Proust/Solihull Questionnaire

1.      If Land Rover made an aircraft would you fly in it?   Why/Why Not?

Yes.  I would imagine if Land Rover made an aircraft it would be a helicopter, luxury on the inside with amazing maneuverability.

2.      Tell us a little about your background, your career, and where you live.

I am a chef at The Sinclair Kitchen in Harvard Square, and I live in Salem, MA just outside of Boston.  My family were Jeep owners since the seventies until I drove my sisters 2003 Disco a few years back.  I bought my first Land Rover in 2014.

 3.      How many Land Rovers have you owned and which was your favorite?

I have had the good/bad fortune of owning my first TWO rovers in one year.  This due to a wreck that totaled my first one in February.  I soon was on the hunt for another same year and color, which I picked up four weeks ago.

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4.      What’s the best thing about owning a Land Rover?

This year’s snowfall in the Northeast was abominable.  Loved just getting in the LR cranking it up, raise suspension and put it in drive. No shovel required!  This car also saved me a lot of pain from the wreck.  I walked away from a 60 mph head on collision.

keenan lr2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.      What’s the worst thing about owning a Land Rover?

The temperamental warning lights.  What’s going to light up next?

 

6.     Been on an adventure? – tell us about it

My only great Land Rover adventure was MCC3, had a blast and looking forward to MCC4!

 

7.      How do you plan to beat the competition this year at the Muddy Chef Challenge?

I’m not looking to win anything in the chef challenge.  I just want to meet great new people and get into some serious mud.

   8.      If you could ask Land Rover for a particular type of vehicle what would it be?

I’ll leave the planning up to the experts.  Looks like they are going in the right direction with the Evoque and the new Disco Sport!

9.      What upgrades/modifications does your Land Rover have?

Since recommendations from new friends at  MCC3 I had added Johnson Rods and General Grabber AT 285/65/18.  Lost in the accident, but I will rebuild.

 10.  If you were on safari which three people would you pick to bring along?

  • Bear Grylls-because who wouldn’t want a survivalist by their side?

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  • Gene’s Beans (Gene Schubert) – to gently guide me through the rough terrain.

  • Kate Upton-because why the hell not?

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Join us next Monday for the next installment of “PROFILES” 

 

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Land Rover Series III for sale! / Need a ride for The Muddy Chef Challenge?

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REALLY A SERIES III?

A Land Rover Series III for sale?  Wow!  So you want a classic Series III Land Rover but ain’t a bank president.  Or you are a bank president and you want an immaculate Series III Land Rover…  The car below could be either.  It’s an amazing original Land Rover with a huge amount of extra parts and some extremely rare stuff.  Have you ever seen the original tool roll and the protecto-plate ID plate?   No?  Neither had I.

WHAT’S IT NEED?

Almost certainly a frame.  It’s crusty.   But, the truck drives and runs fine and has an overdrive.  That’s important for going somewhere closer than the local beach or camping trip.

 WHAT’S IT COST?

Well, that depends.  You can buy it one of two ways.  As it is and do the work yourself.  Or negotiate a new frame and have an amazing barn find truck to drive anywhere.

I’M INTERESTED!

PM me at info@muddychef.com and I’ll hook you up with the seller.  I’ll tell you in advance he ain’t looking for bargain hunters or tire kickers.

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Hillrock Estate Distillery in Whisky Advocate

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Hillrock Estate Distillery: tiny, vertical, and beautiful

July 2nd, 2012

Whisky Advocate’s managing editor and contributor Lew Bryson reports on his visit to Hillrock Estate Distillery.

I recently took a trip up to Hillrock Estate Distillery, near Ancram, New York. The distillery is east of the Hudson River, near the Massachusetts border, in a rolling, wooded valley near the Berkshires, an area that was settled by Dutch grain planters. This is a part of the country I’m well familiar with; my wife grew up here, and we were married about fifteen miles away. So I wasn’t surprised to find that the roads to Hillrock were narrow and winding, or that the place itself was beautifully rural.

Hillrock is the baby of Jeffrey Baker, who made his money in banking…but has a farming background. He’s been involved in small-scale farming as a sideline for over 20 years, having started with a dairy farm in 1989, then organic beef, finally moving down from the Vermont border to Ancram, where he became interested in the concept of field-to-glass distilling. He was particularly interested in the idea of tasting a difference from grain grown in one field vs. another, and eventually hooked up with well-known distilling expert Dave Pickerell.

