Off-road training to model on legend

Land Rover Australia spokesman Guido Schenken said they had offered some courses in NSW last year as a "prospecting tool for new and existing owners to get to know their vehicles".

"The Land Rover Experience is a franchise and we're not up to that level yet," he said.

"The current plan is to relocate and develop this trial in other states throughout 2009."

"Our aim is to expand the program over the next couple of years and our ultimate goal is to get a franchise running."

"Potentially it would be a roaming centre so we could move to the different states depending on demand."

"If you look at the model of other driving programs, they have struggled when they are in one place."

An example is BMW which owned Norwell on the Gold Coast hinterland, but now operates a roaming course in several states.

Land Rover Experience has been operating for 25 years and now has 35 franchises around the world.

Veteran Land Rover tester and the company's longest-serving staff member Roger Crathorne, 62, spends 100 days a year training drivers at Eastnor Castle.

"It means I don't have to work too many weekends and can spend more time with my family," he said.

"My wife is very understanding. She has always thought I was married to Land Rover anyhow."

Crathorne has trained journalists, rally drivers and even members of the British Royal family in off-road driving.

"The Royals have always been very attentive, but the SAS has been the most interesting to work with," he said.

"They have a totally different focus. For them it's probably a life and death matter and they don't relax; they are focussed on the training."

Crathorne is an enthusiastic advocate of Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which he claims can get anyone out of just about any sticky situation.

"Even though you think you have it going, the traction aids can ride it better than you can," he said.

"You just won't spin the wheels.

"As soon as the system recognises you have momentum it will start to pull the vehicle."