Dave’s spent quite a bit of time here in the past year, and was there when I arrived at Baker’s 1806 farmhouse. They were in a mood to celebrate: they had just that very minute received an approval email from ATTTB for their solera bourbon label. We went out on the porch, looked down on the distillery, sitting in a sunny spot between a barley field and a rye field, and talked.

Hillrock’s all about details. The rye and barley is grown here and on another 100 or so acres in the valley (the corn is grown by local farmers); it’s being grown organically, but they haven’t received their certification yet. They built a malthouse with floor maltings, what they believe to be the first such in-house distillery maltings in the country since Repeal. They’re using a variety of smoking techniques for some of the malt (and looking at old maps to find local peat sources). They are distilling on a combi-still (a pot still with a column) with a series of adjustments applicable to the type of spirit produced that Pickerell would take pains to show me (distillation began in October, 2011). They are currently aging spirit in seven different barrel sizes.

It was the seven different barrel sizes that led Pickerell to laugh and admit, “Sometimes I do things that are a pain in the ass.” His day-to-day distiller (and maltster, and warehouse manager, and bottler…), Tim Welly, grinned in tacit agreement.

That in turn led Baker to admit that he went along with all of it, and instigated some of it. That’s why he’s the sole investor. “I’m a detail-oriented guy,” he explained. “If you’re going to do this, something this insane…do you really want an investor looking over your shoulder?”

We did sit down and taste the solera bourbon, which includes aged stock they bought and mingled with small-barrel aged Hillrock distillate. It is a good whiskey, with a cinnamon-spicy, fruit-laced finish. Dave recalled his excitement when that spicy note appeared. “That’s from that field,” he said. It was proof of the terroir concept, when they knew they had something with the estate-grown grain concept.

The solera bourbon will be available in New York around the beginning of October, as will a single malt whisky that is about to begin a wood finishing process. Dave was a bit cagey about that, only saying that he’d done research and found a dynamite wood to season whiskey; further pressure would only get that it was a type of fruit tree. Or maybe a nut tree. And he wouldn’t tell me more.

The tasting room is more like a small vineyard than most small distillery’s, with graceful wood furniture and samples of locally-grown foods. The whole place is simply elegant, and will make a great tour once it’s open.

There’s not going to be a lot of whiskey out of Hillrock, but I suspect we’ll be seeing more of them, and more of this type of high-end distillery; like Distillery No. 209, a high-end gin distillery in San Francisco that I visited last fall. This is going to be part of the future of whiskey distilling, a small and very interesting part.

From: http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2012/07/02/hillrock-estate-distillery-tiny-vertical-and-beautiful/

The Land Rover Writer / Muddy Chef Challenge 2014

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The Land Rover Writer

Help Please, Santa
Winter Memories
Behind the Steering Wheel [Courtesy Rovers Magazine, Nov/Dec. 2014]

By Jeffrey Aronson

To: Santa Claus

From: Jeffrey Aronson

Subject: Scandalous Accusations

In compiling this year’s list of requested Land Rover items some scurrilous elves have implied that I’ve neglected my Land Rover during 2014, which would move me from the “Nice” list to the “Naughty” one. I feel compelled to share with you my care for the Land Rover in order that you might have a more complete picture prior to your final decision.

This summer – well, truthfully, this spring and summer – my II-A exhibited signs of carburetor flooding, viz., clouds of black smoke upon start up. Its spark plugs looked like they had been washed ashore after the Gulf of Mexico BP spill. After a mere three months of spreading clouds of unburnt gas I removed the carburetor one evening, disassembled it, cleaned every part, reassembled and re-installed it. I “test drove” it for a month, and yes, it continued to misbehave, but within only six weeks, I finally ordered a new carburetor from Rovers North that immediately ended the problem. Surely my rapid response to this issue should warrant retention in the Nice” category.

Yes, last spring’s “timing by ear” might have advanced things a bit – ok, a lot – but within a mere month I had put the timing light to the Rover and brought it back to spec. I would not also not want you to forget this summer’s wash; had you seen it you would have admired its shine. I even swept out the interior – twice – when company announced their arrival. Indeed, photo evidence from last winter will document that I actually swept snow off the car beforestarting off! When a rainstorm, followed immediately by an Artic front, froze the key and the ignition lock together, who do you think dragged out an electric heater to thaw out the interior?

In summary I would ask that you recognize my accomplishments on behalf of the QEI this year and accept my 10-page list of presents. I ask that you exercise care in not bending the new door skins when bringing them down the chimney and feel free to use the new elephant hide seats on the sleigh before leaving them under my tree.  As with last year you’ll recognize my house from the Land Rover signs beside the wreath and the Land Rover artwork on the inside walls. Please note that snacks for you will be on the mantle, along with treats for the reindeer, which I will leave on the roof.

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The QE I, my ’66 II-A, has remained my “go to” vehicle since its purchase in late 1991. Its previous owner had earned the nickname “The Terminator,” but he had refurbished mine to be his “stock” Land Rover. My test drive consisted of 10 minute tootle across some farm fields in southern Maine, on a bright sunny day. The faded Sage Green paint had the right patina, the elephant hide interior had the right smells and the safari top promised a life of adventure. I ignored every piece of advice on how to assess a Series Land Rover and bought it on the spot. A week later I got a ride to pick it up. That’s when the four different retreads began their tarmac shimmy, the dirty contacts in the fuse box refused to send power to the windshield wipers – it rained that day, of course –  and the ammeter needle flew raged across the gauge like a character in “Breaking Bad.” The 30 minute drive to my-then house in Maine produced a virulent case of buyer’s remorse as I had purchased the Land Rover to enable me to start my new free-lance contract worker life.

A 25-year old vehicle with 111,000 miles seemed like a questionable choice to friends but the QE I has been a faithful workhorse in near-daily use. Its current Rovers North-rebuilt engine has run for 360,000 and still maintains good cylinder compression; I’ve never even had the head off this engine. Stuff happens to a Land Rover used primarily for work; the transmission has been rebuilt once, the clutch replaced twice (as has the rear differential) and it has sat for 10 years on a Rovers North galvanized frame. I’ve gone through tankers of engine oil, gallons of gear oil, many feet of electrical wire and duct tape.  My calls to Rovers North have been made from the comfort of my home to the misery of distant roadsides but my Rover has kept me going.

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This is the season when it’s essential to recognize what my Land Rover has made possible as well as the extraordinary people it has brought into my life. This past summer I joined enthusiasts from New Jersey, to New Hampshire at Peter Voller’s first Vermont Overland Rally in Rockingham, VT. Every model of Land Rover, from Jim Macri’s concours Series Land Rovers to Land Rover Scarborough’s 2014 Range Rovers to a wide range of Discoverys and Defenders, mingled on Justin Lillie’s farm fields and woodland trails. The camping and camaraderie was matched only by the fun on the newly-created off road trails and Class 4 roads in south-central Vermont. From the British Invasion, Stowe, VT, to the Muddy Chef Challenge, Lakeville, CT, to Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Rally, to the Solaros down south and the Solihull Society’s National Rally out west – whether greenlining or the extremes of Moab, you’re in great company.

Land Rovers attract interesting people and make enthusiasts out of them. Their sense of adventure drives them, no matter what their age, gender, profession or occupation. Circumstances might restrict their activities but not their vision.  Some travel around the world and some explore distant locales; others take their kids camping for the weekend. Some bring vitally needed supplies and equipment to stricken regions; some transport children to school and activities. To undertake any trip in a Land Rover makes that travel special and invigorating.

The affection for my Land Rover makes my rare visit to Rovers North a treat. This fall’s trip came after the British Invasion in Stowe, VT. Not only did the foliage provide a spectacular color show but a rainbow appeared in the sky that seemed to end over Westford. Prompted in advance of my visit, the sales techs – those familiar voices on the phone: Les, Arthur, Rob, Greg, Eric, Zack, Buck and Travis – had removed the “Jeff’s Stupid Questions” whiteboard from the wall. Their accumulated knowledge and experience with Land Rovers, coupled with the complete databases at their fingertips, reassured me that I can keep my II-A fully functional for the future. More importantly to most enthusiasts that commitment extends to the Discovery, Range Rover and Defender models as well.
The shipping crew in the warehouse made it clear they knew exactly where I lived. The parts inventory, which looked vast to me, was increased by yet another container shipment that arrived during my visit – craftily, I weaseled out of helping unload the enormous container by claiming magazine deadlines. The headquarters also featured a kennel’s worth of friendly dogs who alternated between clamoring for attention and falling asleep in front of you. I’m confident I interrupted important work by many of the Rovers North staff that day. Working with Thompson Smith, the magazine’s terrific art director, we obsessed about the best photos for the most compelling articles. While we enthused about the stories enthusiasts had sent to us, the rest of the Rovers North crew busied themselves in sourcing quality parts, helping you choose the right part[s], selecting and packaging it among the tens of thousands in the inventory and sending it to the right address at the right time, every workday.

Not long after I bought the QE I my Rovers North catalogue arrived in the mail and their phone number became imbedded in my memory. By 1993 I had written by first article for what was then The Rovers North News; a year later, I became the editor. Twenty years later I’m still grateful for the opportunity to send Holiday wishes to every reader. Let your Land Rover help you do something extraordinary for yourself in 2015.

Copyright Jeffrey B. Aronson and Rovers North 2014

 

 

 

Congleton Service / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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WE BUILT OUR REPUTATION THROUGH EXCELLENCE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

Founded in 2006 Congleton Service (formerly Congleton Racing and Restoration) is an independent Land Rover repair center.   We repair Range Rover, Range Rover Classic, Range Rover Sport, Defender 90, Defender 110, Discovery, LR2, LR3 and LR4 Land Rovers.  We also specialize in classic Land Rover Series I, IIA, III and Forward Control 101’s.

Our facility is clean, well lit and comfortable.  Be sure to stop and visit with your Land Rover.  Our customers are our best supporters and friends!  We look forward to exceeding your service needs.  Please take a stroll through our website to see what’s going on in the shop.  Our “Social” page provides up to the minute Instagram photos of what’s happening.   If you subscribe to Rovers magazine from Rovers North, be sure to look for our regular tech and how-to articles.

 Congleton Service
412 Westford Road
Milton, VT 05468
Tel: 802-879-0200

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How can we help you?   Call us today!  Tel: 802-879-0200

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The Muddy Chef Challenge in Connecticut Magazine

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Vintage Land Rovers as Lifestyle Statements; Muddy Chef Challenge 3 in Lakeville

BY SARAH PAGE KYRCZ
Vintage Land Rovers as Lifestyle Statements; Muddy Chef Challenge 3 in Lakeville

Calling all Land Rover enthusiasts. Pack up your oriental rugs, leather chairs, Land Rover flags and signs, gourmet grub, camp grills and lots and lots of gusto and head up to Lime Rock Park for a weekend of off road adventure, fine food and drink and lots of camaraderie.

The Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge 3 is an adventurous weekend for Land Rover drivers who want to push their vehicle to the limits in rivers, over mountains and through woods, all under supervision, of course.

Planned for July 31 through Aug. 3, Land Rovers will descend upon Lime Rock Park and spend the weekend at area venues and proving what rugged, sturdy vehicles they really are built to be. Preregistration is required online.

Aside from a camping fee of $35 a night, the event is free. Proceeds from a weekend raffle will benefit Autism Speaks.

(Right, the 1982 Land Rover 109 Stage 1 owned by James Wollschlager of Mystic. Photo by Eric Archer of Warwick, R.I.)

“Land Rovers are your sort of rugged, safari, adventure-type vehicle,” says event creator Eric Yohe (below). As an owner of an unrestored, 1961 Land Rover Series IIA, the Madison resident is passionate about all things Land Rover and is a foodie.

Yohe arranged the first Muddy Chef in Stowe, Vermont, and went on to host last year’s event in Mystic. Bringing the road race/cook-off to Lime Rock was a natural progression and embraced by the park’s Director of Business Development Walter Irvine, another Land Rover enthusiast, and former owner of a Land Rover LR2, who enjoys the “culture.”

“Off-roaders (are) very adventurous, typically very philanthropic, really up to doing crazy stuff like off-roading all day and then coming back and putting on a blazer and making a gourmet meal AT their truck,” Irvine explains.

Cooking a gourmet repast is part of the challenge. Attendees may cook whatever they can transport in their Land Rover. The dishes are then judged by an esteemed panel of fellow epicureans. No one walks away hungry and everyone has lots of fun concocting what they think is the tops in haute cuisine.

“It’s exciting and it’s nerve-wracking and you have to adapt, but it’s tons of fun,” says Madison participant Kristen Feeney.

How do fresh Nantucket bay scallops on a bed of local roasted sweet corn sound? To Yohe it sounded like a winning entry last year. Alas, other venturesome gourmands apparently served entries better tasting, better presented and better liked by the judges.

Away from the rugged terrain, attendees will put on their best cocktail attire—blazers and shorts and Lilly Pulitzer shifts—and visit two local venues.

The Falls Village Inn, complete with a taproom designed to honor the Lime Rock legacy, is “intimate and comfortable…A feel that honors not only Falls Village, but also that of Lime Rock Park, our famous neighbor,” says the website.

Up the road in Dutchess County, New York, a long winding road will take guests to theMadava Farms where Crown Maple Syrup is tapped and refined to make a one of a kind maple syrup. While feeling like they have entered a Napa Valley winery, guests may partake in a maple syrup tasting in a finely appointed tasting room complete with a copper bar, website:

Some of the events sound outrageous: “For those of you who want super rock crawler, smashed body panel gnarly you have access to Old Florida Road and MaBelle in Western, MA,” according to muddychef.com. Yet Yohe stresses there is something for everyone.

“What I like about it the most is, despite the stressful things you have going in your life you really can’t think about anything else in your life except how am I going to get this vehicle and myself through these woods, over this obstacle,” Robert Wollschlager says. “It’s fantastic.”

Wollschlager, of Mystic, will join in on the fun with his dad, James. They will bring two of their four Land Rovers – a 1972 Land Rover Series 3 88 and 1982 Series 3 Stage- 1 V8 109.

Each morning there will be vehicle inspections and safety talks. The only prerequisite is that “your vehicle should be in good repair without any serious frame rust and able to handle basic off-road challenges.”

“The majority of our vehicles are the rare ones, the early ’60s ones, the ’70s … the classic Land Rovers,” Yohe says. In addition, the event draws drivers of “the Defender, which is what you see on safari…we get lots of those.”

See the full story at Shoreline Times.

Atlantic British / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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About Atlantic British Ltd.

Atlantic British Headquarters Clifton Park NY

Why Shop With Atlantic British?

Our Story

Atlantic British Ltd. is a pioneer in Land Rover parts supply. In 1970, Atlantic British opened for business and became North America’s first mail-order resource for maintenance parts for Land Rovers. In fact, during 1974 – 1987, when Land Rover’s dealer network pulled out of the United States, Atlantic British was one of the very few sources available for Rover accessories and parts.

Many of our “charter customers” are still with us, as are many of their sons and daughters who have also been bitten by the Rover bug.

Serving Land Rovers owners for over 3 decades, we’ve tailored our service and products to meet the needs of the discerning Land Rover enthusiast. We’ve even expanded our line in British heritage vehicles with a full line of parts and accessories for MINI Cooper – available at our sister website, MiniCarParts.net!

Atlantic British Exceptional Customer Service Since 1970

Quality & Service

We know you want quality products and great service. Customer satisfaction is our number one goal and has been since we opened our doors in 1970! From pre-sales consultation through purchase and order follow-up, we strive to ensure our customers are 100% satisfied with their purchase and happy with their experience. Our knowledgeable Sales Representatives are more than just order takers, they are product experts that understand the mechanics of your vehicle and are ready to help you identify the parts or accessories that meet your needs and budget. Call us toll-free and ask an expert – we’re ready to help!

Choices

We know you want choices, so we provide you with a wide array of premium Land Rover parts, accessories and performance upgrades imported from around the world; many of which are available no where else in North America. As direct importers, we pay no licensing or import agent fees, and we are free to offer you the very best items for your Rover, be they Genuine Land Rover parts, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts or quality Aftermarket parts and performance upgrades that enhance your driving experience even more.

Take advantage of our convenient and exclusive prepackaged kits! They come complete with everything you or your mechanic needs to do the job right the first time – nuts, bolts, pins, clips, seals, gaskets – everything! Convenient, prepackaged kits are a big reason why many home mechanics come back to Atlantic British for their vehicle projects and D-I-Y jobs.

Availability & Fast Delivery

We stock the parts we sell – and that’s more than 7,000 items and growing! The premise sounds basic and simple, but it’s very important when you’re considering a purchase. If it says ‘in-stock’ here on our website, it’s almost always on the shelf in our warehouse. In fact, with our expanded warehouses in New York and Nevada, we fill an average of 97% of orders from stock when you order by phone by 3pm eastern or order online before 12pm eastern, Monday – Friday. And with warehouses on both East and West coasts, we can offer fast and cost-effective shipping from UPS, FedEx and the USPS – from ground to overnight delivery!Read more…

Guarantee

We know you want to order with confidence, so everything you buy from us comes with our 1-year warranty against defects and a 30-day return/60-day exchange guarantee. (excluding electrical parts, shop manuals and videos). See our Store Policies page for more details.

Information

We know you want information to help you maintain your land Rover in peak condition. Look for our convenient Product Instructions that will give you detailed information of product installation (you’ll find these conveniently tab-displayed on our product feature pages.) You will also find a special Tech Tips section for tips and pointers on properly maintaining your vehicle and solving common issues. We even have complete online Parts Catalogs for your Land Rover Vehicle with exploded drawings and assembly diagrams to help you find the part you need… And, of course, you can always Email Us or call us toll free for the most knowledgeable Rover Customer Service Reps in the business!

Enthusiasm

We know you want Rover enthusiasm and camaraderie, so we provide links to Land Rover Clubs across the continent where you’ll find fellow Rover enthusiasts gathering for off-road adventures. (When you join a Club, look for us there. It’s not unusual to find an Atlantic British staff member riding along.)

And, after all this, if there is still something you want that you’re not finding at Atlantic British, all you have to do is call or contact us and we’ll do our best to get it to you. Because you can’t stay in business all these years without being responsive to your customers. No matter how fast we grow or how big we become, that’s one thing about Atlantic British that will never change.

You have our word on that.

Happy Rovering,


Dick Taylor		 Steve Springer

Partners, Atlantic British Ltd.

 

MOUNTAIN KHAKIS / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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Muddy Snack from Christopher Macecsko on Vimeo.

MCC3 Merchandise – Ball Cap $15.00

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The perfect accessory for your Land Rover or your grilling adventures!   This washed cotton, chino cap features a cloth strap with antiqued bronze buckle and grommet. Made of 100% washed cotton; it has 6 rows of stitching on the pre-curved visor and a quilted sweatband and contrast accent on bill.  The Muddy Chef Logo and Mascot are embroidered on the front.  The back of the cap has our motto “I COOK AND LEAK OIL” and the Muddy Chef Website (www.muddychef.com). 

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With your MCC3 hat firmly in place you tell the world that you are not only rugged and adventurous, but deadly in the kitchen too.  Extremely limited stock.  Want one?  You can buy them at Lime Rock Park starting on Thursday July 31!

Want one but not going to be at the event?  e-mail info@muddychef.com and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

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Classic Motorsports Magazine / Features The Muddy Chef Challenge

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The Muddy Chef Challenge

 
 It’s it’s like the pentathlon of the automotive world.
Date Jun 13, 2014

Written by Ed Higginbotham

Hey, all you folks out there in Lime Rock Park Land, are any of you a Land Rover owner?

If you Land Rover/Range Rover you are invited. Whether it’s from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s or—okay, you get it—any model from any era, brand-spankin’ new included, you are invited.

And can you drive a decent grill?

Because if you own a Land Rover/Range Rover of any stripe and you enjoy making excellent food “on the road”—think The Great Race meets Top Chef—you definitely want to sign up for the Lime Rock Park-hosted Muddy Chef Challenge 3, July 31 through August 3.

Did we mention that proceeds benefit Autism Speaks, one of the great charitable organizations out there?

First come, first served, so get to clicking.

https://classicmotorsports.net/

https://classicmotorsports.net/news/the-muddy-chef-challenge/

TELL US YOUR STORY! / Submit your favorite story about your Land Rover (and win a prize!)

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Manic Pixels / OFFICIAL SPONSOR

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Manic Pixels is proud to be a part of the Muddy Chef Challenge 2014.  We will be out all weekend in the dirt and in the sky (yes…that says “in the sky”) to capture all of the off-roading, cooking, challenges and antics that make this event so special.

A little about us:
Manic Pixels, a fusion of creativity and technology, was born from the idea that small businesses and individuals should have an affordable yet beautiful way to represent their brands and express themselves digitally.  Priding itself on a boutique experience, your project will be handled from conception to completion by a single individual. We are always excited to sit down with you and plan out how we can make your digital ideas a reality. Whether you are looking for website creation, logo / brand design, a video slide show for your daughter’s wedding or a presentation for a corporate event. The possibilities are truly endless.   We are also pleased to announce that we have added long term time-lapse photography and aerial photography to our list of services.  Aerial photography provides a great way to showcase your real estate, document your property for insurance purposes, or capture an outdoor event.  Visit us at www.manic-pixels.com to contact us or see a complete list of our services.

Our Charity – Autism Speaks

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The Muddy Chef Challenge is a unique event.  Unique in that it’s completely FREE and run entirely by a dedicated VOLUNTEER staff of Land Rover lovers and enthusiasts.  This is no a “not for profit” event, it’s a ZERO profit event.  So when you consider other events that charge registration fees.  Ask yourself where does that money go?  This year we decided to go the extra step and find a charity to donate to. Classic Car Performance has donated a High Torque Land Rover (Series or V8) for a charity raffle.

We will sell raffle tickets at the event and donate 100% of the funds collected to Autism Speaks.

We figured if Wayne did it, we should too!

 

Harpoon Beer Muddy Chef Challenge Event Sponsor!

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ABOUT US

Dear Friends of Harpoon,

Rich Doyle and Dan Kenary, co-founders of Harpoon BreweryWe started the Harpoon Brewery in 1986 because—like today—we loved beer and wanted more quality choices.

There was only one problem: we were beer lovers, not brewers. We knew what we wanted to drink, but we needed some help actually brewing it. So we enlisted our first brewer, took over some warehouse space on the Boston waterfront, and began introducing fresh, local craft beer to Boston drinkers. We tried to do it in a way that captured the spirit of fun that had brought us to beer in the first place. From that warehouse, surrounded by fish companies on the docks of South Boston (neighboring what is now the Seaport District), we couldn’t imagine that craft brewing would become what it has today.

We still remember our days on the other side of the bar, and have spent as much time spreading the joy of beer drinking as we have focusing on recipes, ingredients, and brewing equipment. Hopefully our sense of gratitude is reflected in both the quality of the beer and the spirit of fun and enjoyment surrounding our beer and breweries. We invite all of you to visit our Boston brewery, where it all began, and our beautiful brewery in Windsor, Vermont.

We look forward to having a beer with you soon!

Register now – less than 30 spots left!

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In this case, good things DO NOT come to those who wait.  We are rapidly running out of registration space for the event.  Remember registration is free, the event is free too.  The only thing you have to pay for is camping fees to Lime Rock park at a reasonable $30.00 per night!  Tons of prizes and free swag.  Shooting at Orvis Sandanona, beautiful Lakeville, CT location, race cars, Land Rovers, Crown Maple Syrup, what else do you want?

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Orvis Sandanona – New Sponsor!

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WANT TO BE A SPONSOR?

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MUDDY CHEF LAND ROVER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in becoming a Sponsor or Vendor at the Muddy Chef Challenge?  Be sure to visit our Sponsor section for more information.   Alternately just send an e-mail to info@muddychef.com and we will respond to you within 24 hours with a sponsor information package.

 

 

Camel Trophy Spork Case / MCC Exclusives

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spork case

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Used by Navy Seals, Recon Marines, Boy Scouts, SAS Commandos, James Bond, and Special Forces Operators world wide.  The Muddy Chef Challenge Camel Trophy (not really, but it sounds cool) Spork Holder is the perfect accessory for your Land Rover.  Compact, rugged, and utterly useless (like the speedometer indicators above 60 mph on a 1960’s Series IIA).

The SporkCase makes it easier to bring along your Spork regardless of if it’s a hike a trek or a trip to the beach. With its snap closure the SporkCase keeps your Spork clean on the way out and your pack clean on the way home. Made of polypropylene material the case is as tough as it is attractive and is available in a variety of colors. Eyelet allows it to be hung around your neck. Fits 1 or 2 Spork Original Titanium or Lefty. Comes with 1 BPA-Free Tritan� Spork.

Features:

– Keeps Spork clean inside a pack and keeps a pack clean from a dirty Spork!
– Includes 1 BPA-free Spork made of Eastman Tritan�.
– Case constructed from durable polypropylene.
– Carries 1 or 2 Spork Originals Titanium or Lefty.
– Tight snap closure and eyelet for hanging.
– Durable and dishwasher safe.
– Weight (w/ 1 Spork): 1 oz. (29 g)
– Orange

Features:

  • The SporkCase makes it easier to bring along your Spork regardless of if it�s a hike a trek or a trip to the beach
  • With its snap closure the SporkCase keeps your Spork clean on the way out and your pack clean on the way home
  • Made of polypropylene material the case is as tough as it is attractive and is available in a variety of colors
  • Eyelet allows it to be hung around your neck
  • Fits 1 or 2 Spork Original Titanium or Lefty

MCC Exclusives Price: $89.43

MCC Exclusive / Mobile Kitchen

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92

 

COST: $42,000

Tired of being beaten by a frustrated Culinary School/Top Chef Dropout?  Want bragging rights and the respect of your peers?  Then look no further than The Muddy Chef Challenge Mobile Kitchen.  While this is technically a violation of the rules of the MCC3, effective bribery of select officials will allow you to compete with pride.  We have specially modified this trailer to meet the vigorous demands of off-road gourmet activities.

  • 6″ Lift with Old Man Emu Gas Shocks and Old Man Emu Springs
  • Rovertym sliders with NATO recovery loops
  • 2″ thick steel plating across the entire bottom of trailer (IED protection)
  • Nato Trailer Hitch and D-Shackles
  • Gun ports, gas mask racks, weapons racks, utensil racks, etc.
The 24’ trailer comes with a host of standard features and includes cooking equipment to meet your needs. Trailers come standard in black, red, white, green, blue, or yellow. But what’s critically important is to stand out in the crowd and make it your own. Let us help your personality shine through with customized graphic wraps. Please contact us at 800-Mud-Chef

 

NEW EVENT LOCATION AND ADDITIONAL DAY!

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The seven wonders of the world - Muddy Chef Style

The seven wonders of the world – Muddy Chef Style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO: Seven Wonders of The World

What is the 8th Wonder of The World?

THE NEW SITE LOCATION OF THE MUDDY CHEF CHALLENGE.

IT’S SO BIG WE ADDED ANOTHER DAY TO THE EVENT.  NOW – JULY 31, AUGUST 1,2,3 2014.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES – COMING SOON!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR PROFIT versus NOT FOR PROFIT

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SUCKAS

 

 

 

 

 

FROM OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Unlike other events,  the Muddy Chef Challenge is NOT FOR PROFIT and it NEVER WILL BE. We don’t believe in charging our attendees one cent. Last year we took up a collection for food, drinks, etc. I think everyone who paid felt that they received an excellent value. Everything else was due to the generosity and participation of attendees. This is a grassroots event with a soul. The soul of our participants and our Land Rovers.

I believe in keeping it honest, valid …

Muddy Chef Challenge Posting on Guns and Rovers

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mar14

Muddy Chef Challenge 3 – August 1,2,3 Mystic/North Stonington CT

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Yahoo! We just finalized the dates for the 2014 Land Rover Muddy Chef Challenge. August 1,2,3 2014. We are looking for a place to have the event and your suggestions would be welcome. Last year it was at the Mystic, CT KOA Campground. Which was both good and bad.

On the good side, we had electricity, running water, pool, places for the kids to play, etc. It was close to the trails. On the bad side we had nowhere enough room and it was kind of a pain for our friends to visit, etc. Also, as we booked the event really late last year there were not enough campgrounds and it was a bit crowded.

So, I’m searching for an alternative site but planning to use the KOA as a backup. I’d like to have room to stretch out and build a really big bonfire!

We have a website up www.muddychef.com and I’d invite everyone to visit and be patient as we get things running. There will be a registration page soon and a bunch of other neat stuff.

One of the biggest problems I had last year was getting info on the attendees and their vehicles (my fault), also my awards cameraman was “in his cups” so the awards video (who got what and for what) vanished and I’d have liked to have had that.

As always, this is a firmly grassroots event. We ain’t tryin to make a profit. I’ll keep the costs as close to zero as possible.

For now, can I get either “I will come” or “I want to come” or a “Hell no, I ain’t coming”

Also, your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We are excited for August!